Twilight Princess HD also had a hard mode without the Ganondorf amiibo. I'm very sure Star Fox Zero will have one, too.

What about not having micro trans at all if it's "optional"?, we've managed that for years and years. Yeah it sucks that Nintendo have done this, I remember when Capcom has their scenario with "disc locked content" when we thought it meant "Downloadable content". 

I don't do microtransactions and I think they are pathetic. But there is a difference between paying for something on disc you can unlock with grinding and having to buy a cheap ugly plastic toy to unlock on disc content that is otherwise not available. I rather see microtransactions leave the industry, but as long as they are completely optional I think that practice is not as bad as the current use of Amiibo.

For me I find it the opposite, at least with an Amiibo you are getting a physical product that can be added to your collection while micro/macro trans is playing into the skinners box mentality, where they desire and want you to grind, they want you to mentally suffer and give them money and to be honest that's probably one of the vilest things that people want to throw on someone else who just wants to enjoy the game.

The other difference to note is that nearly everyone in the AAA market throws up micro trans now, most wanting to throw skinners box at you willingly while Nintendo, Activision and Lego are the rough 3 that do physical collection content, everyone else would rather have you grind endlessely and give in to part more cash just to play the base game as it is.

I can't imagine that it's only locked behind Amiibo. I would assume it's just a fast way to unlock it.

I'm gonna wait for a confirmation that this is the only way you can get the hard mode...
In case it's not true, I have to say that topics like this ("rumours") can be a great disservice to a company. =/

Bullshit, if true.

If Nintendo continues with Amibos for NX.. you can count me out.

This is ridiculous. FE fates has a similar bad feature.

This would be no problem if the DLC is also available through normal means (aka pay for the DLC only). It's dumb to displace DLC sales into toy sales.

Nintendo will continue with the Amiibos for the NX for sure.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/29/nintendo-worldwide-amiibo-sales-in-the-millions

Guess it makes sense from a business perspective. Though DLC toys are always going to be a hard sell for the older, mainstream audiences.