Bridgerton star fights off prolific phone thief as crowds watch on
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TV
Race Across the World’s Sioned shouldn’t be sneered at for her tears
Sioned doesn’t deserve the mockery she’s received for crying on the BBC series (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert) ‘I don’t want to be here.’ Four episodes into this year’s series of Race Across The World, it seemed as though 19-year-old Sioned was on the verge of quitting […]
TV
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – the GOAT gets an upgrade
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – the best just got better (Nintendo) The most successful Legend Of Zelda game of all time is remastered for the Nintendo Switch 2 and gains a significant performance boost. Nintendo may […]
Gaming
Mario Kart World review – the final verdict on the Switch 2’s biggest game
Mario Kart World – the magic is back (Nintendo) The key launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 is already the most controversial Mario Kart ever but is it a bad game or merely misunderstood? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the very few […]
Gaming
The key launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 is already the most controversial Mario Kart ever but is it a bad game or merely misunderstood?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the very few games we’ve ever given a 10/10 score. That’s not something we regret either, especially after the extremely generous Booster Course DLC that made it the definitive version of the original Mario Kart formula. That does make it a very difficult act to follow but the idea of making the next game an open world title seemed an excellent new direction to take the series, and yet curiously that’s the only part of Mario Kart World that doesn’t entirely work.
Thanks to Nintendo not sending out review units of the Nintendo Switch 2 more than a day before launch we’ve previously only been able to do a review in progress of World, during which it became clear that it is not quite the game that many imagined. The open world is huge and incredibly well designed but it’s very poorly utilised, with lots of hidden secrets and yet nothing of substance to gain from them.
The open world also has surprisingly little impact on race modes, with the option to explore it separately reduced to an easily missed aside on the title screen or a brief time waster while you’re waiting for the online lobby to fill up. The open world has many positive elements, but it feels strangely underdeveloped for a Nintendo game, especially a vitally important launch title. Although the most curious thing is that this potentially fatal flaw doesn’t really matter.
How is Mario Kart World different from Mario Kart 8?
Everyone knows what Mario Kart is and how it works. Its simplicity is one of its core appeals and World is sensible enough not to mess with that, with its biggest new control addition being a charge jump that is quite hard to use, since you can’t steer while powering it up.
The new wall ride move – essentially wall running but in a car – is also tricky to pull off, and often needs a charge jump to begin, so this is definitely still a game of skill, no matter what you tell yourself between gritted teeth, when being blue-shelled right at the finish line.
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There are a few new power-ups, with the golden shell that trails coins and the return of the jump-enhancing feather being amongst the most potent, but none of them are game-changers. What does make a massive difference though is the fact that there’s now 24 drivers on the track at once – twice as many as the previous maximum.
This works both online and off and completely changes the energy of the game, so that no matter where you are in the pack there’s always plenty of people around you. When the majority are all in one spot the absolute carnage of exploding bombs, shells, and other power-ups is a joy to behold – even if you come off the worse from it.
The greater number of racers has led to many, but not all, tracks being much wider than usual. Ignoring the fact that many power-ups have homing abilities, the game avoids the action becoming too spread out by adding neutral traffic to most tracks and various enemies that will target anyone that comes near, from giant Boom Booms spinning their arms to a truck firing Bullet Bills at you.
At the same time, there are a lot more shortcuts than previous Mario Kart tracks, from simple grind rails (everything from electricity pylons to train tracks) to cunningly hidden routes that you only notice when the impressively capable AI uses it, either by disappearing off track or suddenly appearing out of nowhere beside you.
The core gameplay hasn’t changed on a fundamental level – if it did it wouldn’t be Mario Kart anymore – but the differences are far more marked than any previous game, and certainly more so than the anti-gravity gimmick that Mario Kart 8 gave up on halfway through its DLC.
How does the open world work in Mario Kart World?
How all this interacts with the open world is not obvious at first. All of the tracks in World, whether they’re linear or looped, take place within a section of the open world but when you’re playing the traditional Grand Prix mode this is barely noticeable, except for a brief segue between one track and the next.
Grand Prix works exactly the same as ever, with four tracks to a cup and points awarded for where you rank, but the fact that so many of the tracks are linear point-to-point races gives it a very different feel. Point-to-point races aren’t new for Mario Kart but since there’s so many in World it makes everything feel very different. You’re no longer watching the same scenery going round time and again, with many tracks seeing major changes in backdrops and obstacles as they progress.
A lot of the tracks are named after classic ones but something like Choco Mountain is only similar to the original N64 version for a very brief section, while the rest of the course riffs on the idea with giant lakes of sticky chocolate and pumps that spray it into the air. Meanwhile, other brand new tracks only actually get to the landmark they’re named after in the final third or quarter of the race.
There’s also lots of sections based on (but not in) water, which use physics clearly inspired by the classic Wave Race 64. These feel wonderful to race on, especially when you crest a wave and do a jump at the top for a little extra boost. Likewise, you no longer have a hang-glider attached but instead your kart sprouts wings when in the air and you can now glide much further.
The racing is absolutely top notch and even within the confines of Grand Prix feels very different to Mario Kart 8. Not necessarily better but while people will have their preferences for one or the other they really do feel like equals, doing similar but different things. And that’s quite an achievement for a 33-year-old franchise with a premise as straightforward as Mario Kart.
What is Knockout Tour in Mario Kart World?
Although Grand Prix is in every Mario Kart game the other main mode for World is brand new: Knockout Tour. This sees you racing across six consecutive tracks, but where you have to reach a certain position before being allowed to proceed to the next, or you’re out of the race. So, for example, if you don’t place in the top 20 in the first race that’s it, you’ve lost.
This is not only wonderfully tense and exciting (the first time you win is euphoric!) but it makes better use of the open world, in that you can actually see your progress across the map much more clearly. In terms of other modes, you’ve also got Time Trials and Battle, as well as a revamped VS Race. This allows for a lot more customisation than usual, including separating the difficulty of the AI from the speed class.
All of what we’ve described so far is fantastic, with the only real niggle being the strange way in which characters are unlocked, with new costumes linked to a new power-up that you collect from drive-ins on some tracks. New karts are unlocked simply by collecting coins, while generic background and enemy characters, from a Chargin’ Chuck to a dolphin, are only obtained when someone else happens to turn you into one when using the new Kamek power-up.
What’s wrong with the open world in Mario Kart World?
World has a distinct lack of satisfying unlockables and this is especially true of Free Roam mode. Despite the way it’s been used in-game, the open world is incredibly well designed. Just earlier, we were pootling about in Wario Stadium and there’s a whole roof area, with pipes and grind rails, that the race doesn’t even hint at. Every track is like that, with the open world filled with intricately designed layouts that you can only really appreciate when outside of a race.
The problem is, that while there are secrets to discover they only come in three forms: a ? panel, which you just drive over; a medallion, that you merely collect; and a P-switch, which activates a simple mission that half the time is collect eight blue coins but is sometimes something more unique, like an impromptu checkpoint race.
This is fine but quickly gets repetitive and is made far worse by the fact that the only reward for any of the three activities is a tiny little sticker that you can place on your kart but is often almost impossible to see. There are hundreds of these stickers, but you only have to look at the leaderboard in online mode, where the sticker is also displayed, to see that most people have never even used them and are still on the default.
Imagine if Nintendo had made the open world for Zelda: Breath Of The Wild but the only things you could do in it were the main story missions and looking for Koroks – and even then with only three different puzzles. It’s baffling that Nintendo has created such an amazing world and left it so underutilised, but there’s no story mode, no dialogue of any kind, and no complex missions.
Many have speculated that things like that will be added later via DLC but ignoring the fact that you’d have a better chance of predicting the lottery than you would second-guessing Nintendo, it’s hard to understand why they’ve left it in such a half-formed state at launch. If there is a firm plan to populate it over time then Nintendo really should’ve said, but they’ve done nothing of the sort.
All of which presents us with a problem, when it comes to scoring the game for review. Do you knock points from a game for something it doesn’t do, when the rest of it is so entertaining and unique? The open world isn’t broken and its relative emptiness isn’t a flaw, it’s just something that was originally assumed to be the main focus but is in reality merely a minor side feature.
Despite all its many positives, including excellent graphics and a stunning soundtrack – that includes seemingly endless numbers of classic Super Mario remixes – Mario Kart World is never going to enjoy the same unequivocally positive acclaim as its predecessors.
That’s perfectly understandable, but we can’t ignore the fact that we’ve enjoyed every moment of our time with the game, especially with the races but even including the open world. There’s much, much more that could be done with Mario Kart World but even if it doesn’t change one iota from now until the Switch 3, it’s still one of the best entries the series has ever seen.
Mario Kart World review summary
In Short: An excellent follow-up to Mario Kart 8 that takes the series into exciting new directions, although the open world element is surprisingly undercooked and almost irrelevant.
Pros: Amazingly fun race action that feels substantially different to any other entry, especially in terms of the number of racers and the nature of the tracks. Knockout Tour is fantastic and the open world is incredibly well designed. Great graphics and music.
Cons: The use, or rather underuse, of the open world is absolutely baffling, with very little of any substance to do in Free Roam. Unsatisfying unlockables in general.
Score: 9/10
Formats: Nintendo Switch 2
Price: £74.99 (physical) or £66.99 (digital)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Release Date: 5th June 2025
Age Rating: 3
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Games Inbox: When will the Nintendo Switch 2 Lite be released?
Is a Switch 2 equivalent inevitable? (Nintendo) The Tuesday letters page thinks Mario Kart World is a worthy follow-up to Mario Kart 8, as a reader wonders who the main characters are in Resident Evil Requiem. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk […]
Gaming
The Tuesday letters page thinks Mario Kart World is a worthy follow-up to Mario Kart 8, as a reader wonders who the main characters are in Resident Evil Requiem.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Lighter price
I’m glad that the majority of people seem to be happy with the Switch 2, and that the console seems to be selling well. Nintendo may have their issues but for me gaming would be dead without them and I increasingly worry about their vulnerability, as more and more money is thrown around by Microsoft and others.
That said, I have not bought a Switch 2 yet and am unlikely to be able to afford it this year. Although I’m not as upset about this as I thought I would be, now that it’s become clear that Mario Kart World is really the only launch game of interest.
Some readers have written in about how they’d like there to be a more expensive version with an OLED version. Personally though, I’m waiting for a Switch 2 Lite. I assume there will be one, and I do tend to use the original Switch mostly in handheld mode, plus it will obviously be cheaper.
The original Switch Lite came out over two years after the original, so by my calculations that should mean a Switch 2 Lite by Christmas 2027. Of course, Nintendo may choose to do things differently this time, but I hope it happens as soon as possible, because it’s my best chance for being able to afford one.
Oskar Barvo
Did not want
My Switch 2 arrived from Amazon on Thursday night, and I am very happy with it. It is very much an upgraded Switch but that is what I wanted and expected.
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I have got a good few hours in on Mario Kart World over the weekend and for the most part am loving it so far. Knockout Tour online is the real standout mode. What I didn’t expect was how genuinely different to Mario Kart 8 the game feels with 24 players and wider tracks, in a good way I should say. I can see myself still playing Mario Kart 8 online alongside World, as they are two quite different experiences.
I do feel that the free roam in World feels largely pointless though and I will happily ignore it to focus on races. Also, where is Diddy Kong!
Pigfish2 (NN ID/PSN ID)
GC: Hopefully in retirement.
Live orchestra
Game Inbox, I’ve just finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Wow. Give that game all the Gommage red flowers. Not only am I looking forward to it winning game of the year across the board, surely, but more so, The Game Awards puts on a huge live version of the Game of the Year main score at the ceremony each year.
Imagine the Clair Obscur theme on the big stage! The music is as much a character as any other in that game. Wonderful all round.
Mr K
Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Grace under pressure
Count me as someone that thought the Summer Game Fest this year was unbearably boring. I mean, they usually are but at least there’s usually some good reveals as well, but this time all we got was Resident Evil Requiem.
That saved things but of course it’s never enough and now I want to know more, especially in terms of the main characters. Is it going to be just Grace? She’s the only one in the artwork but that could easily be a red herring.
I’ve seen a lot of rumours that Leon or Jill are in the game but I don’t know how likely that is to be true, and it could just be cameos, like Chris in the last two. I’ll be fine with Grace to be honest. She seemed interesting and we’ve just had a Leon game.
Tsumi
Size matters
The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds (surely it should have been an Xbox Ally S and X?) do look intriguing. They’re certainly setting some lofty expectations with that new version of Windows 11, but I did note that there was a big mix of aspirational statements mixed in with the guarantees of what you’re going to get. Pick up and play console experience was mentioned but only in reference to what people want, not what it will be. At least they’re aiming on the right direction.
The physical changes to the ROG Ally I’m less convinced about though. They seem to be going with the same approach as PlayStation Portal, by using the shape of a regular controller, but that’s arguably the biggest issue with the portal. These devices are much heavier and wider than a controller. So when you’re lying in bed trying to hold the thing in one hand, your fingers need to stretch as far into the thing as possible. On the portal the thick ends really limit this, and the Xbox Ally looks like it’s doing the same thing.
Also, a shame it’s a 7 inch screen. I really like the size of the 8 inch on the Portal.
Tim
The hottest of takes
So I’m still thinking about that reveal of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and the overall Xbox Showcase, as a whole. It was quite a mixed bag in my opinion. It was lovely to see the reveal of Persona 4 Revival, all 10 seconds of it. Because we can’t have nice things. So here is a lacklustre reveal that was just dumped on us with no fanfare. It didn’t actually look any different to the original adaptation. Maybe we’ll see more soon.
Cronos looks fantastic and I’m positive to say that it will run awfully on PC. Bloober Team are notoriously horrific for developing PC ports; Silent Hill 2 remake is a prime example. Who did honestly ask for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7? The people asked for Silksong as a show closer and a release date but we received Call Of Duty instead. Who asked for this?
Of course the reveal that everyone’s talking about is the ROG Xbox Ally. I’d like to ask GC if there’s much marginal difference between this version and the original ROG Ally X? Because I own the original and it just seems the same copy only with improved hardware and an Xbox button. Is it just the same model basically? Like the Ally X Pro? Obviously, the price is yet to be determined but that’s my consensus on the matter thus far.
Shahzaib Sadiq
PS: Xbox Games are on PlayStation and Game Pass can already be accessed on Windows handheld devices. So what’s the difference?
GC: We’re still stuck on your first question, implying Call Of Duty is not popular. The ROG Ally and ROG Ally X are slightly different devices, but there seems to be only minor differences between them and their Xbox branded equivalents.
Priceless download
I think the worst thing about Welcome Tour is that it not being pre-installed on the Switch 2, like Astro’s Playroom, has blunted the praise the Mario kart World bundle should be getting.
Having the next game in line to the biggest selling game on the previous system ready for launch and offering it at half price when bought with the new system is pretty unique as far as console launches go.
Instead, everyone is just complaining Welcome Tour should be free.
Simundo
GC: If Welcome Tour was free you’d be tempted to play it so, really, Nintendo is doing everyone a favour by charging for it.
Imperfect sequel
Comparisons with Mario Kart 8 are inevitable. Nintendo were never going to better that what in many ways is the perfect video game, and undoubtedly the greatest racer of all time. But the question for me, and perhaps everyone, is whether the inevitable follow-up would at least justify a new entry. And with what they deliver with Mario Kart World the answer is an emphatic yes.
More of the same but different, with the new additions more than mere novelty, which the anti-gravity elements of Mario Kart 8 were in a way. The Knockout Tour mode and the seamless segues between races are a revelation and a genuine improvement on everything that came before.
I’ve played Mario Kart 8 numerous times, enough to appreciate the nuanced changes to gameplay that makes the new iteration feel fresh, vitalising even, and, crucially, just as rewarding. The wider tracks to accommodate 24 racers requiring fewer skills to navigate are proportionate to the additional challenges the competition engenders, with hairpin turns and narrow sections interspersed between them are just as demanding as the tightest of tracks from Mario Kart 8.
If anything, World is a more challenging game: harder in degrees to come first, especially in Knockout Tour mode, with notable improvements in AI. Playing online against human competitors is exhausting and exhilarating, also humbling (although a did come fourth on my second attempt, I didn’t make the top 16 on my first, so maybe that was a fluke – I’m honing my skill before embarking on a third attempt).
It’s a beautiful game, jaw dropping not so much in how it appears but in the sheer number of things happening on screen at any one time with not a moment of lag. In this, if nothing else, Mario Kart World is a perfect demonstration of next generation capabilities. I can’t wait to see what else they do with this amazing technology.
The free roaming is certainly undercooked, but this seems purposeful to whatever DLC is likely to follow and not something that I feel at this stage Nintendo can negatively be judged for. After all, Mario Kart 8 was not born but became a 10 out 10.
Mario Kart World isn’t perfect. Nothing is. It isn’t ‘better’ than Mario Kart 8 but judged on its own terms, with the template it establishes and trajectory it evidently maps, World is still nevertheless 8’s equal.
GameCentral predicted a 9 out 10. That sounds about right for now. But sometimes a right is a wrong: there’s every reason for having faith in Nintendo that World will become better over time. Perfection is already personified in the new Rainbow Road, a series best that for me may just about warrant that 10 out of 10 score here and now and forever more.
Ciara
GC: We said an 8 or a 9.
Inbox also-rans
I’m convinced Silksong is a scam and does not exist in any way. However, I can’t think of any benefit for this being true so can I just say: please hurry up!
GlassSmasher
I thought the Xbox Games Showcase was pretty good but it was also pretty much only third party games. Even with all these companies Microsoft has bought and they still can’t put out anything of interest.
Snoopy
Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk
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Apologies Addison Haters, She's Here To Stay
It’s a sweaty Thursday, the sun is shining and PAPER is hanging out at the last place people linger around at daylight — The Box. The exclusive, erotic Manhattan haunt is being transformed as the artist formerly known as Addison Rae puts on an intimate […]
Music
It’s a sweaty Thursday, the sun is shining and PAPER is hanging out at the last place people linger around at daylight — The Box. The exclusive, erotic Manhattan haunt is being transformed as the artist formerly known as Addison Rae puts on an intimate performance for a one-night-only Spotify fan event.
When we slide into the venue (post having glitter and jewels added to our face by hostesses in French maid costumes) and sit down near the stage, we can hear a bell-like voice chatting with a photographer on the balcony upstairs, cheerfully apologizing for the teeny-tiny length of her bright yellow dress. When she finally makes it downstairs, there’s a radiance about her — one of the indescribable energies you only feel when a star is in the room. She smiles at everyone, giggles between questions, and (as Lorde implied recently) seems completely comfortable in her body, as she shifts and poses in front of multiple cameras.
After answering questions from Spotify fans on camera — explaining her decision to go blonde, why she called her debut album Addison (it just sounds like her) and which song she wrote first (it was her ethereal summer bop, “Diet Pepsi,”) she comes to sit beside us in a booth at the center of the room. “Thank you for being patient with me,” she beams. PAPER congratulates her immediately on what she’s created and asks how she’s feeling. “I’m sad,” she responds, shifting her face into a frown, before explaining that the songs she’s been working on, which up until now only belonged to her and her friends, will now be dissected by the world. We tell her that what we’ve heard is so far is sensational, and that the only bad reviews we’ve seen are that it’s too short — everyone wants more. She lights up with a childlike grin, “That’s a good sign.”
A few hours later, she’s on stage, and the somewhat shy, cherubic personality that had sat beside us, lingering past the cut-off point of our chat to talk give hugs and thank yous, is replaced by an icon — there’s no doubt that the small room is watching pop music history happen in real time. We lean over the balcony, singing along and cheering at her burlesque-esque, jazz-infused, performances of “Fame is a Gun,” “High Fashion,” “Aquamarine,” “New York,” “Headphones On,” “Diet Pepsi,” and “Times Like These.” Is this how it felt to catch Destiny’s Child at a mall? Britney Spears at a label showcase? As the performance draws to a close, we send our apologies to Addison haters who thought she’d have a short-lived career. She’s clearly here to stay.
Below, Addison talks to PAPER about her debut album, her shift from TikTok celeb to formidable pop star, and how she hopes fans feel when they finally get to hear her debut.
Congratulations! How are you feeling? You created something that everyone’s gonna hear tomorrow.
I know! It’s crazy. I don’t know, I’m feeling sad.
Yeah?
But happy.
What’s the sadness from? Having to share something that you’ve been keeping to yourself?
Yeah, it’s just so personal. It feels like a little secret between me and my closest friends, which was a nice feeling. But it is nice to share, and it definitely feels like time.
People have been very much shocked by your transformation — the Addison Rae they we were introduced to online and the you we know now. And perhaps for you it just feels like a natural change, but also what has been the most transformational experience that has led you to who you are now?
A lot of openness. I shy away from safety in a lot of ways or things that feel comfortable. Although I do really enjoy routine for the most part. I do like to challenge myself and try new things and bend the rules sometimes. And I’m lucky enough to be supported in those ways by the people who are close to me. I think that allowed me a lot of exploration within myself. I was really afraid for a long time of how people perceived me. But I started looking inward and focusing less on what people thought about my life or how to live it or following the parameters of how people expected me to be and behave and I think I started expecting that less and thinking about the fact that this is the only chance I have to accomplish my dreams.
Were you surprised, at all, that doing things your own way worked better? Was it validating?
Yes, it was validating. I think it was really validating, especially with “Diet Pepsi,” because that was the first song I wrote on the album.
That’s wild by the way.
I know. It’s really crazy. Me, Luka [Kloser] and Elvira made that song, pretty much finished that song in two days. That was our first time ever really meeting or spending time with each other ever. And it’s just a room of three girls. We didn’t have any high expectations or anything and of course that’s the first thing we made which just felt so magical and beyond us in a lot of ways. We just leaned into it and kept going. I think I was really lucky that I got such a safe space in that way. I was around people that really supported me in discovery which is really nice. And I think everyone deserves to have people in their life that support them in this time of discovery. Life is just one big discovery. I mean, we’ve never done this before, nobody has.
Yes! Nobody has.
Nobody’s done this before!
What’s a song fans haven’t heard that you’re really excited for them to hear tomorrow?
Maybe “In the Rain.” I’m definitely curious to see what people think about that one. I’m really excited for them to hear “Times Like These” as a whole. And also “Summer Forever.” It’s a really beautiful love song which is very rare for me to dive into that in my life.
How did you feel about sharing a love song? Were you uncomfortable? Did you do it without thinking?
I did it without thinking, yeah. It subconsciously, just made sense. I had written things in my notes like “I wish it could be summer forever,” and like “My friends are the reason why I wish it would be summer forever.” And then I was like “Love is why I wish it could be summer forever.” If you have a good love in life, it feels like how you feel in the summertime. So I just leaned on that idea and I shared that with Luca and ELVIRA and I was like “I feel like we have to write a song called ‘Summer Forever’ that’s like ‘You make this feel like Summer Forever, this feels like Summer Forever.’” That one, it was really vulnerable for me but really exciting. Who knows, maybe I’ll make more love songs. A lot of my songs are very introspective, though. I think that this phase of my life and where it’s led me has made me introspective in a lot of ways and curious about myself.
You’re in your world.
I’m in my world.
I can only ask one more question. Let me say, that I’m so excited for people to hear what you’ve created. And also, you talked about Addison being your name but also the essence of who you are. When you hear something or see something or find a dress or fill a room like this and think “This is Addison.” What does that feel like for you? How do you know that that’s you?
How does it characterize it?
Yeah.
Me and my best friend do this all the time. Anytime we see a movie poster or if there’s two things anywhere … it could be objects, it could be a painting, it could be animals … we’ll be like “Oh, that’s so me and that’s so you!” We’ll always point that out to each other or within the objects. And mine, my characteristics, tend to be very loud outwardly but controlled and contained. I feel like my life has been a journey to discovering the perfect space between freedom and control. I love to be very free but I also love to be in control and on top of things and serious. But I also like to have fun. So I think most things that reflect that tend to be things that I’m like “That’s so me.”
That makes sense with the album being very free flowing, but clean and sharp.
And short and tight and sweet.
Photography: Getty for Spotify
Justice Are Making New Fans Dance
Much like the title of their biggest hit, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of Justice are excited to make new fans “D.A.N.C.E.” When PAPER catches up with them at Kilby Block Party, they’re in the middle of doing just that — telling us backstage […]
Music
Much like the title of their biggest hit, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of Justice are excited to make new fans “D.A.N.C.E.” When PAPER catches up with them at Kilby Block Party, they’re in the middle of doing just that — telling us backstage that one of the most exciting recent occurrences of their nearly two-decade journey has been reaching new, more diverse fans. “The world has changed, not always for the best,” de Rosnay tells us. “But in terms of the audience, there’s a positive change we can see in the sense that, we feel, when we meet audiences, they’re a lot more diverse than they used to be in terms of everything. And that feels amazing, to see that the music that we’re making in our living room three years ago can connect with so many different people.”
Last April, the pair released their first new music in eight years, receiving rave reviews for finding the balance of staying true to their sound while also collaborating with the likes of Thudercat and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker (the latter of which nabbed them a Grammy) to continue to evolve. Speaking of collabs, earlier this year they earned their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 for their work with The Weeknd on his blitzy track “Wake Me Up.”
Below, right before they stunned a packed Salt Lake City crowd with vibrating speakers and a stunning light show, the French electronic duo spoke to PAPER backstage about picking up Grammys, working with The Weeknd, and what it was like to return to fans after nearly a decade away.
You recently released a remix EP of different versions of your track “Afterimage.” Was the live reaction to the track the reason you wanted to share different versions?
Xavier: Yeah, actually, the remix that we put out is the live version that we play. The live version that we play every time we play a show, so it’s something we had to remix anyway more than a year ago. After doing the single, we had the remix. We released it. But we never think that something deserves to be released, other than if we liked it or not. And we think it’s fun so that was good enough for us to release it.
How has it been to get back in front of audiences after almost a decade? What does it feel like to be back?
Xavier: It’s good because the world has changed, not always for the best, but in terms of the audience, there’s really a positive change that we can see. When we meet audiences, they’re a lot more diverse than they used to be in terms of everything. That feels amazing, to see that the music that we’re making in our living room three years ago can connect with so many different people and ultimately, even if we do music based on our tastes and everything, it’s amazing to witness that people from any age, country, gender, anything can connect. People very different from us, actually. That’s the best reward for us.
Earlier this year, you won the Best Dance/Electronic Recording Grammy for “Neverender.” What did receiving that accolade mean to you?
Xavier: It’s great to be Grammy-fied. It’s great for us for a lot of reasons and we’re not obsessed with awards … [but] the Grammys, because as French people, even for us, we knew what it was before working in the music industry. It’s a ceremony, it’s like the Academy Awards and it’s something everybody knows. We never imagined one day we’d win a Grammy for any reason, so it’s great. When you get a prize like this [it means] a bunch of people are celebrating a record or an artist. It doesn’t mean it’s the best record of the year, and sometimes when you don’t win, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have the best record of the year. So for us, that level of praise is recognition from peers and sometimes from the audience, it depends on the award … [but] it feels good.
You recently worked with The Weeknd on “Wake Me Up.” How did that collab come about?
Xavier: Abel called us a long time ago, because we were still working on our album. I think it was in maybe ‘21 or early 2022 or something like this. But he called us because he was starting to work on his album and he had this very simple idea but it connected with us. He wanted us to make an intro that was orchestral, something that would reference classical music. We found it fun to work on the maybe two, three minute songs that had orchestra and a bit of synth. And then, naturally that song developed into the other half of the track that’s a bit more poppy, but yeah, we just liked the idea.
What are you some of your favorite recent live memories now that you’re able to get in front of fans with new music again?
Gaspard Augé: Especially in the first festivals and venues we played last year, just to see that the new tracks had as much impact, or even more, than the golden nuggets, the older hits. It felt great. The first two gigs we played last year at Coachella … just to see that we had the positive reaction on the new tracks was very rewarding.
What can fans expect next from Justice?
Gaspard: There’s always something cooking in the Justice kitchen. We’re going to tour until the end of December and then we’ll see what’s coming. But definitely something is coming.
Photography: Eric Tra
Hidden gem documentary that inspired 90s comedy legend free to watch on BBC iPlayer
A hidden gem 1990s documentary is now available to watch for free (Picture: BBC) BBC iPlayer is secretly home to one of the most influential documentary films of the 1990s – and barely anybody in Britain knows it’s there. Three Salons At the Seaside – […]
Film
BBC iPlayer is secretly home to one of the most influential documentary films of the 1990s – and barely anybody in Britain knows it’s there.
Three Salons At the Seaside – directed by Philippa Lowthorpe – was first aired in 1994 and, over 40 minutes, followed the story of three real hair salons in Blackpool.
Focusing on the staff and customers at Vanity Box, Tricia’s Hair Salon, and Mary’s Way, Three Salons At the Seaside has been retrospectively celebrated as a touching time capsule of 20th century Britain.
The documentary was thought to be lost to history, only surviving in bits and pieces on YouTube, but the BBC uploaded the entire thing to iPlayer in 2022.
Renewed interest in the documentary film inspired a 2022 American parody called Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport, which starred none other than Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett.
But most importantly, its resurrection encouraged Stockport-born comedy writer Craig Cash – of The Royle Family, Early Doors, and Gogglebox – to reveal that his writing partner Caroline Aherne had been a huge fan.
Together, Craig and Aherne – who died of lung cancer in 2016 – co-wrote The Royle Family, which ran for three seasons and numerous specials between 1998 and 2012.
Set in Manchester, The Royle Family was situated inside the home of the titular TV-obsessives, who were played by Ricky Tomlinson, Ralf Little, Liz Smith, and Sue Johnston, alongside on-screen couple Craig and Aherne.
It won several awards during its run and is often celebrated as one of the best British sitcoms of its time – it drew in 10 million viewers at its peak in 1999.
Speaking to the Radio Times in 2023, Craig said: ‘We took inspiration from real life and our families. We watched the documentary about hairdressers, Three Salons at the Seaside, which we thought was hilarious.
‘Sometimes people get bogged down in plot and narrative at the expense of character and dialogue. For us it was all about the pauses, how people really are.’
In particular, viewers have noticed that Hilary – a hair stylist and administrator working at Vanity Box – bears a striking resemblance in appearance and personality to one of Aherne’s characters, Mrs. Merton.
The Mrs Merton Show ran between 1993 and 1998 on the BBC, and some estimations put the average viewing figures at somewhere between seven and eight million.
On Facebook, Paul Davies thought aloud: ‘I wonder if Caroline Aherne took a little bit of the spirit of these wonderful ladies for her Mrs Merton character.’
Many fans of the documentary cite its peaceful atmosphere and honest portrayal of northern working class life as reasons for repeatedly watching it year after year.
Others have cited that it reminds them very precisely of the world before reality TV and social media, and even in the days before widespread internet usage and Sky TV.
Karen O’Mahoney said on Facebook: ‘There’s something so heartwarming about [Three Salons At the Seaside]. Hard to believe it’s only 30 years ago, feels like another age.’
A scene which has stuck with viewers focused on a ‘funeral bag’ that Vanity Box handed out to its customers whenever they were having their hair done in order to say goodbye to a friend or relative.
The women in the salon would be given the funeral bag by Hilary upon their arrival at the salon – the clutch bag contained a small amount of money and a complementary mint.
Fiona Botham commented: ‘I love the kindness of the funeral bag with a bit of money and a mint. The hairdresser owner seems such a lovely woman.’
In 2022, Three Salons At the Seaside was officially named by the Grierson Trust charity as one of the finest British documentaries made in the last 50 years.
As for the status of each of the three salons – Mary’s Way closed down some time between 2008 and 2012 according to Google Maps, while the shop unit that used to be home to Tricia’s was renovated for housing in 2016.
However, the Vanity Box is still going strong, with Google reviews from as recently as nine months ago still thanking the staff for their dedication and hard work at the centre of Blackpool’s community.
The short film’s creator, Phillipa Lowthorpe, went on to direct episodes of Netflix hit series The Crown and the long-running BBC wartime drama Call the Midwife.
Three Salons At the Seaside is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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Nintendo Switch 2 sales are breaking records worldwide claim insiders
Not another Wii U (Nintendo) Unofficial figures point to the Nintendo Switch 2 being far more successful than expected, but Nintendo themselves are not saying anything. Given how difficult it was to pre-order, and reports of retailers running out of stock for the midnight launch, […]
Gaming
Unofficial figures point to the Nintendo Switch 2 being far more successful than expected, but Nintendo themselves are not saying anything.
Given how difficult it was to pre-order, and reports of retailers running out of stock for the midnight launch, it’s safe to assume the Nintendo Switch 2 has been a big success.
However, there’s no official confirmation of exactly how well it’s sold, at least not from Nintendo. The closest thing is a comment from Currys, which said it sold 30,000 units in the UK at launch.
That’s only one retailer in one region, but alleged sales numbers have begun floating around which, if accurate, point to the Switch 2 having the biggest launch of any video game console ever.
This is something analysts predicted over a month ago, although Nintendo itself lowballed its own sales predictions, with the goal being to sell just slightly more than the Switch 1 managed in its launch year.
Over the weekend, YouTuber Nintendo Prime claimed that the Switch 2 managed over three million units in its first 24 hours, which would be an incredible feat if accurate.
Even the PlayStation 2, the world’s best-selling console, couldn’t manage that, while the current record holder for most units sold in its first 24 hours being the PlayStation 4, at over one million.
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Nintendo Prime says he’s heard these figures from three separate sources and he’s only willing to identify one of them: Paul Gale of gaming news site Paul Gale Network.
Similarly, Pierre485 on X, who primarily shares games sales data, recently posted how the Switch 2 is doing very well in France – which has always been one of Nintendo’s biggest markets in Europe.
At over 200,000 units sold, it’s the fastest selling console ever in the country (almost double that of the PlayStation 5) and has generated over €130 million (approximately £109.5 million) in four days.
However, Pierre485 does stress that this should be treated as a rumour until official figures are shared by Nintendo of France.
There’s currently no telling when Nintendo will consider sharing its own sales data, but if things are going this well, the company is bound to brag about it sooner rather than later.
If it has gone well then it will be a relief for Nintendo that US tariffs have not had too negative an effect and that complaints about pricing, especially for Mario Kart World, have not resulted in people staying away.
Ahead of launch, Nintendo admitted US tariffs stood to harm potential profits and if it increased the price of console in response to the tariffs (which it didn’t), it would risk a drop in sales.
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‘Delightfully violent’ action thriller starring 00s heartthrob coming to Netflix
Wrath of Becky is making its way to Netflix this month (Picture: Everett/ Rex/ Shutterstock) Cancel all your plans – an action thriller dubbed ‘playful but brutal’ and a ‘gut punch’ is making its way to Netflix. Wrath of Becky, released in 2023, follows the […]
Film Cancel all your plans – an action thriller dubbed ‘playful but brutal’ and a ‘gut punch’ is making its way to Netflix.
Wrath of Becky, released in 2023, follows the events of explosive 2020 crime flick Becky, in which a father-daughter duo must fight for their lives when a group of Neo-nazis invade their vacation home.
The sequel sees Lulu Wilson return to the role of Becky, struggling in the aftermath of the events of the first film, three years after the fact.
While trying to rebuild her life alongside kindred spirit Elena (Denise Burse), a group known as the Noble Men breaks into their home and takes their beloved dog, leading Becky on a path of bloody revenge.
The film stars American Pie and Dude, Where’s My Car? icon Seann William Scott as Daryll Jr, a cell leader of the Noble Men.
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Wrath of Becky had its premiere at the 2023 SXSW festival, debuting to positive reviews and an 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
It’s coming to Netflix in the UK on Friday, and for those who want to watch the first film before diving in, they can do so right now on Prime Video.
It sits higher on the review aggregator than Becky, which holds a 72% score.
In their review, AWFJ dubbed the film ‘delightfully violent’, adding that it is ‘very silly and a whole lot of fun.’
‘The Wrath of Becky delivers satisfying action, as this underestimated heroine makes some terrible people look like absolute fools,’ the Los Angeles Times said in their review.
RogerEbert.com added: ‘There’s a charming simplicity to a genre film that can be introduced as “Let’s just kill some fascists!” and Angel & Coote know how to pace and deliver this kind of gut punch of a movie.’
Similarly, Bloody Disgusting wrote: ‘Angel and Coote’s playful tonal shift becomes instrumental in the sequel’s success as an entertaining action-horror-comedy romp, and Wilson is more than game in taking Becky less seriously. It makes for an irreverently delightful time.’
The Austin Chronicle surmised that Wrath of Becky is a ‘bloody good time,’ while Film Inquiry said it was ‘playful but brutal.’
Speaking to Screen Rant, Ouija: Origin of Evil star Wilson recalled the ‘extremely exciting’ moment she learned a sequel to Becky was happening.
‘I remember wrapping the first Becky and people being like, “Oh, it’s time for a sequel,” and it felt just like bulls**t to me at the time. It was like, “You’re just saying that”,’ she said.
But when I actually got the call being like, “Are you down to make the sequel?” it was incredibly exciting.
‘Of course, I was so down to do that, Becky’s one of my favorite characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing, and I couldn’t wait to see where we could take her.
‘I knew that everyone involved creatively would really hear me out on my ideas, and they so did, and it was an incredible opportunity. I had a fantastic time on set, and now it’s coming out and it’s unbelievable.’
Wrath of Becky is streaming from Friday on Netflix.
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Xbox ROG Ally vs. Legion Go and Steam Deck: how do they compare?
The first two Xbox portables, sort of (Asus) If you’ve yet to invest in a handheld PC, GameCentral takes a look at the new Xbox portable and what advantages it has over its rivals. After months of teasing, and rumblings of a dedicated Xbox handheld […]
Gaming
If you’ve yet to invest in a handheld PC, GameCentral takes a look at the new Xbox portable and what advantages it has over its rivals.
After months of teasing, and rumblings of a dedicated Xbox handheld device, Microsoft finally unveiled two new devices during the Xbox Games Showcase this weekend.
As was rumoured, these devices come not from Microsoft itself but Asus which is already responsible for its own Asus ROG Ally handheld PC. Which is why these devices are dubbed the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.
With Microsoft still working on a separate portable device (which rumours say has been delayed internally), these Asus products will be the next best thing for those who want to enjoy Xbox games on the go.
Despite what you might imagine, the portable PC market is incredibly niche in the grand scheme of things, with sales that pale compared to eventhe Xbox Series X/S. That’s primarily because of the price but also the complexity involved in getting PC games to work on a portable.
While it’ll be a while before anyone can go hands on with the new devices (they’re slated to launch sometime this Christmas), Microsoft has already shared details on the ROG Xbox Ally – including technical specs – meaning we can compare and contrast with the most popular PC handhelds already on the market.
ROG Xbox Ally vs. Asus ROG Ally
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First things first, is the ROG Xbox Ally any better than the Asus ROG Ally that you can already buy? Not particularly, no, but that’s unsurprising when it’s essentially the same device but with Xbox branding.
It technically has a different processor – the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor – but from what we can tell, it doesn’t sound that much more powerful than the Asus ROG Ally’s AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor. Both devices also have the same 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space for games.
That said, the Xbox handheld does sport better battery capacity, since it comes with a 60Wh (watt hours) battery compared to the Asus ROG Ally’s 40Wh battery.
It’s also notably bigger and heavier (670g compared to 608g), which might be due to it sporting contoured grips akin to the Xbox controller. We’d need to hold it ourselves to tell but, theoretically, this should make it more comfortable to use than the blockier looking Asus ROG Ally.
So far, it seems the only reason to pick a ROG Xbox Ally over the current one is to more easily access your library of Xbox games, with the new device featuring a lot more setting and features to facilitate that.
Xbox is promising first-of-their-kind features for the handheld, including ‘an immersive Xbox full screen experience [and] an aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts.’
As for the ROG Xbox Ally X, it’s also similarbut a more powerful iteration that uses an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. This comes along with more storage space (1TB) and a stronger battery (80Wh), though it’s also larger and heavier at 715g.
This makes it almost identical to the existing Asus ROG Ally X, which boasts the same storage space and battery and is itself just a stronger version of the Asus ROG Ally.
While Microsoft hasn’t shared official prices, its two Xbox devices will cost more or less the same as the currently available Asus ones. The Asus ROG Ally costs £599, in the UK, while the Asus ROG Ally X costs £799, although both have options for bigger and more expensive storage.
ROG Xbox Ally vs Lenovo Legion Go
Moving onto the first non-Asus competitor, the differences between the Lenovo Legion Go and the Xbox handheld appear small as well. The Lenovo Legion Go also uses the AMD Ryzen Z1 for its processor, both devices run on Windows 11, and they both have 512GB of storage that can be upgraded.
The Lenovo Legion Go does have less battery capacity at 49.2Wh, but it’s lighter at 640g and while it lacks the contoured grips of the ROG Xbox Ally, its controllers can detach like the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons.
In fact, one advantage the Lenovo Legion Go has is its variety of play options. It has a dedicated mode for first person shooter games (albeit one that requires a controller base that’s sold separately) and can be docked so you can play it through a PC monitor or TV. Although considering existing Asus handhelds can be connected to the TV, we have to assume the Xbox ones will too.
There is AR functionality on the Legion Go through the Legion Glasses device but that’s too niche to be considered a drastic advantage over Xbox.
It’s also very easy to get Xbox Game Pass set up on the Legion Go – in fact, the app comes pre-installed – so it’s not like the Xbox handheld is the only way of accessing Game Pass titles on a portable.
However, the Legion Go is the more expensive of the two options, and goes for £699. There is a cheaper version called the Legion Go S, that’s sold at £600 though, which honestly looks more comfortable to use thanks to its curved design, but it is less powerful and has less storage space.
ROG Xbox Ally vs. Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is undoubtedly the most popular portable PC on the market (although it’s still only sold around 4 million units worldwide), so will the ROG Xbox Ally offer any significant competition? Upon comparing the two, probably not.
Not only is neither device more powerful than the other, since they use very similar processors, but they’re roughly the same size and weight as well. The most noteworthy differences we can spot is that the Steam Deck has a weaker battery (40Wh) and less storage space (256GB).
However, this makes the Steam Deck cheaper, at £349, and while there is an iteration of the Steam Deck with a better battery, that matches the ROG Xbox Ally’s 512GB of storage, it’s still significantly cheaper at £479. Even the Steam Deck with 1TB of storage space costs less at £569.
One downside is that Xbox Game Pass is fiddly to set up on Steam Deck and with Microsoft promising that its handheld will allow for ‘quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts,’ it sounds like you’ll be able to easily access the Steam storefront and purchase and play games through Valve’s launcher.
Is the ROG Xbox Ally worth it?
All in all, it seems the only real advantage for owning the ROG Xbox Ally is convenience. There’s a chance it will be more comfortable to hold during play sessions than its competitors, but it appears no more powerful than other portable PCs.
The aggregated Xbox library feature should be useful but the Xbox Play Anywhere system is, by its nature, available on many other devices.
The real deciding factor will be whatever price Microsoft settles on. Like we said, the Asus ROG Ally and Asus ROG Ally X are £599 and £799 respectively, making the Steam Deck a far more enticing option for anyone still on the fence about joining the portable PC community.
It’s not impossible that Microsoft will aim for a slightly lower price point and absorb some of the cost, but we doubt it since the ROG Xbox Ally isn’t technically Microsoft’s own hardware and that may undermine the other Asus handhelds being sold.
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American Psycho director vows no one can replace Christian Bale after remake rumours
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Film
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The original American Psycho director has had her say on the upcoming reboot rumors, vowing no one else could echo Christian Bale’s efforts in the iconic film.
Mary Harron’s take on Bret Easton Ellis’ satirical novel was released 25 years ago, on April 14, 2000, with the Batman icon leading the star-studded cast as Wall Street yuppie-turned possible serial killer Patrick Bateman.
In recent months, it has been claimed the movie will be getting the remake treatment, helmed by filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, with Austin Butler and Patrick Schwarzenegger among those linked to the main role.
During an appearance at the 25-year anniversary screening at Tribeca Film Festival, Mary spoke to Metro about the reboot speculation, and who could possibly step into Patrick’s designer shoes.
When asked whether American Psycho needs to be remade, she told us: ‘I personally don’t, but obviously that’s how I would think.
‘It could surprise me, and be completely phenomenal, and something I would never have imagined…’
Discussing who she could see taking over from Christian, she continued: ‘No, I really can’t [imagine anyone else as Patrick], because also to me, it’s just fixed in my mind. I can’t reimagine it in that way.
‘But good luck to them. I’m just glad… It’s amazing to me that people are still this interested 25 years on – and more successful now than it was 25 years ago.
”When it first came out, audiences didn’t know what to think about it. I remember in the very first screening at Sundance, people didn’t know whether it was supposed to be funny or not.
‘Now I think people can enjoy a lot more because they know, “Yes, it’s okay to laugh at this!” Parts are supposed to be funny.’
Mary also shared her surprise at how relevant her take on American Psycho still is, 25 years on – suggesting that we’re ‘seeing’ similar themes in society today.
‘I would never have imagined [the relevancy today],’ she added. ‘It’s so funny, I was in a bookstore and I saw there was a game, some weird American Psycho board game. I don’t love that, but it’s like, “Okay, that’s strange.”
‘It’s definitely taken on a scary life I would never have imagined. The film is the film, it’s not going to change, it’s made, and I’m glad that people seem to get something out of it.
‘I’m sad that, in a way, that it has remained so relevant, because that means that a certain heartlessness of the culture, this validation of really psycho businessmen… We’re seeing it right now.’
American Psycho, set in the 80s, has gone on to become a cult classic despite a grim plot.
Christian stole every scene as Patrick Bateman, alongside Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux and Chloe Sevigny.
Despite appearing in a string of projects before the creepy Wall Street banker, it is still considered to be one of his breakthrough roles before he popped up in the Machinist, the Batman trilogy and the Prestige.
Shedding light on his early career in a 2022 interview, he revealed that he was earning so little at that time, he feared that he could lose his home.
‘I’d taken so long trying to do it, and they had paid me the absolute minimum they were legally allowed to pay me,’ he told GQ.
‘And I had a house that I was sharing with my dad and my sister and that was getting repossessed.
‘So the first thing was: “Holy crap. I’ve got to get a bit of money,” because I’ve got American Psycho done, but I remember one time sitting in the make-up trailer and the make-up artists were laughing at me because I was getting paid less than any of them.
‘And so that was my motivation after that. It was just: “I got to get enough that the house doesn’t get repossessed.”’
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Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review – the dullest Nintendo game ever made
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – who’s bright idea was this? (Nintendo) Only two Nintendo-made titles were released for the Switch 2 launch and the one that’s not Mario Kart World is one of their strangest games ever. Considering they’ve had more than eight years […]
Gaming
Only two Nintendo-made titles were released for the Switch 2 launch and the one that’s not Mario Kart World is one of their strangest games ever.
Considering they’ve had more than eight years to prepare, the Nintendo Switch 2 software line-up feels surprisingly undercooked. Mario Kart World is great, albeit with some caveats, but Donkey Kong Bananza is the only other big name first party title to be announced so far and it’s not one of the two Nintendo published launch titles. Instead, that honour goes to Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
Nintendo describe Welcome Tour as an ‘interactive exhibit’ and that’s pretty accurate. You could also compare it to a coffee table book but in video game form; except they usually feature vivid imagery and interesting page design, whereas Welcome Tour is presented in the most boring and clinical way possible.
Welcome Tour has already been compared to Astro’s Playroom on the PlayStation 5, since both are short form releases available at launch, that are meant to introduce you to the new hardware features of their respective consoles. Except Astro’s Playroom is a vibrant, imaginative, and fun-filled diversion, whereas Welcome Tour tries to make the launch of a new console seem as exciting as doing your homework.
The obvious difference here is that Astro’s Playroom is a 3D platformer, whereas Welcome Tour isn’t really a game at all. We’ve seen some describe it as a minigame collection but it’s not really that either, as there’s not many games and they’re all designed primarily to illustrate a different element of the Switch 2’s design, rather than being created simply to be fun.
Welcome Tour isn’t interested in fun – the concept of fun never even seems to cross its mind – as you slowly plod from one exhibit to the next, wondering why you’re not playing Mario Kart World instead.
The conceit behind Welcome Tour is that you’re visiting an exhibition composed of giant-sized recreations of the Switch 2 and its various peripherals, big enough for you to walk on and in. Much of your time is taken up with reading ‘insights’, which are text descriptions of how the Switch 2 works, often going into a surprising amount of technical detail about everything from what VRR is to the type of metal alloy the Switch 2 stand is made of.
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It is interesting, on some level, but the text is mostly very dry and your reward for reading a whole section is a multiple choice quiz, which you have to repeat if you get even one question wrong. There’re no voiceovers but the text is in British English and occasionally there is a hint of humour, such as when one assistant describes the insight they’re in charge of and says, ‘doesn’t that just sound FASCINATING?’ in block capitals. Whether that’s meant earnestly or sarcastically is impossible to tell, but we took it as the latter.
You don’t technically have to complete any of the quizzes to progress, as instead access to each of the 12 different areas is dependent on you finding all the stamps from the previous area. These stamps relate to different components of a device, like buttons on a controller or the ports on the console, but are hidden until you get very close to them. Often, it’s not at all clear where one will be and you have to slowly creep around every inch of the screen until one pops up, because the game refuses to give you any clue as to where they are.
Beyond that excitement, the other two categories of attraction are minigames and tech demos. These can be quite similar sometimes, but the latter generally require no skill and are simply illustrations of a particular feature, like 3D sound, HDR, or super resolution. They’re often quite impressive, even if the presentation remains as minimalist and low-tech as the rest of the game. Strangely none of the tech demos are concerned with the overall graphical power of the console, which Welcome Tour only vaguely hints at.
The majority of tech demos and minigames are focused on just two subjects: mouse controls and HD rumble 2. The immediate problem with this is that we can’t help thinking that HD rumble 2 is exactly the sort of thing that companies show off at the launch of their new console and then are barely ever heard of again. After all, how many Switch 1 titles can you name with unexpected or inventive use of HD rumble, after launch game 1-2-Switch?
There’re generally only one or two tech demos per area, but usually at least double that for minigames. Although calling them minigames doesn’t seem quite accurate, as they’re essentially just longer and more interactive tech demos, and still usually focused on demonstrating a particular function.
Some are overly technical, like the one where you have to guess the frame rate or spot dead pixels on the screen. Others are more gamified, like a mini-golf game that uses mouse controls and a first person shooter, where you earn up to three medals for how quickly you complete them. However, the time limits for these are peculiarly harsh and even we had trouble getting some of them.
Many of the medals are essentially impossible for a casual gamer and yet collecting medals is the only way to unlock more games or new variants of existing ones, which seems needlessly restrictive. This is especially true as a few, such as what is essentially Twister but with your fingers, can only really be completed with another person in co-op.
The only minigame that even seems remotely suitable for turning into a full title involves filling in shapes with a marker pen, which is a neat demonstration of how the Joy-Con mouse works in conjunction with motion controls, as you twist the angle of your virtual pen.
Oh, and the camera one, where you have to pull the same face as the cartoon person on screen, is very impressive. Ignoring the fact that you need a camera for it to work, it manages to detect subtle facial movements incredibly well, even though we have ours set up in a very sub-optimal space, under the TV and quite a distance from the couch.
There are some positive things to say about Welcome Tour. We also like the occasional deep cut references to old Nintendo hardware in some of the insights, to the point where we would’ve been much more interested if this had been some sort of interactive encyclopaedia of Nintendo.
We don’t want to give them ideas for a sequel though, as this has been the most bafflingly unentertaining game we’ve ever played from Nintendo. A great deal of fuss has been made at the fact that Welcome Tour costs money, and isn’t free, but that’s not really the issue. It last six hours or more and from a certain point of view you do get your money’s worth.
The real problem is that even if it was free we still wouldn’t advise anyone play it. Not unless you like the idea of Nintendo deflating the excitement of your new console in the most antiseptic and characterless way possible. How on earth this became one of only two first party launch games for the Switch 2 we’ll never know, but now we’ve wasted our time with this review we’re going back to Mario Kart.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review summary
In Short: A bizarre attempt to celebrate the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the most boringest way possible, with a limp collection of unentertaining minigames made even duller by suffocatingly clinical presentation.
Pros: The insight information and tech demos are genuinely interesting at times and some of the revelations about how the console is made are a real testament to Nintendo’s ingenuity.
Cons: None of the minigames are fun and the insights are presented in the most undynamic way possible. Minimalist presentation is very unappealing, and the gating of areas and attractions can be very frustrating.
Score: 3/10
Formats: Nintendo Switch 2
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Release Date: 5th June 2026
Age Rating: 3
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