Nippon Marathon

 Switch
Nippon Marathon Image
Metascore
44

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

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  • Summary: Stretch your muscles and embark upon the ultimate marathon of Japan in a crazy party racer! Hurdle barrels, outrun Shiba Inu and dive out of the paths of bicycles - all while throwing fruit at your opponents and dashing across planks precariously balanced over waterfalls in an unrealStretch your muscles and embark upon the ultimate marathon of Japan in a crazy party racer! Hurdle barrels, outrun Shiba Inu and dive out of the paths of bicycles - all while throwing fruit at your opponents and dashing across planks precariously balanced over waterfalls in an unreal marathon across the whole of Japan!

    Four-player drop-in/drop-out madness!
    Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme silliness of gaming's greatest marathon. Need a bathroom break to brush pineapple juice off your onesie? Random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play? Whatever the cause, hop in and out for the ultimate party get-together!

    Experience surprises galore in a race across all of Japan!
    Cross the land of Nippon in a series of creative levels spanning busy city streets, narrow old streets, bustling markets, mountaintop shrines and even the top of a bullet train! You never know what will happen next in Nippon Marathon. Perhaps you'll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun? Maybe a news anchor will jetpack in to interview you on the racetrack? Heck, anything is possible

    An expansive story mode with a bizarre cast of characters!
    Climb the ranks from rookie runner to marathon master. Experience the stories of lobster-man J DARWIN, narwhal enthusiast Elizabeth Nishibori, old uncle sailor Zenbei "XEN BAE" and wannabe dating-agency owner Snuguru Maestro, all while revealing the shady secrets of the unseen forces at play behind the Nippon Marathon. Can you beat the returning ten-time champion Handsome Hazuki and his cronies?

    Chill out with some Party Games!
    Some people like bird watching. Some people like a lazy Sunday afternoon drive. Some people like to throw themselves into a trolley, and smash head-first into man-sized bowling pins! Set your shopping trolley's position, take a running jump, wince as you hurtle towards random hazards and pray you don't end up in the emergency room. Mastered the Turkey in bowling? Then take on the L.O.B.S.T.E.R gauntlet! A precariously narrow, randomly generated assault course. Swinging hammers, pneumatic boxing gloves, and irate American footballers conspire to knock you into the drink!    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 4 out of 6
  1. TheSixthAxis
    Jan 2, 2019
    80
    Nippon Marathon is a game that is proud to be exactly what it is. There are no pretences or delusions of grandeur, just good clean fun. Playing with friends is sure to bring a fair few laughs as you rain watermelons down on your rivals. Just be prepared to be taken out by sudden barrels and hordes of cute dogs.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Jan 12, 2019
    60
    Nippon Marathon isn’t not going to be everyone’s tastes – those eye-wateringly janky visuals (whether by design or not) and the nature of physics-driven racing are an acquired taste that most people are going to tire of, fast. However, look past the surface and there’s a multiplayer experience here that will appeal to fans of Gang Beasts and the like, who just want a silly party game that cares not for seriousness in any form.
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Jan 14, 2019
    40
    In the end having extra modes beyond the main game do nothing to help Nippon Marathon remain a fun time for more than a few hours at most. It would be impressive as a final project for a college course and is still good for a few laughs at a party, but those fleeting good times are not enough for me to recommend this game.
  4. Nintendo Insider
    Jul 18, 2019
    40
    Playing alone, Nippon Marathon is a one-note joke, stretched too thin and without enough artifice to challenge or grip a player, but as a party game it works just about well enough to amuse those who can look past its various rough edges, have money enough to spare for frivolous purchases and enjoy a silly, wonky mess from time to time.
  5. FNintendo
    Jul 22, 2019
    30
    Nippon Marathon presents itself as a party game full of content and with a comically absurd concept which are two factors worth pointing out. Unfortunately the way the gameplay is implemented makes for everything but an enjoyable experience and even the most enthusiastic players will quickly find themselves frustrated at the hands of this game, which has little else in its favour as its audiovisual environment is clearly below contemporary standards.
  6. Cubed3
    Jan 7, 2019
    20
    Nippon Marathon is an atrocious game. The kind of "wacky" that is trying far too hard to be funny and failing in every way. Cringeworthy. Buggy. Dull. Between the terrible gameplay and the appalling writing, it's hard to keep playing and not just turn this off for literally anything else. Absolute shovelware, and one of the worst to come to Switch.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. andybates
    Dec 2, 2020
    9
    Honestly the critic reviews entire miss the point of this game. The game is a tongue-in-cheek love letter to Japanese quirk/kitsch. TheHonestly the critic reviews entire miss the point of this game. The game is a tongue-in-cheek love letter to Japanese quirk/kitsch. The controls are intentionally awkward. The physics are intentionally always just that little bit unpredictable. Watch a few gameplay trailers to get a far more accurate depiction of the chaos that is Nippon Marathon that I ever got from any of the ‘professional’ critic reviews.

    Let me be clear - this is a party game that I’ve never played solo (although people I’ve recommended it to have mentioned they’ve done solo play and enjoyed it!), which has brought myself and many friends hours of laughs and enjoyment.

    Tbh I find the 44 critic metascore really appalling so made an account just to leave this review.

    I highly recommend Nippon Marathon - it’s really something special.    … Expand
  2. Tenderloins
    Sep 4, 2020
    9
    Have this on both pc and switch, switch version is basically the same but has a few glitches like stuttering sometimes but who cares when theHave this on both pc and switch, switch version is basically the same but has a few glitches like stuttering sometimes but who cares when the game is this much fun with a group.… Expand
  4. keibyakko
    Dec 21, 2019
    8
    No es para jugar solo pero con 3 amigos te lo pasas genial. Simulador del programa de los 90 Humor Amarillo o tambien llamado Takeshi Castle.
  5. HimitsuTamashii
    Aug 10, 2020
    8
    Though the reviews for Nippon Marathon look quite bleak, it is a game for the type of person who enjoys simple, good hearted fun. TheThough the reviews for Nippon Marathon look quite bleak, it is a game for the type of person who enjoys simple, good hearted fun. The multiplayer mode is, of course the strength of this game however, the single player stories are simply odd fun! If you are considering giving this title a go, I suggest looking up some of the better reviews of this title, such as Switchup's review. Also, I would suggest watching people actually play the game. It is an odd, plucky little light-hearted title that puts me in mind of everything fun about Japanese game shows, and it is worth consideration if this sounds like something interesting at least. The mini games are also fun with a friend or three, and I do hope the developers decide to add more content in the future.… Expand
  6. Gamerheadspodca
    Feb 22, 2019
    6
    This game won’t be for everyone; It is very surreal and very strange, and if you don’t like wacky weird games, or if you are not veryThis game won’t be for everyone; It is very surreal and very strange, and if you don’t like wacky weird games, or if you are not very forgiving for some of the issues the game has, then, this game won't be for you.

    However, if you are willing to try something different and have friends who are open to playing a chaotic racing game, then this might be something worth your time. While there is a story mode, this game was meant to be played with friends, and with the right group of friends you’ll find yourself laughing hysterically at the craziness that is Nippon Marathon.    … Expand
  7. jikflet
    Sep 9, 2020
    6
    Fun game to play with friends. not as single player. I only recommend it if you like weird Japanese games. performance is not as good on theFun game to play with friends. not as single player. I only recommend it if you like weird Japanese games. performance is not as good on the switch. and I encounter couple game breaking bugs. but still don't regret my purchase. is one more of those crazy Japanese party games y like. but is not for everyone.… Expand

See all 7 User Reviews

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