Drag x Drive Review – Fatigue and Frustration in Extended Play

Drag x Drive Review

Nintendo’s magic lies in its unique approach to game design. Instead of delivering conventional experiences, they often come at familiar genres from unexpected angles, offering fresh and inventive takes. With Splatoon, they flipped the script on online multiplayer shooters and now, with Drag x Drive, the innovative developer is taking its first step onto the eSports court. Armed with new hardware and a fresh concept, is Nintendo pushing the future of competitive play, or merely playing catch-up?

At first glance, this looks like a simple 3v3 online basketball game, but there’s more beneath the surface. While the core rules mirror its real-life counterpart, with two points for shots inside the key and three for those beyond the arc, a clever twist encourages you to dig deeper into its mechanics. Performing tricks and flashy dunks builds up a decimal bonus to your score, which gives an edge that can mean the difference between a commanding win and a heartbreaking loss.

Mighty Mouse

Central to the gameplay is its unique control system. Using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse functionality, you move your avatar’s wheelchair by pulling back on the mouse, mimicking its real-life motion. Nintendo amplifies the notion of being in a wheelchair with its excellent use of haptics. The tread of the tyres vibrates on the controller, increasing the immersion and intensity of matches. Although stopping and turning feel natural due to the logical controls, it’s still quite difficult to manoeuvre in the heat of a match. Chasing down your opponent and bashing into them to release possession requires speed and accuracy, something that can be difficult when rapidly rubbing the controller on your thighs.

Shooting involves a simple flick of the wrist, with your accuracy depending on your position. If you’re facing the net, you’re more likely to sink your shot, making your approach to the hoop just as important as the shot itself. Quarterpipes line the court, letting you ride up for acrobatic dunks that show off your skills. While the idea works, forcing you to think about your positioning, in practice, it can be frustrating. The controls make movement difficult, and because so much of the game relies on swift, precise motion, exciting moments often slip into clumsy, missed opportunities.

Because every aspect of the game relies on physical movement, longer sessions can quickly lead to fatigue, resulting in more mistakes and less enjoyment. The Joy-Cons aren’t especially comfortable in Mouse mode either, adding to the strain. With no alternative control options, your only choices are to power through or take frequent breaks.

Does it Matter What I Choose?

You can choose from three character types, each designed to support your team in different ways: Guards are quick, Forwards are well-balanced, and Centres are strong. While mixing roles can be useful, it’s far from essential. You’re free to pick whatever suits your playstyle without being locked into a specific position. Despite their visual differences, they play so similarly that it’s perfectly viable to field three of the same type without any real disadvantage.

In a lobby, two matches can be played at once and the rest can either watch or take part in the range of activities scattered around. After a couple of games, a minigame also initiates, adding a nice change of pace to proceedings. These are small activities such as racing through checkpoints, reaching the landing of a stray ball and more.

A major concern is the lack of progression. With no levelling system or leaderboards, there’s little incentive to return. Matches simply end, and that’s it. For a game built around its online component and with little to offer offline, it feels bare-bones. While you can customise your avatar by unlocking items through specific achievements, the options are basic and pale in comparison to the competition.

Missing That Magic

The overall presentation feels bland, missing that signature Nintendo charm. While it’s commendable to see the company spotlight wheelchair-based athletes, the metallic aesthetic gives the game a cold, uninspiring atmosphere, an odd choice from a studio known for its warmth and whimsy.

Drag x Drive packs in plenty of interesting ideas, but they never quite merge into a compelling eSports experience. The mouse and motion controls are impressive in isolation, yet in the chaos of high-speed competitive play, they can become a source of frustration. With minimal offline content and few incentives to return online, it risks being overshadowed by stronger competitors. Without significant expansion to its bare-bones structure, the game may struggle to hold onto its player base.

***A Nintendo Switch 2 code was provided by the publisher***