Drag X Drive Co-Op Review
Designed to showcase the console’s new mouse controls, Drag x Drive was one of the first titles announced for the Nintendo Switch 2. Now that it’s finally here, Jess and Paul have teamed up to play some digital wheelchair basketball and take a look at what the title has to offer.
Jess: So, I’m not generally a sports game person, but Drag x Drive had me intrigued from the get-go, mostly because of the way the game asks to use the Nintendo Switch 2’s new mouse controls. Nintendo traditionally knows how to use a console’s new gimmicks to make a damn good sports game, and wheelchair basketball obviously isn’t a sport that has had a lot of traction in the gaming world, so I’m glad they went in this direction (I wish more sports games would). But Paul, I know you’re a sports guy – what were you expecting from a game like this?
Paul: I guess the news of the mouse functionality and then Drag X Drive came (more-or-less) together, so I didn’t have much time to formulate ideas around how this functionality could be used, letalone for a sports title, but I could never in a million years have expected wheelchair basketball. Nintendo likes to rollout the “Surprise and delight” phrase, well, they certainly surprised me, as I’m sure they did you, and millions of other gamers, but did they delight us? I think a lot of that boils down to expectation of both the game, as well as the hardware. There are some cool things about Drag X Drive, and a lot of laughs to be had too, especially once you’re in Gamechat with others, but I feel like that masks some serious frustrations I have with the game, largely in terms of execution. Before I cut loose, talk to me Jess, what did you envisage this experience to be like, and does it meet/exceed or fall short of those expectations?
Jess: I think for the most part, Drag x Drive is exactly the game I expected to be – at least when it comes to its core functionality. You use both Joy-Con 2 controllers in the mouse position, dragging them across a surface to simulate grabbing onto the wheels of a wheelchair and pushing forward or back. You can do a few tricks, like bunny hopping or backflips off a ramp, and in a match these might garner you some extra points when scoring if you can pull them off – and they also look super cool. Outside of matches, there are a few minigames to participate in (races, or a competition to be the first one to collect a bouncing ball), along with some solo challenges that will require you to master the controls. But really, the fun to be had here is in the 3 v 3 matches – so this is very much an online game first, and clearly at its best when playing with friends. We didn’t have a chance to test it online against strangers, so it’s hard to know how it’ll fare, but you’re right – this game very much benefited from being played in a GameChat session alongside teammates. My biggest frustration is that for a game about wheelchair basketball, it isn’t a particularly accessible experience – but I’m keen to hear what rubbed you the wrong way.
Paul: The primary concern I have is that the game just feels cumbersome to play. It’s already a big ask for any player to start using their lap or a desk as a surface to use for mouse functionality, but then the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls failed me too often for my liking. At first, it was certainly my brain needing to just to the hand movements to pivot on the spot, but then when you’re charging forward and suddenly you hard left/right, and your movements haven’t changed a bit, the fun gets derailed. It’s fun when you’re in groups (like we were in this review period) where we were shouting out, being dumb, and having a laugh, but when you’re playing for keeps, or surging to stop someone from shooting, only to spin-out, the irritation kicks in.
I’m a pretty competitive person, especially when it comes to sport, and that is absolutely something I must disclose, given my concern, but I feel like this could also be a point of frustration even for more casual players. Did you encounter this?
Jess: Yes and no! I think I benefit from having accepted long ago that sports games will simply never be a strong suit of mine, so when I’m playing them I’m almost always in it for the social aspect. The controls can be finicky for sure – in the same way that motion or sensor-based controls always feel a little unreliable. I could definitely feel myself learning how to work with them as time went on, but there were definitely those moments where they just seemed to fail for no discernable reason. I could laugh about it in a group, like you mentioned, but the frustration kicked in for me when I was trying to complete some of the individual challenges. I can see how if you were taking the matches super seriously, or playing with strangers, that irritation could absolutely take over. So I suppose it comes down to what your goals for the game are. If you just want to paint your character fun colours and have some laughs with friends, there’s a good time to be had here. If you’re looking for a long-term competitive investment, Drag x Drive might not be for you.
You’ll also have to give it a miss if any part of the control scheme doesn’t work for you, or you’re not able to engage with the motion controls – because there’s no alternative here. It’s wave your arms around wildly with your hands in a slightly awkward position, or miss out. Which, like I touched on before, is a little sad – given the inclusive sport the game is rooted in. But overall, I’m personally having a fun enough time with it – at least when I get the chance to play with others. Where did you land, Paul? Are the laughs with friends enough, or were the frustrations too much for your competitive soul in the end?
Paul: You will be pleased to know Jess that yes, I can disconnect from the competitive side to just enjoy the fun of it, but it’s just a shame in the sense that this game could have been an excellent offering to both the casual audience, and the more intensely competitve group, if only those controls were a bit more reliable. Honestly, I’m not sure where the fault of that resides either, is it the limitations of the Joy-Con 2? Or perhaps the game that needed further tuning? I’m not really sure, but if it had been a more reliable playing experience, I could have seen the game gaining some Rocket League or Rematch-style traction, and it would be awesome to see a spin-off of something that isn’t soccer really thrive.
I’m usually quite hesitant to link finances with fun, but the great thing about Drag X Drive is that at $30 AUD, it is a relatively inexpensive, and low-risk option for players to check out and see if it strikes a chord with them. Despite my concerns, I think that this is still well worth trying, and if you can find a like-minded group, then you’ll have a tonne of fun.
Drag X Drive was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code kindly provided by Nintendo Australia.
