Game review: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
I'm old enough to remember a time when game consoles launched, and they came with free demo discs. The first home console my family bought was the original PlayStation in 1997, and it came with a disc called 'Demo 1'. The disc featured demos for the likes of Crash Bandicoot, Destruction Derby, and many more.
In more recent years, the Nintendo Wii came packed with Wii Sports as a free game, while Astro's Playroom was a free download for all PS5 owners at launch. Sadly, Nintendo Switch 2 owners don't get a free game because they need to shell out around $16 NZD for the 'Welcome Tour' technical presentation.
'Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour' is pretty much a glorified demo and technical presentation to introduce players to the many new features that the console has. The biggest and best new feature of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the fact that players can use the Joy-Con 2 controllers like a computer mouse.
I don't own any Switch 2 games at the moment that utilise the mouse feature, so the 'Welcome Tour' game is my first introduction to it. Before I begin talking about that, let's talk about the presentation of this "game".
'Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour' is presented like a huge theme park where the player can explore the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and its accompanying accessories. You can imagine the game is like you controlling a tiny human who is walking around the Nintendo Switch 2 console, and learning more about its unique features.
The main quest in the game requires players to find the many components of the Nintendo Switch 2 console. For example, when you are walking around, you will earn a stamp if you find the analogue sticks or the face buttons on the Joy-Con 2 controllers.
The Nintendo Switch 2 console itself isn't the only thing that you get to explore too. The other accessories that have been added to this game include the Pro Controller, the Switch 2 camera, the steering wheel accessory, and even the dock itself.
As you explore the Nintendo Switch 2's hardware, you will find playable demos that allow you to learn more about the console's new features. As aforementioned, there are tons of mini-games you can participate in that make use of the console's mouse capabilities.
My favourite mini-game in the entire game is the first-person shooter mode when I was able to shoot balloons. The right Joy-Con 2 controller acts like a mouse where I can aim my gun. The left Joy-Con 2 controller allowed me to walk around the room and find the balloons.
Another mini-game that used the mouse controls was when I had to paint certain shapes in a specific amount of time. The faster you are at completing the mini-games; you will earn medals and unlock more challenges to do.
What I love most about the mouse controls is that they're really responsive and easy to use. Unlike a computer mouse, you don't need to use a smooth surface to utilise the Switch 2 mouse controls. The Joy-Con 2 sensors can detect mouse movements if you're using them on your couch or even your lap!
The other mini-games I liked playing were seeing the screen's new capabilities of having HDR and 120fps. The HDR tech demo was beautiful because I was able to see the difference between SDR and HDR while watching bright fireworks being lit.
The FPS mini-game showed tons of sports balls moving, and I had to guess if they were moving at 120fps, 60fps, or lower. By watching this mini-game, you can really see how much smoother 60fps and 120fps are compared to 30fps or lower.
The other thing you can do in this game is pretty much study all of the info about the Switch 2 and take quizzes. Sure, you can cheat and look at the answers online, but it's actually more fun trying to get all the questions right on your own.
For a game that is basically a technical presentation, I thought the 'Welcome Tour' would have been a short game. I was expecting a two-hour experience, but it should take you around six or more hours if you want to 100% the game. That being said, the game is still overpriced and should have been included for free.
While Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour features interesting demos and is surprisingly longer than expected, it's still not worth it at $16 NZD. Hopefully, Nintendo will consider offering it as a free download in future console bundles.
Verdict: 6.5/10
