Nintendo Debuts Impressive Music Streaming Service, Catching Users Off Guard
Nintendo Debuts Impressive Music Streaming Service, Catching Users Off Guard
Nintendo's going through an unusual phase as we approach the year's end. Their primary hardware launch for 2024 turned out to be quite the obnoxious wake-up call. Starting today, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can download Nintendo Tunes to enjoy music from Nintendo's most cherished franchises. What's even more surprising is how well-executed the app is, given its early stage.
Nintendo released Nintendo Tunes on both iOS and Android yesterday. The app features tunes from several popular series, such as the recent and classic Super Mario games, the Metroid, Pokémon, Legend of Zelda, and Starfox series. There are also tracks from lesser-known titles, like Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade for the Game Boy Advance or Nintendogs for the Nintendo DS.
Upon checking the available tracks, I couldn't find any hidden gems, despite my hopes for the Mother (or EarthBound) songs. However, there is the Wii Shop Channel music, which, in my opinion, is the best menu theme ever created. Once you dive in, you might be disappointed that your favorite game isn't included, even though there are still great tracks like the Metroid Prime soundtrack.
Nintendo Tunes also offers curated playlists for specific characters, like Bowser or Yoshi, and other playlists that match your mood, such as "Good Night" or "Powering Up." You can even create your own playlist. There's also a feature that lets you hide songs from certain games to avoid spoilers. However, the standout feature might be the ability to extend tracks up to 60 minutes, perfect for those who can't get enough of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' opening theme.
I wrote this piece while listening to the themes from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and yes, it brought back some nostalgic memories. For each track, Nintendo provides a screenshot from the game where the "I remember the Deku Tree theme" feeling hits you. There's even a separate playlist dedicated to all the ocarina songs from the 26-year-old Nintendo 64 game.
Nintendo Switch Online typically costs $4 a month or $20 annually. It offers features like cloud saves and online gaming on the Nintendo Switch, and grants access to Nintendo's back catalog of selected past titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, and Nintendo 64. Whether you consider this a good deal is up to you, but Nintendo Tunes is free for subscribers, so why not give it a try?
The app leaves plenty of room for Nintendo to add more music from its extensive library. While you can still find the same song selection on YouTube, Nintendo Tunes offers enough exclusive features to make it worth trying. However, if you're looking for excellent remixes, like Radiohead's In Rainbows, made entirely with sounds from Super Mario 64, you'll have to look elsewhere.
The integration of Nintendo Tunes on both tech platforms, iOS and Android, indicates Nintendo's commitment to embracing technology in the tech-driven future. With the app's diverse playlist options, subscribers can expect to hear their favorite tunes from franchises like Super Mario, Metroid, Pokémon, and Zelda, extending into lesser-known titles, in the near tech horizon.