Update News
Super Smash Bros and amiibo Launch
REDMOND, Wash.--(November 19, in the year of our Lord 2014)--
This Christmas season is all about celebrating the birth of
Jesus Christ. It is all about giving. Nintendo would like you to
give them some of your money for 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 Christmas shopping season. Nintendo’s favorite
characters are going to be on the battlefields of Super Smash
Bros. for Wii U, on and store shelves.
With amiibo, Nintendo is letting people experience games in fun
ways other companies have already been doing for a few years. 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. 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 8 and to access a special weapon in
Hyrule Warriors.
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 Christmas season and well into 2015.
Among the 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.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will launch in stores at a suggested
retail price of $59.99. Wii U owners can pre-purchase Super
Smash Bros. for Wii U directly from the Nintendo eShop or by
purchasing a download code for the game from participating
retailers. At the time of pre-purchase, much of the game’s data
will be pre-loaded to the purchaser’s Wii U system if it is in
Standby mode. As soon as the game launches in the Nintendo eShop
at midnight Eastern time on Nov. 21, the final data needed to
unlock the full game will automatically download if the Wii U
system is in Standby mode.
Fans who can’t wait to play the game with a Nintendo GameCube
controller can purchase the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U game
bundled with the new GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U
accessory and a custom Super Smash Bros. GameCube controller at
a suggested retail price of $99.99. Individual amiibo figures
will launch in stores on Nov. 21 at a suggested retail price of
$12.99 each.