amiibo
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amiibo are a line of interactive figurines available for usage with the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems. By scanning an amiibo with near field communication technology, players can receive various effects in games. For the Wii U, amiibo are scanned using the Wii U GamePad. The New Nintendo 3DS models are also natively compatible with amiibo, while older 3DS models will require an adapter to use the figurines.[1] While the concept of figurines using NFC technology to interact with the Wii U was previously explored with Pokémon Rumble U, Super Smash Bros. 4 was the first game to specifically refer to the figurines as amiibo; as such, it was the first game to feature the amiibo branding, acting as the debut and flagship title for the line.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
Super Smash Bros. 4 supports the use of amiibo, with its series of figurines representing the various characters available for play in the games. While all playable characters are represented, alternate costumes, such as Alph for Olimar, are not featured in the line. amiibo figurines are not required to unlock any characters or other features in the games, and they are completely optional for playing both versions.[2]
amiibo, when scanned by the console, allows the character represented by the figurines to be used in-game; the character can be modified by players with character customization options available in the game, and their stats can be modified further by "feeding" equipment to them. After this, they can be used as a specialised computer player, with the tag "FP" above them. If they are used as CPU fighters, figurines start at level 1 like regular CPU players, but as they fight more often, they can continue to level up, to a cap of 50. As they gain levels, amiibo can potentially "learn" techniques from other characters; if a player frequently uses long-ranged, camping techniques, then the amiibo will also begin to emulate this behaviour. In addition, amiibo can gain improved fighting statistics, such as improved damage, knockback, and reaction times, the higher its level is. Finally, higher-levelled amiibo can adapt to individual matches faster than lower-levelled amiibo; if an opponent takes on an aggressive, rush-down style against an amiibo in one match, for instance, it will begin to make more use of defensive techniques like spot dodges and rolls.
amiibo can be used on any copy of the game, and the character on the amiibo is tied to the figurine, allowing for players to use its customized moveset and fighting style wherever they desire.
While Super Smash Bros. for Wii U natively supports amiibo, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS currently does not do so, though Nintendo has confirmed a patch will eventually be released as to allow for such compatibility, provided the user also has the appropriate hardware, as noted above.
Release
For Smash, amiibo are being released in waves. Several staggered release dates have been announced, with each date containing a subset of the entire Smash lineup. The known waves, the figurines they contain, and their release dates are detailed below.
Smash-related amiibo are priced at $12.99 USD in the Americas, £10.99 GBP in the United Kingdom, ¥1200 JPY in Japan, and €14.99 EUR in the European Union.
Wave 1
The first wave of amiibo launched on November 21, 2014, alongside the North American release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
- Donkey Kong amiibo.jpg
- Fox amiibo.jpg
- Kirby amiibo.jpg
- Link amiibo.jpg
- Mario amiibo.jpg
- Marth amiibo.jpg
- Peach amiibo.jpg
- Pikachu amiibo.jpg
- Samus amiibo.jpg
- Villager amiibo.jpg
- Wii Fit Trainer amiibo.jpg
- Yoshi amiibo.jpg
Wave 2
The second wave of amiibo will be released on December 14th, 2014 in North America.
- Captain Falcon amiibo.jpeg
- Diddy Kong amiibo.jpg
- Little Mac amiibo.jpg
- Luigi amiibo.jpg
- Pit amiibo.jpg
- Zelda amiibo.jpg
Wave 3
The third wave of amiibo will be released in Japan on January 22, 2015 and in North America in February 2015. In North America, several of the amiibo will be exclusively available through specific stores.
- Bowser amiibo.jpg
- Ike amiibo.jpg
- King Dedede amiibo.jpg
- Lucario amiibo.jpg
Lucario (Toys "R" Us exclusive)
- Mega Man amiibo.jpg
- Meta Knight amiibo.jpg
Meta Knight (Best Buy exclusive)
- Rosalina & Luma amiibo.jpg
- Sheik amiibo.jpg
- Sonic amiibo.jpg
- Toon Link amiibo.jpg
Future releases
Shinya Takahashi of Nintendo's SPD division confirmed that the plan is to ultimately release amiibo figurines for all characters on the roster.[3] Both Ness and Charizard have been indirectly confirmed for release via video footage from Nintendo, as both characters have featured the "FP" tag above them in some in-game footage. The original announcement of amiibo also featured a number of characters and designs for characters that do not have any amiibo planned or known, including ones for Lucina disguised as Marth, Mr. Game & Watch, an 8-Bit Mario, and more.
Gallery
How to work amiibo figures with the Wii U.
Promotional art depicting Mario and Link's amiibo in Smash 4.
Trivia
- Upon release in North America, an amiibo figurine of Samus was discovered that featured two arm cannons instead of just one on her right arm; the figurine was later sold for $2500 USD on eBay.
- An amiibo of Peach without legs was also discovered. Bidding started at $30 USD on eBay, though the first auction's bids ended up exceeding $3500 USD as a result of multiple pranksters; a later auction featured bids from about $200 to $300 USD instead.
- An amiibo of Mario with flesh-colored hair was also found. It is being auctioned on eBay starting at $10.50.
- A level 50 Fox amiibo called "WaveShine" was entered into a small, local tournament in Canada as a joke; initially losing its first match, the amiibo ended up making it to the loser's semifinals before finally being knocked-out by semi-professional Brawl smasher FireFly.
