Arms (2017)

Finished Grand Prix on Lv. 2 with Springman

My thoughts:

I think this game is a great starting base (though definitely not worth a full $60). I like how the gameplay mechanics are based purely on using the right punches at the right time, as opposed to traditional fight games with their mechanical frame-perfect combos. The character designs are super unique, and the music is like 11/10 GLORIOUS. I listened to the game's songs since release even before Min Min's Smash Bros DLC, and I really like how the songs are all variations of the same motif but yet they all still sound vastly different! The soundtrack definitely pushed me to give this game a shot.

That being said, I still don't think this game holds up as well as Punchout Wii, with a much more robust single player and much more precise controls (I never got ARM's curve punching).

It's sad that this game didn't seem to catch up as opposed to the much more popular Splatoon, but I feel Nintendo can better flesh out ARMs with a second attempt. Sometimes, I just like to see Nintendo experiment with new IPs.

Arms is a good evolution of Wii boxing game (from Wii Sports) but it didn't catch me. I was thinking of working out and I must say that this game does not work for me. So.. I bought Fitness Boxing.

If you want a fun boxing game, this game is for you. I think it has potential as a multiplayer game, even esports. Different characters with different combat approaches, different scenarios for each character... it is a fighting game.

But if you want to play... do it with the controller. The motion detection is awful... not intuitive. For example, if your rival moves to one side you first need to center the rival and then punch. You can't punch to one side. What you can do is punch and then turn the hand and the fist turn. This is one example but most of the moves are not intuitive.

So... an interesting fighting game.. with a controller. And do not use it for working out :)

BTW... the volleyball minigame is just horrible.

I wasn't really interested in Arms when it came out, simply because i didn't have a switch at the time and when i finally got one, many other games were already out on the system.

I thought that, if the game did not garner that much attention, it was for a good reason, so i never bothered to really looked into it. However, 2 weeks ago, the game went Free To Play for a limited time after the announcement of an arms character for smash, so i decided to finally check this game out and i have to say : I was wrong about this game.

Arms follows the Splatoon tradition by proposing a unique twist to an already exiting genre. With a fun gameplay initially but surprisingly technical in the end, it offers a vast array of game modes and challenges to keep you entertained.

The soundtrack is also a formidable efficiency with a main theme that will cling to your memory for a very long time (Dr Coyle's theme is probably my favorite). However, a certain lack of a general backstory is to be regretted when it comes to the characters . Nothing to stop you from having fun, but that remains to be noted.

These 2 weeks were enough for me to complete the solo campaign's main challenges, fill the gallery and get me a nice collection of Arms and badges.

Now the question is, will i buy the full game ? Well, i'm still debating on that, i think my main gripe with the game is that the combat doesn't have enough depth for me to get invested in the competitive aspect of the game, and now that the completionist side of me is satisfied, i don't think the online multiplayer will be enough for me to come back to the game.

With that said, the game was extremely fun and felt really polished in ever aspect, you can tell by the official art and look of the game that the developpers really cared about the characters and the world they live in.

3.7 out of 5, would beat up people with my spaghetti arms again.

(Ps : Lola Pop was my main and now i have developped a clown fetish, thanks nintendo)

Nintendo tries a fighting game other than Smash and it doesn't turn out well.

I think a lot of it has to do with how they shot themselves in the foot, neutral is set solely around two commands that while used in modular ways and can be done in combination to each other already gives a very small skill ceiling to get to. To make matters worse, neutral game is far more about poking rather than mind games. You're attempting to get the luckiest frame advantage possible before you can either set them up for a grab or attack into a super.

There's no real interest here after an hour, it's a poor fighting game on its own and the singleplayer content doesn't really fix that either. It's no Shaq Fu for sure, there's some competency here to the kinesthetics and the aesthetics themselves pop (although, i found the soundtrack forgettable). There's definitely an idea of where fun is had here but the competitive mindset these kind of games bring just end in tedium. Go pick up something else really, rather than the bottom of the barrel of the Switch lineup. (4/10)

Rating: 8/10

It suffers at launch with a lack of content. I wish Nintendo wouldn't occasionally use this model where they release a game and then give free DLC to make up for the fact that there's not that much content. Free DLC is great, but initial reviews are lower because there's not as much to do. There's a grand prix that acts as a story mode and it does a good job of introducing you to the different modes and whatnot, but it's not real big. I mean, I think a lot of fighting game fans play online so it's not actually that big of a deal, but for those who prefer offline it will get boring quicker. I think that's a problem a lot of fighting games have.

With that said, the stuff that is here is a lot of fun. The different game modes are unique and interesting, more than simple one-offs, but the mean and potatoes is the fighting itself. Nintendo manages to take genres and put unique spins on them, so don't be fooled by the graphics, which I find charming but others find kiddy.

There's depth here due to the different character abilities and the many different arms you can have. It's not a button masher and if you do button mash you will get destroyed. Sure, that is true for most fighting games, but because it leaves you so open, mashing it incredibly dangerous here. There's a fairly steep learning cave because it's so different than everything else, but it's worth it.

On top of that, there are cool little things like different stages having different things that happen, whether it's platforms rising/having them to jump and move on, or cars being in the way, or having to fight up and down stairs (which actually adds more tactics to it).

I haven't spent a lot of time online yet but I've played enough to say that it does a good job of matching people up and putting you in different modes. Like offline, there's enough variety here to stay interesting for a while.

The motion controls are really weird. Maybe if I put some practice in it would be okay but that's not for me.

I'm always excited when a new Nintendo IP does well and this is no different. I'm sure in the months to come this will deserve higher than an 8 because more content will almost always mean a better game. If you're scared of it not having content and you can wait, maybe you should do that, but I don't regret getting it now because it's so much fun. So this is a weird 8 out of 10.