Drag x Drive review – wheelchair basketball that might give you wrist cramp

The Guardian

18 hours ago

When a new console is released, you can always expect at least one first-party game designed specifically to showcase its novel features. The PlayStation 5 had Astro's Playroom, the Steam Deck had Aperture Desk Job, and for the Nintendo Switch 2 there's Drag x Drive. Here, you play competitive wheelchair basketball with the Joy-Con 2's new mouse mode (which lets you control a game by pushing it along a desk like a computer mouse) – rolling, jumping and shooting in hectic three v three bouts. A solid exhibition of a controller upgrade, to be sure, but Drag x Drive struggles to harness the high-octane nature of the real-world sport, instead delivering a shallow impersonation.
As a basketball game, Drag x Drive demands that you spend the majority of your time shooting hoops and racing around the court, each Joy-Con controlling a single wheel on your avatar's chair. Additionally, you can press the triggers to lift your wheels and jump, or raise each Joy-Con and flick to shoot your shot or pass the ball to a teammate.
As cool as it sounds in theory, this doggedly practical approach isn't as intuitive as you might expect, and, ironically, not very accessible either. It's tough to find a comfortable position as you press and roll your palms, so it takes grit to truly master the control scheme. Still, if you can muscle through, there are rare spouts of joy to be found in hitting top speed, bashing into your opponents and taking possession of the ball.
Some additional variety comes via the player styles menu, which allows you to jump between different presets based on your preferred approach. Alongside the balanced forward style, which splits your rebounding, strength and quickness skills evenly, the guard style sacrifices the other stats for a speed boost, and the centre position makes you slower but tougher. The ability to switch between styles helps smooth out the rocky onboarding process and allows you to freshen up the gameplay between online multiplayer matches, which are the key focus of the game.
At a glance, Drag x Drive is reminiscent of vehicular football simulator Rocket League, with two teams battling it out to score points by pulling off trick shots and smashing into one another. However, where Rocket League excels with its litany of bouncy stadiums and explosive graphics, Drag x Drive attacks the genre with more restraint, trading atmospheric arenas for cold, metallic courts. There is some reprieve in the character customisation menu, where you can alter the colour of your wheels and chair, as well as choose cute headgear such as cat ears or old-timey driving goggles. But it's a far cry from the warmth and esoteric vibrance that Nintendo is known for.
Despite a lack of personality and wrist-cramping controls, there's an adrenaline rush when players chase you that's easy to get swept up in, especially when your momentum is dependent on your real-world stamina. There's also a real sense of pride when you finally land a distance shot, or craft a witty assist. As your confidence grows, you'll start to see the benefit of the half-pipes that flank the in-game court, allowing you to pull off wicked tricks and earn extra points. Suddenly, simple shots make way for flamboyant slam dunks, and you feel more like a pro.
Between bouts of b-ball, there's also a small pool of repetitive skill-honing side activities to engage with, including a skipping rope minigame, a shooting competition and an obstacle course. Excelling at these challenges and performing well in matches allows you to earn trophies, which unlock more cosmetics to jazz up your avatar's aesthetic.
Despite some efforts in meta-progression, it's difficult to look past Drag x Drive's most significant hurdle – that it's uncomfortable to play for extended periods. The mouse controls are ingenious in theory, and when applied in small bouts, it feels like a novel prototype. But, in the context of such overtly active gameplay, the concept starts to fall apart. What remains is a surprisingly inaccessible sports game that lacks modal variety and a long-term hook. If you were hoping for a spiritual successor to the Nintendo Switch's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em brawler Arms, you will be disappointed.
Drag x Drive is available now, £16.99