ARMS Preview
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For the latest updates on ARMS, be sure to check out our Game Hub. It collects every morsel of information we have on the site into one spot for easy access!
Meet Helix
Updated 4/28/17
ARMS Artwork & More
Updated 4/20/17
When ARMS was first unveiled for the Nintendo Switch back in January we weren’t sure what to make of it. On the one hand it represented a cool looking new franchise that could be a huge hit, but on the other hand most of us here at Nintendo Times aren’t huge into fighting games. However, the more we see of this unique battler the more we’re warming up to it. The graphic style is absolutely killer and the characters ooze style. We’re still not sold on the motion controls yet, but at least the game can be played with traditional buttons too.
A little over a week ago Nintendo of Japan opened an official ARMS Twitter account and has been posting little snippets of information, as well as screens and artwork. All of the tweets are in Japanese, but pictures speak a thousand words, right?
As revealed in the latest Nintendo Direct, the weaponry in ARMS can have elemental damage. What better way to ignite your foes than with a toaster?
Nintendo Direct Footage & New Screens
Updated 4/13/17
ARMS is Nintendo’s brand new IP that is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch. Previously announced as a Spring 2017 release, we finally got an official release date of June 16, 2017. That’s right, the game comes out the day after E3 ends this year, so expect to see this one on the show floor.
Much of the appeal of ARMS are the various load outs you can give your characters. You’ll be able to customize each fighter to your style of combat. There are different ARMS, such as Glove Type, Multi-Shot Type, Curve Type, and Heavy Type, to name a few. Each ARM will have special attribute, like Fire, Electric, Wind, or Ice (and even more). You can unlock new ARMS with in-game currency to keep things fresh and exciting.
When ARMS was shown off for the first time in January, the game looked fun, but now that we know more it looks fantastic! It merges various games like Punch-Out with Power Stone and even maybe a little bit of Overwatch with the characters.
The new video below goes into detail about all of these things and more! We’re loving the art direction and the idea of playing 4-player battles. We’ll have more as we get closer to launch, and be sure to punch the link to our preview page for more videos and screens.
One of the biggest features in the upcoming fighting game is the ability to equip two types of customizable ARMS per fighter. These ARMS range from standard gloved ARMS to curved weapons like boomerangs. Each ARM has a special attribute like fire, ice or electricity that activates when delivering a charge punch. As players fight through the game, they will earn in-game currency that can be used to play the ARM Getter, a fun mode in which they can get new ARMS for their fighters. The fast-paced game can be played in 1-v-1 matches or even 2-v-2* for more entertainingly chaotic battles. During the Nintendo Direct presentation, a new character was also revealed: the super-fast, ramen-armed Min Min. ARMS launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on June 16. In addition, special Neon Yellow Joy-Con controllers and Joy-Con Straps will be released separately on the same day alongside a Joy-Con AA Battery Pack accessory.
ARMS Weapons & Characters Trailers (English)
Updated 3/20/17
2 New Trailers (Japanese)
Updated 2/10/17
New ARMS Information From Famitsu
Updated 2/6/17
ARMS is one of the new pieces of intellectual property (IP) introduced during Nintendo’s Switch Presentation in January. It’s sort of a Punch-Out!! meets Virtual-On one-on-one fighting game. During its reveal and at hands-on events across the world, the game was playable by placing a Joy-Con in each hand and holding them vertically with the players’ thumbs pressing the top L & R buttons. Players could then simulate punching with the motion controls and slight turns of the wrist would allow for the fists to curve slightly to the left or right. When playing against another person, each player was shown using two Joy-Cons, so many thought the game would need a total of four Joy-Cons to play. This is not the case, as explained by the game’s producer Kosuke Yabuki:
During the Switch’s development, we were wondering how we could hold the Joy-Con to play games. Even though it supports the standard grip, the Joy-Con fits in your palms nicely if you tilt them. I thought, if we were to make a game that involved swinging the Joy-Con around, it should use that kind of grip. So, we decided to combine the prototype that became the basis for Arms with that grip style. And, since the internal sensors are more accurate, you can control it with much lighter movement, so I don’t think it will be that tiring. Since there will probably be some people who aren’t good at the physical controls, we made it possible to play using the buttons as well. They can use the buttons on the Joy-Con, or the Pro Controller. It is also possible to play using just one Joy-Con, so you can share the fun and play with others.
So far the playable demo for ARMS has featured five different characters, each with three different types of arm attachments. Mr. Yabuki confirms there will be more for the final release:
There will be more characters, with more arm types. What we have available today is just a portion of what will be available in the full game. You can look forward to more information gradually coming out as the release date approaches.
The entire game won’t just be focused around the standard one-on-0ne fighting that we’ve seen so far. When asked if there are other modes in the game, he teases:
There are many more that everyone can look forward to… but I can’t talk about them (laughs). Having only 1v1 matches in the online mode would be too exhausting, so there are other modes being prepared. However, the game is boiling down to 1v1 battles in the end, with them as the main focus and the other modes being on the side.
For the rest of this interview, be sure to check out Nintendo Everything.
Japan Stage Show (Japanese)
Updated 1/16/17
Treehouse Live Gameplay Footage
Updated 1/14/17
One of Nintendo’s new IPs shows at its Switch Presentation was ARMS. It’s a one-on-one fighting game that allows for precise motion control to take out your opponent. You can extend your arms to deal damage from a distance. Watch Nintendo’s Treehouse play and you might come away impressed.
Original Preview
ARMS is another game for the Nintendo Switch that utilizes the Joy-Con controllers in a new and innovative manner. Each player hold one Joy-Con in each hand vertically, as if gripping them. The Switch will then detect pushes and pulls and twists to recreate the moves in the game. This one-on-one fighter includes weapons that can be chosen to deal maximum damage.
ARMS aims to combine a boxing game and a shooting game in one. The fighters have “Go Go Gadget Arms!” extensions to put the squeeze on their rivals. Its highly stylized graphics look slick and the gameplay shown in the trailer looks like it could be a lot of fun. The only concern I have at this juncture is all of the movement needed to throw punches and do special moves. It might become tiresome rather quickly.
ARMS is scheduled to release this spring and it’s on my radar. At least it’s a new franchise!
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 midfiight 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!
FEATURES:
- Fight via simple motion and button controls – Grab onto your Joy-Con with a unique “thumbs-up” grip and use simple motions and button presses to outthink your opponent. Toss and curve punches when you find an opening, and dodge a flurry of incoming attacks. It’s fast-paced fun for everyone!
- Select from a variety of fighters – Select from brand-new fighting superstars like Ribbon Girl, Master Mummy, and more! Each fighter has their own special attributes to learn and master.
- Fight in arenas with unique obstacles – Throw punches around (or through) mysterious liquid-filled columns in a spooky laboratory, or in certain arenas, toss fighters onto trampolines for epic aerial skirmishes.
- Choose your arms carefully – Each weapon has its own strength. Some are slow and do tons of damage, while others are fast as lighting, but will only serve to set up larger combinations. It’s up to you to mix and match your arms to fit your play style.
Featuring a unique multiplayer fighting sport that lets players trade blows using extendable arms, this game includes elements of both boxing and shooting games, plus a new cast of characters. After customizing a character with a variety of arms, the player holds one Joy-Con in each hand and throws left and right punches at the opponent. Characters can jump and dash, and players can bend their punches by twisting their hands as they swing. As players learn the game and improve their skills, they will discover a deeper level of advanced tactics. Players can compete against the computer, against a friend on a split screen using a second set of Joy-Con (sold separately), against worldwide rivals online, or with two Nintendo Switch systems over a local wireless connection. ARMS will be available this Spring.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
