ARMS

ARMS is what Nintendo franchises thrive to be on the whole; a fun, outside the box take on something that's close to many of their fans' hearts. They've done to fighting what Mario Kart has done to racing, and Splatoon has done to third-person shooters - they've given the genre something shiny, addictive, and new. Forget the Midas touch, ARMS has the Nintendo touch... and it makes every punch you throw that much sweeter.

If ARMS is where Nintendo is beginning their first-party efforts for the all-new Switch generation, then I can't wait to see how this system's entire game library is going to look years from now! [Issue #28 – July/August 2017, p. 67]

Arms is Nintendo at its very best. It keeps things simple enough to be fun for the casual player but nuanced enough to satisfy hardcore fighters.

Yes, it's a little light on content, but what's in there is delightful, accessible, intuitive, playful stuff. From the off it's fun and, before long, it becomes oddly magical, too. Over time, it may become wondrous. At launch it will just have to settle for being merely excellent, and yet another standard bearer for Nintendo's new console. That, we suppose, is really the most important thing about ARMS. [Aug 2017, p.102]

Nintendo gets in the fighting genre on Switch thanks to ARMS, a new IP which brings a breath of fresh air to this genre and mixes classic gameplay mechanics with the unique features of Nintendo’s new console.

ARMS is the first new Nintendo IP on Switch, an unusual fighting-game that's both competitive and entertaining. The character design is beautiful and the game mechanics are well-balanced, even if some abilities are easier to use than others. The only problem is the single-player offering, which is not as interesting as the multiplayer one.

An accessible and captivatingly strange new breed of versus fighting game, Arms is another Nintendo knockout for Switch.

ARMS is clearly something that stands out amidst Nintendo's recent works. With its very creative approach, it eschews most of the labels used to categorize games and proposes bouts of physical fighting coupled with other sports and actions thrown into the mix to make something that is without a doubt more than welcome in Nintendo's catalogue. Its wide and varied content, intuitive gameplay mechanics, quality online modes and all the additional content that will be released for it make ARMS an essential game in the universe of every Nintendo Switch player.

ARMS is polished, addictive, immensely rewarding and - perhaps most important of all - establishes a solid platform to create a popular and long-running series.

The fighting game that everyone can play, ARMS is Nintendo multiplayer gaming at its best.

Fighting titles have long been the most competitive and often hardest for new players to get into, but ARMS enters itself extremely well to the genre by feeling like nothing that has ever been played before.

Behind its wacky (and absolutely adorable) cartoony appearance, with its peculiar colorful appeal, its delightful cast of characters and its rubbery animations that somehow remind you of Splatoon, ARMS has the heart - and the brain - of a pure-bread fighting game. Deep, engaging, fascinating, fast and far from trivial, this beat'em up shows however one huge merit above its many undeniable virtues: it's a new, completely unique take on the genre, one that will be enjoyable for both fans and newcomers. Another hit for the Big N, scored with a surprising boomerang-punch.

As far from a traditional one-on-one fighter as can be - and all the better for it. Thumpingly good fun. [Aug 2017, p.70]

A beat'em up of its own kind: ARMS is more than a motion-controlled fighting game; is a brilliant new IP, an original take on the genre, and yet another impressive game for the Switch line-up. Some extra game modes would have been appreciated, but we remain quite confident about the post-launch support.

Feels like an evolution of Punch Put series, focused on multiplayer tournaments. Fun to play and tough to master, the downside is its lack of content: characters, game modes and levels.

ARMS feels like the first true competitive game for the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo made the game work with both the Motion Controls scheme and the regular controllers. The gameplay is fast and fun, with comebacks and great moves just around the corner. The single player experience is pretty dull, and can be frustrating at times, but the online scene is absolutely great. The game will get more patches and free DLC along the way so it might get fixed in the future, but even in this current state, I believe that ARMS is a game that's not hard to recommend.

It’s great to see Nintendo so invested in creating a gorgeous new IP, and while it’s too early to see how this goes on the competitive scene, it’s definitely going to win a lot of hearts. The high difficulty will ruin the enjoyment for some, but it’s an incredibly special game for those it clicks with. I personally can’t wait to see more of this franchise in the future.

For now, I cannot assure you that ARMS will become the Splatoon of the fighting genre or the new jewel of eSports, but its simplicity and personality already give it a leg up.

ARMS is another great new IP from Nintendo that shows their growing commitment to robust, competitive online games. Its elegant flow of fighting is supplemented by numerous options of continued experimentation, with a strong suite of game types to keep you playing for hours on end.

ARMS is a great package, subverting and exceeding most of my expectations while offering modes of play that cater to a variety of players. The offline Grand Prix mode leaves much to be desired, and the 2 v 2 tethered fights are lame, but all that is made up for by an assortment of other entertaining modes, slick online lobbies and surprisingly deep and addictive gameplay. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun, and ARMS provides that in spades.

Nintendo delivers a new twist on Punch Out for The Switch and it already feels like the foundation of a new franchise.

A world where people fight with ramen noodles, DNA, and snakes shouldn't be this much fun. It may take a while to get the hang of the controls in Arms, but the wildly inventive characters, catchy theme music, and unique gameplay style offer enough to capture the attention of casual and competitive gamers alike.

If you are searching for an online-oriented game, Arms could be a title to buy. Anyhow, the game is fun even if you play by yourself, despite some balancing issues.

Arms is a zany fighter that delivers excitement and fun at every turn. While I wish there was more to do, what is included in the package is worthwhile. If you're looking for a fresh and exciting experience to play on your Switch, Arms is worth a look.

The game's depth is surprising, the fighters sympathetic and even after tens of battles, I'm trying to perfect my moves even further. With an almost nimble simplicity, Nintendo creates a genre representative that is especially suited for those who have not played a fighting game since Tekken 3.

ARMS is lots of fun, really deep and proves motion controls can be as complex and responsive as traditional ones. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have much content, but Nintendo has promised free updates to fix that in the future.

Just like Splatoon, Arms' dynamic gameplay is geared towards online multiplayer. Behind its funny and colorful looks, the game is highly technical and offers various game modes to master.

ARMS succeeds both as a surprisingly complex and detailed fighting game, and one of the best examples of motion controlled gaming we've seen. Another unexpected hit for the Nintendo Switch's burgeoning library of must-have games.

Nintendo loves to reinvent the wheel and this take on fighting games genre is truly unique and intriguing. Motion controls really do work here and both visuals and audio are as good as we should expect from Nintendo. [08/2017, p.70]

When you're sat next to someone, playing ARMS in local multiplayer mode (or Ranked, once you finally get it unlocked), is absolutely brilliant. It's as likely to get you screaming at your pals as Mario Kart, but it also possesses the depth and strategic options you associate with the best fighting games. [Issue#189, p.75]

What it lacks in story, Arms makes up for it in style, character and utilisation of the Nintendo Switch’s bells and whistles.

Arms is a good starter fighting game, both for players and for Nintendo. Hopefully future updates will give the inevitable franchise a bit more bounce.

ARMS isn't the best fighting game, but it's a damn good one, and one of the most instantly enjoyable and accessible I've ever played. Probably not EVO material, but will be hours of fun with friends.

Arms is a zany, promising new IP from Nintendo that exudes confidence in almost everything it offers. The fun garnered from its gameplay mechanics and enjoyable multiplayer modes is enough to make it feel like a worthwhile package, even though it’s currently a bit light on content.

Arms is an excellent spin on the fighting genre by Nintendo that suffers from control issues and a lack of single player.

ARMS is a unique-feeling brawler with a surprising amount of depth. It also looks great, combining a colourful flair with some of the most realistic environments and characters the big N has made for some time. Its motion controls are also a resounding success...Yet, despite everything it does right, this won’t be a game for everyone. Lacking the meaty single-player component of a game like Splatoon, ARMS lives and dies on local and online multiplayer.

ARMS shows that Nintendo can do everything. It's deep, innovative and charming from an artistic and audiovisual standpoint. It could be better, having more characteristics to extend the gameplay, but we must be optimistic about the future updates.

Comparing Arms to Mario Kart 8 with regards to the online experience comes out favorably, though, as Arms’ fresher gameplay style and highly polished online lobbies and infrastructure makes it a more active and engaging online affair. Even with the Grand Prix drawbacks, Arms is a fantastic start to a new franchise. Time will tell if Arms truly has legs, but it’s definitely firmly planted at launch.

Yes, it's tennis-boxing inside a carnival wrapped in a learning curve that against practiced players feels steep, and yes, that sounds like something few would play. Which is why Nintendo calls it Arms, a game that is more than it seems, novel in a genre prone to repetition, and precisely the sort of pick-up video game the Switch was designed for.

What Arms lacks in personality and content it makes up for in raw joy and a best-in-class motion control set-up that feels both comfortable and natural. Arms showcases once again that Nintendo is peerless when it comes to subverting genres without sacrificing what makes them great. Time will tell if Arms has legs to match Splatoon, but the early round scoreboards are certainly swinging in its favour.

The package could be on the light side, but Arms is fun enough that it’s still worth owning. After all, most people will stick with a fighting game because they enjoy the competition. They want to try to master the game, and while Arms doesn’t have a lot of mechanics, you’ll need precision and timing if you want to consistently win.

Arms is another polished Nintendo title and a welcome addition to the Switch library. The characters that have been created and the world that they live in is terrific it's just a shame we don't get to explore it more. Despite having more levels, characters and weapons to unlock and play with the game seems to feel smaller than Splatoon did at launch even though I know it's not. Luckily for Arms the rest of the game is perfectly crafted, the online and local modes are a real blast, are easy to setup and the fighting mechanics are easy to pick up but hard to master. Nintendo has another franchise on its hand if it continues to add to the game as promised, Arms is a real blast.

One of the most enjoyable and original fighting games of recent years, that fully justifies its use of motion controls – and it’s only set to get better in the future.

ARMS is a success that will rope players in for hours through its multiplayer and online modes, but will only garner interest from solo consumers for a short amount of time. At its core, ARMS isn’t a flawless technical fighting game, but that’s never what Nintendo wanted it to be. It’s accessible without feeling primitive, and the layers of depth that are present are easy for fight aficionados to get lost in.

Arms sessions are quick, fun, and satisfying. With easy-to-pick-up mechanics, solid stage design, and quirky characters, Arms genuinely feels like a fun and different addition to the fighting game genre. More than that, it feels like just the kind of game that makes the Nintendo Switch itself feel fun and different.

Arms exudes a level of creativity and mechanical sophistication that feels uniquely Nintendo. It evokes memories of classic Nintendo games like Punch-Out!!, while also feeling equally fashionable and modern — and set next to Splatoon, suggests the publisher is already charting a path toward the future. 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 is probably the best example of how to make a fighting game using the Splatoon and Mario Karts philosophy, but with its unique appeal to be a future big Nintendo franchise. The execution is massive and its AI is just amazing. Playing alone or online feels good and fresh in every moment.

Arms is a surprisingly balanced fighting game that mainly shines in it’s (online) multiplayer thanks to the huge variety in characters and boxing gear. Unfortunately, the single-player campaign offers few options.

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.

Arms does a lot of new things, but fails to offer a wide variety of options or characters. That will be improved over the time with free DLCs, but as it is, Arms is just a nice new beginning with plenty of room for improvement.

ARMS has great potential, thanks to its original, fun and surprisingly complex fighting system. Online and offline this game is good, but future additions to this game will make Arms even more epic in six months from now.

Arms is delightful, even if it's not perfect. The single-player experience doesn't have much to offer and the multiplayer modes lack of some basic features you would expect from a competitive game. But Arms' first punch is a really strong one. It has irresistible characters and a very solid, fun and deep gameplay that make the game a true heir to Punch Out.

Bringing motion controls back with a bang, ARMS can feel surprisingly retro, yet it also fits in perfectly with Nintendo’s modern twist on gaming and the Switch. ARMS exhibits Nintendo’s flair for game design to its fullest, confidently taking a well-known genre and injecting it with colour and character to craft something that’s inimitably their own.

ARMS might not exude that same 'hardcore' draw that other fighting games have, but it's the very epitome of the well-worn phrase, "Easy to pick up, hard to master." There's something for everyone here, and it's certainly a unique gem of a game that Switch owners would be remiss to pass up on.

ARMS may not appeal to one crowd in particular, but its vibrant visuals, punchy soundtrack and satisfying combat will undoubtedly be a hit with the masses.

ARMS is a great addition to the Switch's growing library of unique titles. Featuring a fresh new world full of color and character, the content might be light, but if you get hooked you'll find lots to enjoy here.

ARMS pulls no punches in being one of the standout titles in the Switch’s early lineup.

ARMS is the first big Nintendo exclusive for Switch and perfectly showcases the so called 'Nintendo difference'. It’s a fighting game with a twist, with punches that twist and curly characters (who, also, twist): it’s a fun, layered experience which will appeal to core gamers out there, but give it a try even if you’re usually not into the genre.

ARMS is a lot of fun in a party setting, but playing alone gets boring quick as there isn’t any other mode to play solo besides the super repetitive Grand Prix.

ARMS offers a very colorful and well animated fighting adventure with more strategy and depth then it might first appear. The initial offering feels just a little bit thin though in that despite the customization options in-game, you cannot customize or remap the controls and the single player modes are kind of thin — challenging, but not particularly captivating or appealing especially when the going gets tough. Online play is, like any other game, largely based on what you make of it and how the community does. Technically, my limited experience with it worked well, but time will tell if this game will have the legs to continue into something larger and sustained. For a new IP though, Nintendo has done another impressive job overall, but I would not consider this a must-have title for all Switch owners.

At the first glance, ARMS is unimpressive: its basic roster is only 10 fighters big, and there are no convoluted combinations of buttons to activate special attacks. But that’s just how Nintendo does things – its games are always easy to pick up. So you can flail away at your leisure against AI-controlled opponents, but once you start playing with other people, you quickly realize that you need to work on your technique. [Issue #222, p.68]

ARMS is a breath of fresh air for casual fighting game fans, a beautiful, interesting fighter with a killer roster of characters and that trademark Nintendo twist on established genre conventions. But unbalanced control schemes and an emphasis on fun over fairness may make it a hard sell for the hardcore competitive set.

When it’s on, Arms is a blast, and it feels like no other fighter on the market today. That traditional Nintendo charm is all over this thing too, from the sharp presentation to the terrific character designs and instantly hummable theme song. This first endeavor leaves plenty of room for improvement, but I’d love to see Arms become a mainstay on the Switch.

The concept of this modern Punch-Out is interesting, the fun you’ll experience in multiplayer is great, but lack of content delivers a gut punch to this brawler.

From a very simple concept, Nintendo built a great fighting experience that can make your blood boil from excitement. Still, there is room for future improvement.

ARMS is a unique, fresh take on the fighting genre that's simple to learn but tough to master. It's not going to be for everyone, but it's fun to see Nintendo try something so new. $60 seems a bit steep.

ARMS might not be the strategic, hardcore fighting game some were hoping for, but If you’re just looking for senseless fun with friends or strangers via online multiplayer, you should definitely check it out.

If you already have friends lined up to play ARMS with than you will love this game to bits. Playing solo will, however, reveal flaws like a lack of depth and some awkward controls.

Despite discrepancies between the various control schemes, none of which is plainly satisfying us, ARMS is a strong combat game thanks to its plentiful content and rich gameplay.

ARMS is not going to be for everybody, but it tries to present something different in the fighting genre much like Splatoon did for shooters. And I feel like it mostly succeeds. Both the regular and motion controls mostly work well, there’s a lot of strategy and customization involved, and it offers a good variety of multiplayer modes to keep things fresh, even if it’s lacking in single player options.

ARMS is a truly unique experience that digs into my nostalgia with games like Punch Out! I just hope the free DLC will make it feel more fleshed out. Quality cannot be argued here, but content definitely feels far too light at launch.

Overall, ARMS is delightfully quirky, surprisingly deep and, most importantly, strikingly self-confident. Whilst its vibrant and over-the-top aesthetic might have some expecting a shallow and simplistic experience, persevering with and embracing the game's sharp initial learning curve reveals a strong-willed and very detailed gameplay core. Nintendo made the right choice in highlighting the motion controls, which is by far the best way to play.

It's hard not to admire the daringness with which Nintendo shakes up a conservative genre with the creation of this entertaining new sport.

I had a lot of fun playing the game in small bursts at a time, but it’s hard to keep invested when all I’m doing is beating someone up for each and every round. Let’s hope that ARMS will continue the path that Splatoon laid before it by giving players new content and new things to do via free game updates. I really hope so, because I really want to see this game in a more fleshed out form!

Arms, an exclusive game for the Switch, aims to do for the fighting genre what “Splatoon” did for multiplayer shooters: create a space for new players while enticing traditional fans with new gameplay mechanics.

Nintendo has produced a game which is occasionally elating, often frustrating, but which definitely feels like nothing we've tried before. Assuming you're willing to overlook its flaws, ARMS could be a welcome addition to your growing collection of Switch games.

After playing over 30 hours of ARMS, it is hard not to be excited to see where the community grows from here. Still, players need to understand that they are coming in on the ground level of an experimental fighting game that will only feel more rewarding as time goes on.

Part of the problem is that, outside of online rankings, there’s little in the way of long-term objectives. Players slowly earn currency while fighting that can eventually be used to unlock more arms for each of their fighters via a kind of lottery system, but it takes a long time to earn enough for even a single chance to unlock new arms. And there’s a chance you might earn arms you already have.

ARMS is a shallow yet approachable experience that could have used just a bit more depth, detail, and personality.

Nintendo aims to expand the game with free updates after release, but for now Arms lays a solid foundation for the future. The vibrant cast of characters, accessible mechanics and couch friendly co-op offer a distinctive fighting game that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The battles eventually become routine but offer an alternative to other complex and competitive fighting games.

Motion controllers isn’t always the best way to go, but in Arms they really add something to the gameplay. It may not be perfect – certainly not for those who prefer to play alone – but it feels like a fresh, and accessible, take on the fighting genre.

ARMS takes a fresh look at the old fighting game. By giving it the twist of friendly Nintendo games, it allows everyone to enjoy its new way of fighting each other. However, its roster of look-alikes make us think that the game certainly won't last long for the most demanding players.

Arms is a strong, substantial fighting game that takes a while to really hit its stride. Its barrier to entry is unlike anything else in the genre, but it's one worth tackling in order to get at the game's fascinating take on fighting. It may not have the same skill requirement as other fighting games, but the flexibility and fast thinking it requires secures it as one that works on its own terms and opens the genre up to a wider audience.

It works as a fighter, I just wish there was more to do in this debut entry -- both pragmatically in terms of modes and on an emotional level, as I haven't really connected with its universe yet despite its raw style.

Where Splatoon's motion controls elevated the game's precision as a shooter, the motion-based fighting in ARMS reveals that Nintendo doggedly pursued one core idea and built the rest around that foundation, whether or not it was an improvement on a pre-existing genre. ARMS is nothing of the sort. Instead, it's simply different; sometimes with frustrating compromise, and other times a refreshingly unique take on fighting games. Surprisingly, there are few surprises about how the final product turned out, so if you think this game is for you, it probably is. If not, it's worth a few rounds at a friend's place or a rental — if only to see what the latest idea Nintendo thought was crazy enough that it might work, dedicated to seeing through, and delivered as a highly polished product.

A fighter title that holds promise, but with some issues keeping it behind other interesting games in the genre. A game that fits perfectly in the new console, but needs more support in terms of content to avoid repetition and becoming a thing of the past faster than expected.

ARMS is a clever idea with polished core mechanics that ends up feeling underdeveloped and lacking in identity.

Original, stylish, and accessible fighting game will entertain you in local multiplayer. Alas, the Arms game suffers from a desperate lack of content and functions. [Issue#274]

ARMS is a fun and creative game, but lacks the depth and precision to last as long - or remain as exciting - as we'd hoped.

Original, stylish and user-friendly combat game, that will entertain you with its gameplay in local multiplayer. But Arms suffers from a desperate lack of content and functions. Basically, there is nothing that you would expect from a full price modern combat game.

If you play enough Arms, you’re bound to have the occasional thrilling, close-fought bout. These brief moments are fleeting, however, and the game simply doesn’t give you enough reasons to keep coming back.

Arms is a really weird game. At its core it’s a simple, accessible fighting game with a really strong gameplay loop and room for player growth competitively, but a pair of fundamentally flawed control schemes, a lack of decent modes and a glacially slow random unlock system for items that fundamentally change how characters can function make it a really tough package to recommend. Which is a shame, because there’s such a good game in there

So credit to Nintendo’s development teams for thinking outside the box. Unfortunately that’s about all the good I’ve got to say about Arms. I didn’t much enjoy this fighting game at all, to be honest.

ARMS is without doubt a mixed bag, but its laundry list of upside and paid-off risk-taking do render it worthwhile if you crave creative and purely fun local multiplayer on Switch.

Arms has a lot to love, and unfortunately, a lot to forget too. After a year of planned updates, I imagine the Arms we see a year from now will be a drastically different game. A fuller one, at that. In the meantime, though, while it has potential with layers of depth, the core game simply doesn't have enough variety among its many arms and fighters to keep the experience feeling fresh for long.