For years now, everyone has been waiting to see if and when Nintendo would truly throw their hat into the ring and release an official mobile app. This happened a few weeks ago when they launched Miitomo in Japan Android and iOS App Stores, and we're glad to say that they finally launched
Miitomo in the US App Store as well, and we're here to give you an in-depth look at it.
Miitomo isn't a game in the traditional
Mario sense, but more like another social platform to interact with your friends. There's a few game-like things inside of it, you've got the option to play a pachinko-like game to win prizes, but largely, no, the game is designed to give you a new and interesting way to hang out with friends. In fact, Miitomo isn't terribly dissimilar from IMVU, another social platform that some people may be familiar with, though Nintendo's offering is somewhat more on the lighter side.
So if Miitomo isn't a game, then why bother having it? Well, for the same reason you have Twitter or Facebook or any other social media profile. There's some honest-to-goodness fun to be found in Miitomo if you're willing to relax your standards of what you're being presented with. It's not
WiiSports or
WiiPlay like many people had been hoping, but we still enjoyed our time with it. We're also willing to bet that Miitomo is going to wind up being the link between all future mobile Nintendo titles, especially because the game has such a heavy focus on building friends lists right off the bat.
What do you do in Miitomo? Right now, you primarily answer questions about yourself such as "what is your favorite food?" or "what did you do last weekend?" and read the answers that your friends have posted. Answering questions rewards you with coins, a currency that is used to buy new clothes for your Mii, which in turn will increase your style meter. Increasing your style meter often rewards you with either more coins or tickets, and tickets are used to play the pachinko-style game that gives you a chance to win more clothes and items, and so on and so forth.
But if that's all there is to Miitomo, is it worth it? It depends on the type of person you are. We genuinely like Miitomo and the sort of guided interaction it gives among friends. It's cute, it's fun, and if you're looking to snag it, it's finally available in the US App Store for the iPhone and the iPad
for free.
Who Miitomo is catered toward:
While this game is likely going to be the link for all future Nintendo apps, we think that it's also just a neat app for anyone who wants a stress-free, casual way to interact with friends.
Who Miitomo may not please:
A lot of folks are likely to think that this is just a glorified version of Facebook or Twitter with a dollmaker attached to it, and they're right, because it is -- at least right now. Opponents to a Nintendo-driven social network may not want to snag this app just yet.
-Amber Neely (
@SurferAmber)
Readers: do you have an app or product that you'd like to see us review? Developers and designers: do you want us to take a look at your app or product? Send your suggestions to our Tips email.
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