External News Compilation

Here at A Smashing Look, I aim to talk about all of the news regarding Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

However, I've only been covering info that has been on the official Smash Bros. website, with a couple interviews as exceptions. So let's get down to it and list off everything that we do know for sure:

• The game is being developed by Namco Bandai, in addition to Sora Ltd. (Source)
• The 3DS version will take advantage of each player having a different screen. (Personally, I'm hoping that the Cloaking Device from Melee comes back - but you're still visible to yourself!) (Source)
• The game will include balance patches, most likely. (Source)
• "Multiple character" gimmicks like Ice Climbers may not be able to work on Nintendo 3DS. (This is surprising, Ice Climbers may not be returning after all.) (Source)
• Characters can be customized, similarly to how you can use Stickers in Subspace Emissary in Brawl. You can also change the direction of their attacks this way. (Source)
• Subspace Emissary itself is looking to be changing quite a bit, with a bigger reward than just cinematic cutscenes. This definitely piques my interest. (Source)
• Online play will be very much improved (AND THANK GOD FOR THAT!) (Source)
• The game will be more competitive-geared than Brawl, but less competitive-geared than Melee. (Source)
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are (unfortunately) the final titles. (Source)
• You can take characters from the 3DS Version and transfer them to the Wii U Version, where they will be different depending on what you did with them in the 3DS Version. (See below for my huge tirade on this.) (Source)
• The Wii U Version runs at 60 frames per second. It is also high-definition. (Source)
• There will be a focus on co-op play. (Brawl kinda already did that though.) (Source)
• The game may have LESS characters than Brawl. (Source)
• The touch screen on the Nintendo 3DS will not be used. The touch screen of the Wii U controller also will not be used. (Source)
• There will be very few third-party characters. (Source)
• Multiple air-dodging is back from Brawl. (Source)
• You CANNOT do multiplayer between the two versions (which makes sense, because the stages are different). (Source)
• Though stages are different, the games will both have "nearly identical" characters, moves, and items. (Source)
• The cinematic cutscenes for newcomers are viewable in-game, and do not have to be unlocked. (Source)

And now for my tirade about customizing characters in the 3DS Version.

People will figure out how to get the best characters possible.

There's nothing wrong with this, until you really start to think about how much of a HUGE disadvantage it has for people who don't do this.

For instance, take Pokémon as an example. Several players enjoy the game for its fun gameplay and story.

But there's also a ton of people who look into the game's source code, figure out how stats are calculated, and get the best ones possible. In multiplayer, if you show up without max stat Pokémon, you'll struggle to survive. And still fail.

And this requires several DAYS of breeding for good Natures and IVs, followed by about a day of ideal EV training, and then another few days to reach maximum level. After you pick out which species you want to use, of course.

The fact that it is an unofficial requirement is what makes Pokémon UNPLAYABLE for the casual gamers. And it sounds like Smash Bros. is heading in that direction now too.

We do know that online play will be improved. I am praying that there will be a room for "competitive" players and then another one for "casual" players. And maybe carry that on to other games, like the aforementioned Pokémon series.

Because if Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U launches without support for casual gamers of any kind, it's easily going to alienate them, and even most "hardcore" smashers aren't even up to snuff compared to the extremes that would likely dominate this game. Especially when you consider that Smash is far more popular than any other multiplayer game on a Nintendo platform. There would be too many of them, and people would be drowned out of the system fast, and forced not to play online.

And that's horrible.

To cheer you up, here's a video of an actual gameplay match for the Wii U version, featuring Sakurai himself as Mega Man, and Nate Bihldorf as Mario.

(Yeah, the announcer in that video is annoying. Sorry about that.)