Nintendo have been criticized for their newly announced Zelda & Loftwing amiibo for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD; as it provides a fast-travel feature many feel should have been part of the base game.

While some on Twitter and the new trailer’s comment section praised the amiibo’s design, others were far more critical of it paywalling what they felt was a necessary upgrade to the original game.

The original Skyward Sword only allowed travel from the surface world and the skies at specific locations. However, with the Nintendo Switch HD version, players can use the new Zelda & Loftwing amiibo to go to the sky wherever you are (even in dungeons)- and return to where you took off from later.

You can find the announcement trailer below. It should be noted despite the criticisms some have levied, the trailer is rated 18 thousand likes to two thousand dislikes at this time of writing.

Streamer Saltydkdan tweeted “Normally I’m a huge Nintendo guy, but I have to call it like I see it. This is a $60 port of a game, with a great feature that improves the game… locked behind buying a figure. That seems pretty anti-consumer when this should just be a standard improvement” 

Others on Twitter also criticized the move, citing how it should have been a quality of life improvement to what they felt was already a $60 port of a Wii game with minimal improvements [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Some also felt that Nintendo were too focused on profit; thanks to the  addition of the limited edition Joy-Con controllers styled after the Master Sword and Hylian Shield available at launch.

Previous Zelda games have utilized amiibo for in-game rewards and features. Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors Legends grant weapons, and can unlock the Spinner weapon via a Link or Toon Link amiibo.

Twilight Princess HD can use the Wolf Link amiibo to unlock the Cave of Shadows dungeon (which in turn can unlock the Colossal Wallet when completed), Ganondorf unlocks a hard mode where double damage is taken (up to quadruple in Hero Mode) while others can replenish arrows and hearts.

The Wolf Link amiibo can also save data from Twilight Princess HD, and unlock a wolf companion in Breath of the Wild. Otherwise, compatible Zelda amiibo drop random items, and potentially rare weapons and armor. Amiibo based on the Champions will provide materials, along with Weapons and Armor inspired by themselves and the Divine Beasts.

Finally, Link amiibo will summon Shadow Link in a Chamber Dungeon for Link’s Awakening (2019), with other amiibo producing new chambers to use. The Shadow Link will chase players, but merely drop rupees and a fairy.

Do you think the features the amiibo unlock should have been part of the base game? What are your thoughts on them overall? Sound off in the comments below!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD launches July 16th on Nintendo Switch, along with the Zelda & Loftwing amiibo.

Image: Twitter