Amiibo Surprises Galore! Early 2016 Brings New Amiibo And Functionality To The Table!

Make ready your Amiibo-tapping fingers, because a wave of new details have just been announced! Nintendo is continuing to feed our Amiibo fever by launching new Amiibo, unveiling release dates, and even providing details on how some of the new figures will work!

First, details regarding the Wolf Link amiibo and its functionality in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.  The physical version of the game includes both the Wolf Link Amiibo and the game, and it launches March 4 at a suggested retail price of $59.99!  As described in our earlier article, the other currently available Legend of Zelda Amiibo figures will also activate special effects within the game, so it may be worth picking them up at the same time (if you don’t already own them)!  Also, it has been announced that the Wolf Link amiibo will be compatible with the Wii U Legend of Zelda game launching later this year, although we still don’t have details on Amiibo functionality or release date for that title.

Next up, March 18 will see the launch of several new amiibo from the Animal Crossing series!  Namely, the new Amiibo that will be available are Timmy and Tommy, Kapp’n, and Rover.  Digby, which was previously only available with the Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival bundle, will also be available as a stand-alone amiibo.  All of the currently released physical Animal Crossing amiibo, including the upcoming ones, are based on major NPC characters (such as shop owners) in the Animal Crossing universe, and are largely used in Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, although several of them can also be used to unlock Super Mario Maker costumes.  Also, later on in March, the third wave of Animal Crossing Amiibo cards will be launched, expanding the catalog of available cards to a whopping 300!  Animal Crossing cards are based on the NPC villagers that can move into a town with the main character, although there are card versions of the major NPCs as well–these cards are used mainly with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer where you can build a home for each villager and save the created home to the card.  They can also be used in Amiibo Festival, although only with side-games.  For more information on specific functionality with amiibo, please check Nintendo’s amiibo compatibility list.

Another game that has been announced with Amiibo functionality is Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.  Both the Mario and Sonic Amiibo can be used with this game, and these will activate a “daily power” that will boost each individual character.  Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has a launch date of March 18, at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, some of the Pokémon Amiibo will be available again at select retailers.  Prepare for the return of Charizard, Jigglypuff, Greninja, and Lucario!  Note that it doesn’t mention Mewtwo, but based on my own travels, Mewtwo stock doesn’t seem hard to find (yet).  Who knows–maybe amiibo functionality with a new Pokémon game is right around the corner!

And finally, Amiibo compatibility has been confirmed for Star Fox Zero, launching exclusively on Wii U on April 22.  More details on Amiibo functionality with the title will be revealed at a later date.  The Star Fox franchise is one of Nintendo’s strongest, following several anthropomorphic animal space pilots on their various intergalactic missions.  After our recent expeditions on the planet Mira with Xenoblade Chronicles, and the resurgence of Star Wars with Episode VII, we are looking forward to jumping back into the deep reaches of space with Fox and his crew, using the Wii U’s GamePad as our cockpit!

How do you feel about this new wave of Amiibo news?  Has it forced your Amiibo fever to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit?  Please let us know in the comments!