Nintendo Switch 2: A Mixed Bag of Success and Disappointment

The Nintendo Switch 2 is already making waves, racking up a jaw-dropping 3.5 million units sold shortly after its launch. While these numbers are impressive, they’ve also been accompanied by a fair share of criticism, particularly regarding the pricing of both the console and its first-party titles.

Take Mario Kart World for instance — priced at £74.99, it leaves many gamers shaking their heads. Then there’s the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a title that fans feel should have been complimentary but instead carries a modest price tag of £7.99. However, the bland presentation detracts from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend.

The Lack of Nintendo Charm

The core problem with the Welcome Tour is its staggering lack of the playful essence we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. In stark contrast to beloved gifts like Wii Sports or the culturally rich Nintendo Land on Wii U, Welcome Tour feels dry and uninspired.

Even taking a look at free offerings from competitors, like Astro’s Playroom on PS5, it’s clear that Nintendo’s latest effort falls flat. Welcome Tour features a huge Switch 2 model, divided into sections that represent the console’s various functionalities. While educational, the experience offers little engagement as players navigate through fact boxes and quizzes.

For instance, to demonstrate the enhanced mouse controls, one mini-game tasks players with avoiding spikes using their JoyCon on a flat surface. Another tests frame-rate recognition to showcase the new screen. Yet, with content so devoid of flair, even the most interesting tidbits are overshadowed.

What Could Make it Better?

As a long-time Nintendo enthusiast, I had high hopes for the Welcome Tour and was left shocked by how lackluster it turned out. The potential is tangible — there’s plenty of fascinating information buried within, and some mini-games do show glimmers of promise. The 4K Super Mario Bros demo stands out, expanding as you play, yet these moments are sparse.

Imagine if players could control iconic characters like Mario in each section of the Switch 2! They could interact with Super Mario blocks for facts, while quizzes could adopt a more entertaining game show vibe. Classic titles could demonstrate frame-rates effectively, with competitions at the end for players to guess correctly. Even the haptic demo could morph into a rhythm-action mini-game, complete with catchy tunes.

It’s tough to recommend the Welcome Tour in its current form, despite a competitive price point. The wealth of information goes underutilized, and the mini-games ultimately leave you feeling like you’ve missed out on what Nintendo truly represents — fun, creativity, and nostalgia.

VERDICT: 2/5