Super Meat Boy is one of many beloved indie titles that has gained something of a cult following over the years. Appearing on almost every modern console under the Sun, the game is popular thanks to its precise - and incredibly challenging - platforming, and a new title under the name of Super Meat Boy Forever is on the way, too.
Speaking of which, Tommy Refenes, co-founder of the series' developer Team Meat, has been speaking to Nintenderos about what players can expect from the new game. Various details were confirmed during the interview, such as the inclusion of online features (which will extend to contain a classification table so that players can easily compare their stage times) and the fact that the game will run at 60fps and 1080p on Switch. Also, the subtitle of 'Forever' was apparently chosen because "the levels are generated randomly, so you could almost play Super Meat Boy ... Forever".
Interestingly, though, in answer to a question talking about potential differences or exclusive features present in the Switch version, Refenes touched on the idea of an amiibo figure. He notes that the Switch version doesn't have any exclusive features - as part of a move that aims to see an identical release across all platforms - but also mentions that, "if" an amiibo is ever made for the game, its features would likely be exclusive.
"At the moment no. But if we ever do an amiibo, I'm sure that its function will be exclusive to Switch, although for now all platforms receive the same game. "
Of course, third-party amiibo figures are extremely rare beasts. Aside from those who have been added thanks to their support in Super Smash Bros., there aren't many cases other than the Shovel Knight series and the Monster Hunter amiibo exclusive to Japan. It seems strange for a third-party developer to even consider the possibility of having its own amiibo unless conversations were already in place, but perhaps we're just getting a little too excited at the prospect. We'll let you lovely readers decide whether or not this statement is a subtle hint at things to come.
If you have your own thoughts on this, make sure to share them with us in the comments. Would you happily snap up a Super Meat Boy amiibo if given the chance?
[source nintenderos.com]
Comments 26
I don't think it's going to happen. It has been clear for quite some time that amiibo is something Nintendo gave up on (except for Smash Bros.). In fact, the announced restocking for that game should be happening already if they want to be in time, but it's not.
@Moroboshi876 E x c e p t f o r S m a s h B r o s .
Hmm.
Sorry, but never played it, the only Amiibo I want is Cloud Player 2, where's the restock for Smash Brothers???
@Moroboshi876
I wouldn't say Nintendo gave up on it at all, they continued to be a thing for Super Mario Odyssey, there will be new figures for Smash Bros Ultimate, and it remains a feature in many recent 3DS and Switch releases.
I would say they've scaled back the production of new figures at most, since it can instead focus on an existing market and continue to support the figurines across multiple titles. All part of Nintendo's usual evergreen strategies.
@Moroboshi876 Hmmmm, you sure about that, splatoon octo amiibo, detective pikachu, etc
@RupeeClock @MasterJay They definitely scaled back, at least. OK, some new have been produced, but not like in the Wii U years. In my country stores like supermarkets and such, which used to have plenty of amiibos, don't have them anymore. Most figures still have to be ordered by internet even if we want to buy them on game stores.
But most importantly Wii U games (and to a lesser degree 3DS games, because let's not forget that amiibo functionality on 3DS is smaller, I guess because many people still have the old model, that requieres a NFC reader) used to have a lot of amiibo functionality, but on Switch it has been relegated to the background.
I mean, for instance... where is amiibo use on Mario Tennis Aces? It could have been done for new uniforms, I don't know.
But the main problem and reason I think all of this is... why haven't they addressed the stocking problem? They did with NES Mini.
@Moroboshi876
I think Nintendo learned from their previous amiibo failures, such as Animal Crossing amiibo festival, and Mario Sports Superstars with their amiibo cards, and decided that amiibo support is maybe not the way forward for certain kinds of titles.
Not to say that amiibo was a failure for Animal Crossing. The cards actually were a boon for Happy Home Designer and then later the Welcome amiibo update of Animal Crossing New Leaf.
@Moroboshi876 Yes, definetly scaled back
rolls eyes.
If a playstation controller is ever released in bright yellow with blue dots it will definetely only be a playstation exclusive...... obviously.. because it’s a ‘playstation’.... controller.
Amiibo... is... obviously.. an exclusive... IF it were to ever happen... their comment doesn’t hint at an amiibo at all... it just states the obvious.
Will it be made of meat?
Will it be squishy like Metroid larva?
Probably not
@FTL difference being that no-one asked them about potential amiibo support, they brought it up themselves unnecessarily. As if it’s been discussed.
And if the point was “we’re making the game standard across all platforms” then there are other Switch exclusive features that he could have name-dropped as being avoided.
Team Meat must be running out of ideas if their next game is going to be "Meatboy but roguelite". Disappointment from The End is Nigh not being a smash hit?
@gaga64 Interesting. If no one even mentioned it and they brought it up themselves then I can understand.
that would go nice with a shiny new physical version!
Where's my Platdude Amiibo!?!!??!
@Moroboshi876 reatilers have scaled back their stocks but Nintendo have barely scaled back themselves. Just look at the official line up:
https://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/line-up
Since the last Smash set there have been 20 (plus cereal) non-Smash amiibo released. Even the last Smash set had 2 variants for each figure. And if you look back between that wave of Smash amiibo and the last there were 34 figures in between, plus 2 sets of 100 Animal Crossing cards, plus some specials including a Sanrio crossover, the Mario Sports cards and a shadow Mewtwo one.
Smash is easily the biggest figure set but it makes up a small percentage of the overall amiibo catalogue. There are Switch games that use amiibo, I don't know why Mario Tennis doesn't but Mario Kart does, Mario Odyssey, Breath of Wild, Skyrim, Kirby Star Allies, Fire Emblem Warriors, Pokken, Little Nightmares, Mario + Rabbids and Splatoon 2 all do.
Nintendo don't push the functionality as much that's true, probably because they've realised that amiibo can be seen as controversial (physical DLC) or just plain underwhelming at times, and appeal far more as collectable items than anything else.
@Ogbert Maybe what I meant was they don't seem to talk about it as much as before, although Switch does have functionality.
I didn't know about Mario + Rabbids amiibos, though.
@Ogbert the absence of amino functionality in Mario Tennis is odd given it was there in the WU game.
@Moroboshi876 Definitely haven't given up on them. Theres 3 new Splatoon ones due this year to go with Callie and Marie from a few weeks back. Theres a new Smash one for all the new characters (8 Amiibo total so far). Theres a triple pack for Shovel Knight for next year.
Along with that theres a restock of EVERY Smash Bros Amiibo occurring (as you mentioned) in Japan at least between Dec and Feb which can be ordered from Amazon Japan right now. I know it differs by region but Australia stores often carry a decent amount of stock and seem to be constantly getting resupplied.
Mario Odyssey's line also occurred in the past calendar year as did the four Zelda Champions. (Edit: Samus Returns 3 were just on a year ago also)
I think its fair to say they aren't issuing Amiibo for every new game. At the same time they didn't on the Wii U either even when Amiibo were more popular. Star Fox Zero and other titles released late in the Wii U life never got dedicated Amiibo and they've also avoided doing any Mario Kart themed ones to date which would be one of the biggest franchises available.
I have 11 on preorder and that will go to 14 once Shovel Knight ones are available for local order. I don't think Nintendo has given up on them so much as the hype around them has died down a bit. Thats to be expected for something that started out late 2015.
I am a bit surprised we havent seen ones for Pokemon Let's Go though.
@Smigit Well, I have already established I didn't actually mean "give up", but really scaled back.
I'm not talking necessarily about dedicated amiibos anyway. Star Fox Zero has amiibo functionality for retro airships unlocking with the use of Smash Bros. amiibos. I know Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Odyssey and BOTW use them, but for some time it seemed that new games didn't, it was like Switch games just were taking advantage of them because they existed already for Wii U and 3DS, and their absence on stores -forget about importing: the easy availability we deserve is what I'm talking about- gave me this impression. It still does.
OK, there have been new ones, but this is not the fever there was until 1 or 2 years ago, for example.
Let's hope the situation really changes with Smash Bros.
@Moroboshi876 Personally is like to see more but probably not from Smash. I’m glad the approach seems to be to do a reissue rather than create new ones. I’m sure we’ll see another half dozen characters get added as DLC too which will all generate new Amiibo (or two).
Would like to see some of those other franchise get a look in. Donkey Kong Country especially. Maybe some classic Pokémon ones. I’d probably kill for a Zelda Skull Kid one.
To be honest I think the release pace this year hasn’t been too bad. First half was slow but this six months is pretty dense in terms of releases.
Would be awesome!! Indie games amiibo are the best!
@Smigit I'd like to see non-Smash Bros. amiibos too.
In fact, years ago I wished they made a Koopa Troopa and people said it wasn't probable because he wasn't a character in that game, but... they ended up doing it in the Super Mario line, so everything is possible.
There is room for other characters, of course. What about Lakitu? Or Shantae? I'd love it!
@SmaggTheSmug I don’t think End is Nigh is Team Meat. McMillan had a falling out with Refenes so he went on to make EiN with a new studio.
@brandonbwii Well, that explains the lack of imagination.
@Moroboshi876 I don’t think Nintendo has given up on amiibo, but I think we can presume the Animal Crossing series was likely not giving the same turnovers in profits as expected. The scope has yet to reach anything higher than Smash Bros, but that was a lofty quantity to start with.
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