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Joystiq Discussion: All aboard Nintendo's Amiibo train?
Just a little more than a month to go before patient Wii U owners will finally get a Super Smash Bros. to call their own. November 21st will bring more than just HD Smash into your home, though. Nintendo will also roll out its Amiibo that day, the teensy near-field communication equipped figurines that let you summon up helpers in the game. Slam that little Princess Peach on your Wii U tablet controller, and she'll show up in Smash smacking fools around on your behalf. Here's the thing, though. Those Amiibo are $13 a pop, which is mighty expensive for toys with such limited use in the game. There isn't even a bundle option for anyone interested in collecting. It would be one thing if there was a clear picture of future functionality, but Nintendo's tight lipped about any long-term plans for the toys. Nintendo says Mario Kart 8 will support Amiibo, but still hasn't said how or when. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will use them as well, but even though that game's out in December, it's unknown Amiibo functionality won't be available in 2015. Why would people buy up these toys when they have no idea why they should? Are they cool enough as collectibles on their own? Will you pick up that Kid Icarus one for no reason other than it's rad? Take our poll after the break and discuss your Amiibo plans in the comments below.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker trailer unearths playable Toadette [update: EU date]
Update: Nintendo just announced a release date for European treasure-trackers, and it's January 9, 2015. Meanwhile, a new press release reveals the unfortunate Toadette is kidnapped at the start of the game along with a Power Star by an unfortunately named bird called Wingo. Players can then unlock Toadette as a playable character by retrieving the Star and the pink-haired starlet. If you're unfamiliar with its Super Mario 3D World mini-game origins, the new Japanese trailer [Update: there's now a US vid up] for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker provides a solid summary of the ever-so-squeaky Wii U puzzle-platformer. Also, playable Toadette! Don't be fooled, though - Nintendo lists Treasure Tracker as single-player, so don't expect co-op on the menu when it hits on December 5. [Image: Nintendo]
Adventure time for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on Dec. 5
December 5 marks a major new chapter in the mushrooming career of Captain Toad, because that's when the spirited spore-man comes to Wii U in his very own game. Nintendo of America announced the Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker release date today, noting the 3D puzzle-platformer is priced at $40 and is set to support "select" Amiibo figures sometime next year. Across the ocean, Nintendo of Europe has yet to offer up a release date for the wee captain's outing, so the game remains limited to January 2015 over there.
Fantasy Life, Captain Toad to feature in Nintendo's livestream
While more than half of Nintendo upcoming "gameplay" live-stream is just for the 3DS Super Smash Bros, the company's also giving some lower-profile games their time in the limelight. The eight-hour broadcast starts at 10AM PT (1PM ET) tomorrow, with Smash 3DS going on the air at 1PM PT (4PM ET). The games starring in the first three hours include Bayonetta 2 and Hyrule Warriors, a duo Nintendo's already provided individual Directs for, but also three less high-profile games in Fantasy Life, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Ultimate NES Remix.
Nintendo reveals first Amiibo figures and prices, but no release date
Nintendo revealed an initial line up of Amiibo toys on Thursday. The near-field communication-equipped action figures compatible with Nintendo Wii U and 3DS games like Super Smash Bros. will cost $12.99 each when they launch, but Nintendo has yet to announce an official release date for the line beyond 2014. The first wave includes 12 figures, among them many that were initially unveiled at E3 2014. Metroid's Samus, The Legend of Zelda's Link, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, Pikachu, the Animal Crossing boy villager, and Super Mario Bros.' Mario, Princess Peach, and Yoshi populate the line. There are also figures of Marth from the Fire Emblem series and the Wii Fit trainer. Some figures shown in prototype form at E3 2014, including Princess Zelda and Kid Icarus, are not included in the first wave. While Nintendo still hasn't confirmed a release date for its Amiibo, it did announce additional games that will support the figures, including Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Yoshi's Wooly World, Mario Party 10, and Mario Kart 8. Show full PR text SUPER SMASH BROS., AMIIBO, POKÉMON AND NEW HARDWARE BUNDLES STAR IN NINTENDO'S HOLIDAY LINEUP Pre-Orders for First 12 amiibo Figures Kick off Nintendo's Holiday Season REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 29, 2014 – Nintendo has prepared a massive lineup of new games and products for the 2014 holiday season. The lineup includes new entries from some of the biggest franchises in gaming, new hardware bundles for Wii U and Nintendo 2DS, and new amiibo interactive figures featuring some of the most iconic characters in the world of video games. The holiday shopping season begins today for Nintendo fans, as the first 12 amiibo interactive figures become available for pre-order at a suggested retail price of just $12.99 each. The first dozen characters available for pre-order at select retailers are Mario, Peach, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Kirby, Fox, Marth, Villager and Wii Fit Trainer, with more on the way in the future. "Nintendo's holiday offerings demonstrate a combination of fun franchises and great value," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "With Wii U and Nintendo 2DS hardware bundles, classic names like Super Smash Bros., Bayonetta and Pokémon, new IP like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and amiibo, everyone will find something to love about Nintendo this holiday season. Whether people are shopping for themselves or they're prepping their gift lists, Nintendo has them covered." Interactive amiibo Figures: Nintendo's foray into the toys-to-life category starts today, with the first 12 amiibo figures available to pre-order from select retailers. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, which launches this holiday season, will be the first game with full integration of amiibo functionality. Other games that will support amiibo include Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10 and Yoshi's Woolly World, with more to come. More details on amiibo functionality with the various games and a launch date will be revealed shortly.
Captain Toad's European adventure pushed back to Jan. 2015
It seems Captain Toad isn't quite ready for adventure in Europe, as his upcoming Treasure Tracker game won't hit the region until January 2015. Nintendo said it made the delay to "optimize" the launch timing in the region, which tallies with the Wii U puzzle-platformer remaining on course to hit Japan and North America this year. A Nintendo of Europe spokesperson confirmed the delay to Joystiq this morning: "In order to optimize the best possible launch timing for Europe, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, originally announced as coming to Wii U in Winter 2014, is now confirmed to launch in the European market in January 2015."
Riding mine carts and shooting turnips in Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad's rise to fame has been, much like him, slow but steady. The fearless fungal explorer had cameos in Super Mario Galaxy before hitting the big time with his own puzzle-platforming side game in Super Mario 3D World. The hook was rotating the camera around a cubic 3D level, so you could follow Toad as you sent him to hidden caverns and obscured platforms. Now Nintendo's giving the mushroom cap'n his own Wii U game, which takes the 3D World distraction and transforms it into a full-blown adventure. There are some subtle differences between the 3D World mini-game and Treasure Tracker. For one, rather than finding five stars to complete each level, you only need to reach the golden star at the end. However, each level has three bonus gems to collect, similar to the gold coins that keep completists entertained in the New Super Mario Bros. games. Like the coins, these gems require a bit of extra effort to spot and hunt down.
Nintendo's Amiibo figurines explained, smashing retail this holiday season
Nintendo issued a trailer explaining the Amiibo figures it revealed during its E3 2014 livestream today. In the first Amiibo-compatible game, Super Smash Bros., players set the figures on their Wii U to bring their respective characters into the game to do battle with both other figures and human opponents. With each battle, the figures level up their attack, speed and defense powers. Players will also be able to customize their figure's special powers over time. The first series of roughly ten NFC figures will debut with the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. this holiday season. Among the games Nintendo confirmed Amiibo compatibility with are Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10 and Yoshi's Wooly World, with more to come. The company is also planning a NFC reader/writer device for 3DS, scheduled to arrive in 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
Wii U's wild ride in Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad's ready for a whole lot more puzzling in a new Wii U game based on the small environment-spinning puzzle levels from Super Mario 3D World. The spin-off features many of the characters and environments from that game. Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker is due to launch in the holiday season of 2014.
