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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Boxart-wiiu.png
North American boxart.
Developer(s) Bandai Namco
Sora Ltd.
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Designer(s) Masahiro Sakurai
Engine Havok
Released November 21, 2014 North America
November 28, 2014 Europe[1]
November 28, 2014 South Africa
November 29, 2014 Australia
December 6, 2014 Japan
Genre(s) Fighting
Platforming
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer, Online multiplayer
Ratings ESRB: E10+
PEGI: 12+ (provisional)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズ for Wii U, Great Fray Smash Brothers for Wii U) is one of two games in the Super Smash Bros. series released as part of the Super Smash Bros. 4 pair, and the home console counterpart to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Although most gameplay elements are shared between the two versions, there are several elements which distinguish the two.

The game is playable on the Wii U with a variety of controller options, including the Wii U GamePad, the Wii U Pro Controller, the GameCube controller via an adapter, and a Nintendo 3DS that is running the 3DS version or a special app.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was officially released on November 21, 2014 in the Americas, and was followed by Europe on November 28, 2014, Australia and New Zealand on November 29, 2014, and Japan on December 6, 2014. As of the closure of the Wii U eShop on March 27, 2023, it is no longer possible to officially digitally purchase this game or any of its post-launch downloadable content. On October 4, 2023, Nintendo announced that online support for the Wii U would be ending during April 2024, exact date was announced on January 24, 2024 as April 8, meaning the game will no longer be playable online without hacking after that point.

Opening movieEdit

The opening movie for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is composed of footage from both gameplay and the various character introduction trailers shown since the game's reveal, barring the trailer for Duck Hunt.

ContentEdit

The playable roster is the same between both versions of SSB4.

FightersEdit

Veterans (37)
 
Mario
 
 
Luigi
 
 
Peach
 
 
Bowser
 
 
Dr. Mario
 
 
Yoshi
 
 
Donkey Kong
 
 
Diddy Kong
 
 
Link
 
 
Zelda
 
 
Sheik
 
 
Ganondorf
 
 
Toon Link
 
 
Samus
 
 
Zero Suit Samus
 
 
Kirby
 
 
Meta Knight
 
 
King Dedede
 
 
Fox
 
 
Falco
 
 
Pikachu
 
 
Jigglypuff
 
 
Mewtwo (DLC)
 
 
Charizard
 
 
Lucario
 
 
Captain Falcon
 
 
Ness
 
 
Lucas (DLC)
 
 
Marth
 
 
Roy (DLC)
 
 
Ike
 
 
Mr. Game & Watch
 
 
Pit
 
 
Wario
 
 
Olimar
 
 
R.O.B.
 
 
Sonic
 
Newcomers (21)
 
Rosalina & Luma
 
 
Bowser Jr.
 
 
Greninja
 
 
Robin
 
 
Lucina
 
 
Corrin (DLC)
 
 
Palutena
 
 
Dark Pit
 
 
Villager
 
 
Wii Fit Trainer
 
 
Little Mac
 
 
Shulk
 
 
Duck Hunt
 
 
Mega Man
 
 
Pac-Man
 
 
Ryu (DLC)
 
 
Cloud (DLC)
 
 
Bayonetta (DLC)
 
 
Mii Brawler
 
 
Mii Swordfighter
 
 
Mii Gunner
 

Bold denotes unlockable characters in both versions.
Bolded italics denote unlockable characters in the 3DS version only.

StagesEdit

The two versions of SSB4 have separate sets of available stages; only 12 stages appear in both the Wii U and 3DS versions. The stages from the Wii U version are more heavily based on home console games. The Wii U version features a total of 55 stages (46 excluding DLC), consisting of 34 new stages and 21 familiar ones. The following stages are available in the Wii U version:

 
The stage select for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, showing the normal stages.
 
The stage select for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, showing the extra stages.
New stages (34)
 
Battlefield
 
 
Final Destination
 
 
Big Battlefield
 
 
Mushroom Kingdom U
 
 
Mario Galaxy
 
 
Mario Circuit
 
 
Super Mario Maker (DLC)
 
 
Woolly World
 
 
Jungle Hijinxs
 
 
Skyloft
 
 
Pyrosphere
 
 
The Great Cave Offensive
 
 
Orbital Gate Assault
 
 
Kalos Pokémon League
 
 
Coliseum
 
 
Flat Zone X
 
 
Palutena's Temple
 
 
Gamer
 
 
Garden of Hope
 
 
Town and City
 
 
Wii Fit Studio
 
 
Boxing Ring
 
 
Gaur Plain
 
 
Duck Hunt
 
 
Windy Hill Zone
 
 
Wily Castle
 
 
Pac-Land
 
 
Suzaku Castle (DLC)
 
 
Midgar (DLC)
 
 
Umbra Clock Tower (DLC)
 
 
Wrecking Crew
 
 
Pilotwings
 
 
Wuhu Island
 
 
Miiverse (1.0.8)
 
Familiar stages (21)
 
  Peach's Castle (64) (DLC)
 
 
  Delfino Plaza
 
 
  Mario Circuit (Brawl)
 
 
  Luigi's Mansion
 
 
  Yoshi's Island
 
 
  Kongo Jungle 64
 
 
  75m
 
 
  Hyrule Castle (64) (DLC)
 
 
  Temple
 
 
  Bridge of Eldin
 
 
  Pirate Ship (DLC)
 
 
  Norfair
 
 
  Dream Land (64) (DLC)
 
 
  Halberd
 
 
  Lylat Cruise
 
 
  Pokémon Stadium 2
 
 
  Port Town Aero Dive
 
 
  Onett
 
 
  Castle Siege
 
 
  Skyworld
 
 
  Smashville
 

Bold denotes unlockable stages.

Single-player modesEdit

 
The main menu of the Wii U version.

Multiplayer modesEdit

Features exclusive to the Wii U versionEdit

  • The Wii U version is compatible with a set of amiibo figurines utilizing the Wii U GamePad and near field communication. By using their respective figurine, players can give an AI character custom moves and level them up to level 50. The game is the first to utilize the GamePad's NFC function under the amiibo branding.
    • This was later added to the 3DS version via a post-launch update.
  • Due to its home console nature, the Wii U version lacks the optional dark outlines around playable characters present in the 3DS version, though still has the colored outlines for team battles.
  • The Classic mode is tournament styled, and no longer has three random options, only one.
  • The Wii U version features different collectible trophies than the 3DS version, with a greater focus on elements from home console releases.
  • The Wii U version sees the return of Brawl's My Music option, with a large selection of tracks available for each stage.
  • The Wii U version supports off TV play.
  • Three exclusive new modes: Special Orders, 8-Player Smash, and Smash Tour.
  • The Trophy Box is exclusive to the Wii U version.
  • Ness, Jigglypuff, Ganondorf and Bowser Jr. are starter characters, unlike in the 3DS version where they are unlockable.

DemoEdit

A demo of the Wii U version was available at retail stores with a Wii U kiosk. It featured the entire starting roster of characters and stages, but like its 3DS counterpart, was locked to two minute time matches with items on for normal stages (but turned off for Ω stages).

In competitive playEdit

The Wii U version effectively replaced Brawl in terms of the competitive scene, with nearly all of the top players migrating over. The game also quickly overtook the 3DS version, making it the definitive version of Smash to play at the time. The divide between Melee and former Brawl players still existed, though the changes made in this game to bridge the gap between previous entries relieved the tension somewhat. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has arguably the smallest competitive scene of any game in the series. This is due to the community simply preferring the Wii U version as an avenue to play Smash.

The Wii U version continued the momentum of mainstream success started in Brawl, such as a mainstage presence at EVO for many years and frequent references in other media like television series and internet websites. The game even helped retroactively bolster the popularity of previous entries, especially Smash 64, which is still is increasing in popularity to this day. However, the game quickly fell off after the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and now exists as a small niche community just like Brawl before it.

The community has constructed a set of standard tournament rules to regulate tournament play. While rulesets may vary between different tournaments, generally universal gameplay rules include all matches being played via timed stock (2-3 stocks and 6-8 minutes), and restrictions on legal stages. These regulations are enacted to ensure that gameplay at the highest level remains fair and interesting.

StaffEdit

GalleryEdit

TriviaEdit

  • This is the first time where Greninja, Dark Pit, Lucina, Robin, and Corrin appear on a home console.
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the first game in the series not to be released first in Japan.
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the Wii U's fastest selling title, surpassing the previous holder of the title, Mario Kart 8. In North America alone, Nintendo sold over 490,000 digital and physical copies of the game in three days.
    • Sales of the GameCube Bundle and Adapter were so popular in the United States that there was an immediate shortage of the Adapter upon launch of the game, leading to significantly inflated prices from online dealers; at one point, Amazon.com featured prices in excess of $110 USD for the Adapter.
  • This is the only game in the series where all 12 characters from the original Super Smash Bros. are starters, and by extension, the only one where Jigglypuff, Bowser Jr. and Ganondorf are starters.
  • The game's Japanese release date happens to coincide with the birthday of late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
    • November 21st, the game's North American release date, was also the release date of Super Smash Bros. Melee in Japan.
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the first game since the original to lack a new stage from the F-Zero and EarthBound universes.
  • This is the first game in the series where there is only one way to hear a character's Star KO scream (outside the Sound Test).
  • This is the only game in the series that has no unlockable Pokémon characters.
    • This is also the first game in the series since Smash 64 that has no unlockable The Legend of Zelda characters.
  • This is the only game in the series in which Vs. mode is not required for 100% completion, with no unlockable characters, stages, or even challenges requiring it.
  • This is the only game to lack the appearance of a Fly Guy.
  • This would be the last game in the series to have the announcer speaking between fights during the pre-match loading screens in Classic Mode. Starting in Ultimate, the announcer's voice wouldn't be heard during the pre-match loading screens in Classic Mode.
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the game with the highest number of starters compared to the full roster, with them making up 84.31% of the base roster and 74.14% of the final post-DLC roster.

ReferencesEdit