Round Up: The First Impressions Of 'Drag x Drive' For Switch 2 Are In

i understand not judging a book by its cover, but this game just looks unfinished and grim to me.

its so boring to me because it doesnt have any appealing colors to me. 90% of the color palette is just the color grey.

For me its not appealing, this should be packed in for free together with the "tour guide"
To understand what the switch 2 is capable of.

I would think like ARMS, the game will have standard controls too. Surely it has to, so it can be played in handheld mode?

The only thing that concerns me is the lack of stadiums being shown. Hopefully there's huge arenas with fans, as well as a lot of character and wheelchair customisation.

I love the look of this, but I think Nintendo needs to make it free at some point to really drag players on board, so to speak. I think it has the potential to be switch 2's rocket league if done this way and with continued support. Although the idea of it hurting to play after some time is worrying.

I have to take care of my joints anyway, so this is a big no for me.

How much will this cost?
I guess this will flop. It’s strange that this is one of the games Nintendo gave so much attention to in the direct. Honestly surprised this was even given the green light for development.

This looks like one of the most intuitive games I have ever seen. I hope it's as inclusive and accessible as it looks. As much as I'm all about the gameplay, it's a shame they haven't given it the Arms treatment and given wheelchair sports enthusiasts something to be proud of. It's just lacking that sense of...I dunno...celebration. Or maybe just a bit more colour would have been nice.

It seems like a failed proof of concept, but I mean I didn't play it.

I feel like this game would just exhaust most who play it. Unless you have to use a wheelchair in real life you just aren't likely to have the muscles to do those actions over and over for long periods. Also I bet it is a noisy game to play as well, sliding the joycons up and down on a table.

Add all that to the most bland and lifeless looking presentation and this will be an awful seller.

It truly looks like a playable concept rather than an actual product.

A hard pass.

What's confusing is that Nintendo could've easily just made a wheelchair basketball game and made it bright and colorful with expressive Mii-like characters playing in a park or beach or city court.

Whoever gave the idea to use Tron as the theme, deserves to sit in a corner and think about what they did.

@Erigen That is exactly where I am. It looks like a really cool idea with all the joy sucked out of it.

I really hope they flesh this out into a good full game that gains enough traction to sustain an online community for the life of the Switch 2. If only as wheelchair sports get no love and just seeing this game may help to break down some barriers and stigma around para sports in general. I’m surprised this isn’t mentioned much.

Looks boring to me. Even ARMS had interesting characters.

Drag and drive and the tech demo should have both been free with the system. That's the only way I would have seen this game become a hit.

As many have said before, there is potential for something interesting here, but the presentation is just so boring.

@Erigen
It’s shocking how flavorless this looks, just incredibly bland and 2007 era Unreal Engine 3 looking.
@LikelySatan
Demonstrates how whatever the mouse concept is If this is how they wanted to sell us on it, Wii Sports this most certainly isn’t. I stand by my thinking that the mouse was thrown in to placate the old guard who might have pushed back on Switch 2 being iterative.

Can’t for wait for the article 5 years titled “Soapbox: Drag x Drive didn’t deserve to fail”

ARMS is WAAAAY.... Much better than that Drag x Drive.
Bring back cartoonish Boxing game for Switch 2 !

My issue with it is that the game lacks charms. I think it would had done better if they just reskin it with a Mario makeover.

"Drag X Drive (said as Drag and Drive)"

I hate this from the darkest recesses of my soul.

The more I think about this game, the more unpleasant it seems to be gameplay wise. I may get it on sale one day, if it ever gets a decent enough sale, but as of yet I'm really not sold on this one. It definitely doesn't even have the charm that ARMS had.

I get a feeling this is quite an early build. Nintendo are known for just using simple shapes to sell a proof of concept as far as play styles are concerned, they rarely go down the path of CGI trailer bullshots…Splatoon started life as blocks of tofu for example. I’ll wait until I see later footage to pass judgement.

Looks so bland to me!

If this was in a sports compilation package it would look neat. Otherwise it just gives Project Giant Robot vibes. A novel play style with no deeper thoughts into building out a game.

Hum I see a lot of people comparing it to ARMS which makes it look way disappointing because ARMS had color and style, but I don't feel like this is the same.

To me this is just another Tech demo and ARMS was a new IP. I doubt any of these drag and drive characters even have names.

I see tons of workout games now. And maybe a sequel to Senran Kagura at some point ha.

@Zaruboggan Yeah, why they didn't use «&» in the title? Lol.

@Dazman So it should be free to drag players on board and then drive them to make the purchase? I see what you're doing there.

Christopher Reeves’ Pro Skater

Is it anyone's fantasy to be in a wheelchair, and feel excruciating pain in their arms? I don't think this will sell.

@OorWullie Hopefully there are standard controls because with a game about wheelchair basketball I’d hope that there’d be accessibility options so anyone could play.

The players need to have faces and personalities. This looks soulless and very non-Nintendo.

Should honestly be free with the console

@tobsesta99 that defeats the whole point of this game.. you arent actually playing if you aint actually doing this

The more I think about it the more I think this would have been much better as part of a new Mii Sports game. I want to give it a go, but it doesn’t look like a huge amount of content so far and I’m just not confident it’ll find and retain it’s audience as an online multiplayer game.

Also, yeah how do I play if I’m in handheld mode or somewhere I’m unable to do the mouse controls?

@WiltonRoots it’s out Summer this year, this is how it’s going to look at release. Unless they delay it.

So you can't even play it on the train or relaxing? 😑 You HAVE to use mouse mode??

Hard pass for me, looks far too painful to play lol

@ChakraStomps Accessibility options literally just make the game playable to more people though. There’s rarely any wheelchair basketball games out there so what’s the point of forcing the mouse control scheme and alienating players who can’t use it due to a physical disability or something similar?

Looks like garbage, no intention to purchase an unfinished looking game for $80

I just want another 1080 Snowboarding….

Giving the game for free would be a bad idea I believe...there are people that for some weird reason are just uncomfortable seeing this kind of sports or even worse they flat out don't like to see disabled people. And playing the game seems that it might be physically painful for some, which just works as bait for silly lawsuits.

This whole game just sounds like so many previous Nintendo concepts (Wii Music, Everybody 1-2 Switch, the entire Wii U) that while neat and innovative, where so interested in seeig if they could do it that they never bothered to think if they should do it.

I'm a fan of new ways to play and arts imitating life, and always will be, so kudos for even trying something like this.

I just don't know why they made this look so bland and dystopian. I love the concept but the art direction is really lacking in my opinion. I can see some people taking one look at this and passing just because of the design

Conceptually I think this is a fun idea, but in practice it kind of just doesn't look appealing at all. Looks like a hastily-made tech demo they're charging money for, like this would've been a single minigame in Nintendoland.

Clearly this is inspired by Rocket League, but without understanding what made Rocket League work.

Looks shallow, boring and crap to me. Hopefully Nintendo will show more modes and/or other sports. Otherwise I feel it will become monotonous rather quickly.

Interesting, but seems almost like a pre-vis? Like, there's no personality whatsoever?

$80 mario kart world is looking better every day!! this looks souless!! wtf nintendo?!?!

@WiltonRoots We were never shown the tofu. Splatoon was revealed as what we have. This was revealed this way. This is what you are getting lol.

I’m just sad that this game existing (and likely not selling well) probably means we’re not getting a new Mario 3-On-3 Hoops anytime soon… Which is unfortunate as it’s one of my most wanted Mario Sport titles (along with baseball- Mario Superstar Sluggers) and the Switch doesn't have many arcade style basketball games smh.

As for this, while it seems like a cool concept- I’m over motion-control only games for the most part. Also agree the art style could use more colour and variety.

Dual mouse controls have a lot of potential, for example the bullet hell game in Welcome Tour has a level where you control two UFOs at once, one with either hand. And it sounds challenging because you’re used to focusing on one character/cursor with one hand mousing. Imagine what the Ikaruga or Touhou devs could do with a control option like this guaranteed by the platform.

This game on the other hand, strikes me as overcomplicating what should be simple actions like moving forward, turning or dunking. I could check it out but it would have to be a really budget title, or a candidate for game sharing.

@Ogbert We shall see...in my eyes it all looks quite embryonic right now.

I already get hand pain from working on my computer all day,,, think I’ll be skipping this and any other mouse intensive games sadly:/

@WiltonRoots ok but I’m telling you it’s scheduled for Summer, that is a few months away, you don’t just turn around a whole new art style in a couple of months. You also don’t reveal and demo a game with a completely different art style just months before release, these things take a lot of time and work to make and implement.

Just like the Switch tutorial thing, they really should just have had this as a pack-in title showcase, I don't really see anyway this'd be much fun after like half an hour of playing.

If the Welcome to pay Tour is $10.... what is this going to cost?

Had a shot today in London - it’s not terrible, just very slight for what it is. There’s not much to it, but what it does is okay. Targeting controls could be tightened up a bit, though I probably just need more than 30 seconds’ practice in mouse mode - and the stall mookette said you can roll them on your legs too.

“Oh, like Vic Reeves,” I says. “Who?” she replies. Jesus, I’m old. (Look up GIFs of Shooting Stars if you aren’t 20 yet.)

Only now, as I sit in Victoria train station McDonald’s waiting for my trip home, do I realise there’s something more than a bit cringe about rolling JoyCons on your legs for a game of [checks notes] WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL…

With their muscles trained for these exact movements, I wouldn't be surprised to see players who actually use wheelchairs excelling in this game... which may have been one of Nintendo's plan with this one.

Even with my history of weight training and Ring Fit Adventure, I don't think my wrists and arms would last a round of this.

@Lord You don't actually believe this is going to be $80 do you? Obviously it's not going to be that expensive.

This seriously lacks personality. Why is everything grey?

One reviewer really favourable and one reviewer now visiting the physiotherapist for life!

The rest still sound sceptical despite hands on.

Wheelchair rugby may also be fun. I also want to see curling adapted to switch 2 🤣

@Ogbert that’s what makes me fascinated. Can they add some zing between now and launch? Be mad if they could.

I really think reviewers are being unduly kind just because of the wheelchair aspect...

The idea of Drag x Drive intrigues me, but the color palette is so dull for Nintendo. Looks like a lost 360/PS3 game.

I'm an ARMS chad. I saw the game less as a tech demo and more as a new IP.

This? Not even remotely close. This looks like a one-off tech demo that will either blow some away or alienate. I will admit however, the concept of it being wheelchairs is something that's going to resonate with certain people and for that I applaud them. But yeah, overall I don't think this game is going to splash.

I thought it looked interesting at first, but then I saw the Treehouse Live segment and found myself skipping through the segment hoping to see some sign of more content. I also think Drag x Drive lacks significantly in personality and world-building, which the Switch game it keeps getting compared to, ARMS, greatly excelled at. If it had been more like ARMS in its character and environmental design, I would've been going out for Drag x Drive at its launch. I'm willing to see what more they've got to show for the game, but my concern isn't the controls at all. I'm looking for content and personality.

It does give a tech demo vibe.

Nonetheless, watching treehouse footage changed my opinion from "eh" to "I may grab this actually".

@Erigen You're doing a disservice to Tron. That actually has style. This added some neon and called it a day.

At present, I’m not sold on it. Need to know considerably more about it. Like, how much content is there?

Recon this game will need a demo

@Alpha008 I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if what we’ve seen at the events so far winds up being the demo, there’s that little to it.

@Anti-Matter insane we did not get ARMS 2 but we got this…

At the very least, this could do us the service of informing us of the price floor for Nintendo's casuistic pricing. The characters look like they're from Game Builder Garage, so maybe a similar $30 is plausible.

Nintendo is famous for not announcing a game until it's basically finished and 2 months away from release. This was announced as summer and yet looks so unfinished. Let's hope it's delayed a bit but was simply rushed to the showroom floor for a bit to show off the mouse feature.

I suppose though the quickest release would be a digital-only one, which would make this not a true test of the pricing floor.

When I first saw the trailer for this game I thought it would be a DJ type game due to the music. Part of this game's namesake "drag" means several things: 1. boring or tedious, 2. persons who dress opposite their gender for performances, and 3. Music being played in slower tempo than intended.

Maybe Nintendo is holding back info on this game and there is more to it.

I do agree that the game lacks color/personality. I felt the same about "Steel Diver".

Make it open world and charge $80 for it.
It’s the only way it will get people’s attention and poor Nintendo needs to maximize profits this gen. /s

ok so, i got to play this at the experience on friday in london.

this game is not good. its blatantly unfinished, the controls are so awkward even though theyre built around the game itself, and it feels so clunky. this game could be excellent but the controls REALLY hold it back.

If you played a handful of Switch 2 games and this stood out. My fears about the Switch 2 have just been confirmed.

I think this mouse feature, especially with aggressive use caused by games like this, is going wreck a lot of Joycons. The portable nature combined with a lot of younger users is going to cause the Joycons to be dragged across all kinds of surfaces. Many of which will be less than ideal for mouse operation.

@Alpha008 or one of those test things they did with the switch in its early years like the global testpunch for arms and the one for splatoon 2.

Nintendo is probably gonna ask for like $60 for this. They should consider cancelling it and starting over.

I like the concept and I think it could be fun in short bursts but I wonder how popular this will be. The game could definitely use some colour too.

Looks drab as hell.

Wake me up when WarioWare: Drag 'n' Drop drops.

I got to try this at the London Switch Experience, there was quite a buzz around this and I was really intrigued, I have to say though I came away not liking it at all . The control scheme felt awkward and I could never quite get my head around it , it’s a No from me

As others have stated, this would be better suited as a free demo. I would probably enjoy the toy around with it for a few minutes. But it looks much too shallow for a standalone game.

This looks lackluster and unappealing and in a way I think most reviewers don't dare to say it's stupid because in a twisted thought-police PC turn of events then you're someone hating on disabled people.

The general concept looks interesting and it's nice to see Nintendo thinking about what they can do with two mice. I mean the mouse has been around for decades but when is it ever used to do anything other than move a cursor around? Experiments like this are important.

The art direction screams "tech demo" though. Maybe it's because it's been made by a small external team without Nintendo's flair? Maybe (though hopefully not) they were a little afraid of injecting their (presumably) disabled characters with actual character? Or maybe they looked at Rocket League and thought the neutral industrial aesthetic was least likely to close off an audience?

Whatever the case it's going to have a hard time.

Who the heck want to play as a guy/robot in a wheelchair?! At least make it cool, maybe an ice skating robot or something, why a wheelchair?

And I think nintendo understand this too since it seems they didn't made this with too much development money, at least compared to splatoon or arms, it scream low effort.

I really want to like this but unless they show off some cool arenas or robot designs, I'll have to pass

All of the comments of I never want to play a person in a wheel chair is partially how I believe Nintendo got to the art style. They wanted one to be inclusive and help those with accessibility issues to feel included and cool. Two they wanted the general public to look at wheelchairs more favourably than pity. I don’t mind the art direction but the game itself looks terrible and I’m never using mouse controls. Bring back punch out please.

For the record in my complaints about pricing I said I didn’t need gimmicks. I just wanted a system to play first party games in 4k. A tv model would have worked for me. Based on the games everyone wants (Mario kart world, donkey Kong, breath of the wild 4k) I think even if most of you want traditional games too. Gimmicks tend to suck.

@Nintoz why do you really want to like it?

@sixrings I think the concept has potential but as others have said, it just looks unfinished

It looks like the type of game I would spend 15 minutes with and then never touch again, just like ARMS, but at least that had a roster with interesting character designs.

I like the gameplay premise. But I really liked ARMs.

I do wish they did a little more.... design work on the playable characters. If colors/outfits are customizable though, that would immediately nullify that complaint.

This should have been packed in with welcome tour

This game looks very bad and is the testamenet to the "we need another useless gimmick" mentality of Nintendo ARMS was somewhat fun but this one is just too much swiping.