By this point it’s pretty apparent what Nintendo’s collectible amiibo are and aren’t. What you can expect are affordable, sub-$15 figures of varying quality, comparable to something you might’ve picked up at the Disney Store as a kid. What you shouldn’t expect are alternatives to near-$300 works of art, made to be admired as opposed to used, touched, or moved around. Recently I got my hands on Nintendo’s upcoming Fire Emblem Gaiden remake Shadows of Valentia (complete with amiibo), and I can say with certainty that these are some of the nicest amiibo yet. They look and feel impressive, and while they’re definitely still amiibo, it’s clear they're a fine addition to any figure collection.
The figures in question are of Shadows of Valentia protagonists Alm and Celica, who you may have heard mentioned or referred to in recent Fire Emblem games (Celica’s Gale is a personal favorite tome from Awakening). I’ll save talk of their in-game functionality for upcoming preview and review content, but in the meantime I thought I’d stage a little photoshoot.
As you can see, the figures are quite detailed for amiibo; each ridge, contour, and individual piece of Alm’s armor is portrayed, while Celica’s regal garb is highly detailed and, true or not, gives off the impression of being handpainted. The materials used for each are a mix of flexible and rigid plastic, the former forming weapons and Celica’s clothing with the latter comprising Alm’s armor and both characters’ arms and legs. The base of each amiibo is textured in a white cobblestone style that, while purely aesthetic, serves its purpose in elevating Shadows of Valentia figures beyond run-of-the-mill amiibo status.
For a closer look, I took individual shots of each amiibo as well.
If you haven't already guessed, these are amiibo of the sort I'll be permanently placing on a shelf for display, rather than tossing in the general direction of a box in a closet. I've avoided collecting Fire Emblem figures until now, which essentially means that all of my efforts have officially gone to waste, and I likely won't be able to resist pursuing them from here on out.
Alm and Celica come in a two-pack for around $25, and considering they’re a notch above your typical amiibo figure, the asking price really isn’t that bad. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia releases on Nintendo 3DS and 2DS on May 19th, and you can expect our full review sooner than that.
