Nintendo's newest IP delivers on tone and fleeting fun, but struggles to sink its hooks in.
Arms2017
Arms
2017 Nintendo of Europe78Good
Playtime
ModerateTypically 20 hours
Playable on
Upcoming on
Available on
- $59.99
Game modes
- 2–4 players
- 2–4 players
Details
- Launch
- June 16, 2017
- Developer
- Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 9
- Publisher
- Nintendo of Europe
- Themes
- Genres
Overview
Arms, a mix of boxing and shooting where you use extendable arms to battle your friends both locally and online! Take a Joy-Con in each hand and punch forward, twisting your fists to bend your attacks. "Choose a fighting champion from around the world, equip your own combination of extendable arms, and then use a mix of button presses and quick hand motions to really take the fight to your opponent. Throw punches and guide them midflight to hit agile fighters, avoid incoming attacks with dashes, or trampoline high into the air to rain down fists from above. Power-up your punches to deal extra damage or curve your fists around obstacles to hit skittish opponents. Fill up your special gauge to dish out devastating combinations and finish them off. Unleash your inner fighter in this unbelievable sporting event! "
Screenshots
Reception
Press78
Good- Metacritic77from 104 reviews
- OpenCritic78from 97 reviews
Arms is a one-trick pony. That one trick is polished and addictive, with deep minutia worth mastering.
Arms' clever take on boxing provides a simple premise with a startling amount of depth for those who would seek to master the stretching appendages. Its rapidly evolving lobby system had me sticking around for “just one more match.” There may not be a lot worth unlocking right now, but planned free updates may just give Arms some additional legs.
With a stylish, memorable cast of characters, inventive gameplay mechanics and smart use of the Switch hardware, Arms already feels like Nintendo's next great new franchise.
Arms' unique take on fighting can be hard to adjust to, but once you do, it's a surprisingly deep fighter that has you thinking on your feet.