“This is me, having existential dread about ever having to work again!”
If waking up every morning makes you think like this, then you might want to check out a quirky new alarm device from none other than Nintendo, the home of Super Mario.
Introducing Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, an interactive gaming-themed alarm clock filled with music and sound effects from Nintendo’s storied gaming history to help you start your day on a positive note.
The cute, curvy, toy-like red circular design is a fun take on the traditional bedside alarm clock. It’s available to pre-order now for Nintendo Switch Online members (priced at £89.99) and will be widely available from January.
Are you awake yet? If you want to know more about Alarmo, read on…
1. Motion activated
Just like Santa, Nintendo’s Sound Clock: Alalmo knows when you’re asleep and when you’re awake. Alarmo’s motion recognition sensor tracks your movements when the alarm starts ringing. As you move around, fun sound effects from Nintendo games start playing to get you even more excited, including one fanfare. Get out of bed and turn off your alarm. However, if you ignore the alarm, Nintendo bad guys start showing up and things get more intense. The last feature is thankfully an optional extra.
2. There are 5 alarm styles
Alarmo comes preloaded with five themes based on Nintendo game series, each with seven different alarm types that you can cycle through. Wake up to sounds from Super Mario Odyssey, Pikmin 4, Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 3, and Ring Fit Adventure. The thought of starting my day with a Zelda fanfare sends shivers down my spine.
3. Controlled by chunky dial-button combo
Alarmo does not have a touchscreen. Instead, the actions needed to change alarm settings or scroll through menus are handled by a chunky dial and button combination on top of the watch. If motion control alarms don’t suit you, you can also set this to function as a traditional alarm stopper when pressed. There’s also a physical “back” button and a button to view update notifications.
4. Relax with sleepy sounds
Alarmo not only helps you wake up, but it also helps you calm down. “Sleepy Sounds” mode plays soothing ambient tunes from Nintendo games to help you relax as you head to bed and (Kirby’s) Dream Land.
5. Track your sleep with Alarmo’s Records
Want to know a little about your sleep quality? Alarmo also provides statistical tracking for snoozing. With the “Record” feature, you can not only track your average sleep time, but also see how much you move during sleep.
6. A familiar face chimes every hour.
It’s a shame that Alarmo only activates at bedtime and in the morning, so thankfully Nintendo has included Easter eggs on the watch all day long. Alarmo tells the time on the hour, and animations of popular Nintendo characters let you know the passage of time.
7. Continuous updates keep your alarm clock sounds fresh
Alarmo is connected to the web, which means Nintendo will be able to send new content updates to the watch during its lifetime. Soon after launch, Nintendo plans to update Alarmo with new themes, including several themes based on the Mario Kart and Animal Crossing franchises.
