If you caught E3 earlier this week, you'd know that Nintendo has teamed up with Activision to create two new amiibo for the latest instalment to the Skylanders series: Skylanders SuperChargers.
However, the announcement left some scratching their heads as to why Nintendo decided to use Donkey Kong and Bowser instead of more mainstream and iconic characters such as Mario or Link. Talking to Wall Street Journal, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime revealed the reason why these two Nintendo juggernauts made it into the game over other characters:
Skylanders is all about creatures. So as we looked at our roster, those two fit the game. They're much more creature-like in their game-play mechanics and their movements, so those were the two that we agreed would make sense.
Reggie also delved further in describing how Nintendo's partnership with Activision came about:
Activision came to Nintendo at the outset of Skylanders development four years ago. So there was always this thought of, wouldn't it be great if Nintendo could somehow be integrated into the game? Jump forward to last year's E3, when we introduced amiibo, and we articulated our strategy of having figures that could work across games. At the same time, Activision shared with us their vision for their next installment of Skylanders that would include vehicles. And that's when the conversation became serious.
Finally, Reggie was asked what his favourite amiibo is, to which he responded:
Link. I'm a huge Legend of Zelda fan.
Are you a fan of Nintendo characters being involved with the game that started the NFC craze, or would you prefer more classic Nintendo mascots - or do you not like the idea at all? Let us know below!
[source blogs.wsj.com]
Comments (30)
Link's the worst amiibo hands down.
I agree, Bowser and DK fit Skylanders the most, but the figures Activision made look horrible.
@MeddlingIdiot Really? Just because Reggie tends to like this Amiibo, you dislike it? Link is not as bad as Peach and her face.
@MadAdam81 How do they look horrible? The just look like the original figure?
On topic, I will buy the two charas, since I plan to get this for the Wii U this time. So I believe, as Amiibo, the have the same function as the normal Bowser and DK amiibos.
something just occured to me, wouldn't you be able you use these on other platforms? I mean they have a Skylanders and a Amiibo mode.
@abe_hikura I'm fairly certain these specific figures only work on Nintendo hardware.
REggie was so bad at SSB I doub the has ever beaten th efinal boss in any Zelda game.
We have the original Link amiibo, he's one of the best and most detailed of the early ones. He and Starfox which we also have.
And Reggie is correct on this, they were the best choices, big strong guys who can destroy things. Ganandorf is too iconic, Zelda fans would freak, and King Dedede isn't known well enough. These were the correct two.
Will get them both, not looking forward to the potential amiibo shortage hassle but hopefully Activision will make enough.
Creature-like? That's their reasoning? So basically you're telling me Kirby is too humanoid for Skylanders. And the 4+ pokemon that are based off animals are too humanoid as well? Come on guys...
Nice!
I think Bowser and DK were perfect choices. I watched gameplay on Treehouse Live, and both characters are badass. I'm actually considering buying the game for Wii U and I've never played a Skylanders game before.
I'm not sure if I'll try to get these or not. While I like amiibo, I like the fact that I only need one of a specific character to use across other titles. I also have to wonder if these Skylanders figures would be supported in Skylanders next outing?
I think this is a smart strategy, but sadly I'm not in the target demographic.
I can only hope this doesn't compromise our chances at eventually getting a true new 3D Donkey Kong game, though.
Would be great if this partnership meant releasing Legend of Korra and the upcoming Transformers game by Platinum on WiiU.
I dont understand it, Activision and Nintendo always pull off these mediocre deals that result in other Activision games skipping WiiU all together.
@SnuggleMon The colours are wrong, they are pale, and the clothes look terrible. In game they look better, but the figures don't look anywhere near as good as Amiibo.
And my daughter corrected me. She said Pikachu would be an even better fit, and probably the best ones would all be Pokemon, such as Charizard.
Of course, Zelda is very elf-like and they have plenty of elves in Skylanders. Metaknight could also fit,
Link is also my favorite amiibo. I initially bought him for Hyrule Warriors because of the Spinner weapon (which is my favorite in the game). I've got him to level 50 on Smash Bros, and I am excited to use him in Yoshi's Wolly World and Super Mario Maker. Hopefully, he will have some functionality with Tri Force Heroes as well.
@Rhydas @MadAdam81
If Game Freak is so protective of their IP that Pokemon amiibo don't give you costumes in Yoshi's Woolly World (unlike almost every other amiibo), what makes you think they would allow Skylanders versions?
@Rasgar That's my guess as well, and same with Kirby.
The Link amiibo is AWESOME , The Toon Link amiibo is AWESOME , I agree that DK and Bowser are perfect for Skylanders I can't wait to play the new game on Wii U we were on the fence about the new Skylanders title till they made this announcement now it's a day one purchase on a side note I would love it if they could have added Wario he has the perfect personality for a Skylanders game and as we've seen in other games Wario already has a Bad Ass bike to ride ..
Pit would have been ideal for the gameplay they showed off in the Treehouse Live demo.
@rjejr
You finally posted a comment without flirting with the author +1 but you are still grinding the ax against Reggie - 1
@NorthLightSuplx - "flirting with the author +1"
I call it "sucking up so I don't get hit w/ the ban hammer". I'm not actually attracted to anyone who works at NL. Though I think there was a blonde once.
I've been hating on Reggie since that SSBB E3 date announcement lie years ago. I just can't get past it.
While many of the first party Nintendo games seem aimed at everyone, Skylanders has always seemed more made just for kids, so I'm not so sure about this.... also, these two would be the only reason I'd even be that interested.
We know there'd be backlash if he said Marth was his favorite.
As much as I'm glad Nintendo is merchandising their characters more (so much that I finally managed to get my hands on my first amiibo, Link), I've never been a fan of the Skylanders model. To which extent? If you told my 12-year-old self that one day, Donkey Kong and Bowser would appear alongside Spyro in a game, I would have wet my pants. Now? I'm totally indifferent to this, courtesy of the purple dragon's awful redesign. That's how indifferent I am to all of this.
I had this revved up feeling that was the reason why!
@MadAdam81 I'm sorry, but Pokemon would never fit... to animal-like for me.
But what do you expect from those small figurines? If the quality would be higher, you would pay more. I know this from the Four Horsemen and their figures. I agree with you about Metaknight, though. He would fit, but Zelda is to human-like, just like Link. Most of the Skylanders are monster-type creatures and Bowser as like DK fit perfectly.
Exactly. Bowser and DK do look like the "stuff" that comes from the skylanders line-up. They look like Skylanders.
Honestly the idea of having people with tracking chips installed in their bodies is stupid. We are one step away from people have the mindset of an woman screaming in terror of an gun being shot off.
I mean cool we should buy door locks that could be hacked by the government but I can also open it with the chip inside my skull. Like radical.
In fact it has been proven by this top notch hacker ( who was killed ) that you could hack an pacemaker with radio waves.
Wont be before long you could probably spy on somebody with an ammibo in your room.
Paranoia for everybody.
My son is so excited about having Bowser and Donkey Kong in this game. He loves Skylanders (we have all of the games, not all the figures tho) and he really wants Bowser. So much so that he is tempted to buy the Wii version just to get him. I wonder if they come in the portal pack.
Makes sense. Though I would have though Fox would have been an obvious choice, get kids hyped for the new Star Fox as well. He's very creaturey, being a fox, and with a little SkyLandification could fit in nicely!
I think Wario could fit in too. Sure he's more human but he's so exaggerated he takes on a more troll-like appearance, and he's got that low-brow/toilet humour down (he farts as an attack in Smash) that the audience of this game generally love.
The Pokémon would be cool too, but I think that then means all the extra liscencing with Game Freak, who might not have been up for it.
To be honest, I think they could even get away with Mario. I mean the whole point is it's a special guest, they don't have to blend in with the rest, they're special! But if they took the design route more like Mario Strikers on Wii, with metal bits bolted on and a more 'badass' feel, he could fit in pretty well.
So the official answer is, "no reason"? Is that basically it? Most Skylanders were chosen because of their bravery in adversary. Bowser and Donkey Kong are pretty much bad guys. So why would they be dueling against Kaos? If Bowser doesn't double cross the Skylanders and overthrow Kaos so he can be the ruler of Skylands, that isn't Bowser!
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