Today marks the release of Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U, one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. How could it not be with its incredible multiplayer potential, vast selection of characters and detailed stages?
Then we have Nintendo’s amiibo collection. The first twelve figures are available in stores now, and include a variety of characters, including Mario, Samus Aran, Kirby and others. You can use these with the game to buff up your heroes and become a force to be reckoned with.
So how do amiibos work? Well, along with a Nintendo video that explains the process, we broke down how to use them in the game, and what benefits they provide in the long run.
How to activate your amiibo
Once you remove your amiibo from its package, turn on your Wii U console and start up the game of your choice, be it Super Smash Bros. or the other compatible amiibo titles (like Mario Kart 8 or Hyrule Warriors). Once you see the desired game selection screen, take your amiibo figure and tap it on the lower left side of the GamePad, where you see the small rectangle underneath the directional pad.
If done correctly (and it’s pretty hard to mess up), you’ll see that the game recognizes the amiibo. It’s that simple, and better still, you don’t have to have your amiibo character sit in place for the whole time, like Skylanders and Disney Infinity.
What Can amiibos do for my Super Smash Bros. character?
Once you activate an amiibo in a game, you’ll begin leveling it up as you compete in Super Smash Bros. By doing so, you’ll be able to unlock improved effects and strength across three areas – Attack, Defense and Speed. While you won’t see a mega-improvement that will make you unbeatable, you will notice small differences that should provide benefits in future fights.
Head into the amiibo option on the menu (once activated) and you’ll be taken to your progress screen. Here, you’ll be able to see what level you achieved thus far (starting with 1 and going all the way to 50), as well as what effects you unlocked and progress across the three areas. You’ll also be able to see what your special techniques are, in case you feel like you want to practice specific moves during each fight.
Special effects unlock as you progress in battle, though it varies by character. They provide great perks overall, though, helping you become that much stronger. For instance, with Mario, you can unlock three specific effects – an improved meteor smash (which is sure to send opponents flying), a critical hit bonus (a nice extra payout for finishing a match) and an explosive perfect shield (which provides extra protection while you fight). These can take some time to dig into, but once you do, you’ll see the amiibo’s value.
Customization options open up as well, allowing you to change small things on your character’s appearance in the game. Their general appearance remains the same, but this adds a personal connection between you and your fighter.
What other Wii U games do amiibos work with?
For the time being, Super Smash Bros. is the main game that gets excellent compatibility with the amiibo characters – but there are others you can try as well. Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and Yoshi are compatible with Mario Kart 8, allowing you to gain better power-ups and improved performance; Link works with Hyrule Warriors, unlocking bonus items as you use it; and the forthcoming Mario Party for Wii U will use Mario, Princess Peach, and Yoshi to some degree. When it releases next year, the Yoshi figurine will also work with Yoshi’s Woolly World, although Nintendo hasn’t explained the perks for that game yet.
It’s a short list, and some figurines, like Villager and Wii Fit Trainer, may seem like they’re being left out in the cold. However, Nintendo is working on future functionality with its Amiibo line, possibly on the 3DS sometime next year. Stay tuned.
What amiibo figures are available?
Right now, there are twelve amiibos available for purchase – Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Fox, Samus Aran, Wii Fit Trainer, Villager, Pikachu, Kirby and Marth. They average $12.99 apiece.
The next round arrives next month, featuring Zelda, Diddy Kong, Luigi, Little Mac, Captain Falcon and Kid Icarus’ Pit. The same price should apply.
Next February, things get interesting with a new wave of amiibos, including some that will be retailer exclusive, like Lucario (Toys ‘R Us), Shulk (GameStop) and Meta Knight (Best Buy). This wave also includes Bowser, Toon Link, Ike, Sonic, Mega Man, Rosalina/Luma and King Dedede.
No other amiibos are planned outside this current wave, but more may arrive down the road.
The Super Smash Bros Wii U/3DS Collector’s Edition guide is a beautiful hardvover version that includes collectible bookmarks and foreword from the game director, Masahiro Sakurai!
Get the complete, official guide:
- Unlock It All – see how to unlock each character, stage and more
- Winning Strategies – learn to play your favorite characters with strategies on how to best utilize their move sets
- Master Smash Run – full details on the Nintendo 3DS exclusive Smash Run game mode, including how to defeat each enemy and the best use for each power
- Complete Coverage – the guide covers all game modes for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of the game
