• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Arms Review Thread

nynt9 said:
Considering we just got 2 fighting games that already have a large amount of content AND are getting post-launch updates, it's easy to see how one can think Nintendo should have waited and beefed up the base game a bit more.
Click to expand...
I honestly doubt that would have changed very much and probably harmed it. A lot of it's problems are the controls so it would have always been mixed difference is it'd now have to compete with fall titles or early q1 titles rather than the relative lack competition it has now and launch window appeal.
 
ARMS performs well as a new take on a well-worn genre, even if some of its elements aren’t as revolutionary as billed. The motion controls aren’t effective in the least and the Grand Prix mode is sure to raise the player’s blood pressure, but there’s enough fun mixed with the frustration for content-starved Switch owners to have a good time. ARMS may grab your interest for a while, but more complex fighters on other consoles are going to take some of that attention away pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

So the game doesn't have much in the way of single player content and even those willing to look past that are saying you'll have your fill of the gameplay pretty quick? That's disheartening to hear. I mean I could understand if this were a launch title but we really need some more beefy and mainstream experiences on the Switch besides Zelda.

Beyond that, the fighting genre has moved past thin single player offerings. This sounds like a get a third game free, Black Friday pickup to add to my list.
 
has there been story mode in a fighter that wasnt disjointed and also terrible?
its kind of difficult to pull off when the entirety of your gameplay is the same as the multiplayer fights.
 
Reading through reviews I think most of them agree that the game is fun and Nintendo pulled a nice spin-off into the fighting genre but it will be pretty empty at launch from content point of view.
 
Glad it turned out well. Still not interested enough for Day 1 though. I'll wait for some updates to drop before purchasing.
 
RRockman said:
I'll never really get the need for more story content in a fighting game. Maybe its because I'm old school, but if the core gameplay is great and not easily busted, I'll be there guaranteed. Is there a general aversion to Arcade type games nowadays?
Click to expand...

Well, compare it to other recent arcade fighting type games on Metacritic. Injustice 2 @ 88, Guilty Gear Xrd @ 87, Tekken 7 @ 82. All slightly better than where Arms is currently standing, but we're still waiting for more reviews. It's been a long time since we've seen a fighting type game over 90 though.
 
This is about exactly what I was expecting. Reviewers like the concept, but there's not enough of it I guess. With the Testpunch and these reviews, I think people know exactly if it's for them or not.

Very similar to Splatoon. Getting some news about updates during Nintendo Directs will be fun.
 
Altairax15 said:
has there been story mode in a fighter that wasnt disjointed and also terrible?
its kind of difficult to pull off when the entirety of your gameplay is the same as the multiplayer fights.
Click to expand...

Lol, I hear Injustice 2's Story Mode was neat, part of the reason its score is so high. But yea, it's always been a reason why I've never been that excited over Story Mode for fighting games. That said, you look at these colorful characters, and you can't help but wish Nintendo tried something I suppose.
 
KingSnake said:
Reading through reviews I think most of them agree that the game is fun and Nintendo pulled a nice spin-off into the fighting genre but it will be pretty empty at launch from content point of view.
Click to expand...

I sincerely think it lack "just" (to me is important, but honestly my score couldn't be that influenced by this element) are the ending cut scene/videos for each character when you finish the Tournament/Arcade mode.
 
pswii60 said:
Well, compare it to other recent arcade fighting type games on Metacritic. Injustice 2 @ 88, Guilty Gear Xrd @ 87, Tekken 7 @ 82. All slightly better than where Arms is currently standing, but we're still waiting for more reviews. It's been a long time since we've seen a fighting type game over 90 though.
Click to expand...

It's not doing bad at all for a very different fighting system and unothordox control scheme (including non-motion).
 
Lifeline said:
Almost everyone is complaining of a lack of content.



Are you seriously trying to do a last of us vs arms argument? Wtf.
Click to expand...
who? this inst a splatoon empty game at all.

you still haven't listed how much content is in ARMS to qualify that it is barren. and yest I beat last of us in 3 days, the story was the only content, and I see no replay value after it. I just like to see what people thoughts are on what is enough content
 
Charamiwa said:
This is about exactly what I was expecting. Reviewers like the concept, but there's not enough of it I guess. With the Testpunch and these reviews, I think people know exactly if it's for them or not.

Very similar to Splatoon. Getting some news about updates during Nintendo Directs will be fun.
Click to expand...

It literally is splatoon, I think the game will be outstanding over time, it's also fun enough to make me want to come back for new updates when they arise which is important
 
commish said:
Serious question - why would you not want all content in the game at release?
Click to expand...

well I was in for Splatoon on day 1 and I've gotta say the content rollout strategy for that game was a lot of fun. there was also a difficulty curve in how they released content, the more advanced maps came later. so it lets the community gradually grow together. also it's fun to go online and play right after something drops and experience the community learn something for the first time at the same time.
 
Blunoise said:
who? this inst a splatoon empty game at all.

you still haven't listed how much content is in ARMS to qualify that it is barren. and yest I beat last of us in 3 days, the story was the only content, and I see no replay value after it. I just like to see what people thoughts are on what is enough content
Click to expand...

I know you want to defend Arms and all, but just read the reviews, and the majority of them comment on the light amount of content. I think you are in the minority here.
 
Currently at 80 on MC. This is almost exactly what I was expecting. It'll settle in the high 70's/low 80's. Can't wait to get my copy next week.

Edit - 78 now, with 11 new reviews added within like two minutes lol
 
Totakeke said:
For most fighting games I would say it's the main factor. Injsustice 2 SP mode is an exception to the rule.
Click to expand...
Netherealms have set the bar for SP content in fighters for a quite a while now and I personally believe that more fighting game devs should strive to improve themselves rather than keep to the status quo. Genres change and evolve and imo, the fighting game genre has been stagnating for quite some time now and I applaud Netherealms for their effort.
 
videogamer.com said:
Arms can dole out a battle of wits one minute, and a frustrating button masher the next.
Click to expand...

Did anyone's battle ever devolve into a button mashing contest? I found that there's nothing less effective than just mashing buttons, in fact.
 
I played two test punches and I liked it, but I wasn't very eager to participate on the other testpunches. Splatoon 2 is where it's at for me.
 
I'm a big Virtual-On fan, and definitely got a similar feeling from the Test Punch. I'm HOPING that won't mean a similar skill-gulf between normal and advanced players. I think that could be one of the few risks to longer-term community around the game.

That gulf can signal a truly great set of mechanics, but end up cutting off a community at the ankles because the matches are so demoralizing to fresh faces. I'm hoping they're being extra careful with matchmaking.
 
Despite the immense pressure I feel to get our review up today to meet the embargo rush, I'm holding off. Online is dead, and even after the Testpunch, I refuse to post final thoughts until I spend ample time testing the mode that I know will give this game the most life.

Anyway, comicbook / WWG will have a review in progress going up soon.

(I love the game, by the way, and I really came around to standard controls for competitive play)
 
After Splatoon, I trust Nintendo to roll out great content over a long period of time which will hopefully keep things feeling fresh and interesting, so I'll be picking this up on release.

Hopefully Nintendo do not break that trust. If they do, the drip feed of content will not be a viable strategy for them long term.
 
commish said:
I know you want to defend Arms and all, but just read the reviews, and the majority of them comment on the light amount of content. I think you are in the minority here.
Click to expand...

Again, it's a fighting game. Are we judging the content by simply what's available? Then you don't need reviewers to tell you that, it has a SF style arcade mode, online play, ranked play, 10 fighters, 30 arms, 10 stages. That's it. You can call that light on content for sure, but it depends what you expect out of fighting games.

If the question is how much time does one think they can spend on the game? I think that question depends on how enjoyable or deep you think the game is.
 
teeny said:
After Splatoon, I trust Nintendo to roll out great content over a long period of time which will hopefully keep things feeling fresh and interesting, so I'll be picking this up on release.

Hopefully Nintendo do not break that trust. If they do, the drip feed of content will not be a viable strategy for them long term.
Click to expand...

How frequent was the Splatoon content schedule?
 
I remember Splatoon having updates pretty early on after launch. Hopefully Arms gets the same treatment rather than a more staggered release schedule. It being so close to Splatoon 2 though means I'm probably not going to get this game any time soon. I don't have many friends with Switches and I'm already pretty bad with fighting games so I think I'll pass.
 
Man, bummed to hear that the GP doesn't have individual win stories for each character like Mortal Kombat or any other fighting game.
 
commish said:
I know you want to defend Arms and all, but just read the reviews, and the majority of them comment on the light amount of content. I think you are in the minority here.
Click to expand...
I mean tekkn also has a light amount of content according to that which is true but also roughly the average amount of content a fighting game has as they''re not known for content.

We already know pretty much exactly how much content there is and many have played most of it. It'a wasn't exactly a secret so they're free to make up their own opinion on that.
 
Can you do a single event against the AI? Like a versus CPU mode, separate from the grand prix, where you can choose your opponent and your arena?
 
Blunoise said:
who? this inst a splatoon empty game at all.

you still haven't listed how much content is in ARMS to qualify that it is barren. and yest I beat last of us in 3 days, the story was the only content, and I see no replay value after it. I just like to see what people thoughts are on what is enough content
Click to expand...

You realize TLOU has an expansive multiplayer mode that's actually super great, right?

People who want a single player experience might find arms lacking, since fighting game stories have a high standard now.
 
I'm okay with the game being light on extras if the core is beefy enough. It's a fair criticism to be sure, but it's just not a big deal to me.

This sounds like a little bit more than an arcade game's worth of modes and functionality, that's all I'm really needing here.
 
I had a lot of fun with it. The Test Punch completely changed my opinion of the game. I went from "This is going to be a gimicky Wii Boxing sequel" to "This is the funnest fighting game I have ever played" after playing a couple rounds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Saros | Review Thread
Review  8 9 10 11 12
586
3K
ByWatterson replied
Mina the Hollower | Review Thread
Review  2
95
1K
gundalf replied
REPLACED | Review thread
Review 
23
1K
AJBungah replied
Motorslice | Review Thread
Analysis Review  2
77
1K
Guilty_AI replied
Invincible VS | Review Thread
Analysis Review 
0
354
Draugoth replied
Top Bottom