Nintendo is a company that is not afraid to experiment. One of the clearest examples of his innovative spirit are the Labo cardboard sets, which interact with compatible video game software via traffic controls Nintendo Switch JoyCon. While anyone can assemble and enjoy the Labo project, it seems especially suitable for younger players. So how does Nintendo Labo work, how much does it cost, and what do you get for that price? We will break it all down for you.
All Nintendo Labo sets require a Nintendo Switch console to play them.
What’s in the Nintendo Labo Cardboard Kit?
Each Nintendo Labo kit comes with cardboard cutouts and other materials such as rubber bands that are used to assemble the various cons toys. Some also have additional parts, such as tools to «repair» the Toy-Con robot. The kits also include software with interactive step-by-step building instructions and compatible mini-games.
You don’t need special tools to create Toy-Con projects. Everything you need should be in the box.
Each kit also comes with an additional sheet of customization options. For example, the Variety Kit has a second roof for the Toy-Con House, and the Robot Kit has another piece for the robot’s cardboard canopy.
How does Nintendo Labo work?
Obviously, the first step in your Nintendo Labo journey is building a Toy-Con. Instructions are available on the Nintendo Switch system. There, you can zoom in on what you’re building, look at things from different angles, or go back if you want to double-check something.
You can make your creations look better with a technique that Nintendo calls «pre-fold». This basically means folding the cardboard folds before assembling the Toy-Con project. This gives you sharper corners and a cleaner line so that the cardboard tabs and slots fit together better.
If you mess up something, don’t panic! You can always go back and carefully redo the fold if necessary. If you tear the cardboard, a little tape or glue will fix things.
Once your Toy-Con is assembled, you can pop your Nintendo Switch or Joy-Con console into it. Each project interacts with the console in its own way. For example, the Piano Toy-Con simulates a real musical instrument by using the Joy-Con’s right infrared sensor to identify the notes being played.
Various Labo mini-games also depend on the project you are using. Obviously the fishing rod lets you play fishing and the robot lets you fly, smash buildings and turn into a tank in the virtual world.
After spending some time with Labo, you will unlock a feature called the Toy-Con Garage. It allows you to create and program your own Toy-Con using simple programming commands.