Nintendo looks to cash in this holiday season
This holiday season is all about Mario. And Link. And Yoshi. And Samus. And Kirby. And...Well, a lot of classic video game characters. That’s because Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and the first round of amiibo figures, Nintendo’s first foray into the toys-to-life category, are both launching on Nov. 21, right in time for the holiday shopping season. Nintendo’s favorite characters are going to be everywhere, whether on the battlefields of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, on store shelves as must-have amiibo figures or at the top of everyone’s holiday wish lists.
“Launching Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and amiibo on the same day kicks off the holiday shopping season with a bang...and a smash,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “With a wide range of amiibo figures to choose from and a new Super Smash Bros. game on Wii U with more features than ever before, shopping for the Nintendo fan on your list will be easy this year.”
With amiibo, Nintendo is letting people experience games in fun new ways. By tapping an amiibo figure to the Wii U GamePad controller, gaming’s most recognizable characters can be used in different ways in many compatible games. Some games, like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, will save data to the amiibo, while other games, like Mario Kart 8 and Hyrule Warriors, will give you bonus content just for tapping an amiibo to the GamePad. There’s no need to purchase an additional portal accessory!
When the first round of amiibo launches on Nov. 21, 12 characters will be available: Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Fox, Samus, Wii Fit Trainer, Villager, Pikachu, Kirby and Marth. Zelda, Luigi, Diddy Kong, Little Mac, Pit and Captain Falcon amiibo will be released in December, with additional figures launching throughout 2015. Individual amiibo can be used across multiple compatible games, a first for the toys-to-life category. For example, players who own a Link amiibo can use it as a fighting partner in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, to get a fun racing suit for their Mii characters in Mario Kart 8and to access a special weapon in Hyrule Warriors. For more information about amiibo compatibility, visit http://www.amiibo.com.
After tapping an amiibo figure in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the amiibo appears on the selection screen as a custom version of the character in the game. Players don’t control the amiibo character itself; the character acts as the players’ battle companion, fighting alongside or against them. Players can use amiibo as a partner, brawl with them in teams or have amiibo battle each other. In a first for the franchise, a special mode in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U lets up to eight players battle simultaneously on select stages in local multiplayer. And these battles can be a combination of real-life players and amiibo – one player vs. seven amiibo, four vs. four or even an all-amiibo battle with eight amiibo characters duking it out for victory! As players battle, amiibo gradually level up and learn how to fight through battles with players, other amiibo characters and computer players.
Even without the added fun of amiibo, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is easily the most robust version of Super Smash Bros. ever created. Coming off the heels of the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS game, the first portable entry in the series, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U offers even more fun and exclusive content than ever before. In addition to a giant roster of classic video game characters and all the fighting action that fans of the series have fallen in love with over the years, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U offers plenty of new modes and stages that aren’t found anywhere else that will keep fans playing the game throughout the holiday season and well into 2015.
Among the almost-too-numerous-to-count new features in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the ability to use the touch screen of the Wii U GamePad to create custom stages. Players who own the Nintendo 3DS version of the game can even use their Nintendo 3DS systems to control the action on the TV screen, in addition to Nintendo GameCube controller support and a variety of other available control options. (The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U accessory is required for GameCube controller support.)Nintendo recently premiered a video that detailed these, and more than 50 other, new features unique to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The must-watch video can be viewed in its entirety by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0BBGzfw0pQ.
