Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch

Disc Jam, a Switch release in the action-sports genre, is described by its developer and publisher High Horse Entertainment as a mix of air hockey and tennis. A better way to describe it would be to point out its incredible similarity to Windjammers, a Data East title released in 1994 for the Neo Geo (console and arcade), since both games feature the same fictional sport.

Mechanics: 8

Picture a tennis game with no rackets and a frisbee instead of a ball. That is Disc Jam. Matches can be one-on-one or in pairs. The goal is to throw the disc to the other side of the court without your opponent catching it before it hits the ground or the back wall. There are several kinds of plays, from the simplest, such as straight, curved or zigzag throws, to more advanced techniques, such as three types of special throws, which can be chosen in the menu before the match and are harder to pull off. There are also various defensive moves and resources. You can slide across the court or, for example, use a shield to quickly bounce the disc back, leaving your opponent no time to react. The first player to score 50 points wins a set. Best of three sets wins the match. Simple, fast and very addictive.

Features: 7

One of Disc Jam’s main attractions is crossplay with players on the PC version, released last year. However, finding opponents in matchmaking requires patience. There is also local split-screen multiplayer and the possibility of connecting 4 consoles locally via Wi-Fi. To play solo, the option is Ghost Arcade mode, in which you can face opponents whose AI is based on data obtained from real players around the world.

Four characters are available from the start and two more can be acquired with Jameleons, the in-game currency, earned in online matches or bought with real money. Microtransactions offer other customization options such as clothes, emblems, victory poses, taunts and more. Strangely, there is only one court available and not even a simple color palette change is available for it.

The gameplay is very responsive, but demands quick reactions from the player. A beginner can even take advantage and win a few matches. But it is with learning and mastering the techniques that matches become truly enjoyable.

Audiovisual: 6

The visuals are within what you’d expect for this type of game, with well-modeled and textured characters and good lighting effects. Just don’t expect impressive graphics. What spoils it is the inexplicable lack of variety. Looking at the same court in every match becomes tiresome after a few hours of play. The music fits the mood and aesthetics of the game perfectly but there is little of it too, which is disappointing, especially considering the game has been out for almost a year on other platforms and that new customization options were added for the launch on Nintendo’s console.

Final thoughts

Disc Jam is a good idea that still seems to be under construction. Although fun and addictive, it lacks variety and matchmaking is slow to find matches. The game seems to aspire to a prominent place in the world of eSports but, in its current state, it is little more than a demo, a draft of what it may become.

Overall: 7