Nintendo has been known for a few notable innovations in the past. Some of these have been industry-shaking, like the d-pad, while others were, well, LABO. The same applies to their first-party games. Often going against the grain to see how wacky and cool they can make things, we have seen hits like Splatoon (their take on online shooters) take the world by storm, and games like ARMS swing and miss.
See, the problem has never been trying for Nintendo; it's been hitting the magic formula that makes the game unique yet staple Nintendo feeling, in case it becomes a hit and they need to make a franchise. Drag x Drive manages to tick all of these boxes, both good, bad, and downright wacky.
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When Drag x Drive was first shown, I assumed this would be a day-one game released alongside Mario Kart World as an indie-like game to pick up. A smaller first-party title hoping to pick up launch day hype sales - yet here we are 2 months later, and we have Drag x Drive finally in our hands. Quite a strange choice from Nintendo to release it this far out from launch, but there we are.
Anyway, Drag x Drive is a multiplayer online-focused sports game that is a futuristic version of wheelchair basketball. The game is played in teams of 3, and the rules mainly follow those of basketball - score to win and stop the other team from beating you. And, well, that's about it, yes, I will get into the gimmick in a minute, but stripped down, that is all we have in a package here besides some throwaway side games. It’s the same non-Nintendo feeling I had when I was playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, very strange.
Normally, if Nintendo brings out a new concept game to test the waters with, it still feels very Nintendo-like. Take ARMS, for example, sure it may not have become a new franchise for them, but the game definitely oozed with sickly neon candy colored charm. In Drag x Drive, it feels very concept-y, unfinished in style. It's definitely an odd vibe for Nintendo to have across 2 of their games already this generation, and not a trend that I hope continues.
But that now brings me back to my point, Drag x Drive is rather lackluster. The characters, which are all sorts of faceless robots attached to the wheelchair like devices, have no distinct personalities. Now, it is an online sports title, so yes, I shouldn’t expect extensive backstories and lore, but when they have all but invented a brand new future sport, some sort of campaign or story mode could have carried the game to greater heights. Just playing matches back to back to unlock a new color or cosmetic simply isn't enough to hold my attention in the big 2025.
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The gameplay is a throwback, and for me, not a great one - motion control only games from the early days of the Wii. Sure, there are some titles that pull this off well, but in Drag x Drive, while they do indeed work and are neat to try out, they don't lend themselves well to a game that is inherently repetitive in nature. Using the mouse controls for the Switch 2, you use the left and right arms to move the wheels and power down towards the opposing team's basket. Shooting is simplified to a point where you don’t really need to try; once you find the sweet spot on the court that the game wants you to hit.
Trying something ambitious like this is commendable, but the use of the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls here requires a very specific type of surface - and I couldn't determine which one would work best. After trying my legs, two pillows, the couch, and finally a smooth coffee table, I stuck with using the table, but as I said, none of the options felt right, and this further decreased my interest in playing Drag x Drive. And that is the inherent problem here - there isn’t really any hook to keep you coming back. After playing a few games online and messing around in the hub area, I was left with the same feeling you get when you have a demo of a game that isn’t out yet.
The issue with the heavy reliance on the motion controls is that it becomes a chore. You will get tired after a few games, and executing the precise move you hope to do isn’t always guaranteed unless you have the optimal surface to play the game on, which I never found during my time playing. An option to use a Pro Controller would have been welcome. At least the haptics are really nice, letting you feel the click-clack of the wheels and the feedback from each move.
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Scattered across the hub (called the Park) are minigames and leaderboards that, while nice to try out, aren’t implemented well enough to warrant much attention. You get obstacle courses, jump rope challenges, and scoring competitions, to name a few. Having these as full-blown multiplayer affairs would have been better than novelties to beef up the package. Between matches, you can choose to compete in races or participate in grab-the-ball-first contests. Again, with some extra thought and having these put in as actual events rather than side games, Drag x Drive could have been significantly improved.
Sadly, the whole experience felt rather undercooked. With a decent solo story mode and more individuality to the characters, this could have been something special. Online games play well and become fast and frantic affairs, but being stuck using the mouse controls only becomes tiring after a few games. Some more time implementing the side games into a proper competitive party mode may have extended the shelf life here also.
A swing and a miss via releasing a 2007 throwback title. Nintendo needs to do better this generation. Drag x Drive is a title that I can’t really recommend for anyone. The novelty soon wears off, and the package beneath is rather shallow. I'm hoping this isn’t a sign of things to come from future Nintendo sports titles.
