a slightly inept gamer playing ARMS

 

ARMS is the newest Switch release from the team behind Mario Kart 8. Their previous game is probably the only racing game I've bought in years, because it’s easily the most accessible racer and the best for having a multiplayer laugh. ARMS is their entry in a genre that I find completely inaccessible, the fighter...

Even Smash Bros, Nintendo's family friendly take on the punch-em-up is a game that I fooled myself in to thinking I could play only to then go online and get my ass kicked repeatedly.  At one point yesterday I had a similar reaction to ARMS, encountering three opponents in a row who were bound to be laughing at me as I took a beating and barely sneaked in a hit. This purchase was looking like a tortuous mistake.

Thankfully my luck improved and I came up against some folk as average as me. Or maybe I got a lot better, but I doubt it. It’s a game of boxing, all about dodging and swinging punches. Those punches happen to come from Mr Fantastic style extendable arms with a range of gloves that shock, burn freeze or just generally slap the fudge out of your opponent. The extendable arms set it apart from Wii Boxing, that game which turned into a farcical swinging of Wii-motes until someone tired first. With your rival usually kept at a distance you’ll find yourself constantly moving and trying to avoid attacks as much as getting your own hits in. That movement is why I like it and why I think I might be able to avoid embarrassment online.

Multiple matches went down to the wire and the feeling of claiming a win when I was one punch away from defeat is a beautiful thing. Some fights had me unloading fists in a flurried frenzy whilst others had me retreating from a stronger attacker, timing my punches and throws better in a battle of wits. Some fights had me doing a bit of both but no fight ever felt the same.

Then I played some local matches against my wife who just so happens to be the most competitive being I’ve ever known. What started as “ill play your new game if you make the dinner,” turned into about ten rounds across the various modes of victories, defeats and gnashed teeth. I was not immediately better than her. Even when I did win it felt close. She got punches in and cheered, I retaliated and she swore. It was all really good fun.

Apart from the standard fights there’s also versions of volleyball and basketball which change things up and provide more chuckles. The fighters all have unique traits but I haven’t picked a favourite yet because they’re all so well designed. Each character is like something from a Saturday morning cartoon and the games visuals are a colourful blast to the eyeballs. It’s a charmer and a looker.

All in all I’m really impressed so far. The point of this not-really-a-review though was to say that it’s an easy one to pick up and play, even if you’re normally rubbish at the likes of Street Fighter/Injustice. I’ll still get my face punched in repeatedly but I’ll be enjoying the flip out of it regardless. Unless my wife gets on a real winning streak, can’t be coping with that.