As a long-time Nintendo enthusiast who’s spent countless hours navigating the fantastical worlds of Zelda and Mario, I was excited to get my hands on the latest oddball product from the gaming giant: the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. With its vintage aesthetic and Nintendo soundtracks, it seemed like a perfect addition to my bedroom, a place where nostalgia and dreams intertwine.
Initially, Nintendo was mainly known for manufacturing playing cards and toys rather than video games. A visit to the latest Nintendo Museum makes it evident that their product line has been quite diverse throughout history. This month, Nintendo has revisited its quirky roots with the launch of the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo – an old-fashioned alarm clock with a twist. On paper, it’s an amusing concept, but after using it for a few days, its readiness might still be questionable.
One thing that stands out immediately is that Alarmo comes equipped with only one USB-C to USB-A cable for powering the device. Unfortunately, a wall adapter isn’t provided in the package, which might pose an issue for some users. I managed to work around it using a bedside table with multiple USB-A slots, but not everyone may have this readily available.
After connecting Alarmo, the setup process might prove more complex than expected. Users will need to interact with the device’s menus using the dial on top and confirming selections by pressing a button. Adjusting the dial for region, time, and date is manageable, but entering a Wi-Fi password can be frustratingly lengthy. Indeed, Nintendo demands manual entry of the password, which can be tiresome when trying to input a complicated password using the Alarmo’s dial. To add to the frustration, when connecting a Nintendo Account, the clock offers a simple QR code for mobile device scanning, leaving users to manually enter information on their phone instead. Streamlining the setup process by providing a QR code from the beginning and allowing users to input the Alarmo’s details through their phone would have alleviated many setup issues.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo – Wake Up Call in a Nintendo Way! This device is designed to help you start your day bright and early. After setting it up, choose from a few themes inspired by classic Nintendo games. While the variety isn’t exhaustive given Nintendo’s rich library, it gets the job done for a starting lineup. Soon enough, you can rise and shine to the tunes of Koroks in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Toads from Super Mario Odyssey. Additional sounds from upcoming games like Pikmin 4, Splatoon 3, and Ring Fit Adventure are also available, with more possibilities on the horizon. Those ten minutes spent connecting to Wi-Fi will surely pay off!
What sets Alarmo apart from something like a tablet with an alarm function is that it has a motion sensor meant to detect a user’s movements. That’s so that it can recognize when lazy layabouts haven’t gotten out of bed. There’s no snooze function on this thing, but instead it will gradually increase its volume, as well as the action on the Alarmo’s front screen, the longer that it takes somebody to finally get to their feet. It’s a fun idea, but there are a few quirks that I bumped into during my time toying with Mario and Link.
Since the desk with the USB connector is on my spouse’s side of the bed, I set Alarmo to wake her in the morning for her busy day of teaching. However, I noticed that the sensor had some issues detecting her. One reason was a larger wedge pillow she uses to keep her head elevated, which seemed to confuse the sensor slightly. Another problem was a third presence on the bed – Bucky, our pet. Even after getting out of bed, the sensor still registered Bucky, causing the alarm to persist.
In some situations, you might find Button Mode useful when the sensor fails to perform its function. Alarmo remains practical whether you use the sensor or not. The tranquil melodies of the Seaside Kingdom theme make for a pleasant way to start your day, and there’s a touch of amusement in hearing Mario collect coins or squash enemies. For those who dislike being abruptly awakened, Gentle Mode is available. On a personal note, it’s refreshing compared to my iPad alarm, which I… well… let’s just say its tune isn’t exactly soothing. My wife had no trouble halting the alarm by pressing the button and responding to the subsequent instruction, but she encountered difficulties because she can’t see without her glasses. Consequently, if she reached for the button in response to the alarm, she couldn’t read the message asking whether she wanted to turn off Alarmo. In essence, she would need to remember the device’s peculiarities to shut it off in the morning.
Alarmo also has a few functions for when it’s time to go to bed. A Sleepy Sounds function is available for whatever theme you’re using and will play for five minutes if you get into bed after your designated bedtime. Again, this is an issue when you have a Bucky who loves to plaster himself on the bed, meaning the Sleepy Sounds will sometimes trigger early. Bucky also has an adverse effect on Alarmo’s sleep-tracking function, which is meant to measure sleep statistics based on movement and sleep patterns. The numbers, needless to say, get skewed.
For a big Nintendo kid like myself, Alarmo is an enjoyable luxury. As an alarm clock, it’s a novelty, but doesn’t go much farther than that. I love that there are options for when and how to wake a person up, making it suitable for light and deep sleepers. The Hourly Chimes give your day a little extra pop and the motion tracking is a cool feature when it works. That’s the biggest qualifier, because it doesn’t always function the way it’s meant to. Adults who share beds with partners (human or furry) won’t get the most out of that feature, but it does make Alarmo an enticing option for kids. Parents may get more use out of Alarmo as a potential way to get their lazy kids out of bed so they can start getting ready for school.
Reflecting on it at both dusk and dawn, Alarmo appears quite peculiar, an intriguing creation by Nintendo. A night’s rest seems to be the only thing that could have led to such an unusual concept.
This evaluation is derived from a product bought personally. The Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo is set to launch on the Nintendo site in November 2024, priced at $99.99 USD.
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2024-10-23 00:27