Super Smash Bros. Brawl
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | |
|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl logo. | |
| Developer(s) | "The Studio"[3] |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Masahiro Sakurai (director) |
| Platform(s) | Wii |
| Release |
[1]
|
| Genre(s) | Versus Fighting game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer, Nintendo Wi-Fi |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a yet-to-be-released fighting game for Nintendo's newest console, Wii. In Japan the game is known as Template:Nihongo title.[6] It is the third iteration of the Super Smash Bros. series. Brawl is the first Super Smash Bros. game that features at least one character from a franchise not owned by Nintendo with the inclusion of Solid Snake from Konami's Metal Gear series. Its first official trailer was unveiled at E3 2006, while its second official trailer was unveiled at the 2006 Nintendo World Tour.
Gameplay
Following the style of its critically acclaimed predecessors, the game uses a battle system different from the average fighting game. Choosing from a variety of characters, two to four players duke it out on various different stages, all while trying to knock their opponents out of the stage. Instead of using health bars like other fighting games, it features percentage meters. They start at zero percent, and as the characters take damage, the percentage meter goes up, causing the characters to fly farther back each time when hit. When a character is knocked off the stage, they lose either a life or a point depending on the mode of play.[7] The game can be played using four different control schemes: the Wii Remote on its side, the Wii Remote/Nunchuk combo, the Classic controller, or the standard GameCube controller.[5]
The stages are three dimensional (although players cannot move with depth, save for a few types of dodges) arenas that are mostly based off of the represented series of the game. They range from floating platforms to moving stages where the characters have to keep up. Each stage has a boundary that cannot be passed, or the character will be "KO'd", thus losing a life. As in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the game introduces new stages and features returning stages, although they are modified from the past games. Many stages will undergo elaborate changes while battles are happening, such as a cycling day-to-night system in the Battlefield stage[8] and a season system in the Yoshi's Island stage.[9]
The characters can make use of a variety of weapons, ranging from projectiles to melee weapons. Each item has a different effect on the characters around it. Some heal a single character, while others hurt any character in its vicinity. Items fall onto the stage randomly throughout the battle. Crates and barrels that can contain an assortment of items appear on the stage. The game also introduces the ability to perform character-specific special moves, referred to as "Final Smash" moves. These abilities are used through an item bearing the Smash Bros. symbol, which are called Smash Balls.[10][11] Each Final Smash is character specific and range from projectiles to controlled attacks. For example, Mario's Final Smash projects a massive fireball that covers up the nearly the entire stage; meanwhile, Link's Triforce Slash dashes at a single opponent and does a barrage of rapid slashes to whomever he chose.
Stages
There are new releases showing the new stages of brawl.
Lylat Cruise
The Lylat System is the general term for the region of space featured in the Star Fox games.Here, you will fight on top of a spaceship while warping to various locations.The name of this high-speed spacecraft is the Pleiades.The fight rages on as the ship barrels through asteroids, dogfights, and even the atmosphere of Corneria. A-Are you going to be OK?Asteroid belt! And here’s Team Star Fox in battle!Here we are entering the atmosphere. Without spacesuits!The planet’s upper atmosphere. A clear, refreshing vista.Cut through an epic space battle!How are they breathing? And why is there gravity? I suggest that you not worry about it too much.
Battlefield
"Battlefield" is the type of stage where you can enjoy the most basic of matches.There is one large platform with three pass-through platforms. Despite its simplistic design, it gives birth to a wide array of strategies during battle.This time, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, many stages will undergo elaborate changes during battle.On Battlefield, the main platform will not change...But then evening comes...And then comes night.You can brawl til dawn!
Delfino Plaza
This is the central town of Isle Delfino, the tropical setting of Super Mario Sunshine.This particular battle stage flies around the skies above the island.Fly here and there as you look down on the town below.After a thrilling landing, it becomes a normal battle stageThere are several landing points.This flight path repeats, providing great sightseeing and brawling.The changing scenery is so beautiful, you get absorbed in it. You really feel like a tourist!
Yoshi’s Island
The pastel stage of Yoshi’s Island...Mmm... It feels nice and peaceful here. Shy Guys often make guest appearances, and the Support Ghost can appear suddenly, aiding players on occasion.The highlight of this stage is its seasonal changes, as it goes from spring to summer to fall and then winter.Fall comes...And even in winter, the brawl battles on.It certainly has its own distinct air. Change is sometimes good.
Characters
The initial introduction of characters included various returning characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee, and some newcomers. Some returning characters have been updated and redefined since their last appearance, such as Mario, Pikachu, and Kirby. Others like Link and Fox McCloud have taken on new designs from more recent titles. Samus Aran has changed the most of all; "under certain conditions," she will remove her Power Suit, taking up the name "Zero Suit Samus". Donning only her Zero Suit, she wields a gun that can transform into a laser whip. Not all characters will return from Super Smash Bros. Melee however, as stated on Sakurai's blog.[12]
Many newcomers make their appearance in the game as well. Characters of already represented series such as Meta Knight from the Kirby series make their first appearance. Other newcomers are the first to represent their series. These include characters like Pit, representing the Kid Icarus series for the first time since the 1991 Game Boy game Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Solid Snake, the main protagonist of Konami’s Metal Gear franchise, and Wario, from Nintendo's highly successful WarioWare series. Snake is also the first third-party character to appear in a Super Smash Bros. game.
Development
Masahiro Sakurai, former HAL Laboratory employee and creator of Kirby and the Super Smash Bros. series, returns as the director for the game. Sakurai revealed that at E3, he was called to executive producer Satoru Iwata's room on the top floor of a Los Angeles hotel, and told by Iwata, "We'd like you to be involved in the production of the new Smash Bros., if possible near the level of director".[13] Although originally suggested to be a launch title, an IGN article states that "as of May 2005, the game's development staff consisted of exactly one person," Sakurai himself, actual development of the game never started until late 2005. Sakurai states that many people who have spent excessive amounts of time playing Super Smash Bros. Melee are being brought in as the development team and the team will have access to all the original material and tools from the development of Melee, courtesy of HAL Laboratory.[14]
The game was absent from Nintendo's Wii showing at its 2006 Pre-E3 press conference. The next day, on Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at the After-Hours Press Conference, Nintendo officially revealed the game under the name of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In an interview with IGN, Sakurai said the Wii's motion sensing features might not be included because, "we found that trying to implement too much motion-sensory functionality can get in the way of the game."[10] As far as Wi-Fi play is concerned, Sakurai has confirmed some functionality.[15][10] However, as stated in the Toukouken on the Japanese version of the Smash Bros. website, "there would be many hurdles to cross," and an online ranking system is unlikely to be implemented.[12]
Sakurai has updated the site to say that it will be a little longer before the game will be playable. During a test play between Sakurai and Hideo Kojima, Kojima stated that the game feels complete and that Nintendo "could put it out right now and it could sell millions of copies."[16] Starting May 21, 2007, the site has had updates every weekday.
Inclusion of characters
The inclusion of Konami-created character Solid Snake may seem to conflict with the Super Smash Bros. paradigm — to only include characters from games made by Nintendo and its second parties — but Sakurai said that Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima "practically begged" for Snake to be included in the next Super Smash Bros. game (which, at the time of said "begging," was during the production of Super Smash Bros. Melee, but production of the game was already too far in research and development to make the addition viable). Incidentally, this is not the first time Snake would appear in a crossover fighting game, as he was previously featured as a secret character in DreamMix TV World Fighters.
Japanese fans were asked to submit their desired characters and musical themes via a forum on the game's official Japanese site, with some possibly appearing in the game. Likewise, fans from other countries were asked to submit ideas on Nintendo's official forums.[17]
Suggestions were no longer being taken as of June 9, 2006. In August 2006, Sakurai and Miyamoto stated that Nintendo is negotiating rights to other third party characters.[18] Around the same time, they also stated that Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog was the most requested third-party character. [19] Video game magazine IGN interviewed Nintendo Europe marketing director Laurent Fischer and asked if Sonic will not be appearing in Brawl. Fischer's response was, "That's not on the cards at the moment." [20]
Sakurai has stated that he may not want to put much emphasis on Japan-only characters, but it has been noted that this may change due to the success that the Fire Emblem characters enjoyed internationally thanks to their inclusion in Melee. He also said that third party characters will amount to one or two, excluding Snake.
References
- ^ "The Big 2007 Preview at Nintendo Europe". Nintendo. 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
There's lots more to look forward to this year including the Wii debuts of Mario and Metroid in Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 Corruption, plus the eagerly awaited Super Smash Bros. Brawl featuring new fighters like Wario and Solid Snake.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Super Smash Bros. Brawl at Nintendo Australia". Nintendo. 2006-05-12. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sakurai, Masahiro (2006), "Masahiro Sakurai's Thoughts About Games", Famitsu, vol. 130–132
- ^ "IGN: Super Smash Bros. Brawl". IGN. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ a b
"Four Kinds of Control". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Smashbros.com. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-06-08.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Gantayat, Anoop (2006-05-18). "IGN: Sakurai Talks Smash Brothers Brawl". IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Basic Rules". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Smashbros.com. 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Battlefield". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Smashbros.com. 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
But then evening comes... And then comes night. You can brawl til dawn!
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Yoshi's Island". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Smashbros.com. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
The highlight of this stage is its seasonal changes, as it goes from spring to summer to fall and then winter.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Casamassina, Matt (2006-05-10). "E³ 2006: Super Smash Bros. Brawl". IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "What is a Final Smash". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Smashbros.com. 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b
Miller, Ross (2006-06-05). "Sakurai reveals new Smash Bros. Brawl details". Joystiq. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
Not all characters from the previous games will return.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ IGN Staff (2005-11-16). "IGN: Smash Bros. Revolution Director Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Gantayat, Anoop (2005-12-05). "IGN: Sakurai Elaborates on Smash Bros. Revolution". IGN. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Casamassina, Matt (2005-05-17). "E³ 2005: Smash Bros. For Revolution". IGN. Retrieved 2006-05-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dormer, Dan (2007-04-27). "Kojima's Played Super Smash Bros. Brawl". 1up.com. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ IGN Staff (2006-05-11). "IGN: E³ 2006: Fans Asked to Fill Smash Bros. Roster". IGN. Retrieved 2006-05-11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ba-oh, Jorge (2006-08-20). "Sonic Does Smash Bros. Brawl?". C3 News. cubed³. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Sonic to Appear in Super Smash Bros Brawl?". GameSpot. 2006-08-20. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
Supposedly, in recent interview with Tip and Tricks Magazine, the legendary game designer said that Sonic was the most requested character by fans of the game.
- ^ Burman, Rob (2007-03-29). "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Interview". IGN UK. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
