The Truth About "Welcome Tour" Revealed!

Nintendo fans, rejoice! The mystery behind the developer of the much-discussed Switch 2 launch title "Welcome Tour" has finally been unveiled. This quirky mini-game collection doubles as an interactive instruction manual for the new console, and it's stirred quite a debate—many believe it should have been offered free of charge.

Meet The Developer: Nintendo Cube!

While "Welcome Tour" doesn’t explicitly credit its creator within the game, the team's website has confirmed that it's none other than Nintendo Cube, formerly known as NDCube. Nestled in Tokyo, this subsidiary has been around since 2000, frequently tasked with bringing Nintendo’s engaging mini-game collections to life.

A Mixed Bag of Past Projects!

Nintendo Cube's history is a mixed bag. They've developed the underwhelming "Wii Party," flaunting it for the Wii, and faced criticism with the lackluster "Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival" on Wii U. Most recently, they crafted the competent "Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics" for the Switch, but they also gave us "Everybody 1-2 Switch," a sequel that crashed and burned in the reviews, scoring some of the lowest ratings in Nintendo's history.

The Mario Party Connection!

However, where Nintendo Cube truly shines is in the beloved "Mario Party" franchise. They took over development from 2012’s "Mario Party 9" and have consistently delivered entries that fans adore, including "Super Mario Party" and its follow-up, "Mario Party Superstars." This history offers some glimmers of hope for their latest endeavor!

What’s Next? Super Mario Party Jamboree!

Get ready for their upcoming title, "Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV," set to launch on July 24. This title promises to leverage the Switch 2's new mouse controls and optional camera features.

Criticism of "Welcome Tour"!

Despite its playful premise, "Welcome Tour" has faced backlash for its reliance on mouse-controller games and the necessity of additional hardware like a camera peripheral and a Pro Controller to fully enjoy the experience. Reviewers have lamented that, even if it were intended as a free pack-in game, its execution feels like a messy collection of tech demos rather than a compelling gameplay experience. IGN summarized it as a "muddled collection of quaint tech demos and boring factoids dressed up as an uncompelling completionist checklist."

Final Thoughts!

As anticipation builds for the Nintendo Switch 2, fans are left wondering whether "Welcome Tour" will live up to its potential or if it's just another forgettable title in a crowded lineup. Only time will tell!