Among the many first Nintendo Swap 2 video games I attempted after I went hands-on with the console in New York was Drag X Drive. Positive, there have been greater video games to take a look at, however this one used the Pleasure-Con 2’s mouse controls in a means few folks anticipated. As an alternative of simply navigating menus or clicking and dragging objects, the mouse controls mimic the motions of pushing a wheelchair. I performed the demo, thought “you understand, that was type of enjoyable,” after which didn’t take into consideration the sport once more till it received its launch date a couple of weeks in the past.
Now, after having extra time with the sport and taking part in it on-line with precise folks, you understand what? It’s form of enjoyable, but in addition, I’m undecided how a lot I’ll give it some thought once more.
See, there’s an issue with Drag X Drive, and it’s not the controls; they’re effective and so they work. There’s a excessive talent ceiling I really feel with them. That’s why you’ll be able to simply get by and play the sport, however to be really proficient at it and tackle the perfect, those who will dedicate themselves to the sport, it’s going to take some time to get the hold of it. The vitality required for the repeated motion of wheeling round, too, might be completely different for everybody. For my drained wrists, it really meant having to take a break between matches and relaxation the previous carpal tunnel. You may play the sport on both a tabletop or use your legs or drag the mouse forwards and backwards, no matter is snug, and to be sincere, you would possibly by no means get there.
The sport of basketball within the sport too, that’s not the issue. Positive, it’s basketball, nevertheless it’s additionally augmented by the methods you’ll be able to pull off within the chairs. So, whereas customary 2 and 3-point photographs stand, you’ll be able to add some aptitude to it with a trick; you’ll be able to add a decimal level to that rating to make your opponents strive that little bit more durable to get again at you. Going coast to coast simply to shoot threes received’t work in case your opponents are good at pulling off methods. There are three completely different driver sorts: Guard, Ahead, and Centre, every with barely completely different stats, however you’re most likely simply going to stay with the one which strikes the quickest.
No, the true downside with Drag X Drive, is that there’s simply not very a lot to do in it. There are a couple of mini-games littered round you’ll be able to check out your self, and the excessive scores are shared on the large screens within the park with different gamers. Nonetheless, apart from the principle basketball sport, a circuit dash the place you race different folks, and a mode the place it’s a must to chase a free ball across the park—that’s about it. As you play, you’ll unlock a small variety of helmets, and you’ll change your quantity in your again and the colors of your unnamed wheelchair occupier, nevertheless it doesn’t go any deeper than that. There are seven targets to get that unlock the helmets, however yeah, not a lot occurring.
Granted, the sport is affordable (properly, a minimum of Nintendo low-cost) however that additionally poses an issue. Movement controls, mouse controls now, aren’t going to be everybody’s factor. Plus, then you want to have on-line as a result of if you happen to don’t, there’s completely no level in shopping for this sport. You may play it in opposition to CPU bots, and the more durable bots are brutal, however with virtually nothing to unlock, it simply appears pointless.
The opposite factor is that the sport is totally drab and boring-looking. There’s one park to play in; it’s set in some grungy dim warehouse that doesn’t change. All of the characters within the sport are personality-less, and there’s barely any music, aptitude, and even an announcer to liven the environment. Nintendo’s probably achieved this as a result of they suppose you’ll be utilizing GameChat and which may simply get in the best way, however that’s only a guess. An excellent workforce, one that truly passes the ball, is basically required to get probably the most out of all of it.
You’ve additionally received to ask, did Nintendo intentionally make Drag X Drive devoid of any characters and persona to keep away from really having to have an precise particular person, Mii, or Mario-world character in a wheelchair to keep away from that controversy?
Look, there’s nothing inherently fallacious with Drag X Drive — the management scheme is participating and enjoyable — however there’s no getting previous the truth that, apart from these controls, that is only a very bare-bones and drab-looking basketball wheelchair sport. If the controls aren’t sufficient to maintain you hooked, there’s actually nothing else right here to carry your consideration. The sport feels prefer it was cut up off from a much bigger idea or a bundle of video games, and whereas Nintendo has expressed a want to make cheaper, smaller titles, may they a minimum of make them much less empty in each environment and options than this one?
Ranking: 3.5/5
Paul Roberts contributed to this assessment.
