Nintendo has been cautious recently, whether with the conservative design of its Switch successor or the pristine image shown in its museum. As the company has broadened its ambitions, it’s done so while mostly avoiding risk, which can seem contrary to the playful Nintendo that gave us innovations like the DS and Labo. However, that quirky side of Nintendo still exists, and the peculiar Talking Flower on my shelf is evidence.
Nintendo’s latest release isn’t a console or game, but a toy. The Talking Flower, as the name indicates, is a physical version of the character from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, capable of speech. Its main function is to announce the time on the hour and occasionally speak at random; a button can prompt it to talk at any moment.
The Talking Flower has no real practical purpose as a timekeeper, since plenty of other devices can do the task, and it’s not an alarm clock. Instead, it provides a consistent stream of whimsy with random cheerful expressions. Its remarks feel fitting sometimes, like when it asked, “Have you had lunch yet?” when I hadn’t, or when it repeatedly declares, “It’s perfect weather for a nap,” which resonates with my views.
Despite being a seemingly trivial toy, the Talking Flower highlights Nintendo’s current approach. While the company plays it safe with major projects to prevent disasters like the Wii U, it explores creativity in other avenues. Mario Wonder is among the strangest games I’ve played, and one of Switch 2’s first titles focuses on the joy of destruction. The upcoming Tomodachi Life sequel appears even more bizarre than its forerunner, and the return of the Virtual Boy was niche and low-risk.
As minor as the Talking Flower might seem, it fits into a larger plan. Its release coincides with a major Switch 2 update for Mario Wonder, leading up to the release of the next Super Mario film. The toy exemplifies Nintendo’s efforts to synchronize its offerings, a crucial strategy as the company expands beyond gaming.
Nintendo often takes unexpected paths, like when it released a new Game & Watch alongside Sony and Microsoft’s console launches. This approach has largely been successful. Presently, Nintendo remains cautious with core products and ventures into creative, fun territory elsewhere—and the upbeat Talking Flower is a testament to this.