By now everyone has heard of Nintendo’s Amiibo figures; however, for those who might need a refresher, here it is: Amiibo’s are Nintendo’s answer to games with figurines like Disney Infinity and Skylanders. These popular franchises combine toy figure collection with gaming and it has taken off in a big way. With multiple figures to collect, players are given the ability to use customizable features and abilities. This is one of the main reasons I believe these types of games have become as popular as they have as well as being highly addictive. This also gives companies the ability to release new figures every few months, prolonging a games lifespan and increasing profits with more for gamers to buy.
This venture is definitely working for Nintendo as Amiibo’s were one of the hottest holiday gifts this year. I had heard about them before Christmas, but I did not realize how popular they were until I went to my local Target. I was there to pick up Super Smash Bros Wii U as a gift when I noticed people standing around the display and saying things like “he is just going in the back to get another box, let’s see what he has”. Admittedly, I was intrigued as to what all these people were wanting? Then I noticed it was for the Nintendo Amiibo’s. There I saw people waiting for them to be put on store shelves. They were waiting to get their hands on new figures like Little Mac from Mike Tyson’s Punch Out and the Wii Fitness Trainer, both of which are the “rare” ones.
First things first, I have always loved Nintendo; some might even call me a Nintendo fangirl of sorts. My first gaming console was a NES and I have loved “the house of Mario” ever since. As for the Amiibos, I was skeptical about this new venture when it was announced. Were they just things to collect? A mere cash grab? Do these things even work? So I decided to pick a up a random one at around $13 as I figured at the least it would make a great stocking stuffer; however, I went home and took Princess Peach out of the box and I discovered that Amiibo’s are not just figurines but so much more.
After my initial experience I decided to do some research (aka Google) on future figurines coming out. I found articles and articles about how Amiibo’s have become a craze pretty much everywhere. With figurines popping up all over Ebay with insane prices and people sharing online which local stores are carrying which ones it seems that these little figurines are quite popular. It does not look to be slowing any time soon as you now have the ability to pre-order figurines from your local shop. Nintendo has also started creating exclusive figures for only select stores, so it seems like the Amiibo’s craze is here to stay for a while.
The thing that most surprises me is how quickly they have become a “game changer” for Nintendo. Can anyone remember when the last time people were this hyped about a Nintendo product (fanboys and girls excluded)? Especially something that is not a new system or a portable device. Nintendo has reported that sales of their Amiibo figures are nearly double that of Super Smash Bros sales for the Wii U. And with Nintendo selling around 1.3 million copies of their famed fighter near the end of 2014, we can assume figure sales floated around the 2.6 million mark at that time.
With sales like that it is hard to deny the fact that Nintendo is doing something right. One thing I really would like to mention is how impressed I am with the quality. There is genuine effort and detail in them. With a price point of about $13, it does not hurt the bank either; unless you are buying a “rare” one on Ebay for $100 that is. Overall, I think this was a brilliant idea for Nintendo. Personally, I am hooked. I have used my Princess Peach Amiibo in Super Smash Bros and I can see why people enjoy them so much. Besides, the collecting aspect, I really enjoy being able to upgrade and customize a character I already like. After that, I can go up against my created character in battle and see how the character fights and gains experience.
Should you take the plunge and buy one? It really comes down to each individual. Do you like customizing your characters or unlocking new features of your favourite Nintendo characters? Or do you like to just collect figures? Amiibo’s fill both of those needs very well. Will I be standing outside for hours to get my hands on a certain figure? Maybe not, but I do know that I will be adding a few more to my collection very soon. Now excuse me, I have to go figure out how I am going to get the Target exclusive Rosalina and Luma Amiibo with Target Canada closing all of their stores in just a few weeks.
Do you use Amiibo’s? We want to hear from you in the comments below!