One of my favourite parts of PAX Aus 2024 (and every year) is finding and revelling in the most quintessentially Australian games. My Arms Are Longer Now is the prime example of this, a debut title from the recently formed Toot Games. Controlling an unnerving and ever-growing spindly arm and hand that’ll reach out to pinch things and slap people, I couldn’t think of a game more humorously Melbourne/Naarm.
Situated on a train, the demo depicts dastardly thievery as you move about a carriage. An exhausted cyclist slumped on a seat can’t do much except constantly and weakly exclaim “Hey! That’s my bike!” as my liquidy limb dragged his bike away as part of the score. Further down the carriage, you can cruelly steal a dog in a carrier with the owner staring in disbelief. In between all these shenanigans, you can use a dedicated slap button to harass passengers and get them to have a dialogue line bark.
Playing My Arms Are Longer Now reminds me of a game from earlier this year titled Thank Goodness You’re Here. Serving as a ‘slapformer,’ it’s an English game with the type of humour you’d expect; crudeness and also amusingly making a comedic bit stay long past its welcome. There’s always been a bit of similarity between Aussie and British humour, and that’s incredibly apparent in the pair of games’ similar charm and vibes.
However, the most uniquely Australian moment I found in the game was when a public transport inspector hopped on board. Here in Naarm/Melbourne, it feels like they’re there in ways that bother the public more than they do service it. Suddenly, a lightbulb moment happened in my brain. I wrapped my arm around their legs having them all tied up. I repeatedly slapped them for what felt like minutes. This was my favourite and most cathartic experience of the demo.
Toot Games states that My Arms Are Longer Now will be released in mid-2025. It’s got a lot of weird and unique ideas going for it, all in a package with delightfully unwieldy mechanics. The trailer depicts looting waiting rooms of banks and even finding love with a real human subject. How bizarre.
If you’re after more quality PAX Aus 2024 highlights, why not check out our looks at the Max Payne-inspired Anticitizen Red or a fitness stealth title named Squat Ops?
About the Author
Charlie Kelly
She/Her, They/Them
Charlie loves her video games as much as she loves dumb, charming JRPG protagonists: probably way too much. You can often catch her spending too much time being emotional over LGBT stories in games. She also thinks Yakuza 6 is the best one.
