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GAMES
JANUARY 2015 JB Hi-Fi
FEATURE
030
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I t began with Skylanders and picked up
speed with Disney: Infinity. Near field
communication (NFC) technology –
allowing players to import characters into their
game via figurines – has hit a goldmine in the
gaming industry in recent years as ‘portal’ titles
take the world by storm.
Skylanders was the first of its kind and took
to the stage back in 2011. The game revolved
around a “Portal of Power” that allowed
players to introduce characters and change
the way they experience the gameplay, with
different characters changing the game in their
own ways. Following the success of Activision,
Avalanche Software released Disney: Infinity
– a similar concept, but with the inclusion
of a vast array and exciting back catalogue
of Disney/Pixar characters. Both were very
favourably received and deemed a successful
and innovative new direction for gaming.
Now, however, there is a new challenger in
the field. Similar to the NFC products, Nintendo
has released amiibo; using the Wii U controller
as a platform, new characters can be imported
into compatible games where extra bonuses
can be added. Games already released that
are congruous with these innovations include
Super Smash Bros. Wii U, Mario Kart 8 and
Hyrule Warriors. Smash Bros. will allow players
to customise their amiibo, while Mario Kart and
Hyrule will grant users new costumes and in-
game items with the use of the figurines.
The system itself is foolproof; simply touch
the base of the amiibo figurines to the Wii U
gamepad, and the relevant information will be
imported into the compatible game of your
choice.
Waves one and two of these new amiibo
figurines have already successfully hit stores
late last year and include everyone’s favourite,
Mario, Pokemon star Pikachu, as well as
Metroid protagonist Samus Aran and Donkey
Kong’s trusty sidekick Diddy Kong.
Arriving on shelves on January 29 is wave
three, bringing even more treasured Nintendo
characters to life in completely reimagined
ways.
Rosalina, carer of the Lumas in Super Mario
Galaxy, brings her superstar status to new
games such as Hyrule and Smash Bros.
Bowser – King of the Koopas and Mario’s
‘eternal rival’ – joins the fight, as well as Toon
Link and Sheik from the Legend of Zelda
series.
Lucario the fighter, having starred in
Pokemon, is now welcome in Smash Bros.,
and is joined by Fire Emblem’s hero of the
Begnion Empire, Ike.
Stars of the Kirby franchise – Meta Knight
and King Dedede – come together for the third
wave, and both will be compatible with Smash
Bros. and Hyrule Warriors.
Xenoblade Chronicles star Shulk brings a
new face to the field, in addition to the world’s
fastest and most famous hedgehog – Sonic
himself.
Finally, the advanced humanoid robot from
Capcom’s Megaman joins the battle, and will
be featured on both Smash Bros. and Hyrule
Warriors.
Accompanying the release of these new
figurines in 2015 are new games to use them
with; compatible titles include Captain Toad:
Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10, Yoshi’s Woolly
World and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse.
Nintendo has also announced the arrival of an
amiibo-compatible platform for the 3DS, with
more news to come on which of these games
will be able to be used with the figurines.
Bowser – King of the
Koopas and Mario’s
‘eternal rival’ – now
joins the fight
Did you miss the first two waves of Nintendo’s new amiibo figurines?
Have you been frantically searching for amiibos missing from your
collection? Be prepared – wave three is coming soon.
By Alesha Kolbe