With the Nintendo Switch launch rapidly approaching, Famitsu continues to highlight some of the new games coming to Nintendo’s upcoming hybrid console.
The latest issue focuses on Arms, the quirky boxing game that has a lot more going for it than just flailing your arms using the Joy-Con controls. In an interview with Arms producer Kosuke Yabuki -- translated by Nintendo Everything -- the origins of the game come to light, and we learn more about what players can expect when the game finally launches on the Nintendo Switch.
Yabuki explained how Arms came to be, revealing that it was not originally going to be a boxing game.
“No, it was not originally a concept for a boxing game. There are many fighting games, like Street Fighter or Super Smash Bros ., or even “3D fighters” like Tekken , where the game is viewed side-on. Since the beginning of fighting games, the side view has been the mainstream, but I’ve always thought, why couldn’t we do it a little differently? However, it can be difficult to gauge depth in games where the camera is behind you. So I was absolutely convinced that it would not be suited for fighting games, which require precise distance control. But the fact that your arms extend, and that it takes a bit of time for them to impact, makes it quite likely your attacks will succeed. My idea was to have the game’s tactics revolve less around whether your attack would hit or not, and more around the timing and delay between your attacks connecting. So in pursuing a new kind of fighting game where the camera is behind you and your arms extend, Arms was born.”
When Arms was first announced at the January Nintendo Switch event, there were three characters revealed with two more shown during the hands-on event in New York City. As to be expected, Arms will feature more than just the revealed characters.
“There will be more characters, with more arm types,” Yabuki said. “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.”
Yabuki went on to explain that there are three types of fighters: Speed, Power and Balanced, each with their own weaknesses and strengths. However, the types of arms equipped to each character can negate some of those weaknesses leading to some crazy strategies.
“For example, the Power-type Master Mummy has heavy attacks that can deflect almost any attacks thrown at himself. But if his opponent chose something like the Boomerang Arm, they could bypass his deflection by going around it.”
Yabuki had a very lengthy interview about all things Arms so be sure to check that out on Nintendo Everything.
Arms will release Spring 2017.
Are you excited for Arms ? Will this be the Splatoon of Nintendo Switch’s first year? Let us know in the comments section below.
