ARMS (game)

From ARMS Institute, the ARMS Wiki

This article is about the Nintendo Switch game. For other uses, see ARMS (disambiguation).

ARMS

US box art for ARMS
Developer(s) Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
Release date

2017-06-16
2017-06-16
2017-06-16
2018-04-12

Genre Fighting
Rating(s)

Everyone 10+
Twelve years and up
All ages
Parental guidance

Media Cartridge
Digital download
Download size 2.9 GB[1]

ARMS is a fighting game developed by Nintendo EPD exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. The game features professional boxer-like fighters who can attack each other from across an arena using weapons known as ARMS, which are attached to the ends of the fighters' extendable limbs, also known as ARMS.

ARMS was first revealed with a trailer in a Nintendo Switch presentation on 2017-01-12. ARMS was released on 2017-06-16 in North America,[2] Europe[3] and Japan.[4] On February 21, 2018, it was announced for a South Korean release on April 12, the same year.[5]

Gameplay

 
The ARMS title screen.

Each player controls one fighter from an over-the-shoulder third-person point of view. The game optionally takes advantage of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers' built-in motion controls, allowing players to throw punches, block and move around the arena by flicking or tilting the controllers. Using traditional button controls with a Pro Controller, a single Joy-Con held sideways, the Switch in handheld mode or simply pressing buttons on the Joycons (no grip required, the game won’t detect if the Joycons are in the grip) is also an option. The game is playable locally by up to 4 players on one system, up to 8 players and systems per lobby in local wireless and up to 10 systems with 2 players each in an online lobby. The game includes online party and ranked battle modes and local wireless mode.

Controls

Navigating Menus

Action Joy-Con
Handheld
Pro Controller
Sideways Joy-Con
Select   /  ( )  
Confirm    
Cancel    

In-game

Action Thumbs-up grip Buttons mode
Handheld
Pro Controller
Sideways Joy-Con
Rush   /     /     /  
Move Tilt both Joy-Con*    
Guard Turn both Joy-Con inward    
Change target  /   ( ) /     /  
Jump      
Dash      
Punch(R) Punch forward with Right Joy-Con   /    
Punch(L) Punch forward with Left Joy-Con   /    
Grab Punch forward with both Joy-Con  +  /  +    +  

*-The plural form of Joy-Con is the same as its singular form.

Game Modes

There are several game modes in ARMS. All modes are listed here.

 
A screenshot of the game's main menu as of version 2.0.0, showing all playable modes.

Version History

Main article: Updates

Version 1.0.0 (released 2017-06-16)
First public release.
Version 1.1.0 (released 2017-06-25)
Added LAN Play and Arena mode.
Version 2.0.0 (released 2017-07-12)
Added Max Brass and his ARMS, Sky Arena, Hedlok Scramble mode, Stats and Events, and many fixes.
Version 2.1.0 (released 2017-08-09)
Revamped Training mode and adjusted balance.
Version 3.0.0 (released 2017-09-13)
Added Lola Pop and her ARMS, Via Dolce, and many fixes.
Version 3.1.0 (released 2017-09-28)
Added Sparring Ring and adjusted balance.
Version 3.2.0 (released 2017-10-17)
Added Badges, a new challenger in Grand Prix mode, along with balances and fixes.
Version 4.0.0 (released 2017-11-15)
Added Misango and his ARMS, Temple Grounds, a Poison Atrribute, Party Crash mode, and many new Badges
Version 5.0.0 (released 2017-12-22)
Added Dr. Coyle and her ARMS, [NAME REDACTED], new Badges and more fixes.

Reception and sales

Reception
Aggregate Score
Aggregator Score
Metacritic 78/100[6]
Review Scores
Reviewer Score
Destructoid 7.0/10[7]
Eurogamer Recommended[8]
Famitsu 33/40 (8,8,8,9)[9]
Gamespot 7/10[10]
Gamesradar+ 4.5/5[11]
GameXplain Liked-A-Lot[12]
IGN 8.0/10[13]
Nintendo Life 9/10[14]
Time 4/5[15]
TrustedReviews 4/5 stars[16]

ARMS received generally positive reviews. Critics praised its simple, straightforward gameplay and its creative twist on the fighting genre, but some criticism was directed at its lack of content on release and its learning curve.

In its first month alone, ARMS sold 1.18 million units globally[17]. According to Nintendo's annual Financial Results Briefing 2017, ARMS sold 1.61 million as of December 31st, 2017[18].

As of July 31st, 2018 Arms has sold 2.01 million units worldwide [19].

As of December 2019, Arms sold 2.38 Million units worldwide [20]

Arms has sold 2.56 million copies world wide as of December 31th, 2020, influenced by Min Min's inclusion in Super Smash Bros Ultimate as the seventh downloadable character via the second Fighter's Pass volume.[21]

Cover gallery

External links

References

  1. Nintendo Today. "ARMS Download Size Revealed", retrieved on 2017-05-30.
  2. Nintendo of America. "ARMS – Nintendo Direct 4.12.2017", retrieved on 2017-05-02.
  3. Nintendo UK. "Nintendo Direct - 12.04.2017", retrieved on 2017-05-02.
  4. Nintendo Co., Ltd. "ARMS Nintendo Direct 2017.4.13", retrieved on 2017-05-02.
  5. Nintendo of Korea nintendo.co.kr
  6. Metacritic. [1], 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  7. Carter, Chris. Destructoid. [2], 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  8. Martinson, Robin. Eurogamer. 2017-06-07-arms-review, 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  9. Gematsu. "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1488", 2017-06-06, retrieved on 2017-06-06.
  10. Plagge, Kallie. Gamespot. [3], 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  11. Schilling, Chris. Gamesradar+. "ARMS Review: 'An Invigorating Blend of Graceful Movement and Slapstick Violence'", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  12. Segers, Andre. GameXplain. "ARMS - REVIEW (Nintendo Switch)", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  13. Graeber, Brendan. IGN. "ARMS Review", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  14. McFerran, Damien. Nintendo Life. "Review: ARMS", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  15. Peckham, Matt. Time. "'Arms' Is Weird, Wonderful, and Maybe the Perfect Switch Game", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  16. TrustedReviews. http://www.trustedreviews.com/arms-review "ARMS review", 2017-06-07, retrieved 2017-06-07.
  17. Nintendo Co., Ltd. Nintendo Consolidated Financial Earnings Report, 2017-07-26, retrieved 2017-07-26
  18. Nintendo Co. Ltd. Top Selling Title Sales Units
  19. Nintendo Co., Ltd. [4]
  20. 2020CESAゲーム白書 (2020 CESA Games White Paper). Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2020 ISBN 978-4-902346-42-8
  21. 2021CESAゲーム白書 (2021 CESA Games White Paper). Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2021 ISBN 978-4-902346-43-5