Nintendo has crafted something very weird…yet creative.  They’ve put together games where you fold and build objects using cardboard, then fit in your Nintendo Switch controllers and screen to play games with.  It’s called Nintendo Labo, and it fits right in with what GamerDad.com is all about, so for the next couple of weeks, we’re going to feature Nintendo Labo extensively here.  We’ll start with an introduction to the whole thing.

Right now, Nintendo Labo comes in two forms.  There is a Variety Kit, where you can build five things: a RC Car/bug, a fishing rod, a house, a motorcycle handlebar, and a piano.  There is also a Robot Kit where you build one single thing to play a game where you’re a giant robot.  Here is a closer shot of the Variety Kit box.  These are really big boxes, too!

And here’s a closer shot of the Robot Kit box.

Each kit costs about $70 to $80 each.  While that sounds pretty expensive, and it is, there are some things you should consider.  Other comparable educational toys do cost about as much, and these kits do include a game, which runs about 50 bucks anyway.  Plus the cardboard is very high quality and is printed and perforated.  I used to work in printing so I know how expensive that can be!  So if you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem so bad.  But I can still understand why people would think this is a hefty chunk of change anyway.  Sold separately is a 10 dollar decorating kit, but I didn’t get that one.

So what we’re going to do is take a look at everything you can build in the Variety Kit over the next couple of weeks, and maybe the Robot Kit as well, depending on how long it takes to build.  But right now we’ll focus on the first one.  The Variety Kit game has detailed animated instructions on how to build each cardboard item.  This is called the “Make” mode.  One you build something, you can play with it in the “Play” Mode.  In “Discover” Mode, you can read up on how each of the toys work, and inventive souls can even make their own Labo creations with the Labo Garage.  But for now, let’s open the box.  I love how the side of the packaging even welcomes you.

And here’s an example of some of the cardboard sheets inside.  Again, like I said, each one has printing and perforations, so it’s a pretty nice set.

When you first start, the game will let you practice by building a Nintendo Switch JoyCon holder!  This is actually important since most of the main things you build have similar things to hold your JoyCons with.  Here is a picture of the holder.  Trust me folks, it’ll get more exciting than this later.

Be sure to stay tuned in the next couple of weeks as we’ll go over each of the things you can build in this set.  Hope you enjoy it!

By the way, as a silly side note, you have to wonder if Labo was secretly sponsored by Amazon to train kids for their future job of folding shipping boxes!  Ha!

Kid Factor:

As this toy is educational, it’s very good for kids.  But not ALL kids.  It’s best for older kids as the things you build can be pretty complicated, and while the cardboard you use is of very high quality, it can break.  You can order replacement sheets of cardboard on Nintendo’s web site, but even so, I would still say this is best for older kids who love to build things and enjoy seeing how they work.  Reading skill is also involved, and kids would need to be mature enough to take care of their toys.

The other concern I have is the game’s staying power.  Right now as of this writing, my brothers and I have build three things.  And while they were fun to build and play with, there’s not much to do with them after that.  But we’ll see how the rest of the kit goes.  Be sure to read the upcoming reviews and articles about each of the things you can build in the next couple of weeks.  I’d also like to thank my brothers for helping me build these things, too!  I’m horrible at building things, myself!  –Cary

Tags: Game Reviews