You’ve heard all about ARMS from us already, but why not take a look at what the critics are saying about the gameplay of this unique fighting title…

Motion controls work well

ARMS can be enjoyed with both motion based and button based controls schemes, so you can find the control method that works best for you, but many journalists have been quick to praise the precision and effectiveness of ARMS’s Joy-Con motion controls. Eurogamer compliment the Joy-Con, saying, “That a game released in 2017 with a focus on motion controls could feel this responsive is a feat in itself”

Deep gameplay

Journalists were also happy to discover that ARMS, in its variety of characters, customisation, and stages, offers a lot of depth in its gameplay. Eurogamer liken ARMS’s position to that of Splatoon; “It's a deeper game than you might have expected, and with Splatoon already demonstrating Nintendo's ability to put a twist on a popular genre, ARMS looks set to pull the same trick for fighting games.

Stuff add that while there is depth, the game is still easy to enjoy for people less immersed in the fighting game genre, “with such variety and depth built into it, there’s plenty on offer here both for people just looking to have fun with friends, and for those with a competitive streak.” Metro sums up their thoughts succinctly, saying “ARMS is a lot of fun, with far more to it than it first appears.”

Lots of fun modes

ARMS isn’t just about straight 1v1 fights, and this is something critics enjoy a lot. You can see these extra modes in the recent Nintendo Direct, but between V-Ball, Hoops, 1 vs. 100 and 2v2 fights, this led Stuff to remark "with such variety and depth built into it, there’s plenty on offer here both for people just looking to have fun with friends, and for those with a competitive streak."

A unique fighting game experience

Ultimately, though, the media were just impressed with how unique ARMS is. Eurogamer were big fans of the game’s style, stating “The presentation grabs you the second you pick up the controller and draws you into its world. It's a beautiful game.” Metro remarked that, “it’s certainly the most original and distinctive fighting game we’ve seen in years.”

Stuff were also happy to play something original, saying that the biggest compliment they could give ARMS was that “Nintendo has been willing to push the boundaries of a genre that has become complacent.”

Do these comments make you want to step into the ARMS ring as soon as possible? Well you may be able to play sooner than you think, thanks to the ARMS Global Testpunch early access demo! Click here for more information about how to get involved as soon as possible.

For those of you already prepared to play the demo, why not brush up on your theory by clicking here and checking our top tips for the ARMS Global Testpunch?

Get ready to come out swinging when the fast-paced fighter ARMS launches in shops and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on June 16th, only on Nintendo Switch! On the same day, the neon yellow Joy-Con Pair, neon yellow Joy-Con Straps and Joy-Con AA Battery Pack Pair accessory will also be available.

Ahead of the launch of ARMS on June 16th, only on Nintendo Switch, you can warm up and get an early taste of the action with the ARMS Global Testpunch early access demo! You'll be able to face off online* this coming weekend, Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th, at the specific times you see below.

You can get ready right now, so you can get scrapping straight away when the time comes. All you need to be able to take part is a Nintendo Switch, an internet connection, a Nintendo Account and the free** ARMS Global Testpunch software from Nintendo eShop. Need to create a Nintendo Account? We’ve got you covered. Simply head on over to the Create a Nintendo Account page and follow the instructions. Once you have that you can download the software from Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo Switch or via the ARMS gamepage***.

Then, if you want to scrub up on some hints and tips to ensure you’re swinging appropriately when you enter the ring, click here to check out our top five tips for the ARMS Global Testpunch!

Here's when everything's kicking – er...punching...? – off:

Saturday June 3rd

01:00 – 01:59 BST

13:00 – 13:59 BST

19:00 – 19:59 BST

Sunday June 4th

01:00 – 01:59 BST

13:00 – 13:59 BST

19:00 – 19:59 BST

See you there, fighting fans! Check out the ARMS website for more in-depth info about the game, and keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch Facebook page and Twitter account for further updates.

Get ready to come out swinging when the fast-paced fighter ARMS launches in shops and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on June 16th, only on Nintendo Switch! On the same day, the neon yellow Joy-Con Pair, neon yellow Joy-Con Straps and Joy-Con AA Battery Pack Pair accessory will also be available.

*Internet connection required during online play. The registration and linkage of Nintendo Account and acceptance of the Nintendo Account Agreement and Privacy Policy are required. Online services require a Nintendo Account. Starting this autumn, some online services will also require a paid subscription. Paid online service availability may be limited based on location. Find out more about the paid online subscription service.

**Broadband internet connection required. The registration and linkage of Nintendo Account and acceptance of the Nintendo Account Agreement and Privacy Policy are required.

***To be able to purchase download games or download demos and free software from Nintendo eShop on the official website, you'll need to have a Nintendo Account which is linked to your Nintendo Switch console. You'll need to have your console registered as the active console for downloads for your Nintendo Account by visiting Nintendo eShop on the device you wish to download on at least once. For automatic download, your system must be updated and connected to the internet with automatic downloads enabled, and it must have enough storage to complete the download. To find out more, visit our Support section. Purchases made or demo downloads activated through the Nintendo website are processed via Nintendo eShop.

Getting cold arms ahead of the big day? Worry not! The ARMS Global Testpunch gym is here to make sure you step into the ring swinging, and by swinging we mean swinging appropriately. While it’s easy to pick up the Joy–Con and have fun, there are some simple tricks you can employ that will make sure your battles are every bit as rad as possible.

Tip 1 – Punch Straight

First thing’s first, you’ve got to learn how to throw an arm. When using the Joy-Con to play ARMS it can be natural to twist your fist as you extend it forward, but this will cause your punch to curve in ARMS! To punch straight all you need to do is extend your fist forward with your hand remaining in the thumbs up position, this will ensure your punch flies straight and true and your opponent winds up black and blue (hopefully). Not that opponents are going to stay still and take a beating for long – you will need to curve your wrist in order to throw punches that predict movement, or even throw feints before following up with a straight blow against more fleet footed rivals, but acclimatising yourself to the particulars of punching early in your ARMS career will help no end!

Tip 2 – Don’t Flail

Learning to punch is one thing, but learning when to punch is another, and in ARMS if you flail you will fail. Focus on understanding your opponent’s technique and work out when you should be punching back. If your opponent punches a lot without caution you should think about evasive movement, or using your block to nullify their blows before answering with your own. If your rival has a tendancy to block too much you should encourage them to leave their shell with some friendly grabs. As for dealing with a grab, a straight jab will cancel that grapple attempt and maybe slug your adversary in the jaw to boot. Once you’ve got the fundamentals of combat down you can start to think about more ways to play precisely, such as the best times to unleash your Flurry Attack, or how to use the contours of each stage to your advantage.

3 – Stay Agile

Movement is key to success in ARMS. To move using the Joy-Con simply angle them together in the direction you want to shimmy. You can then use the L Button and R Button to Dash and Jump respectively. These two manouvres can help you dance around around the arena and even slip past an opponents punch at the very last second. Just remember to throw a punch or grab in return, the saying wasn’t simply ‘float like a butterfly’, was it? As an extra note, try not to be predictible in your movements. A little jig that moves both left and right can do wonders to throw your opponent off and stop them from just predicting your footwork with a well placed left hook.

4 – Charge up

Did you know that after a dash, landing from a jump, or holding block for a short amount of time time will charge up your ARMS? This is how you unleash your full offensive potential! There are a total of seven types of ARMS, and each type has its own effect when the arm is charged. All of these ARM abilities were detailed in the recent Nintendo Direct, which you can watch by clicking here. On top of giving you ways to deal more damage, keeping your ARMS charged also emphasises the importance of all that movement in the previous point…

5 – Experiment

The previous four tips are all good for starting out, but you’re only truly going to start on the road to ARMS mastery when you’re playing and, more importantly, experimenting. Try out every character to find the one that works for you, and mix up your ARM combinations between rounds to work out which fists fit the situation. There’s a lot to work out in ARMS, and that knowledge will only come with practise, so get in the ring and start swinging!

Those are our top five tips to get you started on the path to the top. Feel free to share your tips on social media using the hashtag #ARMS and #NintendoSwitch, we’ll be looking out for the best!

Ready to put these tips into action? Click here to find out how to get involved in the ARMS Global Testpunch early access demo!

Get ready to come out swinging when the fast-paced fighter ARMS launches in shops and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop on June 16th, only on Nintendo Switch! On the same day, the neon yellow Joy-Con Pair, neon yellow Joy-Con Straps and Joy-Con AA Battery Pack Pair accessory will also be available.