Super Smash Bros. 4: All-Star Mode Explained

Today's Smash update is all about All-Star Mode, in which you pick a fighter then battle through the entire roster of Smash characters on a single life, with a limited number of health-restoring items sprinkled about. It's a returning feature from previous entries in the series, but there are a few changes this time around. For starters, the mode is available right from start instead of requiring you to unlock every character first. This means that until you unlock those extra fighters, you'll only be able to battle the available ones. There will be a padlock on the menu screen indicating that there are still characters you haven't found.

Second, All-Star Mode now serves as a chronology of Nintendo icons past to present. In other words, the year a character debuted in the market will determine when you actually fight him or her. Since Pac-Man is the oldest, you'll battle him first, while Greninja from Pokemon X & Y will greet you towards the finish line. You'll be fighting these guys in groups, so expect Pac-Man to team up with Mario and Donkey to take you down.

This is how All-Star Mode will work on Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, but there's no reason to believe it won't work similarly on the Wii U version. The 3DS build comes out October 3, while the Wii U build still has a nebulous "Winter" window.