When the courts of Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash open on November 20, you will be able to do what Smash Bros. players cannot — bring amiibo into online matches.
Nintendo confirmed today that Ultra Smash, the first (new) console entry since Mario Power Tennis in 2004, will feature an online mode with Mega Battle and Classic Tennis matches for ranked and casual play. If you'd like to play a doubles match but don't have a friend to jump online with you, an amiibo can serve as a teammate. Like in Super Smash Bros., your amiibo will grow in skill the more matches you play. An offline single-player mode called Knockout Challenge will help to this end, with tiebreakers that increase in difficulty the longer you survive.
The official word is that the following characters can be trained using compatible amiibo:
- Mario (Smash Bros., Mario Party 10, 30th Anniversary)
- Peach (Smash Bros., Mario Party 10)
- Luigi (Smash Bros., Mario Party 10)
- Bowser (Smash Bros., Mario Party 10)
- Yoshi (Smash Bros., Mario Party 10, Woolly World)
- Rosalina
- Wario
- Toad
- Donkey Kong
Interestingly, no mention was made of Bowser Jr. or Diddy Kong, who have both been featured in previous installments. This could indicate that they are either absent from Ultra Smash's roster, or they are unlockable characters that Nintendo intends to keep secret for the time being.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is not the first game to allow amiibo support for online interactions. In Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., released earlier this year for the 3DS, players can take Fire Emblem characters into the battlefield for online matches.
