Altogether now! "This should have been a pack-in."
Or, if that simply wasn't on the table, free for the first year. Or free with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. It's painfully obvious to everybody but Nintendo that paywalling this specific software further behind the already-pricey console is a mistake.
And it's a real shame that more people won't experience it, because it makes you feel good about your sizeable investment in the hardware. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a peaceful, in-depth exploration of the system, taking you around and inside the device, its controllers, and peripherals (some sold separately - more on that later), and highlighting its various features and novelties. This is the platform holder celebrating and deep-diving into its tech in a way that feels unusual but also very Nintendo.
In some ways, the granular tech focus here is a necessity. Switch 2, by its nature, is an iteration on a theme, so if you're going to charge a hefty sum for something superficially 'the same but bigger', what better way than to highlight every single upgrade in a fun, demo-filled game of hide-and-seek that breaks it all down?
And the devs really do break it all down. You'll be running around capacitors, over circuit boards, batteries, and myriad chips and components that appear to be modelled extremely faithfully. This is Nintendo tearing down its hardware virtually so you don't have to, and being remarkably frank in some regards. There are various examples of 'we did our best' while discussing the challenges faced with, for instance, dispersing heat and optimising battery longevity. There's no console-wars chest-beating here; it's all very self-effacing. It's essentially an Iwata Asks/Ask the Developer interview in game form.
The game itself takes the form of an explorative, isometric walking-sim affair. You control a person jogging (or running if you hold down 'B') around an oversized Switch 2 and accessories propped up and exhibited across an enormous park. Or are you tiny and the Switch normal-sized? It's never made clear, but hot Welcome Tour lore aside, you run around the virtual gear while the real-life gear throws novel audio-visual and haptic feedback at you. It's a particularly great showcase for HD rumble 2 - I only hope that devs take the time to implement it properly in other games.
Stamp Rally plinths pop up when you approach components and gate progress between areas. So, to get to the main console, you have to locate 18 stamps on the left Joy-Con, and so on. Simple enough, though some less obvious ones do present a challenge, usually when the button or port is on the inaccessible underside and you're hunting for the plinth.
Then there are the minigames, with multiple variations of the same game grouped on little exhibits across the hardware. It's all very 'Switch 2 Experience' for anybody who attended those pre-launch events. There are over 50 games and beating them earns medals to unlock harder variants.
Some, naturally, are better than others. The Mouse Mode ones are generally more challenging and/or frustrating. Removing stains with a paint scraper was much harder on my leg or the arm of the sofa than on a table (where I donned the Joy-Con straps and got the medals first try); my lap or a cushion worked fine with other games, though. If you do hit a wall with one, just move on. You're able to instantly warp to anything you've visited by hitting 'X' to bring up the menu and selecting it, a real godsend.
Elsewhere, you'll be hunting floating pixels, shooting balloons, colouring within the lines, guessing the angle of the kickstand - all sorts. Only one minigame — Breaststroke: Floaty Frustration — is outright bad (it lives up to its name), and while there's nothing here you're likely to fire up again once you've completed the game, they're all effective at demonstrating the possibilities of your shiny new console.
On that theme, and beyond the realm of proper 'games', 14 tech demos highlight neat functions and features, letting you test the noise reduction qualities of the built-in microphone, make the Joy-Con emit sound effects, and plenty more. The 3D Sound demo with the helicopter is a particular highlight, but they're all fun to mess around with. My kids absolutely loved sawing logs, shaking maracas, and hearing themselves with robot voices. The HDR demo didn't wow me, but these are cool toys to play with. Who wouldn't want to rev a motorbike with a Joy-Con?
Beyond that, dozens of info desks contain multiple-choice quizzes testing your knowledge of nearby Insight boards. It's here where Nintendo goes into detail about the hows and whys of design, and in all honesty, it's incredibly interesting for anybody with a penchant for gaming hardware.
The light-hearted quiz questions aren't taxing if you're paying any attention whatsoever to the slides, though it's fun to imagine a world where 'Love' or 'Glue' hold the Joy-Con on. They do get progressively more challenging as you journey inside the console, but there's typically one comedy answer, two vague possibilities, and the obvious correct one. Get a question wrong and the relevant Insight board is flagged, so you can quickly swot up and repeat.
Burning through Insights for review isn't the best way to digest them, and they got repetitive towards the end. One named 'Games Use Electricity' isn't as blindingly obvious as it sounds, but the title made me guffaw. You're not obliged to do any of the quiz stuff, either, and along the way there's lost property to find, some charming NPC writing, cute moments as you skate across the screen, and a bunch of nostalgic nods to Nintendo history.
There are also some smirk-worthy 'purely for reference' disclaimers when they show animations of the Joy-Con being wrenched from the console and other non-sanctioned actions, but Welcome Tour feels like Nintendo being refreshingly open and surprisingly confident. I can't imagine any other platform holder going into this sort of forensic detail for fear of a red-ring-level embarrassment down the line. It might even help allay fears about another Joy-Con drift debacle this gen, as the new mechanisms feature very prominently here.
There's an assuredness in inviting this kind of scrutiny; an admirable pride in the work. "I can't believe they're showing us as much as they are," says one of the milling NPCs, and I can only agree. It's a quality product.
And a surprisingly lengthy one. Due to the weird 10-day delay before playtime data is shown on your profile, I can't say exactly how many hours I've spent opening everything and getting nearly all the medals, but it's got to be seven or eight (and at least one of those was spent on the nightmare dual-mouse UFO bullet hell/star collection minigame). [Update: So it seems Nintendo changed this at some point? I just checked again and it now states "10 hours or more," while the Nintendo Switch App says "11 hour(s) or more" - not sure why there's a disparity, but that total includes 30 mins of battery-testing idle time, plus extra for note-taking.] There are 12 'areas' in all, going from the top of the left Joy-Con into the system itself via the dock, the Joy-Con grip and straps, and even peripherals that don't come with the system - specifically the Camera, the Pro Controller, and the Joy-Con wheels.
If you don't own those things? You can still earn 'fast-track medals' from them via a cute little SOS trick, so progress isn't gated behind them. However, access to a handful of minigames and demos are effectively blocked if you don't have the requisite gear (the Camera, a pad which has the 'GL'/'GR' buttons, and a 4K TV).
For me, it's nothing to get too upset about — there's so much else to be getting on with, and what's the alternative? Remove those experiences entirely? — but it's another straw on the camel's back if you're already irritated by the cost. It also highlights another unavoidable aspect of Welcome Tour: as well as being part instruction manual, part demo, it's also an ad for those lovely accessories you didn't pick up. Yet.
There's an undeniable allure to seeing pristine hardware at this resolution, too, without the skin cells and dust particles and pet hairs and assorted household detritus that attaches itself the moment you remove the packaging. Welcome Tour is deliciously, fetishistically sterile, with gorgeous specular highlights on the logos as you run across them, close-ups of glistening ports and shiny sticks. It tickles the same zones as Sony's Astro Bot in some ways, though this is much more of a museum piece.
It does a fantastic job of highlighting the design chops and consideration that goes into every aspect of Nintendo's products, from the 0.05mm height adjustments to individual face buttons to the minuscule tab on a single foot of the dock that means it will slide (rather than topple over) if you accidentally yank it with a cable connected.
Ultimately, Welcome Tour is modestly priced ($9.99 / £7.99), too, despite the wider economic context surrounding Switch 2's launch and the general upset over pricing across the industry which makes charging for it feel like the last straw. For your buck, there's a surprising amount of bang, though.
So, one more time, then: This 100% should have been a pack-in. But the software itself? It's great.
Conclusion
Welcome Tour is a calming, surprisingly engaging hardware exhibition with a handful of cool minigames, a trove of interesting info, and some neat demos that showcase exactly what the little system can do. It makes you feel good about buying the thing, which makes the platform holder's decision not to bundle it with the console utterly baffling. Featuring expensive add-ons you might not own also won't impress anyone who's indignant that the company wants another 10 bucks for this.
That aside, it's an undeniably fine demonstration of Nintendo's thoughtful design approach. It's cute, it's fun, and it's a shame the whole pack-in argument overshadows the delightful software. Anyone interested in tech, design, or Nintendo in general should check it out immediately.
Comments 112
If it were a pack-in, Nintendo would have raised the cost of the console.
It's one of the best games on Switch 2. And I did joke about it last week a bit. But it's a truly lovely game that goes REALLY deep into the tech that is in the console. For me it's like an art exhibit or museum for the Switch 2.
And I don't remember art exhibits or museums ever being "free".
And I agree with @Bass_X0 here, if they made it a pack in.. every Switch 2 would've been $5-$10 more exensive. Which is unfair for people who don't want to play this. Is it worth the €10? Yes.
I haven't completed it yet. But I am currently standing on giving it an 8,9/10. My score will finalize once I completed it.
It's wild to think this may be a 9 if it were a pack-in.
It would have been the wiser option now, would it not?
Include the game, raise the price $5, earn more money, make everybody more happy.
Honestly, I can't really see this as anything more than "neat". Not bad, not poorly valued, just neat.
If this was a pack-in, even if it's no Astro's Playroom, it would've been very neat. But the fact that it's $10 separately makes me just prefer getting another $10 game, especially one with more replay value. I'm not saying that this isn't worth $10, but it's not gonna be everyone's first option.
But hey, at least Nintendo has a title to nudge into Black Friday sales for the Switch 2. I can't wait to see kids' excitement over getting a tour guide for Christmas.
I did start off in the “don’t think it’s worth paying for, don’t buy it” camp but have come to agree that as a free pack-in, this would have been a lovely cherry on the top of the purchase of this new hardware.
I spend £8.99 every time I go to a cafe, and yet… this does feel like it should have been included.
That all said, I really enjoyed it (rated it an 8), have no problem that some of the games will have to wait ‘til I get a camera and pro controller, and thoroughly agree that Floaty Frustration needs to get in the bin.
Would I have liked this to be a pack in? Obviously, yes, and it feels even weirder that it isn't one when you get to the camera portion, which feels so much like a sales pitch that I got twitchy to find the "skip ad" button.
But on the other hand I still remember 1-2 Switch from 8 years ago, with its shallow offering and $60 price tag. And I look at the clock and notice I've been playing Welcome Tour for three hours without noticing. AND I'm only halfway done with everything.
Hot take: I'm satisfied with my purchase.
I really appreciate this measured take on the game. I’m finding it to be very fun, and the hate surrounding it to be kind of absurd. It’s $10. If the console cost $10 more and Welcome Tour was included, no one would blink and we would be talking about how charming and weird this game is. With the separate charge, only the real nerds who want to play it have to pay. I do think it should have been free, or included in the console cost, but the amount of whining over this game is kind of ridiculous.
Anyway, this is actually the game I’ve spent the most time with on Switch 2 so far. As I said above, I find it very charming in spite of a few strange design decisions. It’s certainly much more engaging for me than 1-2-Switch, which was $50 at launch and basically a collection of glorified tech demos.
If anyone reading is on the fence about this, I recommend picking it up. If you’re raging and refusing to pay “on principle,” at least figure out whatever principle it is you’re so worked up about. This game isn’t an instruction manual, it’s a really interesting deep dive into the engineering of the system. Nintendo is greedy and gouges their customers sometimes, but I just don’t think this game is an instance of that.
@Broch83 So they should've made 4 SKUs of the Switch 2?
1. Without any game. €469
2. With Welcome Tour but no Mario Kart World €474
3. Without Welcome Tour but WITH MarioKart world €509
4. With both. €514
Yeah, that wouldn't have been confusing. And if they just always included it for a +5 price even more people would complain about the console price.
I feel Nintendo picked the best out of 2 not great options.
@Bass_X0 Right. Pack ins aren't free games, they are rolled into the cost of the unit. If this were a pack-in, the base Switch 2 would cost $459.99.
@sanderev That was clearly not what I meant.
No options. Welcome Tour for all.
It did make me chuckle when it said: "You can even attatch the controllers back-to-front, or upside-down! ...But please don't do this"
Avoiding this on principle. Nintendo has gone too corporate this generation, and I'll make my statements in opposition where I can. And I think it actually started last generation, with the half-baked launches of certain games with promises to support (translation: complete) them after launch. Disappointed in a company I've supported since the NES.
I wonder if it will get dlc as they update the firmware with new features lol.
Nintendo is just super greedy, but their game prices where always fair (always around the 50/60 Euro mark). But that's out of the window now with Switch 2. Ironically during the Wii/Wiiu/Switch1 era Nintendo was the cheapest way to play (compared to Sony and Microsoft), but now that has completely changed. What happened to affordability for households? And what happened to plug and play (almost all third-party games on Switch 2 are those awful Gamekeys).
And they sadly seem to get away with it, Switch 2 already sold 3 million copies!
I'm glad you had an open mind to this. I'll give this a shot whenever we get a Switch 2.
@Broch83 So everyone should be forced to buy this game?
I bought a PS5 and I never cared about the Astro playroom game that was pre-installed. Tried it once, got bored within minutes.
And then years later I found that it's basically an ad for Astro Bot. (which I also did not buy)
I bought Welcome Tour since I thought it was interesting (which it is) But I don't think most players will buy it.
Considering all the complaints about the starting prices including that of the system even as is, I'm glad they didn't include this and further increase it (and even more so if they included also all the accessories required to experience everything, not 100% the game despite what the title of your previous article about that said) as others have luckily also mentioned, not to mention that this way those not interested in it for whatever reason can simply not buy it - apart from bringing up the "controversy" yet again, thanks for the review and personally I'll gladly pay €9,99 for a lifetime ticket to an exhibit of Switch 2's secrets as per the original Japanese title!
I think the locked features would have stung a lot less had this been included with the console. It'd be a win-win because it feels substantial but leaves you wanting more, so I don't feel it would have prevented anyone from buying a launch game alongside it.
@sanderev Okay. So once again. My original point above was not that it would be nice for me. But that it would have been a wiser option for Nintendo to include it and increase the price $5.
That being said your point applies to everyhhing included. Why am I forced to pay for the Joy Con grip thing I will never use? And a too shot HDMI cable?
CTRL+F "Loss Leader Strategy"
The fact that there is no mention of this in the context of this game and review is pretty surprising.
IMO making it free for online members would have been a good enough compromise. Everyone getting the console through Nintendo's invite system needs it anyway.
They gave away the Zelda upgrades for free with the expansion. So just make this humble little software free for standard online.
That should cover it. The problem with charging for it is that even if it's worth $10 few people will actively go out and buy this.
Nintendo would have moved several times the software if they packed it in with something. And once everyone with online subscriptions has it and enjoyed it. Everyone else is more likely to buy it so they don't miss out.
Overall it would have at least gotten people talking about the console more and helped feed the hype.
One thing I really, strongly dislike is the text size of most of the UI elements that are interacted with most, such as the in information stands. I understand that my vision is far from perfect, and so I’m not exactly the largest target demographic for video game design, but even compared to something like Mario Kart World or older games like Super Mario Odyssey, I’m sitting here, around 10-12 feet away from a 65 inch TV, and I’m struggling to see the text and detail, in a similar way to around 14 years ago, playing Skyward Sword on the Wii on a 32 inch CRT TV from 7 or 8 feet away (towards the end of the Wii’s life, games like Skyward Sword, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Donkey Kong Country Returns no longer included 4:3 display modes, and instead rendered a letterboxed 16:9 image). It’s just kind of frustrating and sad, especially since the accessibility options for text size don’t actually affect the games themselves.
Removed - unconstructive
@sanderev based on what I’ve been reading and hearing it sounds like what you said - more of a museum and a deep dive, and not a so-called manual. Goes into the science and R&D that goes into creating a console. Might not pick it up but appreciate the take. Still waiting for a restock on Switch 2s. I’m in no rush.
8 is too generous in my opinion considering what you can buy for $10, and diminishes the weight of the rating scale from Nintendolife. I’m extremely skeptical this game at this cost really deserves an 8 when there are so many better games out there for a similar price or less.
I’m not in the camp that this 100% needs to be free to be good, but I believe even at $10 it’s over priced. Max I would pay is $5 CAD ($3 USD) for the novelty and even then I’d hesitate.
The biggest issue I have is the mini game quality is too low for this to be a Nintendo game sold at cost. With so much basic and fun info about the console presented in an inventive way, this really should be free.
This 100% should have... oh wait, we said that already. This is going to be a game missed by many unfortunately. Seems like for all Nintendo put into it that they would've lined it up better for mass consumption-- It feels like a missed opportunity. When I do get my Switch 2, if this isn't the first game I get, then it's highly likely that I will pass it altogether as the march of other new games will take precedence.
@stevep is it a case of “words make brain hurt?” It would be kool if you could expand on your opinion a tad more… 😃
Packing this in would have been a great PR move, if for no other reason than to make up for the high cost of entry into Nintendo's fancy new hardware.
But it really does look quite good, and I intend to download it (or borrow the "virtual card" from my brother if he ends up buying it) once I get my hands on a Switch 2.
Same people that complain about paying 10$ for this probably spend 300$ on shoes
Cue a bunch of comments from people saying it's "bad" or a "tech demo" or "an instruction manual" from people who haven't actually played it. It's actually a museum and mini game collection. It has 20 mini games BESIDES the 14 tech demos and they're both labelled as such.
I really like it. Super interesting, quirky, funny and some of the mini games are very addictive, trying to beat your high score/earn all the trophies. The early ones with the UFO's and such remind me a lot of the fly swatting mini game in Mario Paint. The quizzes were enjoyable too.
With that said it is a real shame they didn't pack it in with the system, even if it put the price up a little as I think it would've been well loved had it been. Nintendo definitely lost some goodwill there.
8/10!? I did buy this from the few articles stating how ”surprisingly fun, actually” it is — and what a god damn scam. 😂
”Guess the framerate”, ”see how small OG Mario is in a 4k screen”, along with non-trivial such as ”You can use a mouse to move a cursor around on the screen”.
It’s not a game — it’s a tech demo.
The games are basically Flash games from the early 2000s and the ”educational” material is so laughably basic. It’s very polished, but it’s absolutely not an 8/10. Then the so-so port of Hitman should be a 23/10.
It’s like going to a restaurant and paying 5 bucks to get the menu.
@Hero-of-WiiU or thousands on graphics cards so they can emulate Switch games…
@axelhander I’d love to know what makes your opinion the gold standard.
Still waiting for any outlet to review Survival Kids, which I’m curious about and seems like it could go either way.
@sanderev There are tons of art exhibits and museums that are free. Not all obviously, but it's somewhat common for them to be, essentially, a government-run perk. Which, in this analogy, would be equivalent to Nintendo providing the game for free.
I dont mind the price given all the weirdness in the markets these days.
The game is interesting, but id hesitate to call it good. Its more like a virtual tech manual than a game. Luckily I like tech manuals, but I certainly can see the average consumer shunning this one. I also definitely prefer astrobot to this as a feature rundown title.
@Suketoudara ive opened up all the areas and played a large number of demos. Its a virtual tech manual through and through.
Not saying thats a bad thing, just thats what it is. It goes into pixel counts, use of chips, how the rumble works, and so much more.
@hiptanaka I picked up survival kids and have been playing with my daughter(shes 9). Its actually a lot of fun. I also am interested in what the reviews say, but id expect 7-8 range scores.
@Runex2121 Alright, good to know it’s not a trainwreck. Thanks for the info. 🙂
I know EXACTLY where it belongs: in the store shelf (digital or otherwise). I’d NEVER pay for a tech demo, and I really hope other people won’t as well. It just doesn’t make sense. Astro’s Playroom is a tech demo, and Sony obviously bundled it for free with the PS5… why should one even consider being mugged of their hard earned money by Nintendo trying to sell a tech demo? No. Effin’. Way.
@FishyS Government run does not mean free. In those cases everyone pays.
@Broch83 Because those are basic necessities to fully use the console in every intended use. An optional deep dive tour is not.
Gavin, this is a great review. And I concur. It's exceedingly detailed and for people who like this sort of thing (like me) it's money well spent.
Glad to finally see this review. The key part to me is that you said none of the mini games are something you’re likely to want to play again. If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem worth it to me. Would’ve been nice to have something in there that you’d want to play again and again, or something that had a bit more depth gameplay wise.
i say, "the switch 2 is partly overpriced because of dubious new features like 'mouse mode.'"
they say (paraphrasing) "those features cost essentially nothing to develop, implement, market, and manufacture."
i say "Welcome Tour shouldve been a pack in game obv."
they say "what, and raise the price 5 bucks?!" 🤡
I don't care if it was the best game ever. It should have been a pack in game. I refuse to buy this interactive manual.
nope, just doesn't look like a fun GAME to me.
Thank you, @dartmonkey for providing the best review on the ‘net for this particular app. It’s a truly delightful experience and I hope for more games that utilize the unique features of the console rather than us getting “the games the gamers want (registered trademark)” over time. The demos and minigames really made me realize some of the blindspots gaming has with making novel experiences. I say this as someone that loves Astro’s Playroom, only to find that I’ve not done much novel with a Dualsense controller five years in. I mean, there was Astro’s Playroom and then… uh… Astro Bot to a lesser extent? At least Nintendo will wear its weird with a badge of honor.
Glad you guys feel the same as I do about the experience rather than giving the game a salty 3/10 because it’s not a pack-in as others have done, by the way.
Thanks for knocking out these Switch 2 reviews rapid speed as well and continuing to be the most genuine source for Nintendo news. Truly a remarkable effort out of you guys this week.
100% should have been a pack in!
“Cons: The Obvious”
Hah love that!
Could this have been included in the NSO expansion pak?
Yeah, won't be picking this up on the principal of thing especially when Sony basically gave away Astrobot's Playroom with every PS5. $10 won't break the bank for most and I'm sure Nintendo will make plenty of money off of it, but with more substantial and better games out there like Fast Fusion for $15, it's just not worth it to me for a glorified tech demo. Maybe if it drops to $5 down the line on some holiday sale, I'd might consider it at that point. I do think maybe once the system is a couple of years old and the launch fervor has died way down, beginning to offer it as a pack in or a free download or part of the Switch Online expansion pass wouldn't be a bad idea.
@Burning_Spear Oh, I was so upset about Animal Crossing last generation... Let's hope this time they finish the game
@sanderev I don't think a free tech demo game that was later followed with a bigger retail game counts as just "basically an ad" for it... at least at first, any more than Wii Sports was an ad for Wii Sports Resort.
Now, granted, they did specifically put in a countdown, store link, and some very obscured easter eggs for the main game as/once Astro Bot released.
I'll probably buy it and pretend to love it just to be a contrarian
Make this a special area in the Nintendo Museum and I think will enjoy trying stuff out.
Nintendo can still redeem themselves and include this with MKW bundle for Black Friday.
Love what someone said above, that this is a "virtual tour", a museum-like take on the system, and that, museums and tours are not free. This review has certainly picked my interests in this, I'll buy it as soon as I get the console. This got me thinking that, maybe Nintendo should release a similar game, but themed after the Nintendo museum in Japan. Bet all of you would pay $60, for something like that, without blinking.
We are beating the horse till it is undead.
Back on Sw1 noone complained about:
And yes, the latter was way more expensive.
It almost feels asif people feel the need to complain
GameKeyCards ?
Yes. Complain till Nintendo stops.
This ?
Hardly worth it
@Chlocean
They won't.
It will be even worse.
See Also: Pokémon after 2017
If I’m feeling quirky, I’ll give it a go.
@Chlocean And make it worth talking to villagers.
@Yosher So stuff like BOTW and Mario Odyssey should have been pack-ins?
@StewdaMegaManNerd Yes, clearly that's what I meant. LOL
@Henmii Excuse me?! This all started with Switch 2?! The Switch in its first year was basically a repackaged Wii U, and they were selling a bunch of old games at full price. NSO did not seem worth it at the time. And the Expansion Pack was even worse. And the Switch is still being sold at full price at $150 less than a Switch 2, which, besides the abysmal battery life, is a huge upgrade. Also, the Joy-Cons are much, much better. They actually stick to the console! The Switch 1 Joy-Cons, while cool at the time, have not held up. And those are $80 compared to $95 for the Switch 2 versions, which again, are vastly superior. Sorry for rambling, but I just don’t see why so many people think this new generation of Nintendo is so awful when Nintendo during the Switch 1 generation was easily much more money-hungry.
It should have been free. Even if that implied the console was a little bit more expensive. It's all a matter of perspective.
End of dicussion.
This has been exactly what I expected, maybe even more. I realized when I was playing with my 5 year old that this was the first time she experienced mouse controls (she's pretty savvy with touchscreen from phones and tables) and she was having a blast with some of the minigames.
Some of those medal goals have been fairly challenging for my mid 40s reaction times and coordination, but it's all with a smile.
@StewdaMegaManNerd
Switch 1 games where all around the 50/60 Euro mark, as where the new titles on Switch 1 (Nintendo always asked full price for re-released games). Only exception is Zelda Tears of the kingdom at 70, but I paid less.
Download-only games where always overpriced at Nintendo.
@Nintoz already put the controllers on mine backwards lol
BTW, the Switch playtime minimums have been updated to include 10 hrs of play. So it will show your time before 10 days if you hit 10 hrs before then. I believe this was added on switch OS v20. Additionally, I think playtime syncs to your account.
You know what, it's super annoying but I think I'll buy this game since it's only $10 and I want to know the inner workings of switch 2. I watched projared let's play and it seems I kind of want to play it too rather than just watching it 😅
I think nintendo will get so much good will if they make it free at launch since it's a fun way to play what is basically switch 2 manual, but I guess after switch 1 nintendo still got a lot of good will left so making money is more important to them.
@Alcea Yes, the days of New Leaf are long over... And now New Horizons' success has convinced them that they can get away with "Mario Tennis"-ing my favorite Nintendo franchise...
Removed - inappropriate language
@sanderev Easily one of the best, exclusive, first-party releases for the console.
I had a great time with it but the jerks did sell me on the camera because of it 😭
Obviously it should’ve been a packed in demo. That would’ve reduced the “greedy corporate” feeling somewhat, that many people are experiencing lately due to all the price increases and paywalls. Now it just enforces it.
Should be free... Nintendo is milking us
It belongs in a museum.
@Edu23XWiiU
Hmm... Museum tour. This sounds familiar.
This was misunderstood too when it was initially announced but oddly enough when Nintendolife did an article on it recently it was received with fondness.
Also, as I said in a previous post this is very similar to when you would buy the nintendo player's guides back in the day.
Removed - unconstructive feedback
I don’t really care it’s £8, it was the first purchase when I got my new switch2 and I absolutely love how geeky it is , it’s great for short little bursts between Mario Kart and their is a lot of content their for £8. When you compare it to say Ridge Racer with its 1 track at £15.
@Alcea Oh, there were plenty of complaints regarding 1-2-Switch, namely ”If this would’ve been bundled with the system, that would make sense. As a full price game? Stay away, because it’s not good”.
Everyone hated it.
I’m going to be honest you guys, I love this game. It’s the main thing I’m playing on switch 2 and I’ve already put more time into it than many games that cost more than $10.
I know this is unpopular, but I’m okay with their stance that software shouldn’t be free. I wish the mini games were expanded to be two player but otherwise I’m very happy with it. It’ll keep me occupied until bananza
It's a very well-made tour, understandable to anyone, of any age, and some of the minigames are really challenging. It's fun, informative and interesting, and it shares knowledge about some details that we would probably never hear about otherwise.
Complaining about having to pay for it is fine for those who have never been in the Nintendo world, but for those who are already used to spending absurd amounts of money on games without saying a word (yes, dear reader, I'm talking about YOU who are reading this) frankly it sounds ridiculous and just an excuse to complain about everything.
Sure, Nintendo hasn't missed an opportunity to advertise the accessories by making some minigames playable exclusively with them, but no one is forced to play them.
At the time of writing:
User Rating: 6.4/10
User Ratings: 132
The top 5 scores by %:
24% 8/10 Great
15% 1/10 Absymal
14% 9/10 Excellent
11% 10/10 Outstanding
11% 7/10 Good
For some reason I have a feeling not all who rated this poorly actually played the game.
Could it be some people voted 1/10 without playing it?
I've really enjoyed my time with Welcome Tour so far. I would say it's a 7 or an 8 for mer personally. A lot of fun mini games, some hidden secrets and other stuff makes it fun!
Nintendo cashing in on the Switch U, while it can
I'll wait for the Switch 3 port.
Maybe they can make it a franchise or add dlc to really make gamers rage.
Nintendo Gamecube: Welcome Tour
Nintendo Famicom: Welcome Tour
Nintendo 64: Welcome Tour
All joking aside this could serve as like a curated interactive museum of all Nintendo hardware past and present.
@HotGoomba exactly how I feel
@sanderev I just did a quick google search, and found two free art exhibits in my area.
I then expanded to a big city, New York City, and found they have free exhibits there.
Free art exhibits are absolutely a thing.
Edit: Also, if this was a pack-in with the Switch 2, perhaps could have created positive word-of-mouth, unlike the situation the game created with how they announced it and released it.
@AvianBlue exactly! This is something, that, for the Nintendo lover, would be a must have! I'd love to play that Louvre tour! Imagine that, but with the Nintendo museum, and with that same look at the classic consoles, as it is with Switch 2 now.
Appreciate the use of detritus in this review. Can I order a shenanigans in your next review?
I think I’m going to buy this. Please don’t judge me.
This actually sounds like a solid educational tool to teach kids computer science. This is a blueprint on how to gamify learning, especially for helping people learn how to understand computers better.
And good to see Nintendo's quirky, quintessential charm is alive and well, all the protestations of price notwithstanding. Unfortunately I think I need to buy this now, simply because. . . despite how corporatized Nintendo has become, this is a small glimpse of their old selves, and I don't want to miss the moment.
I now know, definitively, that I cannot tell the difference between 60 fps and 120 fps. I'm just guessing.
And when the game shows the side-by-side comparison after I get the question wrong, I still can't tell the difference.
Also, in mouse mode, the straps have got to go. I'm pretty sure I'm going to cut them off (or buy a stand-alone pair to cut off). There doesn't seem to be another way to remove them, yes?
Between all the good word of mouth and how positive this review was, I’m thinking I may just give this a try and buy it at some point. At least it’s not horribly priced like 1-2 Switch was. (Which I never bought lol)
8 is a bit generous I think, but I’m ok with the money I spent to pick it up and learn more about the console’s nerdier attributes. It’s interesting!
It belongs in the “should have been free” section.
Oh sure they can give it to me anytime they want. Not buying it though.
@speed_loafer
Agree on the strap part, they are annoying and should definitely go. I know people figured out how to get rid of them on the joycon 1 but it's not so easy there.
Also it's great that you can't see 120fps! That means all this tech nonsense is even more meaningless for you than it already is.
I'm with whoever said they should have included this with the online Expansion Pass. That way it would have felt more like the reward for dedicated Nintendo nerds it's clearly looking to be.
I didn’t think Nintendolife would give this anything less than an 8 because it’s a Nintendo first party game.
I also think if it weren’t it would have gotten a six out of ten st the most.
I am curious to learn about all the different bits but still doubt I will pay money for this.
@Bass_X0
Giving out the game for free would've been the best investment : it would've created satisfaction, therefore an amazing buzz.
So many times when I'm reading through the insights the game offers and seeing the little details I couldn't just help to think "Wow, I wish I didn't have to pay $10 to find out about this"
Bought the welcome tour. Explored it for about 10 minutes, then deleted it and went back to Mario Kart World. It was not for me.
The minigames are fun, but I found it to be most interesting as an informational tool. If you're the type who likes to listen to director commentaries on your DVDs, this is like that, but for Switch 2!
@sanderev 100% agreed. I got the game ($10 isn't really all that much considering how much I spent with Nin last week lol), and I've genuinely enjoyed it! It's quite good. If it was a pack in game, the value would be through the roof.
@Alcea great point about 1 2 switch. I've already spent more time with Welcome Tour than I did with 1 2 Switch.
@Nintoz made me hope the next wario ware will do this!
@Pak-Man that is a nice analogy.. especia;;y with e.g. the speakers and stuff
I 100%'d it! Read every last tidbit, completed every quiz, played every game, etc. I know there's a few, hidden "third" medals for extra high scores for some mini games which I didn't get. But in terms of things they actively make visible, everything is done. Put in a fair number of hours, and overall enjoyed the experience.
There was a lot of interesting info, and a decent number of mini games. The game also successfully upsold me on some official accessories, notably the official charge grip (I previously did not know the joy con charge grip adds the extra back buttons, similarly to the Pro 2 controller).
However, I felt like there was a few too many mini games going "Hey, remember, the new Joy Cons work as a MOUSE!", and the mouse mini games put too much emphasis on speed for the medal rankings, rather than accuracy. Got into increasingly creative positions and had to constantly fiddle with the mouse sensitivity in the Switch 2 menu to succeed. I found no leg or desk space to be large enough for the speed they were asking for in relation to joy con mouse accuracy, and had the best results just getting onto the floor and using the floor as one huge mouse pad. It's not like using a mouse is a new thing for me, either, I work with computers all day, and had plenty of experience and mouse pads to choose from.
This experience also prompted me to acquire some cheap third party accessories to make the joy cons more traditionally mouse-shaped when being used as a mouse, for any future mouse-focused features. I found the joy cons awkward to hold for mouse usage in both official suggested configurations (the joy con by itself, with or without the strap).
I haven't bought this partly on principle and partly reviews saying it's boring. Should I change my mind?
If it had been a pack-in, it would have served as a more effective advertisement for those extra peripherals.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...