Review: ARMS (Nintendo Switch)

Rating: 7.6
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · Published June 22, 2017 · Updated June 22, 2017

Featuring a unique multiplayer fighting sport that lets you trade blows using extendable arms, this game includes elements of both boxing and shooting games, plus an all-new cast of characters.

Pros:

Bright colorful almost cartoon looking graphics.
2.2GB Download size.
Six modes- Grand Prix, Vs, Party, Ranked, Friends and Local.
Fighting game with a bit of a shoot em up undertone.
Training mode.
Grand Prix is your arcade mode. Face off against 10 opponents to become champion. You get to take in all the different play styles as you progress like v ball and hoops.
Vs is 1-4 player and you can do team fight, Vs, V-ball, Hoops or skill shot.
Arms test is a win streak mode.
1v100 mode.
Party- 1-2 players and its online. You go into a lobby system where you randomly get a game mode and because of this you could land up doing vs or playing co op.
Ranked- 1 player only.
Local supports one player on each console.
In depth help section explaining the rules, Tricks and characters.
Set Arms is where you can go to choose which arms you have equipped but also what ones you can swap to in game.
Get Arms is where you spend coins on a timer. You then get that much time to smash targets and break boxes containing random Arms for random characters.
Earn coins from playing any of the modes.
Catchy soundtrack.
Controller supported- Pro, Handheld, Joycons side ways and joycons with motion control.
Items appear in game like health or bombs.
Build your attack meter to unleash a powerful volley of attacks for a short time.
Fun to play with friends.
10 Colorful characters to choose from all with unique abilities and jumps.
Environments are varied and can offer hazards, Obstacles or change completely.
Game winning attack replay.
Clean fresh UI and appearance.
Deep rewarding combat. It looks simple but it has a strategic undertone that really sets it apart from the casuals. Knowing when to counter and how to counter is key to winning.
Punches go along a system where heavy punches knock light punches away and do damage, If you bot punch at the same time with the same weight, Both punches are nullified.
Can stun Arms and even the character.
Online rank is a earn EXP and fill a bar system.
Fast loading times.
E-sports kind of presentation through out the game.

Cons:

Cannot rebind or change control layouts.
Mini games are very basic and dry.
You feel like the game is part of a bigger game.
Motion controls are the most accurate but also the one that feels less engaging. Maybe its because it invokes memories of the Wii and that is so retro.
Not a lot of variety.
Earning coins…..The grind is real.

The Numbers:

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
7/10

Accessability - 7/10
9/10

Fun Factor - 9/10

7.6/10

Summary

There is no argument, Arms is a fantastic game and one that I am glad exists. Its just it doesn’t feel like a complete game. The modes are very basic and its really only the multiplayer that will keep it in your library. You just want more variety, More to do but it just doesn’t come. If you can look past that it does do combat very well and it still surprises me even now how deep and rewarding the combat is. It looks really basic and simple and for doing actions it is, But its learning the mechanics, Counters and when to dodge and jump, That’s what makes the game so much fun. Is it worth full price? Its a hard question to answer definitively but Arms is a great game and one that every Switch owner needs to at least play.