Xylophone

Genre: Music Creation Application

Players: 1

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Review:

Xylophone, released on Nintendo Switch in 2021, is an Application that lets players play a simulated 8-key xylophone on their Nintendo Switch using either the touchscreen or buttons assigned to each of the individual keys. The button layout here does what it can, but clearly the Nintendo Switch controller was never meant to simulate a musical instrument.

To be clear, this is a simulation of a children’s xylophone set, something the colorful, cartoony visuals should make clear. Still, it’s extremely limiting that players don’t have the option to play a more full-size xylophone. Don’t expect any recording or playback or any other options either, for that matter. Heck, this software doesn’t even display the note that each key will play. And given the low production values here, it should come as no surprise that there’s no support for the Nintendo LABO keyboard either.

The one and only extra that is included here are “tutorials” to play nine different short public domain children’s songs. Unfortunately, these “tutorials” don’t include anything to indicate timing or lyrics, and stunningly the notes for some of these songs are outright wrong. In other words, don’t expect to learn anything from this tutorial.

With such cartoony visuals and the simple sounds of… well, a xylophone… the normal $10 price tag for this software is pretty outrageous, and the frequent $2 sale price still seems steep for something so limited in its appeal and bereft of features. If for some reason you want a child’s xylophone on your Nintendo Switch, Xylophone will do that… but it offers nothing else of interest.

tl;dr – Xylophone is a family-friendly Music Creation Application that lets players play a simulated 8-key xylophone on Nintendo Switch using either pre-assigned buttons or the touchscreen. This limited appeal is made worse with extremely lacking options and dreadful song “tutorials” that don’t even have the right notes for the songs. Unless you have a kid looking for a musical toy on Nintendo Switch who doesn’t care how bare-bones it is, skip this one.

Grade: D

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