Exploring The Pros And Cons Of Nintendo’s New Music App

If you know much about the history of Nintendo, you already know it hasn’t always been in the video gaming business. And now it is diversifying further by offering a digital music app.

The gaming connection

Unlike apps like Spotify or Pandora, the Nintendo Music app piggybacks on the brand’s huge catalog of video games. It’s simple to find a particular melody from your favorite games or create a new playlist based on your tastes.

Among the features the new app boasts is an option to eliminate any potential spoilers from games users haven’t yet played. It’s also possible to stretch a track’s playing time to as long as an hour for situations when a little background noise is needed.

Anyone who subscribes to Switch Online can download Nintendo Music on either iOS or Android devices.

The reviews are mixed

If you’re like many Nintendo fans, this app at least sounds intriguing. But is it really as nifty as the company claims?

To answer that question, let’s take a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses from early reviews.

In addition to the extended loop feature, another positive point is the layout, which users say makes finding specific games and tracks easy.

But there are some aspects critics say need some attention, including:

• Limited selection: There are just 25 games to choose from, and that list doesn’t even include the iconic “Super Mario World” or “Zelda.”
• Age discrimination: Another complaint is that almost all of the music comes from recent releases for the Nintendo Switch.
• Taking credit: Instead of recognizing the contribution of actual composers, the game opts to include fictitious musicians in its credits.

For Nintendo fans who can live with a few shortcomings, this app might be just the daily diversion they need.

Chris Agee November 6th, 2024

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