Super Smash Bros. 4
| “ | SETTLE IT IN SMASH! | ” |
| —North American commercial | ||
| Super Smash Bros. 4 (unofficial title) | |
|---|---|
 Collective logo for the game. | |
| Developer(s) | Bandai Namco Sora Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Masahiro Sakurai |
| Engine | Havok |
| Released | Nintendo 3DS September 13, 2014  October 2, 2014  October 3, 2014   October 4, 2014  July 24, 2015   September 10, 2015 
Wii U |
| Genre(s) | Fighting Platforming |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer, Online multiplayer |
| Ratings | ACB: PG[1] CERO: A ESRB: E10+[2] PEGI: 12 |
| Platform(s) | Wii U, Nintendo 3DS |
Super Smash Bros. 4 (also referred to by shorthands such as Smash 4, SSB4, for (スマブラfor), or more informally Sm4sh, and officially as Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U) is a conjectural term used to collectively refer to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, two games in the Super Smash Bros. series created by Bandai Namco[3] and Sora Ltd. Masahiro Sakurai stated in an interview with Kotaku that he considers the 3DS version the fourth installment and the Wii U version the fifth installment.[4] The games feature mostly identical gameplay and the exact same character rosters, but with several large differences in other areas. The 3DS version is the first game of the series to be released on a handheld console, while the Wii U version was the first to release on an HD console.
The 3DS version launched in Japan on September 13th, 2014, and in most other parts of the world on October 3rd, 2014. It was released in stores one day earlier in Germany on October 2nd, 2014 to avoid coinciding with German Unity Day, and was released one day later in Australia on October 4th, 2014 because of time zone differences. Hong Kong and Taiwan received a release of the game over ten months later, on July 24th, 2015, while South Korea got its release on September 10th, 2015, nearly a full year after the game's initial launch in Japan. The Wii U version was released in North America on November 21st, 2014, and was released on November 28th, 2014 in Europe, November 29th, 2014 in Australia, and on December 6th, 2014 in Japan.
Online support for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U has ended as of April 8th, 2024, making it impossible to officially play Super Smash Bros. 4 online.
Both versions have received positive reviews; critics applauded the fine-tuning of existing gameplay elements but criticized some issues with online play.
Opening movie[edit]
The opening movie exclusive to 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.
Fighters[edit]
Both games feature identical playable character rosters. In total, 51 characters are playable in the base game and 58 characters are playable overall, 34 of which return from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, 3 of which return after being cut in the transition from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Brawl (Dr. Mario, Mewtwo, and Roy), and 21 of which are new to the series. Of these 58, 39 are starter characters in both versions and eight are unlockable characters in both versions, while four characters are unlockable in the 3DS version but starters in the Wii U version. Additionally, seven characters appear as downloadable content. A further twelve "characters" exist as alternate costumes for other preexisting characters: Alph as a palette swap of Olimar; each of the seven Koopalings as palette swaps of Bowser Jr., and alternate genders for Villager, Wii Fit Trainer, Robin, and Corrin.
Five characters do not return from Brawl: Star Fox's Wolf, Pokémon's Squirtle and Ivysaur (alongside the Pokémon Trainer himself), two-time veteran Ice Climber's Ice Climbers, and Metal Gear's Snake. Lucas initially did not return in the base roster, but he would later return through DLC. Additionally, The Legend of Zelda's Young Link and Pokémon's Pichu do not return from Melee.
As for the new characters for already represented franchises, two newcomers come from the Mario universe being Bowser Jr. and Rosalina & Luma, Greninja for the Pokémon universe, Kid Icarus introduces Palutena and Dark Pit and finally Fire Emblem introduces Lucina, Robin and, as DLC, Corrin.
New characters slots are given to the Villager as Animal Crossing's first playable character, the Wii Fit Trainer from the Wii Fit series, Punch-Out's very own Little Mac who first appeared as an Assist Trophy from Brawl, Shulk, who introduced the Xenoblade Chronicles series, and Duck Hunt consisting of a dog and duck from their series of the same name. In addition, the Miis, the custom avatars from the Nintendo Wii appear as playable characters. They appear in Brawler, Swordfighter, and Gunner variants, and are labelled as Smash-original characters.
Sonic the Hedgehog returns as a third-party character, now joined by Mega Man and Pac-Man, as well as Ryu, Cloud Strife, and Bayonetta through DLC.
| 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 
|
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| 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.
Stages[edit]
The two games feature considerably different stage selections, which is one of the primary differences between the two games. The 3DS version features a total of 42 stages (34 excluding DLC) with seven unlockable stages and eight DLC stages, 30 of which are new and 12 of which are familiar. The Wii U version features a total of 55 stages (46 excluding DLC) with six unlockable stages and nine DLC stages, consisting of 34 new stages and 21 familiar ones. Only 13 stages are shared between the two versions, seven of which are DLC.
In general, the 3DS version's new stages are based more on handheld console games, while the Wii U version's new stages are based more on home console games, though there are several exceptions to this in both games.
Past Stages in both games are now known as "Familiar Stages." Only three Familiar Stages are shared between the two games, all of which are DLC.
The Wii U version also has an option to create custom stages with the Stage Builder.
3DS version[edit]
| New stages (30) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Battlefield
|
 Final Destination
|
 3D Land
|
 Golden Plains
|
 Rainbow Road
|
 Paper Mario
|
 Super Mario Maker (DLC)
|
 Gerudo Valley
|
 Spirit Train
|
 Dream Land
|
 Unova Pokémon League
|
 Prism Tower
|
 Mute City
|
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