TheNintendo Switch 2has been a bit of a blessing for certain original Switch games. For example,Tears of the KingdomandBreath of the Wild’sSwitch 2 updates drastically improve the overall experience of playing those games. Gone, at least for the most part, are the days of blurry visuals, low resolutions, and a low framerate. Now you can enjoy all of your old Switch games at 60 FPS and with slightly better visuals. We do indeed live in a golden age of gaming.
These updates vary in quality, of course, with thebest Switch 2 game updatesbeing completely transformative while the worst merely tweak the visuals. Unfortunately, it seems like one of the best Switch games of all time falls into the latter category, with its update being severely disappointing. It is made even worse by the fact thatNintendo saw fit to develop Switch 2 exclusive DLC for it, and not include the one new feature absolutely everyone has been asking for.
Super Mario Party Jamboree Just Got A Switch 2 Update
It Improves The Game’s Visuals And More
Super Mario Party Jamboree, a game that ranks as one of thebest Switch gamesof all time, at least in my opinion, just got a Nintendo Switch 2 update in the form of the paid expansion,Jamboree TV. This DLC adds a handful of new game modes, brand-new mini games, and utilizes many of the Switch 2’s unique functionalities, such as the camera and Joy-Con mouse controls. For all intents and purposes,it is a minor little addition to an otherwise stellar game.
However,Jamboree TVdoesn’t seem to be delivering in the way Nintendo may have hoped. Itsless-than-stellar reviews, while not overly critical, are somewhat apathetic about the whole package. That is reflected in itsMetacriticscore of 78, which is four points lower than the original game. It isn’t thatSuper Mario Party Jamboreehas aged poorly. Rather,Jamboree TVdoesn’t do enough to either warrant its rather high price tag of $19.99 USD or really its existence in the first place.
I wish that I had better news, but honestly, I’m rather disappointed about it. It isn’t like Nintendo tried to hide whatJamboree TVwas, as it laid it all out during the original Switch 2 Direct. However, I suppose I, and likely many of these reviewers, were expecting a little more than what is on offer. Frankly,I was hoping for some genuinely transformative or interesting new content forJamboree, rather than a showcase of theSwitch 2’s controversial features.
Jamboree’s Switch 2 DLC Is Disappointing
It Is Too Focused On The Switch 2
The main issue withSuper Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV- what an absolute mouthful - is thatit is laser-focused on showing off the Nintendo Switch 2 and its many unnecessary accessories. Ironically, this is when the DLC is at its best, as it feels like it has an actual purpose. However, much of this feels forced and out of place in the base experience, as evidenced by much of it being separated into dedicated modes.
While it does introduce some new and interesting minigames, none of them can compete withJamboree’sbest minigames, nor are they worth going out of your way to experience. Sure, it’s fun to wiggle the Joy-Con around like a mouse during certain puzzle-focused mini-games, or see your face on the screen next to Bowser, butthese novelties wear thin extremely quickly. Rather than expanding uponJamboree’sexisting ideas, it attempts to stuff it with new ones that simply don’t work.
That isn’t to say every idea introduced inJamboree TVis bad.The inclusion of a co-op-focused approach to the classic board game mode is great, as are, as aforementioned, some of the new minigames. However, that hyper-fixation on showing off the Switch 2’s hardware, much like thecontroversialWelcome Tourgame, is ultimately the DLC’s downfall. It pushes aside the potential a genuine expansion had in favor of something I’m not all that convinced fans actually wanted.
Mario Party DLC Needs New Boards
It Is What Keeps Players Returning
What could have madeJamboree TVan excellent piece of DLC is if it had introduced a new board or two. Nintendo seems completely reticent to add new boards to any of itsMario Partygames on Switch, either through paid DLC or free updates. Despite being the sole reason most people come back to replayMario Partygames,Nintendo is more than content to wipe its hands clean of the last entry and move swiftly on to the next.
That’s why it frustrates me so much that Nintendo squandered this opportunityto addnew boards toJamboree. There was the option to, the opportunity to, the perfect chance, and Nintendo blew it. It also madeJamboree TVSwitch 2 exclusive, for obvious reasons. But that shuts out a large portion of its player base and only benefits those who’ve hopped over to the shiny new console.
New boards that were available on both consoles would make more sense and likely generate more revenue. All Nintendo needed to do was copy theMario KartDLC formula, which is utterly perfect and would have worked excellently forJamboree, especially as, likeMario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is the best game in the series. Of course, it opted not to, andnow we’re stuck with the subparJamboree TV.
Right now, it is hard to forgive Nintendo for, yet again, passing on an opportunity to refresh a truly amazingMario Partygame with more meaningful content like new boards.
I think, over time, I’ll come to loveJamboree TVfor what it is. However, right now, it is hard to forgive Nintendo for, yet again, passing on an opportunity to refresh a truly amazingMario Partygame with more meaningful content like new boards. I have played hundreds of hours ofJamboree, and the seven currently available boards just aren’t enough anymore.Jamboree TVwill be a fun distraction on theNintendo Switch 2, but it really isn’t enough, not by a long shot.
