Masahiro Sakurai held a 39 minute Nintendo Direct today, revealing a large batch of information for Super Smash Bros for 3DS and Wii U. We’ll recap everything as best we can, starting with the release window: the 3DS version releases 1st this summer, while the Wii U version will come out Winter 2014.
Thanks to the assistance of Bandai Namco, most of the elements in the 3DS version of the game will run in full 60 FPS. The exception will be some Assist trophies and Pokemon running at 30 FPS, but gameplay will run smooth all throughout. For those who may not remember, Bandai Namco already accomplished this feat previously on Tekken 3D: Prime Edition.
The 3DS and Wii U versions will have the same lineup, but there will be clear differences between the stages, even for stages both versions share. The 3DS version will have two songs each stage, while Wii U gets a bigger variety of stages. There will also be connectivity between the two versions (more details later).
Some of the stages will have bosses, such as Yellow Devil in Wily Castle. Much like in the Mega Man games, the eye is the only vulnerable spot in the devil, so you can only counterattack it with that spot. Killing the Yellow Devil will cause it to explode. It becomes an attack for the character who struck the final blow. Stage bosses like Yellow Devil and Ridley can appear in other stages now.
Both the Wii U and 3DS version will have online multiplayer. The Wii LAN Adapter comes recommended for the Wii U, and of course, they make no guarantees on 3DS connectivity. There will be two online modes available to all: For Fun and For Glory. For Fun, you get all the items, you can only have Smash battles, you get randomly selected stages for all stages save Final Destination, and only wins are recorded. For Glory, you can only play in Final Destination, get no items, get both wins and losses recorded, and you can fight one-on-one. Thankfully, there will be Final Destination versions of all the other stages, so in a way, you will still be able to play them in For Glory, music included. If you are playing only with friends, you can set match rules to whatever your preference is.
Online matches are no longer online, and players are connected to their NNIDs. There will be a code of conduct, and you will be able to report other players for offenses such as: starting a game and not playing, singling out a single player, repeatedly self destructing, dropping out, cheating, and reporting without reason. Nintendo is ready to institute temporary bans on players, although I suspect they have something insidious and unrevealed in mind.
There is one more element in online play: Global Smash Power. Instead of building up individual leaderboards for ranking, GSP will collect your achievements in solo play and create a percentile score for you. For example, a Global Smash Power score of 300,000 means you have a higher score than 300,000 other players. Lacking ranking, matchmaking will be based on skill.
Regarding Pokemon, they have added Master Balls to the game, which will only carry rare and legendary Pokemon, such as Arceus. As you can imagine, they will have powerful smashes.
Sora has decided not to bring back transformations in the game. As a consequence, both Zero Suit Samus and Sheik are returning as individual characters. Zero Suit Samus is newly equipped with jet boots, giving her a more powerful repertoire of moves, as well as better recovery. Sheik gets two new special attacks: Burst Grenade, small bombs with remotely controlled explosions, and Bouncing Fish, a small acrobatic move based on the heel of the foot. Separating them like this allows players to focus on mastering single character movesets.
Speaking of Zelda, regular Zelda is equipped with Phantom Slash, a new down special attack which summons a Phantom as a projectile that launches in front of her. The Phantom can be reflected back at her, but it also works well as a defensive move. Kirby also gets new moves: Hammer Flip, a chargeable hammer attack, and Ultra Sword, a new Final Smash. Kirby’s rival Dedede now throws Gordos instead of Waddle Dees. These can be reversed and are significantly more powerful.
Lucario gets a souped up Aura attack, which changes gameplay completely. Much like Desperation mode in classic KOF, Lucario’s attacks deal more damage as health goes down. When Lucario hits Mega Evolution, all his attacks deal maximum damage.
Captain Olimar’s Pikmin system has been modified. Now, only three Pikmin come up at a time, making it easier to see them on screen. Subsequently, management is more important. Pikmin come out in this order: red, yellow, blue, white, and purple, with the winged Pikmin used in recovery.
Pit no longer glides in the new Smash. Instead, Pit has some flight for recovery, and he has been powered up all around. Pit’s Final Smash is now the Three Sacred Treasures. Yoshi has also been adjusted, now standing upright like other characters. In fact, most characters have received buffs all around, for the sake of better balance and matchups.
And now, about the new fighters. Rosalina has a move called Luma Shot, which throws Luma a certain distance away. Luma can come back, but while separated he can wander around separately, and you can take advantage of them fighting separately.
Little Mac has been designed to be terrifyingly powerful on the ground. He can even shrug off certain attacks, but he is weaker in the air, with a particularly mediocre recovery. Mac is also equipped with a Power Meter, which he can level up for a KO Uppercut, which means instant KO for anyone within earshot. Little Mac has interesting specials, including a Jolt Haymaker, which has him jump a distance and then strike, and Slip Counter, where Mac feints before attacking. His Final Smash turns him into the humongous Giga Mac. As a piece of fanservice, you will also be able to play as Wireframe Mac, in reference to the original arcade game.
The Wii Fit Trainers get two interesting moves; Deep Breathing ,a down special which allows them to power up their attacks, and Sun Salutation, a neutral special which releases a storable projectile. Male and female trainers play exactly the same.
Mega Man’s specials have been revealed before, but you will love his Final Smash, as the Mega Men from Legends, Battle Network, X, and Star Force, join him for that smash. (No Zero, Vent or Aile though, that’s a shame.)
Now, let’s just run down two more game mechanics: Custom Move Sets will be available to play online or on online multiplayer with friends. This won’t be available in For Fun or For Glory, but it will allow you to adapt local matches to what you prefer. In essence, Nintendo has adapted the spirit of Project M 3.0 and incorporated it into official Smash.
Finally, they revealed a 3DS mode called Smash Run. Prior to battle, four players will go through a large expansive dungeon to collect power ups for five minutes. Players will be in the same dungeons, in stages against enemies from previous Smash games. You can also pick to get a random fighter. This will no doubt be a widely popular mode.
The Direct ends with reveals of Charizard and Greninja, including their Mega Evolution forms. We’ve listed other things they have revealed below.
Items
· Beam Sword
· Bumper
· Smart Bomb
· Motion Sensor Bomb
· POW Block
· Beetle
· Fire Bar
· Back Shield
· Bombchu
· Fairy Bottle
· Ore Club
· X Bomb
· Hocotate Bomb
· Rocket Belt
· Steel Diver (this one is actually a gun shaped like the submarine!)
Assist Trophies
· Andross
· Devil
· Knuckle Joe
· Saki Amamiya
· Lyndis
· Nintendog
· Waluigi
· Dr. Wright
· Skull Kid
· Mother Brain
· Midna
· Ashley
· Dark Samus
· Chain Chomp
· Isabelle
· Elec man
· Color TV-Game 15 (essentially, Pong)
Pokemon
· Arceus
· Meowth
· Electrode
· Eevee
· Staryu
· Metagross
· Fennekin
· Meoletta
· Gogoat
· Entei
· Deoxys
· Palkia
· Kyurem
· Victini
· Keldeo
· Xerneas
Trophies
· Tiki from Fire Emblem
· Fi from The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword
· Pseudo-Palutena from Kid Icarus
· King Kihunter from Metroid
Special Stages
3DS Only
· Reset Bomb Forest
· 3D Land
· Spirit Train
· Gerudo Valley
· Arena Ferox
· Tortimer Island
· Living Room
· Prism Tower
· Rainbow Road
· Find Mii
· Balloon Fight
· Jungle Japes
Wii U Only
· Mario Galaxy
· Pyrosphere
· Town and City
· Boxing Ring
· Pilot Wings
· Skyloft
· Windy Hill
· Garden of Hope
· Wii Fit Studio
· Palutena's temple
· Halberd
Believe it or not, there’s still some info we passed over! Though it’s not that much. You can check out the Direct in full below.
