Two games in the Super Smash Bros. series, collectively referred to as Super Smash Bros. 4, Smash 4, or SSB4 and individually entitled Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, are currently in development for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U respectively by Namco Bandai[1] and Sora Ltd. The 3DS version is the first game of the series to be released on a handheld.
When originally announced in passing at E3 2011, the game's development was slated to begin sometime after October 2011, once development on Kid Icarus: Uprising had completed. [2] In February 2012, it was then confirmed that development on the fourth game had begun.[3] The game was unmentioned during E3 2012, something which many fans were disappointed about despite the known extremely early state of the game; the "first step of the process" was taken shortly after in mid-June. Masahiro Sakurai has expressed disappointment that fans will be waiting for longer than expected for the game to be released due to the earliness of the initial announcement.[4] Shortly afterward, it was revealed during a Nintendo Direct that Namco Bandai was the primary developer alongside Sora Ltd., and had already completed a working prototype.[1]
The paired versions of the game were officially revealed at E3 2013 in the form of a trailer on June 11, 2013.
According to Masahiro Sakurai, the 3DS version is scheduled to launch this upcoming summer, and the Wii U version this upcoming winter.
Pre-trailer Information[]
Sakurai has stated, in response to a fan asking him about whether a "child Link" would appear in the game, that he had not at the time decided on who would appear in the game. However, he had also said that he "can't say that it's entirely out of the realm of possibility that some Capcom character could appear in the next Smash Bros."[5] Indeed, Capcom's Mega Man was ultimately confirmed as playable.
Sakurai has revealed that one feature of the 3DS Smash Bros. title will be that players can improve their character through battles and rewards, then transfer them to the Wii U Smash title to play against friends. He said the 3DS title is intended to offer a new experience for veteran Smash Bros. fans, and that neither the 3DS game nor the Wii U game would simply be sequels like Melee and Brawl were, and that they'd do more than just add characters and stages. It has also been revealed that they are looking towards co-operative play for the Wii U title. Official Nintendo Magazine said "there is merit in having skilled and unskilled players play together, so one emphasis will be on elements of players helping one-another". They also stated that the graphics would be significantly stepped up, as the Wii U can handle high quality graphics, dynamic effects and smooth character movements in HD at 60 frames per second.[6] Sakurai is also quoted as claiming that the new game is unlikely to emphasize new playable characters, focusing instead on gameplay balance and distinctiveness of its characters. [7] On July 2nd, 2012, Sakurai posted a whiteboard drawing on Twitter which was drawn by the game's staff. It depicts Donkey Kong, Fox, a Heart Container, Kirby, Link, Luigi, Mario, Marth, Meta Knight, Mr. Game & Watch, a Mr. Saturn, Pikachu, a Pikmin, Pit, Sandbag, Wario, and Zero Suit Samus; some argue that the curved lines in the background form the shape of Master Hand. While it came with no explicit confirmation of any of these characters or elements as reappearing, it does show they are in some sense acknowledged by the staff working on the game. The image itself was later removed from the original Twitter post.[8] The sketch also has what appears to be large block letters hidden below the visible area.
Confirmed Content[]
The trailer shown at the E3 2013 Nintendo Direct confirmed several characters, both returning characters and new characters. Since that time, other characters have been revealed on the website, sometimes at the same time as Nintendo Directs
Starters Veterans[]
- Mario
- Luigi
- Peach
- Bowser
- Donkey Kong
- Diddy Kong
- Link
- Zelda
- Sheik
- Samus
- Zero Suit Samus
- Yoshi
- Kirby
- King Dedede
- Fox
- Pikachu
- Lucario
- Charizard
- Marth
- Olimar
- Lucas
- Wario
- Pit
- Meta Knight
- Ice Climbers
- Ness
- Captain Falcon
Unlockable Veterans[]
- Ganondorf
- Rob
- Falco
- Wolf
- Toon Link
- Jigglypuff
- Sonic
- Mr. Game and Watch
Newcomers Starters[]
- Villager
- Rosalina
- Wii Fit
- Greninja
- Little Mac
- Dixie Kong
- Isaac
- Krystal
- Captain Rainbow
- Mii
- Takamaru
Newcomer Unlockables[]
- Bowser jr
- King K rool
- Paulatena
- Black Mage
- Chibi Robo
- Wonder Red
- Nester
- Pac-Man
- Rabbid
- Megaman
- and other 159 fighter who are starter or clone