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The Nintendo amiibo we’re still waiting for
These are the treasured Ninty characters still waiting to get the toy treatment.
Nintendo character amiibo figures.
© Nintendo
Nintendo's range of amiibo toys has been a storming success, having sold millions of units worldwide and created a ravenous legion of hardcore collectors who'll stop at nothing to get their fix of vividly-coloured figurines. It's the biggest collectible craze since the days of the Beanie Babies, with Nintendo announcing new models to punters in a seemingly endless drip-feed.
While most of the most recognisable faces – Mario, Peach and others – are already well represented on shelves, there are still a few classic Nintendo characters and franchises which haven't been immortalised in plastic yet. Below are the ten amiibo we demand to see sooner rather than later. Take note, Nintendo – our wallets are ready.
Tingle (The Legend of Zelda)
The Zelda character that everyone loves to hate, Tingle is a man in his mid-30s who is obsessed with forest fairies and believes that if he dresses like one, he can share their magic. He would also rather sell you a map than point you in the direction you need. It's easy to see why some fans are so hostile towards this rather irritating character, but we think that the green-suited prankster with a fondness for maps and balloons is long overdue the opportunity to win over some new followers. What better way than an amiibo figure which unlocks special content in upcoming Zelda titles, like Tri Force Heroes or the long overdue Wii U outing?
Groose (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
At the start of Skyward Sword, Groose is little more than a cowardly bully who pushes Link around to make himself feel important, but part-way through the adventure he sees the error of his ways and transforms into a valuable ally. Groose's touching change of heart and goofy appearance means that he's something of a fan favourite with Zelda lovers, but Nintendo has been curiously reluctant to give him another shot at fame. A bold and brash amiibo representation would be the ideal way to redress the balance.
Slippy Toad (Star Fox)
Slippy Toad is a whizz with a spanner but pretty useless in the cockpit of an Arwing – you'd think that Fox McCloud would know to leave him at home rather than invite him along to do battle with the forces of Andross. He's constantly getting into bother, forcing Fox and his team to step in and save him on multiple occasions throughout the Star Fox series. Despite his ineptitude in combat, Slippy is one of the most popular Star Fox pilots and would make the ideal amiibo accompaniment to the forthcoming Star Fox Zero, which takes off on Wii U later this year – fingers crossed stock does a barrel roll down to the shops soon.
Birdo (Super Mario Bros. 2)
One of the most disturbing characters in Nintendo's back catalogue, Birdo made her first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES. Over the years there has been much talk about Birdo's gender. Nintendo did at one point officially state that the bow wearing 'she' was in fact a 'he', despite the fact that Birdo can quite clearly lay eggs out of its gaping nose-mouth-maw cavity, but has since gone back on this.
Regardless of Birdo's gender, there's little doubt that this iconic egg-spitting creature is worthy of getting his/her own amiibo – the character has appeared in multiple series over the years, including Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf and Mario Party. Surely it's only a matter of time before fame as a plastic toy happens.
Professor Layton (Professor Layton series)
Rarely seen without his trademark top hat, and expertly aided by his loyal assistant Luke, Professor Layton has starred in a series of acclaimed brain-teasing puzzle titles over the years. Equipped with a sharp eye and surprisingly handy in a tight spot, Layton would make a popular amiibo release – largely because his adventuring days appear to be behind him, as developer Level 5 has 'retired' the professor from active duty. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy was pitched as the final outing with Layton as the main character, so let's pay tribute to him properly with an NFC-packing figurine.
Federation Force Trooper (Metroid Prime:Federation Force)
The announcement of Metroid Prime: Federation Force at this year's E3 was something of a low-point for Nintendo fans, who have been demanding a 'proper' new Metroid for years. Cute, kiddy and distinctly lacking in Samus Aran, Federation Force has gotten plenty of hate over the past few weeks, so Nintendo desperately needs to win people over. Creating a truly amazing amiibo character for the game seems like the best bet, if you ask us.
Muddy Mole (Mole Mania)
One of the least famous games to spring from the fertile mind of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, 1996's Mole Mania is nevertheless a fantastic action puzzle title, and its hero, Muddy Mole, is deserving of a second shot at fame. This Game Boy classic is available for download on the 3DS Virtual Console, and is well worth a punt, but Nintendo could increase awareness by giving us a Muddy Mole amiibo. The short-sighted little fellow certainly deserves it after all those years burrowing underground in search of his family.
9-Volt (WarioWare series)
Pint-sized gaming addict 9-Volt is the ultimate Nintendo fan, and we're pretty sure that in the wacky alternate reality that is WarioWare's world, he's already collected every single amiibo thrice over – one set for play, one set to keep boxed and the other to hawk on eBay as soon as pre-orders sell out yet again. It stands to reason then that he should get his own figure; it could even come with interchangeable accessories like the Power Glove, Virtual Boy and Game Boy Advance SP. We'd buy several.
Doshin the Giant (Doshin the Giant)
One of the most obscure titles in Nintendo history, Doshin the Giant originally began life on the Japan-only Nintendo 64DD system before crossing over to the GameCube, and getting an eventual European release in 2002. An early Nintendo take on the classic 'God Sim' genre, Doshin places you in the shoes of a giant who can help or hinder the population of an island. His evil alter-ego Jashin would also make a pretty cool amiibo, so this could be two for the price of one.
Ghost Bustin’ Luigi (Luigi’s Mansion)
Luigi already has two amiibo figures – his Super Smash Bros. outfit and his Super Mario one – but we'd love to see a figure which incorporates the iconic Poltergust 3000 from the beloved Luigi's Mansion series. This new amiibo could also showcase Luigi's almost permanently scared expression, making it different enough from his other figures to be worth another purchase.
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