Super Smash Bros 4: We Go Through The Secrets, Plus the Pokemons

So, we made a massive roundup of information from the Super Smash Bros. 4 Direct, but by my own admission, there was stuff we passed over. This was partly because there was just too much to absorb all at once, and it would take forever to get through it all. Fittingly enough, it’s been a few days later and now we have that information, courtesy a batch of hardworking fans. We will go through all the Pokemon revealed in the trailer, that have basically all been confirmed for Smash.

Before that, though, let’s go through some of the other secrets that were not apparent in first viewing:

For one, the new Smash Bros games have better visual indicators for damage. For example, in the 3DS version, there will be a black and red bolt that appears when you hit a weakened opponent, which means that hit was a KO. A score will appear immediately after a player is KO’ed, making it clear who got that last shot in.

Little Mac’s wireframe model and the male Wii Fit Trainer suggests that there are more alternate skins in the works for other characters. We must consider the precedent set by Wario, and if he does make it to this game the two forms are bound to be separate For example, there may be a female version of the Animal Crossing Villager just waiting in the wings.

Now, here’s something interesting. The first person angle briefly shown for the Little Mac wireframe reveal was also used for a separate scene. Could this be part of an expanded replay feature, which shows more of the background and surroundings?

There are a few interesting things about the Find Mii level. 1^st off, based on the Mii’s positioning, there could be a third platform in between the two at opposite sides of the stage. The Miis seem to be drawn at random, so they could be pulled from your friends, or say MiiVerse Plaza. Now, what if you could free those Miis? They could potentially attack as well, maybe based on the shirt colors they have. This could bolster the idea of the Dark Boss appearing here as a boss character, like the Yellow Devil.

Speaking of bosses, you can’t have missed the shadow of Ridley. What you may have missed is a few key frames showing Ridley’s wing, indicating that we are getting the Other M version of this space pirate. This ties in together with this Armored Samus being based on the Other M incarnation.

There are interesting tidbits as well with the Animal Crossing stage on Wii U, now called Town and City. The stage is in constant motion, switching between the two locations as backdrops. Based on how the train station appears and disappears, and even drops on you, the train station may be a tell on when you switch locations. The stage appears to start moving when train passengers alight. This stage may also use Wii U’s internal clock to simulate day and night cycles.

The 3D Land stage seems to play the part of Mario stage quite well. You can get items from blocks, and certain blocks will drop off after you stand on them for too long. It appears non-playable character elements can also make these blocks fall off, adding to the difficulty.

Now, it seems some of the old returning characters have come back with new tricks from other games. Donkey Kong brings his DKC roll, and Link uses a jumping sword slash straight out of OOT. Similarly, his recovery gains more distance and he has eschewed his backroll for a backflip. Young Link appears to be able to wall jump off the Yellow Devil, an ability we wonder that any character can do along with him.

Blue Shell seems to have also picked up new tricks than it is capable of in Mario Kart. It seems to take its time before hitting its target, which implies it can switch them at any time. In the MK games, the shell always goes after the top player, so will it do the same in Smash? And if so, what criteria will it use to judge the top dog? It does appear that it struck Mario after he got attacked himself, so it’s possible damage is the criteria/trigger for it to strike.

Tanooki Tails, Boomerangs, Drill Arms, and Killer Eyes were confirmed as items in the game. There’s still some mystery on how the tail and boomerang will work in Smash, but it’s likely the latter two will work like they always have. The addition of classic Namco game elements is an interesting choice, because it opens up the possibility more Namco additions – including, possibly, playable characters – also made the cut.

Some items are connected to prior contestants in Smash, so their appearances imply the return of these characters. These in include the Mr. Saturns from Earthbound, the polar bears from Ice Climber, and the Samurai Goro from F-Zero.

Looking at Assist Trophies, Isabelle seems to be quite the capable assistant. The fruits she throws out seem to be reserved for a single player (maybe the one who activated the trophy), and she actually dodges attacks. Midna may do more than strike enemies with her hair, as a single frame shows her throwing Kirby out. Most intriguingly, Color TV-Game 15, arguably the first video game Nintendo ever made, has wall jumpable flippers, but the ball they throw around does damage when you hit them.

Kirby Air Ride’s Dragoon seems to have made a stealthy return intact.

Here’s an intriguing idea; the Trophies revealed in the Direct hint at some remaining unannounced characters. So, Tiki could mean a Fire Emblem: Awakening character, Fi for a Skyward Sword character, King Kihunter for a Metroid character, and Pseudo-Palutena, which could mean the genuine article will become playable. This idea is bolstered by the fact that Pit has replaced his Palutena-dependent Final Smash for the Three Treasures.