NINTENDO EMBRACES BOARD SPORTS

Introducing the Switch-enhancing Labo kits

As if the Nintendo Switch’s shape-shifting abilities weren’t innovative enough, Nintendo has just pushed the gaming envelope that little bit further with Labo, a set of build-it-yourself accessories made of cardboard.

Two Labo kits are available: the £60 Variety Kit and the £70 Robot Kit. Each one contains sheets of cardboard parts that you pop out and fold together to build game-specific controllers, or ‘Toy- Cons’, following instructions provided by videos and animations on the accompanying disc. Once that’s done, you slot either of the JoyCon controllers or the Switch tablet itself into your creation, and you’re ready to play.

The Variety Kit contains a set of motorcycle handlebars, a fishing rod, a racing car, a 13-key piano and a house; the Robot Kit is sold separately because its multiple parts are used together to build a robot-like bodysuit. The accompanying games are fairly simple – the real fun here lies in building the Toy- Cons themselves. But by the time you get bored of those, the forthcoming Toy- Con Garage software – which will let you preprogram and reassign your new controllers to your heart’s content – should also be available.