Last week we pitted PC gaming peripherals against each other, this week is similar but with a twist. The NFC Game Figurine market has gone crazy since Skylanders exploded onto the market with Disney, Nintendo, and now LEGO (and Warner Bros) following suit.
But the ultimate question is, ‘Which NFC figures are superior?’. You could be making your choice based on the games available, the quality of the toys themselves or because you like the interaction they have with the platform. Either way, these things are insanely popular but we want to know which one wins.
VOTE!
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Which is your favourite? Have you gotten a bunch of amiibo for Super Smash Bros., or are you more a fan of Skylanders or the Disney universe? Let us know in the comments!
All four of these options allow you to essentially buy a toy that comes to life within the game, but they vary a lot in the way that they handle that. So if you’re a bit unsure of how they work, read on to find out about the NFC figurines.
amiibo
Famous for being highly desired and nearly impossible to get a hold of, Nintendo’s amiibo launched last year with the release of Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS. 12 core amiibo were available at launch (if you were able to order one before they sold out), and Nintendo has been releasing more every few months.
The amiibos range among a variety of Nintendo characters and tend to have a different function in each game. In Super Smash Bros you can create and train a custom fighter based on the Amiibo you use. In Yoshi’s Wooly World, the Amiibo you use will give you a Yoshi skin that matches toy.
Because it can vary, Nintendo has even put together a compatibility chart so you can check which amiibos will work with what games.
Skylanders
The first ever Skylanders games, called Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, came out all the way back in 2011. It came with three characters — Spyro, Trigger Happy, and Gill Grunt — but there were 32 total standard characters available for purchase, each belonging to one of the eight elements of the Skyland world (though this was later expanded to 11 elements).
Skylanders figurines are connected to the game usually via a USB ‘Portal’ with each toy unlocking the equivalent character. These playable characters can level up and unlock new abilities which are then stored back on the NFC figurine letting players take the toy to a friends house or just save their progress.
Disney Infinity
Launched in 2013 after the initial success of Skylanders, Disney Infinity is very similar. It’s equally cross-platform and uses toys that you place on a reader (called the Infinity Base) to make them appear in the game. There are also World Discs that unlock areas to play and Power Discs that can enhance characters and can change the environment.
The original release, Disney Infinity, included iconic Disney characters from movies like Frozen, Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Toy Story, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Cars.
The second edition of the game came when Marvel studios partnered up with Disney, Disney Infinity: Marvel Superheroes, featured characters from Big Hero 6, Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers, and more.
Leading up to the launch of the new films the third instalment, Disney Infinity 3.0, is based heavily on the Star Wars franchise, introducing Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and more.
LEGO Dimensions
Not to be left out of the toys-to-life fun, LEGO will be launching LEGO Dimensionson September 27th, 2015, which will feature (you guessed it!) LEGO toys that can be zapped into the game.
The LEGO characters aligned with Warner Bros will come from a variety of universes including DC Comics, Lord of the Rings, the Wizard of Oz, the Simpsons, and more.
Which Is Your Favourite NFC Figurine?
These NFC toys-to-life games, while fun, can be a major drain on the wallet. One report found that in the last six months, parents have spent $131 on average for toys-to-life figurines like amiibo, Skylanders, and Disney Infinity figurines.
So, while you should try not to get that sucked into this money grab, it’s probably likely that you’ve at least purchased one of these. They are pretty fun, after all.
Which is your favourite? Have you gotten a bunch of amiibo for Super Smash Bros., or are you more a fan of Skylanders or the Disney universe? Let us know in the comments!
Remember boys and girls, this is an opinion poll. Stay civilised when discussing the finer points of your gaming experience.
If you’ve got a suggestion for a Poll, let us know in the comments. As we’re just finding out feet with this we’d love some input!
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