Nintendo’s quirk never went away

Nintendo’s latest release isn’t a console or a game, it’s a game. The Talking Flower is exactly what it sounds like: a physical version of the character first introduced Super Mario Bros Wonder That has the ability to speak. And that’s all he really does. You can set the real time, and the watch will announce the time, and it will also say random things periodically. If you can’t wait, there’s a big button that makes him say a phrase.

There is no real functional purpose for the talking flower. I actually have a lot of ways to tell time. Although you can set “sleep” and “wake” times, it’s not an alarm clock – Nintendo already has one of these These settings ensure that the flower will not disturb you at one in the morning. So what’s the point? For $35, Talking Flower injects a drip feed of whimsy into your home. Every now and then the flower says things like “Very interesting!” or “Feels great!” To create a general positive atmosphere. Sometimes it seems prescient, like when he asked me yesterday: “Have you had lunch yet?” When I certainly didn’t. I also appreciate that you keep saying “the weather is perfect for a nap” because I completely agree with him. Likewise for the soothing mantra I’ve heard many times: “It’s going to be okay. I like to take things slow.”

(Unfortunately, Venus has not yet answered one of my most pressing questions: What sticky in Mario Wonder Tastes like. The closest thing I’ve heard is the saying, “The ocean tastes like tears.” The mystery remains.)