ARMS (universe)

ARMS (universe)
Developer(s)	Nintendo
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Genre(s)	Fighting
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo Switch
First installment	ARMS (2017)
Latest installment	ARMS (2017)
Article on ARMS Institute	ARMS (universe)

The ARMS universe (アームズ, ARMS) refers to the Super Smash Bros. collection of characters, stages and properties that hail from the eponymous 3D fighting game developed by Nintendo EPD. Set in a world where some individuals mysteriously gain extendable limbs, the game revolves around the titular combat sport in which fighters who have this ability compete using glove-like weapons, known as ARMS. Conceived to take full advantage of the Nintendo Switch hardware's functionality, ARMS was released early in the system's lifespan as its first major new IP from Nintendo, and is cited by producer Kosuke Yabuki as a game with depth, challenge and replayability.

Franchise description

ARMS is a 3D arena-based fighting game, centring the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons' motion controls. Each fighter's titular stretchy ARMS, equippable in a variety of weapon types, allow for long-range combat inspired by boxing, with free movement throughout its battlefields. In addition to its standard fighting modes, it also boasts a variety of sports-style minigames. Developed by much of the team behind Mario Kart, the game boasts a colourful ensemble cast; while the beginner-friendly Spring Man and Ribbon Girl were heavily marketed and featured on the game box, Kosuke Yabuki's official stance is that all fighters are equally protagonists.

ARMS was first conceptualized when Yabuki, the director of Mario Kart 8, expressed interest in creating a fighting game with the camera behind the player, instead of the standard side-on view. To avoid issues with depth perception, the developers had the characters' fists extend out towards the opponent, inspired by the obstacle-dodging gameplay of Mario Kart. A prototype was developed and the developers found performing punching gestures with the Joy-Cons to feel natural, with button controls also included as an option. The team experimented with several ideas for character designs, and considered using established Nintendo characters such as Mario, Link and even Little Mac, but soon decided on having all the game's characters be original to fit with the gameplay. When designing a character, the ARMS were considered first, thus informing the overall design and personality of the character; for example, springs led to the conception of Spring Man, ribbon strands led to Ribbon Girl, ramen noodles led to Min Min and DNA strands led to Helix. The fights were framed as a combat sport, with the fighters participating in the ARMS League Grand Prix and various fictitious business logos and designs were added to characters and stages to help sell this idea.

ARMS was officially announced for the Nintendo Switch on January 12th, 2017 during the Nintendo Switch Presentation. Prior to launch, information about the game was detailed via a spotlight in the Nintendo Direct in April 2017, a dedicated ARMS Direct in May 2017 and a series of public hour-long multiplayer beta events called the "ARMS Global Testpunch" running from May to June 2017. The game released worldwide on June 16th, 2017 to positive reviews and strong sales, with many drawing comparisons to the Punch-Out!! series and the boxing minigame from Wii Sports. Outlets praised the game's unique, deep gameplay and customization, but criticized its initial lack of content and the inability to remap button controls at launch. Following Splatoon's post-launch model, new characters, stages and modes were made available via free content updates throughout 2017, including the aforementioned button re-configurations, thus improving the game's reception over time. An official graphic novel was announced in October 2017, designed to delve deeper into the game's lore, but was reported cancelled in 2021.

The announcement of an ARMS fighter joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on March 26th, 2020 was commemorated in two ways: a two-week free trial of the full game was made available exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members from Marth 26th to April 6th, and a one-off Party Crash event that featured a rematch between Spring Man and Ribbon Girl was held from April 3rd to April 5th.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

ARMS possessed an Assist Trophy, two Mii Fighter costumes, and five Spirits in the base game, and received a large assortment of additional content upon Min Min's release as part of Challenger Pack 6. All DLC listed below was released on June 29th, 2020. It is the series's first initially non-fighter universe to become fighter-based through DLC.

Masahiro Sakurai was presented with information about ARMS for potential inclusion midway through Ultimate's development, but it was not possible to add a new fighter at that stage. Fighters Pass Vol. 2 allowed for the possibility of developing an ARMS character to be revisited. Min Min was chosen due to a tiebreaking request by producer Kosuke Yabuki, with Sakurai's choice having come down to her or Ninjara. Within Ultimate, ARMS is chronologically the most newly-created fighter universe, and the only one to consist of a single game at time of inclusion.

Fighter

• 76.
  
  Min Min (DLC): "The Ramen Bomber" debuts as the first downloadable newcomer in the Fighters Pass Vol. 2. In battle, she attacks with her extendable ARMS for punches and grabs and complements her abilities with kicks. Unique to her moveset is that the left and right ARMS are individually controlled with the attack and special buttons, respectively. She can change her right ARM with her down special which also affects the properties of her normal attacks. Her Final Smash, ARMS Rush, brings in Spring Man, Ribbon Girl, Ninjara, Master Mummy, Mechanica, and Twintelle for a devastating onslaught of punches. An ARMS character was first teased on March 26th, 2020 before it was officially revealed to be Min Min on June 22nd, 2020. She was released one week later, on June 29th.

Stage

• 
  Spring Stadium (DLC): Spring Man's stage from ARMS. Taking place on a floating arena above a crowded stadium, the ledges and top platform are covered with trampolines that can propel fighters high into the air. When propelled, the fighter can deal damage to opponents along the way, possibly leading to a KO. Additionally if items are turned on, an ARMS Drone will occasionally appear and drop items onto the battlefield. This stage was released together with Min Min on June 29th, 2020.

Assist Trophy

• Spring Man: "The Bouncer" debuts as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When summoned, he moves around the battlefield striking nearby opponents with long-ranged punches. Spring Man can be KO'd, but if he sustains enough damage, he will unleash a considerably powerful Rush. He uses recycled voice clips from ARMS.

Mii Costumes

Two out of the three Mii costumes for this game were available in Ultimate's base game. The Ninjara Mii costume was added as downloadable content, in the sixth wave of Mii Fighter outfits released together with Min Min.

Outfits

• Spring Man Outfit: Spring Man's outfit, sourced from ARMS.
• Ribbon Girl Outfit: Ribbon Girl's outfit, sourced from ARMS.
• Ninjara Outfit (DLC): Ninjara's outfit, sourced from ARMS.

Headgear

• Spring Man Mask: Spring Man's mask and haircut, sourced from ARMS.
• Ribbon Girl Mask: Ribbon Girl's mask and haircut, sourced from ARMS.
• Ninjara Mask (DLC): Ninjara's mask and haircut, sourced from ARMS.

Music

Original Tracks

Arrangements and remixes unique to Ultimate. Both of these tracks were arranged by Atsuko Asahi, who originally co-composed the music for ARMS.

• ARMS Grand Prix Official Theme Song (DLC): A new arrangement of the title screen and main menu theme from ARMS. Also incorporates excerpted arrangements of the background tracks for "[NAME REDACTED]" and "Sky Arena".
• Ramen Bowl (DLC): A new arrangement of Min Min's stage theme from ARMS. Also incorporates an excerpted arrangement of the background track for "Spring Stadium".

Source Tracks

The following tracks are taken directly from ARMS.

• Spring Stadium (DLC): The background track for Spring Man's stage.
• Ribbon Ring (DLC): The background track for Ribbon Girl's stage.
• Ninja College (DLC): The background track for Ninjara's stage.
• Mausoleum (DLC): The background track for Master Mummy's stage.
• Scrapyard (DLC): The background track for Mechanica's stage.
• Cinema Deux (DLC): The background track for Twintelle's stage.
• Buster Beach (DLC): The background track for Byte & Barq's stage.
• Snake Park (DLC): The background track for Kid Cobra's stage.
• DNA Lab (DLC): The background track for Helix's stage.
• Sky Arena (DLC): The background track for Max Brass's stage.
• Via Dolce (DLC): The background track for Lola Pop's stage.
• Temple Grounds (DLC): The background track for Misango's stage.
• Sparring Ring (DLC): The background track for Springtron's stage.
• [NAME REDACTED] (DLC): The background track for Dr. Coyle's stage.
• Vs. Hedlok (DLC): The background track that plays when fighting an opponent controlled by Hedlok.
• ARMS Grand Prix Final Battle (DLC): The background track that plays while fighting Max Brass controlled by Hedlok.

Victory Theme

• Victory! Min Min (DLC): An abridged cover of the ARMS theme song, notably incorporating vocals from the version performed by Ribbon Girl.

Other

• The original unaltered main theme was used in the ARMS fighter teaser announcement during the Nintendo Direct Mini on March 26th, 2020, and again in the Mr. Sakurai Presents broadcast prior to Min Min's formal reveal trailer on June 22nd, 2020.

Trivia

• ARMS is the first major universe that debuted on the Nintendo Switch.
• ARMS is the first Nintendo-owned universe to have its first character introduced as downloadable content.
• ARMS is the only universe that was announced to join the roster before its specific fighter was identified.