This Friday Nintendo is coming out with a really new and innovative game for the Switch called Arms. Parents you might see that it looks like a futuristic fighting game, but it is way more than that. My daughters and I had the very cool opportunity to preview the game.

At first my daughters were a bit timid about playing a fighting game. The only fighting game that they have played most recently was Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Wii U. Yet as soon as they saw the graphics pop up on the TV their curiosity got the best of them and they wanted to give the game a spin.

To say they were hooked right away was understatement. They loved using the Joy-Con controller to help guide their character in the ring. As a dad of two daughters I was happy to see a mix of men and women fighters that everyone in my family could play and use in each match. This might sound like a small point, but in the past most of the fighting games would have only one or two female fighters to the many other male fighters.

I was happy to see that with Arms my kids are jumping up and down, throwing their arms and fists around to help guide their character into battle. We want our kids to be active. Playing Arms in our house was a fun way to get my kids off the couch and be moving while playing the game. My youngest even told me that she would be open to taking up boxing because she loved the movement of the fighters in the game.

In Arms you have to choose one of the fighters from around the world, equip your own combination of extendable arms, and then use a mix of button presses and quick hand motions to really take the fight to your opponent.

During the game you throw punches and guide them mid-flight to hit other fighters while trying to duck and avoid incoming attacks. You can use a variety of methods to win your match. You can jump on a trampoline high into the air and start throwing haymakers from up above. There are power-up your punches to deal extra damage. You can even bend the laws of physics and curve your fists around obstacles to hit your opponents.

While you are fighting you can fill up your special gauge to dish out ridiculous combos to defeat your enemy. My kids did not pay too much attention to the gauge because they were learning the basics. They would trigger those combos here and there, but depending on your kids video game skill level they might need a bit of practice to lock down those combos. So please parents take it easy on the kids as they start learning the game. In time they will be giving you a run for your money and making you earn that victory. Hahah!

In the game each character has their own special moves. You and your family can select characters like Ribbon Girl, Master Mummy, Spring Man, Ninjara, Mechanica, Min Min, Helix, Twintelle and others. Each fighter has their own special attributes to learn and master. With that said you might want to make sure you choose the best fighter that suits your fighting style. Some are slow and methodical and can pack one heck of a punch, while others are super fast and help confuse slower opponents.

You can customize your fighter. After you select a fighter you can equip two ARMS, one on the right and one on the left. These ARMS range from standard fists to things like boomerangs and missiles, offering a wide variety of close- and long-range attacks, as well as offensive and defensive options.

There are a variety of different fighting modes. Some of the modes are Versus Mode, Team Fight, and V-Ball that involves knocking an explosive ball into the opponent’s court. There is a Hoops mode that has you grab opponents and shoot them into the net or even dunk them in a futuristic game of ARMS-style basketball.

In Skillshot you have to break as many targets as possible using the versatile powers of ARMS.

In 1-on-100 you have to defeat 100 enemies in a row, one at a time, in this progressive battle mode. The ARMS Test & Training is a great way for your kids to learn how to play the game.

If you play with friends online than you should select the Party Match. Here you connect the Nintendo Switch console to the internet, players can battle with up to three other ARMS players at a time that are in the same lobby as them. One lobby can hold up to 10 systems, but with up to two players per system, 20 players can potentially get together in the same lobby.

So as you can see whether you are playing with the kids or hanging with your friends online you and your family will love playing Arms. It is a fun game that keeps you and your family active. The graphics are vibrant and stunning. There were times that I found myself paying too much attention to the game’s graphics and my kids would get in a few punches and win that battle. We laughed about that and I made sure I was ready to face them next round. This will be a fun addition to your Nintendo Switch.

Please note: Nintendo gave me this game to review, but my thoughts are my own.