Topic: ARMS (Switch) Hands-On Preview

[Daan]

Throw down some punches and become a champion like no ever was.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/43984/arms-switch-hands-on-preview

When ARMS was first shown, I didn't quite know what to expect. It seemed like a crazy Punch-Out-esque game with motion controls as its main input. Considering that Nintendo put a solid amount of emphasis on the title, it only seemed natural for me to give it a go. After playing a couple of matches, I like it way more than I thought I would, but I do have some reservations.

There is no way to really compare ARMS with something else on the market. A mixture of Punch-Out!!, Splatoon and whatever Street Fighter's Dhalsim eats would be the best way. Even then, ARMS has a flair and style that is unlike anything Nintendo has produced. You will find yourself in an arena moving around, throwing punches, defending yourself and launching super attacks to ultimately KO your opponent. Unlike other games of this ilk, there is a bigger focus on action and fast paced movements like dashes and jumps.

Once you realize what this is, ARMS is not hard to wrap your head around. The movements can be done with both buttons as well as motion controls, but the latter one is wackier. You steer yourself by holding a Joy-Con in each hand and moving them in a certain direction. There are three types of attacks: simple punches where you thrust a Joy-Con controller forward, grab attacks where you thrust both Joy-Con forward and finally the super attacks. These charge up over time and allow you to rank up a lot of damage. Finally, there is defending. You do this by moving the Joy-Con controllers close to one another and hoping for the best. By employing various clever tactics and finding your way close to the opponent, you can emerge victorious.

The first couple of rounds went poorly for me,  but as I learned the mechanics, it became super entertaining. Particularly in two player battles, it becomes a battle of wits and outsmarting your rival. You are asked to do some pretty swift movements on the playing field and learning how the enemy will respond is key. It is also important to choose the right characters and weapons for the job, or else you will find yourself in disarray quickly. The cast of colorful characters made me a firm believer in the title and can't wait to see what more it has under its wings.

For all the flair that ARMS has, I do feel that I have not seen enough yet. What I hope to see in the coming months is what the game is building towards. We learned from Splatoon that time can make a product more convincing and I am waiting for that sweetening moment. A goofy story mode? I would be so down with that. The good news is that this game does support local and online multiplayer, which should at least make it a neat game for you and your friends.