Gallery: Check Out Five Control Schemes for ARMS

Pro controller and handheld for me!
That said, I do enjoy using the joycons with the grips attached, is nice not having to have my arms together to play.

Nothing will compare to playing with the Joy-Cons

I will try the motion controls out, but I will more than likely go Pro controller because that's the way I like to play games.

Is ZR and ZL completely unused in JoyCon Grip, handheld, and Pro controller mode?

About what I expected. Still concerned about how controller player v. motion controller player will do.

Joy-Con for life.

I want to change the button layout!

I think ill try the motion controls. In the end it was the better choice in splatoon. Maybe its the same here.

And how do you curve your punches on a regular controller? still with motion controls? so many questions!

@Eddyson
Right stick

I'm hoping for my fellow commenters to reflect on how playable this will be in handheld mode. But it seems workable!

I like that they give so many options, but I can't find one I like.

I'd prefer the joycons for the fun factor, but I'd much rather move with the thumbstick. Movement looks like it could get confused with punching, blocking or grabbing their way.

Four the other 4, well I've used the bottom button to jump in almost every game I've ever played my entire life, mostly on PS1-4. And if the right button is right punch, shouldn't the left button be left punch. Putting dash at the top to dash towards your opponent would also seem to make directional sense.

I'm sure I could get used to any of these, but that's what I would prefer.

Up on the d-pad to change target instead of ZL, are they mental???

Hm...
Joy Cons of course.

I'd rather have fully customizable controls, but I'm sure I could get used to it. Motion controls for a workout, button inputs for when I'm more in chill (or competitive) mode.

@JaguarWong
Ehm how do you exactly use the right stick to curve your punches, if you are using the right buttons to make the punch??

Joycons seem like a no brainier to me... from all the hands on analysis I've heard/read, the motion is quite responsive, and it just looks fun!

@JaguarWong I actually do not believe you can, hence why the none motion control version is "gimped". And there's no mention of right stick use anywhere.

Change target function is a big question.

I just preordered it at my local Gamestop!

I'll stick with the Pro Controller for the Testpunch. But I'll probably try out motion controls once the full game hits in three weeks.

Pro controller. All. The. Way.

I want to support this game but I don't like the standard control scheme. I would prefer left and right trigger to be punch, rush attack to be left stick click, and guard to be something like R.

I hate that you have to click the thumbstick in to guard.

Hori Arcade Stick???

Motion Joy-Con. I have so much hype for this game, my energy can't be contained to thumbs alone.

I hope those controls are customiazble, because they seem really weird to me. Still not gonna play with motion controls, but it does seem like the optimal option as of now.

I'd probably be in a playing environment encouraging handheld mode rather than motion controls most of the time, so it's good to have variety. Although I expected left and right punch on shoulder buttons in the non-motion schemes.

Grabbing seems awkward with ALL control schemes, but other than that, Woot! Handheld mode looks super playable....starting to get some hype finally!

The article mentions "choosing different grips" for joycon mode, with "thumbs up grip" displayed in this screen. I don't see anything on that screen indicating the ability to show different grips. Are you sure there are different options,

@rjejr Bottom button to jump? I have the opposite problem. Splatoon 1 used X. Zelda uses X. So when I played the Splatoon 2 testfire I (and countless others) were just standing in place with the map open because we kept hitting X to Jump

I'm not really interested in this game, but as big a control scheme freak as I am I couldn't resist checking this out. And well...I don't understand it, tbh.
I don't understand why leave 3 out of 4 shoulder buttons unused while asking us to click in the stick to guard (sounds awful) and up on the D-Pad to change targets (even worse).
I honestly thought they would adopt this scheme only on single Joy-Con mode due to it not having the full suite of inputs, but it looks like I was wrong. They probably kept this control scheme in order to keep every "standard" controller the same and not give advantages to a player with the Pro Controller versus one with a sideways Joy-Con.
I personally would have done away with the single Joy-Con scheme (if that's the problem) and would have mapped the inputs like this:

Left stick: move
Right stick: curve punches
ZR/ZL: right/left punch
R: rush
L: guard
A: grab
B: jump
X: change targets
Y: dash

@iMarkU
Because you use the triggers to punch - from Eurogamer:
"As impressive as the motion controls are it's also possible to play Arms using a standard controller. In this configuration, you move your player using the left analog stick while attacking with the ZR and ZL or A and B buttons. The X and Y buttons allow you to jump and dash while your flurry attack is unleashed using L and R.

Blocking is assigned to a click of the left stick.

There is a sense of granularity available when punching using the motion controls that is difficult to replicate using the analog stick. Curving punches feels less natural and the game just isn't as engaging in this mode. "

@Nintendoforlife
See above

It's the individual joy-con controllers that are gimped.

Motion controls will be the better way, like in Splatoon, and i'm going to embrace it for sure. I learned in Splatoon how much motion controls are good in this kind of situations, and i'm never going to turn back from it

@FGPackers Splatoon can use the motion controls in handheld mode, though. This can't

@JaguarWong Thanks for posting that. That makes sense that not all mappings are shown here if they're duplicate functions. Shame about curving, but it makes sense.

@clvr They can't get rid of single joycon for this game. The tabletop mode "arcade anywhere" concept of Switch with controllers for two players is going to be one of the big selling features for the game/system.

@Eddyson And how do you curve each punch separately with any of the more traditional controller options, especially if both hands are shot off and roughly the same time?

Somehow, I get the feeling that twinsticks of either variety would be a handicap... And single JoyCon is probably the game's built-in hard mode control option. Considring that they're supposed to be more accurate than the Wii MotionPlus, dual-wielding JoyCons is pretty much the only way to go.

@NEStalgia Did not consider this because i will never play this in handheld. I don't think this game should be played in handheld. This will be (with Splatoon) one of the games i will only play with docked Switch

I've always planned 100% handheld styleé!

I was hoping to use my Balance Board along with a Power Glove and zapper... Where's the love Nintendo?

@NEStalgia I get that, but I think that not all games should support it just because they can. I mean, if you have to gimp the control scheme in order to allow 2-player mode right out of the box, maybe you shouldn't implement it at all.
Some games can do just that (I'm looking at Mario Kart and SSB, for example), but games which require more inputs shouldn't be compromised like this in my honest opinion.

I really want to try motion controls. If I can adapt to them, I'll go for Pro Controller.

Personally I was hoping for the triggers to be used for left and right punch in portable mode and with the Pro controller. Perhaps the controls will be reconfigurable, but I doubt it.

@JaguarWong Ah, you're right, I missed John's hands on piece on Eurogamer. I wonder why it isn't shown in the diagrams?

I'm gonna use split JoyCons, at least initially. It kinda seems like that's how the game is meant to be played, and curving punches looks a lot more natural that way.

@JaguarWong Are you positive? and nice profile pic

@impurekind Thank you! and is there an option to change button layout? As the triggers could be used for blocking instead of putting it on a click of a stick, YIKES!

I'll likely try all the control schemes to see which fits me best.

@Eddyson
Actually, looking again, it doesn't actually say 'right' stick - just stick - so I guesss it COULD be the left one...

Why isn't guard just on L?

Stuff magazine:
"While using the shoulder buttons for punching works perfectly fine, pushing in the analogue stick for blocking feels awkward. Not to mention that it’s substantially more difficult to curve your shots with the analogue stick than it is with motion controls."

@FGPackers Since it's a summer time release I spend most of my gaming time either on the go or just "enjoying the great out doors"....or at least a gamer's take on doing so Previously, that meant 3DS. This year that means Arms, Splatoon, and Disgaea under the fresh air So I'll be mostly playing handheld exclusively for the first few months (and then by Fall I'll be glued to Skyrim and XC2 hopefully )

@clvr Yeah, I do agree it isn't necessary for all games. But this is one of the handful of games that scream out it NEEDS to support that. I mean if I were to imagine a perfect game for plopping down a console and breaking off two controllers ant random, it would look pretty much like Arms or Kart. Moreso than Splatoon with the large arenas, this game is all about the 1v1, so it's just perfect for people that want to play it that way. (I don't intend to play it that way, but more than almost any other game, even more than Kart, I immediately picked up on the utility of that when they first announced this game.) It's definitely a game they were right to figure out how to make that work. A lot of people, I'm sure especially in Japan, would have been disappointed if it didn't support that.

I will use Pro but I do not like the button layout on any of those. Guard looks weird there but it could work since your opponent is not close to you so you should have time to react, but still cumbersome.

Anyway, not long till Friday so we will see.

Single Joy-Con play? SOLD!

@NaviAndMii
It's gimped, sadly - no punch curving

@JaguarWong Ahhh...that's a shame! Thanks for the heads-up

Do you actually need to push down on the L3 button to block? Is that what I'm seeing? If so that will suck.

The button controls better be just as good (or better) than the motion controls or I'm out.

@SuperWeird Yes you need to presh the left trigger to block, and no the motion controls are superior to the button as pointed out by multiple news outlets. (Its mostly in the curved punches).

@rjejr
Yeah it boggles my mind that there isn't a motion option with the left thumbstick for moving your character.

I would probably be using either Joy-Con or Handheld mode for serious competition myself, but I can guarantee you that I would be using the motion controls quite a bit when I am casually playing with friends!

@rjejr I can see where you're coming from. For me it took me hours to get used to breath of the wild having x as jump. I'm hoping for remappable controls but I won't get my hopes up too high as Nintendo rarely gives players complete control over button layout ala Smash Bros. I'm not a huge fan of clicking in the stick for guard because I find that clicking in the stick is too inconsistent for me, especially for important moves like guarding

Oh the default "thumbs up" motion scheme is gonna be perfect, no question. It just looks so natural. And fun! The reflex time in simply titling right or left to move or punching to throw blows will be instantaneous.

I wouldn't wanna play any other way. This is, finally, another great example of mature, current gen motion married with traditional buttons. It's about time too. I love Nintendo games that nail the motion/button hybrid arrangement. Splatoon... Pikmin... now Arms...

But in scenarios where I can't set up tabletop on the go, I'm glad there's a zillion other options.

@Oat "I'm not a huge fan of clicking in the stick"

I've never been a fan of clicking in any sticks. I bought a lot of cheap 3rd party controllers over the years and clicking in the stick always worried me about breaking them. And a lot of those cheap controllers broke. Maybe all of them. To this day I dont' think I've ever played w/ a N64 controller that didn't have a busted stick, though I never owned 1 myself.

My kids and I never guard though in any game, we don't play online, just among ourselves and w/ friends, so I imagine when we get this we'll never guard. Probably never grab either, just a lot of punching. And I'll only be jumping when I don't want to, nto when I want to. It's like DKCR on Wii all over again. (Can't remember what that move was, but something always worked weird for me in that game having to do w/ the motion controls) So my kids will probably get good at ARMS, I'll just be a punching bag.

I'll let handheld and pro controller decide whether I buy ARMS. While motion control joy-con sounds like the "best" control method, I want Switch games I can play anywhere, not games that are limited to TV only or handheld only.

Will probably try motion controls from time to time but will usually use buttons most of the time.

@Grumblevolcano Same!

@rjejr I never had a click stick break the clicking. X360 controlers broke their centering spring non-stop but it had nothing to do with clicking Gamepad did the same but after lots of Bayo/Splatoon abuse. My problem with stick clicks is that I click it when I don't want to as I have a death grip on controllers.

Ugh, DKCR motion: The stupid ground pound and/or roll.

I think it'll be fun to try with motion controls and I'm glad we've got the option of other control schemes. In handheld and pro controller mode is it down for guard or trigger down?

I really want to be able to remap my punches to ZL / ZR.....

L buttons should have been the button to use when blocking

Just like the old saying goes: if you have 5 control schemes, you have no control scheme.

YES!!!! TRIGGER PUNCHING!!!!!

"As impressive as the motion controls are it's also possible to play Arms using a standard controller. In this configuration, you move your player using the left analog stick while attacking with the ZR and ZL or A and B buttons. The X and Y buttons allow you to jump and dash while your flurry attack is unleashed using L and R. Blocking is assigned to a click of the left stick. It works well enough but feels less engaging than the dual stick motion control setup. There is a sense of granularity available when punching using the motion controls that is difficult to replicate using the analog stick. Curving punches feels less natural and the game just isn't as engaging in this mode. Still, it's great to have the option and it's likely that different players will find their own preference."

• EURO GAMER HANDS ON

Is nice of Nintendo to give us options and to not force motion controllers to consumers. They have learn. But to be fair it looks like motion controllers are the ideal way to play.

Five control schemes? The "Grip" and "Pro Controller" schemes are identical. Four!

@NEStalgia "The stupid ground pound and/or roll."

Yeah, I'm almost positive that was it. I kept rolling off of the end of platforms when I was trying to ground pound. Or maybe it was blow the flowers. I just remember rolling off of edges. Repeatedly.

completely forgets about reading article and seeing the other images

Ok how is a jpg image moving? lol

@rjejr I know what you mean. Oh and it was the roll that you had to shake the wiimote in DKCR. Luckily when they ported it to the 3ds they made it a button press

The Change Target buttons in thumbs-up mode and single-joycon mode seem... ill-advised. Why not use ZL and SL instead of having to use your middle finger stretched around the joycon (with the wrist strap on, it's a little too big for that) or using the pad of your hand to press in the side of the controller (which you're probably going to press in on accident anyway)?

I'm actually really intrigued, though.

Excellent to see conroller options.

I'll probably play handheld the most because that is how I typically play the switch anyways. If a buddy comes over then I'll just single joycon it like I do when playing Mario kart with friends.

Pretty sure the left stick is used for both moving and curving punches. I don't think it's possible to move and curve punches at the same time with any control scheme.

Thumbstick to guard is a little ridiculous. For single joycon I get it but they could at least have it be ZL for everything else

@NEStalgia Splatoon 1 used X

I had a hard time getting used to jumping in Splatoon. It was weird to read that they changed it for Splatoon 2. HAven't had a chance to try it out they though.

Did I tell you I sat on a couch for about 15-20 minutes just moving the Joycon around in my hand, never could get used to the feel, I'll really need a Pro controller for Mario and XC2.

Maybe Nintendo can make a Fidget Spinner attachment for the Joycon, then everybody will buy them.

@rjejr It's like getting used to Playstation after Nintendo. "A" is ok, "B" is cancel. Wait what do you mean "X" on the bottom is ok and "Circle" on the right is cancel? Messes me up every time I switch to a game on the opposite platform. Looks like X is the official jump button on Switch...except, inexplicably, for Splatoon. I hope they include an option to change it like Zelda did.

Joycons seem to be a thing that they either work in your hands or don't. Some people seem to not find them comfortable at all. I personally love them still. They're not perfect, but neither is the pro, or the DS4. pro comes close though. I'm going to get those battery clips though to see if it can make them more perfecter.

Switch is a handheld to me, and I'm uninterested in motion gimmicks. I hope the handheld controls are solid

@gatorboi352 That's not a saying at all, of any age.

Ugh. So many bad choices. Click the joystick in to guard? Can't curve punches while moving while not using motion controls? Why not use the Right joystick for that? It feels to me that the traditional controls will be gimped. I wouldn't mind this as much if I wan't going to be playing this on the go, where I wouldn't want or couldn't use motion controls.

@PanurgeJr yeah. It's called a joke. Step away from your NDF ways and smell the flowers.

@gatorboi352 Yeah (note the capitalization). It's called trolling. Step away from your lazily resorting to the NDF insult and smell the flowers.

For me there's only one true way to control it and that's control scheme #1...