ARMS might be Nintendo’s best fighting game ever released. I’m an avid member of the Super Smash Bros . cult following, but the Nintendo Switch game with all the springs, trampolines and men made of goo might just usurp that throne. If you’ve picked up a copy and you’re still struggling to hook shots, grab enemies or combo properly, I might be able to help.
ARMS Tips And Tricks
It’s Not Wii Boxing- My favorite game on the original Wiii was Wii Sports. Just like every grandparent stuck in a retirement home, i loved being able to move around without actually going anywhere. When ARMS was first announced as a spiritual successor to my favorite mini game, I couldn’t believe it. Now that the game is finally out and I’ve got a few hours of play under my belt, I can say that this is definitely not Wii Boxing. ARMS is incredibly nuanced, a fighting game without a normal controller. Nintendo has somehow been able to reinvent the fighting game, and good golly it works.
Hooking Ain’t Easy- Trying to curve your fists of fury can be difficult and nearly impossible if you aren’t using the motion controls. Understanding which ways your fists are going to fly is an important part of ARMS . I found myself arching my body to one side when I played, which made my punches always curve to one side. If you are having problems aiming your fists, try adjusting the position you play in or keeping your controllers straight when you play.
Quick Is Better- ARMS has barely been out a few days and a meta has already started to form. Slower fighters, like Mechanica and Master Mummy just don’t hold up against quicker players, like Min Min or Ribbon Girl. That doesn’t mean these characters are essentially bad, a skilled ARMS veteran could easily whoop a newbie with any of the game’s nine playable fighters. Still, if you're new to the game and trying to find out who’s going to be your “main,” I recommend sticking to a Spring Man or a Ninjara.
Elements Matter- Each weapon has one of seven elements: fire, ice, wind, electric, stun, blind and explosion. Some elements have better effects than others, which you’ll find out quickly when you play. An electrical attack that stuns you for a few seconds, leaving you open to a grab or ultimate, is way better than a blind, which leaves some gunk on your screen like the squid powerup in Mario Kart.
Earning Gloves- Each fighter starts off with only a few weapons, but you can unlock more by earning points and going to the “Get Arms” mini-game. If you don’t have a lot of practice with the target practice mini-game, don’t waste your points just yet. If you can’t hit the broadside of a barn with your fists, you’ll just end up ending the 30-second event with nothing to show for it.
It’s A Fighting Game- At its core, ARMS is more like Mortal Kombat or Marvel Vs. Capcom than any other type of game. The control scheme, play style, and health bars have changed, but the competitive aspect is still the same. You're a spring-loaded fighter, ready to whoop anyone ballsy enough to stand in your circle. Like every fighting game, the only way to “get good” is to practice. If you want to be the best at ARMS, don’t get discouraged because of something small or because you keep losing.
How do you like ARMS? Tell us in the comments.
