This is a look at the stages in Super Smash Bros. This time, we’re looking at the exclusive stages in the 3DS version, based on what we’ve seen in the Smash Direct.
Arena Ferox (Fire Emblem Awakening)
While it has the same appearance as the original game, an interesting detail to Arena Ferox is it will change form while you are fighting, to as many as five forms. Presumably, the flat form will be the default, with a purple haze indicating when it switches. Additionally, it may go back to the flat form before changing into one of the other forms. One form has two male statues holding three platforms. The statues are a callback to Castle Siege from Brawl. This could mean they are also destructible.
A 3rd form has a layout of columns and ruins. The thicker portions are presumably barriers, while the thinner portions could allow you to pass through. A 4th form goes Archimedes on us, with an unexplained assortment of gears occupying the background, moving two connected platforms beside other platforms. The last form has a siege tower in the background, and three platforms suspended by chains, and one supported from the bottom with a pillar. It’s possible the floating platforms will sway, and the pillar in the middle will divide the stage.
Balloon Fight
Much like in the original game, the Balloon Fight stage does not scroll left to right, merely allowing you to move off screen to the other side. This could mean KO’s are only possible at the top or near the water, but off screen KOs could also be a possibility. The flippers surrounding the stage can be prompted to move and will also act to push players around, again like in the real game. Lastly, the infamous fish is here, bound to take a life or two from an unwitting player. While the fish is invisible underwater, perhaps he has been programmed like he was in the original game too – in which case, you should know that the fish actually moves in a pattern and not at random. See if you can guess that pattern, and possibly predict where the fish will go.
Find Mii
This stage consists of two platforms placed close to each other, which matches how it looks in the original Streetpass game, in the world map. There’s also a cage at the upper left hand side, which invariably appears to have different captive Miis, and once even without a Mii. The Miis could be randomly selected (possibly from people you’ve Streetpassed), or maybe more interesting, you could free those Miis to fight the Dark Lord as a stage boss, in the same way they do in the Streetpass game. Perhaps this is a hint that Miis themselves will be playable characters.
Gerudo Valley (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time)
This stage captures a lot of recognizable elements from the game. The breakable bridge is true to the original game, and features small platforms on either side, as well as some spikes at the bottom of the right platform. One wonders if the carpenters will appear to repair it. Koume and Kotake also appear mid-air, to ruin each half of the stage with fire or ice. So far, we have only seen fire on the left, and ice on the right, so one wonders if this is set in stone.
Living Room (Nintendogs)
As is par for the course with Smash, this stage’s layout will change while you fight, and not just because there’s an absurdly gigantic puppy in it. The block platforms on the right hand side have been shown setup in different ways. This implies not only random rearranging every time you start, but that the players can change that setup as well. The other toys in the stage also seem completely random. We’ve already seen a glass shoe, squeaky mouse, rubber burger, and even a plush block. Overall, the way the stage works is a mystery, but at least we know for sure there will be different dog breeds showing up in the background, and kitties too, to distract you with their adorableness while you get taken out.
Prism Tower (Pokemon X and Y)
The flying platform launches from the base of the said tower, actually on the ground. However, some video footage suggests that the platform will actually appear a few seconds after the stage timer starts, before a minute but giving players at least a good 40 seconds without it. While we are already aware of day / night stage changes, it is now clear that the game will also have additional platforms at certain points of the level. There is also a possible point at the top where the platform lands so you can briefly battle on a flat, elevated area.
Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7)
This is a traveling stage, going through different parts of the road. The platforms you stay on and drop off of will change at different points, and racers will also appear in-game to pose as hazards to you.
Reset Bomb Forest (Kid Icarus Uprising)
This stage seems to be split between two parts. One half is on the ruins of an old castle. It’s more ruin than castle now, but the platforms seem stable enough. The background is filled with details of huge army waging war below the mountains, and flocks of birds fleeing above (it must be autumn). Viridi appears in the background on occasion, throwing a Reset Bomb into the background, causing a quick end to the battle below, and shifting the stage to its other half.
After the huge explosion caused by the Reset Ball that engulfs the stage, the main stage is completely destroyed. Players fall to the castle’s ruins. Now, the stage becomes a slow moving sidescroller. Trees surround the stage now, as well as spiked enemies that move across the stage. We wonder if the stage eventually restarts on top, as well as why a Villager was shown all by himself at a certain point.
Spirit Train (The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks)
The cars that the Spirit Train holds contains some interesting contents. One was shown filled with coal. Another one has several layers of platforms to fight on. There’s even a Bomb Car that shows up in front of the train, although we have yet to see what that thing really does. The speed of the platform relative to the train has outed that the train itself will have variable speeds, consequently adding another variable to its difficulty.
Super Mario 3D Land
So, we have confirmed that you can snag items on the question blocks. It also appears to have been confirmed that Rush The Dog doesn’t affect the movement of the Donut Lifts. Only player characters trigger the lifts.
Tortimer Island (Animal Crossing New Leaf)
Kapp’n is a welcome presence on this level, but he isn’t always around. Sakurai indicated that the island will change every time you play. It does not seem like the elevated area, pond, or house changes, but flowers, trees, and dock are fair game. The trees bear fruit, so it’s possible they’re there as weapons or power-ups, or both. It’s also possible the fruit drop on their own, or you can make them drop, or again, both. Lastly, and this will knock the wind from your sails, the sharks in this game are real and they will come for you.
Super Smash Bros for 3DS is coming Summer of this year, and Winter on Wii U. You can check out our source video below.
