Ready for more ways to empty your wallet? Nintendo has unveiled their NFC figurine initiative, now known as amiibo.
Much like what Skylanders and Disney Infinity already do, the technology allows for the characters to be transferred into the games, gain levels and abilities, and even special moves and history. They’ll become “personal” representations of our gaming, Nintendo says, though for us that just means that we’ll have to own all of them.
They’re sort of like glorified memory cards, in a way.
Nintendo’s take on the idea focuses on allowing for cross-game compatibility, so that abilities and stats earned in one game are opened up in others.
In other words, imagine using your figure in a Mario game, building up the jump ability, and then bringing that figure and said ability into another game.
The company listed the first few games that will be available for use with amiibo, and it all starts with Super Smash Bros. Using amiibo, gamers will tap the figure on the controller and the character will “jump” into the game to fight alongside the player. These can be teammates, or can take over the battle completely. Heck, they can even be used to train. Players can battle against their amiibo figures, developing them and their own fighting skills, or they can pit amiibo versus amiibo to improve the figures even more. In Smash Bros this will allow for levels to increase quicker, new tactics to be learned, customizing special moves, and more.
Other games announced for use with amiibo are Mario Party 10, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and Yoshi’s Wolly Wood. Oh, and the toys will come to Mario Kart 8 as well, through an update to the game. Amiibo launches later this year alongside Smash. It’s unknown how many will be available at launch, and which characters, but only 8-10 were shown during Nintendo’s presentation.
But, 3DS owners don’t have to miss out. The platform is coming to the portable in early 2015 via a “puck” accessory that will allow characters to zip in and out of their games as well.
We’ll have hands-on with amiibo here at E3… stick tuned!
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