Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Difference between revisions

|engine = [[Havok]]

'''''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''''' ({{ja|大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズＸ|Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Ekkusu}}, ''Great Fray Smash Brothers X''), often shortened to "'''''SSBB'''''" or "'''''Brawl'''''", is the third installment in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]] published by [[Nintendo]]. The game was designed by [[Masahiro Sakurai]], who also created the two preceding ''Super Smash Bros.'' games, and was developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of [[Sora]], [[Game Arts]], and staff from other developers, beginning in October 2005. The game uses an engine called [[Havok]] provided by an Irish company of the same name.<ref name="oldDojo">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061116161044/www.smashbros.com/en/main.html|title = Foreword|accessdate = 2007-11-11|last = Sakurai|first = Masahiro|publisher=Smash Bros. DOJO!! (Internet Archive)}}</ref>

While ''Brawl'' continues to include the tournament-like "[[Classic Mode (SSBB)|Classic]]" and "[[All-Star Mode|All-Star]]" single-player modes, ''Melee''’s {{SSBM|Adventure Mode}} has been replaced with [[The Subspace Emissary]]; a much more extensive side-scrolling beat-'em-up mode featuring both the playable characters and many enemies specifically created for the game. The resulting mode includes an involved plot and numerous pre-rendered cutscenes, as well as some platform game elements during gameplay.

The cast of 35 playable characters (39 if [[Sheik]] and [[Zero Suit Samus]] are included and the three different Pokémon of the [[Pokémon Trainer]] are treated as individual characters) includes 20 (21 including Sheik) returning veterans from ''Melee'' and 15 newcomers (18 including transformations). Of these, 21 are [[starter character]]s (25 if [[Sheik]] and [[Zero Suit Samus]] are included and the three different Pokémon of the [[Pokémon Trainer]] are treated as individual characters) and the other 14 [[unlockable character|need to be unlocked]]. Many of the returning characters have been updated or refined since their last appearance, either in terms of appearance, fighting capabilities, or both. For example, [[Link]] and [[Fox McCloud]] have taken on new designs from more recent titles, while [[Samus Aran]] has gained the ability to change into a new form, [[Zero Suit Samus]], by using her [[Final Smash]] or by the player pressing a certain button after picking Samus and before picking a stage.

Five characters do not return from ''Melee'': {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}'s [[Young Link]], {{uv|Pokémon}}'s [[Mewtwo]] and [[Pichu]], {{uv|Fire Emblem}}'s [[Roy]], and {{uv|Mario}} universe's [[Dr. Mario]]. Of these, only Mewtwo was not a moveset [[clone]], and it is assumed to have been the furthest into development of the cut characters. Except for the ''Mario'' series, each series gained new characters added to the roster: [[Toon Link]] for ''The Legend of Zelda'', [[Lucario]] and [[Pokémon Trainer]] (who controls [[Charizard]], [[Squirtle]], and [[Ivysaur]]) for ''Pokémon''; and [[Ike]] for ''Fire Emblem''.

Several franchises already represented in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series gain additional character slots, with the {{uv|Kirby}} universe the biggest gainer, as both [[King Dedede]] and [[Meta Knight]] make their playable ''Super Smash Bros.'' debuts. Otherwise, {{uv|EarthBound}} sees [[Lucas]] join, the {{uv|Star Fox}} franchise adds [[Wolf O'Donnell|Wolf]], and the {{uv|Donkey Kong}} universe adds [[Diddy Kong]], while {{uv|Metroid}} has Samus's aforementioned "Zero Suit" form, which originally debuted in ''[[Metroid: Zero Mission]]'', added as a transformation for its sole character.

New character slots which go to Nintendo series previously unrepresented include [[Pit]], the first appearance of the {{uv|Kid Icarus}} series since the 1991 Game Boy game ''{{s|Wikipedia|Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters}}''; [[Wario]], originally a ''Mario'' spin-off but long launched into [[Wario (universe)|a franchise of his own]]; [[Captain Olimar]] from the {{uv|Pikmin}} series; and the NES accessory [[R.O.B.]].

Finally, main protagonist [[Solid Snake]] of the {{uv|Metal Gear}} franchise, and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] from [[Sonic (universe)|his eponymous series]] become the first third-party characters to appear in a ''Super Smash Bros.'' game.

Master Hand and Crazy Hand are fought in [[Classic mode]] while all the others are fought in the [[Subspace Emissary]]. Master Hand, Crazy Hand, Galleom, Duon and Tabuu are exclusive to the Smash universe while the others come from other Nintendo universes.

{{SSBB boss table}}

''Brawl'' introduces "Masterpieces", time-limited [[Virtual Console]] game demonstrations, to the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. The international release has twelve such games available, each of which features one or more of the playable characters from ''Brawl''. Seven games are available for play to begin with, with five more unlockable by completing [[Challenges]], which range from Mario's debut in ''{{b|Donkey Kong|game}}'' to the critically acclaimed late [[Nintendo 64]] title ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. The time-limits on each individual play last between 30 seconds (''Donkey Kong''), to five minutes (''Ocarina of Time)''.

The Japanese release has two additional Masterpieces not included in the international releases — the SNES games ''Mother 2'' (known as ''{{b|EarthBound|game}}'' in its US release) and ''[[Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo]]''.

{{SSBB stage table}}

''Brawl'' was absent from Nintendo's Wii showing at its 2006 Pre-E3 press conference. The next day, on May 10, 2006, its first official trailer was unveiled at E3 and 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."<ref name="E3 2006">{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |coauthors=Peer Schneider |date=2006-05-10 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/707/707504p1.html |title=E3 2006: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref> As far as [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Wi-Fi]] play is concerned, Sakurai stated his plan was to include Wi-Fi connection compatibility and online functionality, he goes on to say "one of the primary reasons ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' was created was that Nintendo, when taking Wii online, wanted to have Smash Bros. to do that".<ref name="E3 2006"/> However, as stated 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.<ref name="Joystiq">{{Cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/05/sakurai-reveals-new-smash-bros-brawl-details/ |title=Sakurai reveals new Smash Bros. Brawl details |accessdate=2007-06-21 |last=Miller |first=Ross |date=2006-06-05 |publisher=Joystiq}}</ref> During a test play between Sakurai and {{s|wikipedia|Hideo Kojima}}, creator of the ''Metal Gear'' series, Kojima stated that the game felt complete and that Nintendo "could put it out right now and it would sell millions of copies."<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3159049 |title=Kojima's Played Super Smash Bros. Brawl |accessdate=2007-06-21 |last=Dormer |first=Dan |date=2007-04-27 |publisher=1up.com}}</ref> Starting May 22, 2007, the site had updates every weekday until shortly after ''Brawl'''s release. Throughout October 18-22, 2007 at the first Entertainment for All Expo show in Los Angeles, California, Nintendo hosted a ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wii.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=10866 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Galaxy Playable at E for All |accessdate=2007-10-21 |last=Wirgler |first=Matthew |date=2007-10-09 |publisher=Advance Media Network}}</ref>

At the Nintendo Media Conference at E3 2007, it was announced by Nintendo of America president {{s|wikipedia|Reggie Fils-Aime}} that ''Brawl'' would be released on December 3, 2007 in the Americas.<ref name="E3 conference 2007">{{Cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/803/803335p1.html |title=Nintendo E3 2007 Press Conference |publisher=IGN |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=2007-07-11 |accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref> However, just two months before its anticipated December release, the development team asked for more time to work on the game. During the Nintendo Conference on October 10, 2007, Nintendo of Japan president Iwata announced the delay, saying:

Sakurai stated that he did not want to emphasize Japan-only characters;<ref name="thirdparty">{{Cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151198 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Details|accessdate=2007-09-13|last=Klepek|first=Patrick|date=2006-06-05|publisher=1UP}}</ref> in Brawl's cast, only [[Lucas]] had not appeared outside of Japan (although [[Marth]] had only previously only appeared internationally in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', rather than his home franchise). Sakurai also stated there would be no more than three third-party characters;<ref name="thirdparty" /> these characters were [[Solid Snake]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. 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 Hideo Kojima "practically begged" for Snake to be included in ''Melee'', which did not happen because the game was too far in development. This in turn led to his appearance in the following game instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/nintendo/e306-super-smash-bros-brawl-qa-173071.php|title=E306: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Q&A|accessdate=2007-09-18|last=Mcwhertor|first=Michael|date=2006-05-11|publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> Similarly, [[Lucas]] from ''{{s|wikipedia|Mother 3}}'' was intended to be used in ''Melee'', but was left out because ''Mother 3'' was delayed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0717/index.html|title=速報スマブラ拳: Ness|accessdate=2007-10-21|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|language=Japanese}}</ref>

''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' received critically positive reviews and sold successfully. In the United States, the game sold 874,000 units on launch day and 1.4 million units in its first week to become the fastest-selling video game in Nintendo of America's history, according to Nintendo. The game has sold 10.79 million units worldwide as of March 2012 according to Nintendo, which makes it the best selling fighting game of all time. ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is the 8th best selling game for the [[Wii]], and sold 13.29 million units worldwide, as of September 30, 2018. ''Brawl'' currently holds an aggregate review score of 92.84% on Gamerankings and a score of 93% on Metacritic. Despite this, British publication NGamer received criticism for awarding a 93% rating to ''Brawl'', with readers deeming the score too low, especially in comparison to Official Nintendo Magazine's 95% rating. ''Brawl'' has reviews with ratings equal or slightly better than ''Melee''. The game's multiplayer was received excellently, but single player, while noted as superior to ''Melee's'', was still only average.

*Melee's {{SSBM|Adventure Mode}} has been replaced by [[The Subspace Emissary]].

*Not counting the [[Virtual Console]], ''Brawl'' is the only Wii appearance for {{SSBB|Sheik}}, {{SSBB|Wolf}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, and {{SSBB|Snake}}.

*When not including DLC of {{forwiiu}}, ''Brawl'' introduced the most new stages with 31.