ARTICLE: Super Smash Bros. 4 Reveal

After unveiling loads of AAA titles like Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Monolith Soft's X, Nintendo ended their Direct with CEO Satoru Iwata announcing one final game: the long-awaited new entry in the Super Smash Bros. franchise!

Super Smash Bros. Logos

Tentatively titled (we hope) as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the new trailer showed off what could be the best entries in the franchise. 

The trailer began with showing off nine veteran characters of the series. Some of these characters retained their designs from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, such as Fox or Donkey Kong, but with increased detail. Others took their designs from new entries in their respective franchises, such as Samus taking her Other M look and Pit taking his Uprising look. Finally, a few characters received new designs altogether. For example, Link now looks like a detailed cross between his Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess designs. Another change that Director Masahiro Sakurai made noticeable was that Bowser no longer stands hunched over, and stands more upright, making him look less feral and more like the villain he has been in the Mario franchise.

Confirmed Veterans (from left to right): Bowser, Pit, Kirby, Pikachu, Mario, Link, Fox, Samus, Donkey Kong

The trailer first showcased the 3DS version of the game. This was perhaps what we here at LifesAHammer were anticipating the most. We weren't sure what they were going to do with the visuals, as obviously, the 3DS version is not capable of performing HD level graphics that the Wii U version can. We were not disappointed with the final look. The graphics are in full 3D, a little worse than the Brawl graphics but a little better than the Melee ones. Director Masahiro Sakurai has also given each of the characters a black outline, to make them stand out more on the small screen. In addition, it also seems that the development team has used some form of cel-shading to make the art-style of the game look fantastic. The game seems to play extremely smooth from what we've seen and the 3DS version could end up being the best game on the handheld.

(3DS Version) Bowser and Pikachu on the "Spirit Tracks" stage

Of course, as impressed as we were with the 3DS visuals, what we were really anticipating was the Wii U version of the game. To stress exactly how amazing the visuals were, the trailer had the characters change from their 3DS graphics into their Wii U ones. What we got were vibrant colours, precise details and beautiful scenery. The detail on Link himself was simply astounding and showed exactly how much the console can do.

(Wii U Version) Fox and Mario on the new Battlefield stage

Apart from graphical power, the trailer showed off quite a few other details. We got a nice look at quite a few stages on both versions. Masahiro Sakurai has stated that while the number of characters on both versions will be the same, the big difference is that the stages on the Wii U version will celebrate console games while the stages on the 3DS version will celebrate handheld games. As such, we were shown a couple of stages on each version. On the 3DS, we were showcased a stage based on "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" for the Nintendo DS, a stage based on Gerudo Valley from "Ocarina of Time 3D," a stage based off of "Mario 3D Land," and a stage based off the Nintendogs franchise. The Wii U version showcased a stage based on Skyloft from "Legend of the Zelda: Skyward Sword" for Wii, a stage based off of the Punch-Out franchise, a stage based off of "Donkey Kong Country Returns" for Wii and a stage based off of "Animal Crossing: City Folk" for Wii.

(3DS Version) Link with Conductor Link on the "Spirit Tracks" stage

One other thing we would like to make note about that was shown off in the trailer was the mechanics of the game. Super Smash Bros. Brawl was considered "too casual" by some in favor of the fast-paced gameplay of Super Smash Bros. Melee. While Super Smash Bros. 4 seems to retain the Brawl engine, the speed and mechanics of the game seem to be much faster, closer to the style of Super Smash Bros. Melee. 

Now onto the moment that is the most important...the NEW CHARACTERS!

Newcomer: Villager

The first newcomer shown off in the Super Smash Bros. 4 trailer was the Villager from the Animal Crossing franchise. If you remember our Smash 4 Predictions article, he was actually one of our predictions and actually utilizes the moveset that we had imagined, with many more cool features. The newcomer, as we thought, makes use of his many tools from the Animal Crossing franchise: the shovel, the slingshot, the axe, the net, etc. But in addition to this, Sakurai has added a very cool mechanic for the character. For any of you who have ever played an Animal Crossing game, you will know that you will spend alot of time picking things up. So, to remain true to the series, the Villager is able to pick up any projectile, including Mario's fireball, Samus' fully charged up beam and any thrown item, although he is limited to picking up one projectile at a time. The Villager is definitely going to be an interesting character to use.

(Wii U Version) Villager and Bowser on the Punch-Out stage

Newcomer: Wii Fit Trainer

Although she was not shown off in the first trailer, the Wii Fit Trainer was revealed to be a fully playable fighter in later interviews and videos after the Nintendo Direct. I can only imagine the fan reaction to this character. "Why?" was probably the most common question. "Why not Ridley? Why not Chrom? Why not Palutena?" Well, the answer is simple. Since the beginning of the franchise, Sakurai has included one unpredictable character on the roster as a "WTF" factor. The first game had the inclusion of Jigglypuff, whom nobody could expect. The second game featured "Mr. Game & Watch," another unlikely character. Brawl had "R.O.B.," who is not even a game character, but a physical gimmick that came with a game. Now I know EXACTLY what Sakurai was thinking. "Who can I put that not one person in the world will see coming?" Most characters would have been somewhat predicted due to the expectation of the WTF character, so Sakurai needed someone nobody could predict. In an interview, he said he had many crazy requests from fans, but had never heard anyone suggest the Wii Fit Trainer. Thus, she was the perfect fighter to completely surprise the fanbase. Although she is an odd choice for a fighting game, they developers have made her a unique character. She will use fitness techniques as ways to attack characters and will actually give advice while fighting. I am personally intrigued by the inclusion of this character and cannot wait to see how she fares with other fighters.

(Wii U Version) Wii Fit Trainer and Link on the Wii Fit stage

Newcomer: Mega Man

Easily one of the biggest surprises at E3, upon what seemed like the conclusion of the Smash 4 trailer, we had one of the biggest historical characters in gaming appear to join the fight: Mega Man. Mega Man easily looks like one of the most unique characters to ever join Smash Bros. Sakurai has stated that Mega Man will not be able to punch and kick like other characters, but will rather use his blaster as his neutral attack. Mega Man will also utilize many of the moves he has acquired from various robot masters in the series in his fight against the wide-array of Nintendo characters. We cannot express how excited we are for this newcomer, who by the way, we did predict in our Smash 4 article, although it was more of a wish than a prediction, and now that wish has come to past. We look forward to playing as one of the greatest figures in gaming for the first time in many years, due to Capcom keeping him locked in a closet. Smash 4 cannot get here any sooner.

(Wii U Version) Mega Man and Mario on the Punch Out stage

(Wii U Version) Mega Man, Samus and Pikachu on the new Battlefield stage

Promotional Art for Super Smash Bros. 4 featuring the Villager

Promotional Art for Super Smash Bros. 4 featuring Wii Fit Trainer

Promotional Art for Super Smash Bros. 4 featuring Mega Man

The long wait to Super Smash Bros. 4 begins. Stay tuned for many more Smash related articles in the future, including reviews and reactions to the weekly updates on the Super Smash Bros. site and other fun articles by many of the other members of our staff.

Happy E3!

Article By:
Giuliano V.