Imagine waking up in 2025 and finding that Nintendo has finally released… an alarm clock. Welcome to the future, folks! Those who have had the “privilege” of previewing Alarmo, Nintendo’s latest attempt at turning nostalgia into money, can confirm after a week of use that yes, it is an alarm clock. With Nintendo characters on it. Exciting, right? If you’re thinking, “But couldn’t I just use my smartphone?”, congratulations: you get the point. Get ready for a journey into a world where innovation collides with the superfluous, breaks through it and even goes beyond it.
A design that screams “Nintendo!”
I have to admit, Nintendo Alarm It has an attractive look. It's a red cylinder with a rounded white button on top and a 2,8-inch rectangular LCD display. The wide bezel around the screen makes it look almost circular, especially in the dark. It's the kind of thing that looks great on a shelf, just like Nintendo intended.
But wait, there's more, as you might guess. You can customize the look and sounds of your watch face by choosing from (currently) five different games: Breath of the Wild, Ring Fit Adventure, Super Mario Odyssey, Pikmin 4 e Splatoon 3. So Link or Captain Olimar can walk around the screen. Cute, right? Too bad that after two days you will forget that it exists.
Nintendo Alarmo, the “revolutionary” features
Alarmo boasts a number of “Nintendo-ized” alarm functions. You can choose from 35 video game “scenes” to wake you up to, ranging from Zelda softly saying “wake up” to the sound of a drowning Pikmin. Yes, you read that right. Because nothing says “good morning” like a little choking plant. These scenes start out relatively quiet and get progressively more intense the longer you stay in bed. The button on top will even start flashing colors to get your attention. Because apparently, in 2025, we're going to need flashing lights to wake us up more and more.
The Motion Sensor: A Solution in Search of a Problem
The Nintendo Alarmo's highlight (aside from its Nintendo style) is its millimeter-wave motion sensor. The idea is that you can interact with it simply by moving. When it goes off in the morning, rolling out of bed is enough to turn off the alarm. Wave your hand a little and it'll snooze for a few minutes. Sounds awesome, right? It's a shame that Alarmo's motion sensors can't distinguish between multiple people. So if you wake up but your partner is still asleep, the alarm will not go off. Nintendo notes this issue right on the box (apparently pets can also cause problems). Thanks, Nintendo, for solving a problem we didn't have by creating a new one. Or maybe the alarm is designed for those who will never live with someone?
The App No One Asked For
Like any modern gadget, Nintendo Alarmo has a dedicated app. You can use it to customize your alarm time, track your sleep times, and even get updates to add more sounds and styles based on games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. All of this requires linking an existing Nintendo Account to the device. Because obviously, in 2025, we'll need an online account to make an alarm clock work.
All this can be yours for the equivalent of just 100 euros! Yes, you read that right. A hundred bags for an alarm clock that does more or less the same things as your smartphone, but with Mario walking on the screen. But wait, there's more: if you're a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber, you can buy Nintendo Alarmo in advance. For everyone else: you'll have to wait until early 2025. I know, I know: it's tough. Hang in there.
In short: Nintendo Alarmo, the future can wait
Let's be clear, Nintendo Alarmo is no worse than other nostalgic things I've seen around. It has some interesting ideas and it looks cute on a shelf, but at the end of the day (sorry to be obvious) it's still an alarm clock. A very expensive alarm clock with features you'll probably never use. If you're a hardcore Nintendo fan and have 100 pippi to throw away, maybe Alarmo will make you happy. For everyone else, my advice is to save your money and use your smartphone. Or, if you really want a Nintendo touch when you wake up, download a Mario-themed ringtone. You'll get the same effect, without having to wait until 2025.
In a world where technology is making giant strides in every sector, it's almost touching to see Nintendo focus on something so… banal. Nintendo Alarmo is proof that even the giants of gaming they may lose touch with reality from time to time But hey, at least now we can say we have a “next-gen” alarm clock. What the f*ck.
