Nintendo Labo review: The greatest creation from Nintendo since the Switch

Vaughn Highfield of Alphr: "Nintendo Labo is the best peripheral ever made by the Japanese company. On the surface, it’s little more than a set of cardboard curios allowing you to build a fishing rod, a piano or even a robot suit, yet beneath the surface, Labo is so much more.

Nintendo Labo is a new platform for learning and creation – and it could well be the most exciting thing to come along from the games industry since Minecraft."

[Moonman]

If there could somehow be a Virtual Boy Labo kit (yes, all red and black).....this adult would buy it. ;p

[The 10th Rider]

They need to make one that looks like an arcade and has a selection of arcade games included.

[Moonman]

Nice....then there's the Master Sword, F.L.U.D.D. and the Poltergust 3000..but hey, I haven't put much thought into this... ;p

[Neonridr]

how awesome would it be if you built a cardboard mini arcade cabinet and put the Switch screen in it. Then you could play the original Donkey Kong, Mario Bros, etc

[GamingSinceForever]

Why not make one yourself? I’m sure there will be some 3rd party developers of Labo concepts.

[The 10th Rider]

@GamingSinceForever,

I was thinking something with licensed arcade games, which you can't really make with the Labo Garage. You could certainly make a functioning cardboard arcade cabinet with a few minigames on it, but it'd be sweet to get some actual arcade games on there too.

[deafdani]

@Neonridr: that's what 10th Rider said, dude...

[mikeslemonade]

The greatest invention since switch? That's easy to say because it's the only invention.

[SegaGamer]

Give me strength.....best creation from Nintendo since the Switch, so better than Zelda and Mario then? Cardboard, better than these two games? ok.....

[Neonridr]

well Zelda and Mario are established franchises. I think they are talking about new stuff. And is this considered hardware? or software? or both?

[NecrumOddBoy]

I mean isn't this the only thing created since the switch LOL

[Neonridr]

@NecrumOddBoy - I think we are more or less looking at Labo like hardware, not games.

[Moonman]

Super Mario Bros. was created in 1985. The Legend Of Zelda in 1986. I know because I was there. ;p

[Naji4Me]

How many creation from Nintendo since switch 😑

[wheresmymonkey]

Arms, Labo and Snipper Clips. The console's only been out a year.

[ScootaKuH]

This exactly! It's a silly comment

[StormSnooper]

I don’t understand the concept. So basically it’s like LEGO with cardboard? So you build things, and then what do you do with it? I ask because they aren’t small. How many of these can you keep?

[PurpHerbison]

You have to use your imagination!

[StormSnooper]

Yes having read the article now, I see that it’s mainly aimed at children, and I think it’s a great idea by the way. It’s sort of like origami with a purpose, it’s really cool. My only issue is that unlike LEGO it can’t be tucked away as easily so clutter becomes an issue I think. But the possibilities are endless with this.

[AnubisG]

How? You get pre-printed and cut stuff that you assamble. Not much imagination is required for that.

[Old McGroin]

@ AnubisG

It's cardboard man, people are gonna get creative with their kids.

[bluefox755]

@anubis This is exactly what I thought. How it it the least bit creative when you're just building something from a template? When I was a kid, we had something similar to this called K'nex, the difference was they were not only way more elaborate, but you could actually make original creations. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see how assembling cardboard from a template is the least bit creative.

[Old McGroin]

@bluefoxx755

Well maybe you can enlighten us all on how Nintendo can create software to facilitate an infinite number of possibilities? This should be good...

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

Not like LEGO but more like a model kit since you cannot make different things using the same pieces. Definitely for the young and the arts & crafts fans out there.

[StormSnooper]

Yes you are right. I know it’s aimed at kids but I actually really like the idea. I wish they would also make some smaller ones and use a single cardboard plus instructions (essentially origami) because that way you would be learning something you can show off anywhere where there is a piece of paper while you have the best version (Labo version) at home sitting on your desk for show. That way you can collect them as well.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

If they make little Danbo style figures of Nintendo characters that you can build I'd be all over that. I have Master Chief and Geralt ones that I have collected over the years, but they are made with cardstock.

[wheresmymonkey]

You can make whatever you like with it. Everyone seems to be forgetting garage. which is really basic coding software.
and the fact you can then use that to build whatever you want, out of whatever you want.

[michellelynn0976]

It is basically a build it yourself kit. It makes you feel like you are really making kits that you can use as whatrver you want them to be. It is like turning your Switch into Legos.

It is not a traditional game. It is meant to be something different for people who want their kids (or themselves) to use their creative or imagination. I hope this helps.

[StormSnooper]

Thank you. I honestly don’t know why you got two downvotes. Lol. You gotta give it to Nintendo for coming up with new innovative ways to play. If I had a child I would want them to use their imagination when they play.

[conanlifts]

Lego with cardboard and mini games. The cardboard design can take a few hours to construct and then you can play the mini games with them. In addition there is some sort of garage mode that allows you to do some basic coding to create your own mini games with the boxes and Joy Cons etc.

As you mention below though storing them would be a pain. Unless you flat pack and rebuild them. Also I wonder about replacement card once the original is damaged.

[ScootaKuH]

Kind of like a Switch version of Raspberry Pi making. Only nowhere near as versatile

[Killa78]

A pretty nifty alternative! Well played Nintendo.

[GameGod26]

Lol I’ll never understand this but like what you like I guess...

[CrimsonWing69]

what world am I living in?

[marloc_x]

Nintendo's.. 🙃

[Dalailana]

We love real innovation

[FPS_D3TH]

Who needs a game console when you can have fun in a box!

[OffRoadKing]

*with the box it came in

[marloc_x]

You could certainly repurpose that box, into Toycons
Now you get it👌

[Einhander1971]

I'm sure Nintendo have some great ideas planned :)

[quent]

Leave it to Nintendo to think outside of the box.. Literally

[StormSnooper]

With the box* (:

I think Labo is great. God knows we need our kids to start thinking with a little more imagination instead of being on a iPad game 24/7.

[DogJosha]

I can accept people liking Labo, but why are all the positive comments lying about creativity? Every set is predetermined. There is NO creativity involved with the physical aspect of Labo.

[StormSnooper]

I think it’s because we are comparing it to the alternative way a lot of children play these days (on iPads).

Also, I believe the correct word is “imagination” instead of “creativity”. Labo comes with instructions so the word creativity might be incorrect because you are told how to make the item you don’t come up with the idea/design yourself. BUT, playing with Labo requires “imagination” because the user has to imagine a scenario that is not real. For example when I was a kid, I used to play with action figures, and I would make up all sorts of scenarios and stories that I would imagine on my own, that requires imagination. These days kids don’t do that enough because they are playing on iPads. So Labo is a great way for parents to stimulate these children’s imagination.

[conanlifts]

@dogjosha. My understanding of Labo is that it always allows for basic coding on some, if not all of the products. So you can create your own basic games using the system and accessories/ boxes. So that would allow for creativity.

https://www.eurogamer.net/a...

[tontontam0]

DELETED

[Elda]

This is definitely not for me but I can see this totally for kids & possibly parents co- oping by helping them but then again between the software & the cardboard it can be a little costly especially if parents have several kids.

[Kribwalker]

that’s pretty cool. Id be interested to see where they go from here for sure

[MasterCornholio]

It's an interesting concept. The product isn't for me but I'm sure there are plenty of people that will enjoy it.

[monkeyshawn60]

I would love to see a Pokemon Snap game use Labo. That would make the game even better.

[Father__Merrin]

This is a disgrace utter disgrace. Just looking at some of the card cut outs makes me sick. Deffo not for me.

However I hope kids find something fun about it

[howiewowwee]

The concept intrigues me. I just have a problem with the cardboard. I wish the peripherals were like regular hardware ; being made out of some high quality casing material. I just cannot/will not buy this as it is. Even LEGO blocks would have been a better choice IMHO...to bad LEGO and LABO could not merge = LABGO.

[superchiller]

It's absolutely embarrassing that anyone could get excited about some cheap pieces of cardboard that are put together to make a shoddy object. Nintendo is a purveyor of cheap gimmicks, and have been for well over a decade. Anyone who would actually pay money for some scraps of cardboard should rethink their hobby.

[marloc_x]

..need some tissue schiller?