On paper, Arms shouldn’t work. It’s a motion control game, and this a genre that is infamous for terrible entries, which have only rarely delivered anything worth playing for more than a few minutes.
To make matters worse, it’s a fighting game, a genre that is all about hyper-precise timing and inputs, and where the controller lag inherent in any motion controls is anathema. It’s also a category that appeals more to a dedicated hard-core audience than to a mass one, so if you’re looking to create a blockbuster, you’d be better off going for an open-world action game.
Then there’s the fact that this is also a brand new IP, not benefiting from a familiar, popular setting or with famous characters, such as what NetherRealm Studios had at their disposal with recent fighting game success Injustice 2, set in the DC superhero universe.
But despite all these potential handicaps, Arms works. Actually, it doesn’t just work — it works exceptionally well, and Arms continues Nintendo’s streak of stellar first-party releases on the Switch.
You control one of several colourful characters crafted in Nintendo’s inimitable cartoony style, each of which has access to several of the titular arms, flexible extendable appendages tipped with a variety of gloves that offer different damage and special ability options.
Fights are a matter of positioning and timing, as you manoeuvre around different arenas, blocking your opponent’s attacks, jumping and shifting into position to try and find an opening of your own in which to unleash the perfect jab, combination, or throw. There’s a surprising amount of strategy and depth to these fights which are ultimately built on just some very basic moves — a lot like real-life boxing, in fact.
You can use your joy cons attached to the grip or the console in handheld mode to control your fighter, and the Pro controller, as usual, works beautifully.
But Arms is undoubtedly at its best when you use motion controls, holding a joy-con in each hand in what Nintendo calls the “thumbs-up grip”. It’s makes for an extremely intuitive control scheme, tilting both controllers to the side you which to move, jumping, dashing and activating special attacks with the shoulder buttons, blocking by tilting both controllers inward, and punching by, well, punching!
One of the most fun features of the game is the fact that you can curve your punches (think of bullets in 2008 film Wanted) by twisting your controller while throwing punches. This adds another level of strategy into the mix, as attacks can also come from your sides instead of just from straight in front of you.
There’s a variety of game modes on offer. The single-player Grand Prix sees you fight your way through all of the game’s fighters, which ranked and unranked online modes lets you take on all and sundry in many different possible fight types, including one-on-one, two-on-two and triple threat modes. There are also some strange but fun modes such as V-Ball and Hoops, combative forms of volleyball and basketball, respectively.
If you’re only ever planning on playing on your own, Arms may not be able to keep you busy for a very long time. With others and online though is where it really comes alive, and I can foresee it having a long and successful future, especially as Nintendo has dedicated itself to providing regular updates (the first free DLC character has already been revealed and is set to release during July).
Once again, Nintendo has delivered something to silence those who say that gaming has stagnated as an art form and that it can only provide more of the same staid content.
It combines colour, character and an innovative and intuitive control scheme with simple-to-learn but difficult-to-master gameplay.
Even if fighting or motion control games aren’t your thing, you should give Arms a try, just to see for yourself what some of the most creative minds in the gaming business are coming up with.
Score: 9/10
Platform: Switch
