The new Super Mario Galaxy amiibo figures are big. Not as big as the planetoids that Rosalina's adorable Lumas can transform into, but big enough that they eclipse the rest of the 100+ figures in my collection.
With more size at play, Nintendo has managed to pack in the kind of detail that you'd expect of the best Super Mario toys, not what you'd typically find in a pair of run-of-the-mill amiibo. You can see everything from the exact page of the Princess's Storybook that she's reading to the texture of the ground beneath Mario's feet. At $34.99 (Amazon) / £24.99 (Nintendo) each, I suspected these detailed toys might be pretty large, as those prices are more than your average NFC-wielding figure. Yet, I never quite suspected the amount of detail and quality that would be found in what have become my favorite amiibo and pieces of Super Mario merch in the galaxy.
I was less excited for the Mario and Luma figure to arrive in the post, as I already own plenty of amiibo featuring everyone's favorite mustachioed hero. I've got him wielding a fireball, I have him dressed in his best and prepared to take Princess Peach's hand in marriage, and I even have him in his Dr Mario get-up, but this Super Mario Galaxy pose puts them all to shame.
He's not just soaring through a warp star, but there's a trail of sparkling blue glitter holding him in place. In the past, Nintendo hasn't really known what to do when it comes to incorporating stands like it in these figures. The most notorious is easily the first Link amiibo, also known as "piss stream Link" for including a bright yellow plastic stand to keep his pose secure. It's pretty hideous, but the clever inclusion of a trail of sparkly galaxy matter is anything but.
This isn't even the best part of this new Mario statue. Beneath Mario, the warp star and his little yellow shimmering Luma friend is the surface of a planet. Instead of just sculpting a made-up one, Nintendo included the tutorial planet from the first game, where you find yourself having to hunt down a series of bunnies. The surface is so lovingly replicated that I could visualise myself running across the patches of flowers and jumping through the warp pipe like I did the first time I played the Wii game way back in 2007.
The quality isn't just relegated to the pose of the Mario figure, but there's not a lick of paint out of place either. His blue overalls even feature a subtle texture that helps make the figure appear more like the in-game render. This level of detail has been featured in other amiibos, including the Super Mario Wonder Elephant Mario that I added to my collection just weeks before. Yet, it's the combination of the sculpt, paint, and pose quality that makes this Mario the best version of him in the entirety of the amiibo lineup.
This out-of-the-world excellence is even better where Rosalina is concerned. I am a little biased as the Princess that I share a very similar name, and she is also my favorite Super Mario character to date. Yet, Nintendo has easily outdone itself with this larger-than-life depiction of the space queen herself.
Rosalina is sitting on a chair, reading her storybook to two Luma friends. While the official marketing images clearly showed this, I didn't quite expect you'd be able to see a full spread of art on the inside of the book, nor the shapes of the carved wood of her chair. You can see everything from the folds of the green tartan blanket hanging on the back of her chair to the tips of her purple fingernails. Out of all my Rosalinas, this is hands down the best amiibo and figure of hers I've seen to date. Even the Super Mario Galaxy Movie toys don't match its quality.
I've been collecting Mario toys since I was little. It all started with an official Super Mario toothbrush holder, and since then, I've been picking up toys and displays of my favorite characters and places. In those almost 30 years of collecting, I never quite expected it'd be two amiibo that'd become my two favorite pieces of Super Mario merch to date, but here we are. It's not just the detail, but the size of them means that they make for two glorious display pieces. I also collect anime figures, with some scale statues costing hundreds, and these two Mario amiibo that cost $34.99 / £24.99 each look just as nice when sat on a shelf.
My only gripe is that they're so nice that I don't want to use them for their intended purpose. Tapping these figures on the right Switch 2 Joy-Con lets you gain a Life or 1-Up mushroom to help you complete the Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 collection, but I don't want to use them. Not because I don't want to replay the games, as I have a massive itch to do so after seeing the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, but because I fear that it'd mean damaging these beautiful pieces of merch.
With smaller amiibo it's easier to quickly tap and store them away, but these large figures feel more delicate. With a larger surface area, there's a bigger chance that my clumsy self could knock them over, and I'd much rather keep them secure in a glass display cabinet and away from harm. If only Nintendo would stock all new amiibo with cards, and then I wouldn't have to worry.
They already have the technology. Having card versions of Mario and Rosalina would mean I could unlock the mushrooms in-game and keep these wonderful statues out of harm's way. Adding cards into the mix may make future amiibo more expensive. However, I'd have gladly paid more than the £50 I put down for these collectibles if it meant I could keep them safe, especially as they're the best pieces of Super Mario merch in my collection. At least, they are until I get my hands on that Hatchin' Yoshi toy.
- View all amiibo at Amazon
- Super Mario Galaxy & Super Mario Galaxy 2 | $69.99 at Nintendo US
Our best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories guide is full of the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers that would pair perfectly with a Super Mario Galaxy playthrough.
