Super Smash Bros. 4: Difference between revisions

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Both versions have received positive reviews; critics applauded the fine-tuning of existing gameplay elements but criticized some issues with online play. Both versions sold quickly, with the ''3DS'' version selling over 9.54 million copies worldwide as of September 30, 2019, and the ''Wii U'' version selling over 5.37 million copies as of June 30, 2019.

Both games feature identical [[character]] rosters. The roster contains a total of 58 characters, 34 of which return from ''Brawl'', three of which return after being cut in the transition from ''Melee'' to ''Brawl'' ({{SSB4|Dr. Mario}}, {{SSB4|Mewtwo}}, and {{SSB4|Roy}}), and 21 of which are new to the series. Of these 58, 39 are [[starter character]]s in both versions and eight are [[unlockable character]]s 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 (SSB4)|downloadable content]]. A further twelve "characters" exist as alternate costumes for other preexisting characters: [[Alph]] as a palette swap of {{SSB4|Olimar}}; each of the seven [[Koopalings]] as palette swaps of {{SSB4|Bowser Jr.}}, and alternate genders for {{SSB4|Villager}}, {{SSB4|Wii Fit Trainer}}, {{SSB4|Robin}}, and {{SSB4|Corrin}}.

Five characters do not return from ''Brawl'': ''{{uv|Pokémon}}'''s [[Squirtle]] and [[Ivysaur]] (Alongside the [[Pokémon Trainer]] himself), ''{{uv|Star Fox}}''{{'}}s [[Wolf]], ''{{uv|Metal Gear}}''{{'}}s [[Snake]], and two-time veteran, ''{{uv|Ice Climber}}''{{'}}s [[Ice Climbers]]. {{SSB4|Lucas}} initially did not return in the base roster, but he would later return through DLC.

As for the new characters for already represented franchises, two newcomers come from the ''{{uv|Mario}}'' universe being [[Bowser Jr.]] and [[Rosalina]], [[Greninja]] for the ''{{uv|Pokémon}}'' universe, ''{{uv|Kid Icarus}}'' introduces [[Palutena]] and [[Dark Pit]] and finally ''{{uv|Fire Emblem}}'' introduces [[Lucina]], [[Robin]] and, as [[Downloadable content|DLC]], [[Corrin]].

New characters slots are given to ''{{uv|Punch-Out}}''{{'}}s very own [[Little Mac]] who first appeared as an [[Assist Trophy]] from ''Brawl'', the Wii Fit Trainer from the ''{{uv|Wii Fit}}'' series, the [[Villager]]'s inclusion marks ''{{uv|Animal Crossing}}''{{'}}s first playable character, [[Shulk]] who was introduced in ''Xenoblade Chronicles'' represents the ''{{uv|Xenoblade}}'' series and finally [[Duck Hunt]] consisting of a dog and duck from their [[Duck Hunt (universe)| series]] of the same name.

===Gameplay changes===

''Smash 4''’s main goal is to strike a balance between ''Melee''’s faster, more technical gameplay and ''Brawl''’s slower, more relaxed gameplay, in an attempt to appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers.  

This is most easily apparent in ''Smash 4''’s game speed: most veterans from ''Brawl'' have faster [[dash|dashing]], [[falling speed|falling]], and [[air speed]]s, and additionally [[traction]] and [[gravity]] stats were also generally increased, though the game speed is still noticeably slower and floatier than ''Melee.'' The removal of random tripping introduced in ''Brawl'' makes extended [[dash-dancing]] a viable movement option, and [[pivot]]ing, a movement technique previously possible in ''Melee'' and ''Smash 64'', has been reintroduced; thus, characters in ''Smash 4'' generally have more flexible mobility than in ''Brawl.''

In a similar appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers, there are now two distinct type of [[With Anyone]] [[Wi-Fi]] modes; one called [[For Fun]] which is similar to the previous game's casual-styled [[Basic Brawl]], and one called [[For Glory]], a mode explicitly catered to competitive-styled play. Additionally, every stage now has an "Ω Form," where the stage's layout is altered into that of Final Destination. These forms cannot be played on in the For Fun mode, while they are the only forms available in the For Glory mode.

 

The differences in size across the cast are now more pronounced, with {{SSB4|Bowser}} now standing much taller than {{SSB4|Mario}}, compared to being only slightly taller in previous games. Larger characters like {{SSB4|Donkey Kong}} are thus easier to hit but benefit from longer reach, while smaller characters like {{SSB4|Kirby}} are harder to hit while hindered by shorter range. Nevertheless, the differences in range across the cast have been overall toned down, with melee-oriented characters like {{SSB4|Diddy Kong}} having more elastic limbs, while sword-wielders have shorter range either through the improvements in range to the rest of the cast (e.g., {{SSB4|Marth}}) or direct nerfs to their range (eg. {{SSB4|Meta Knight}}).  

 

Mid-match character transformations have been removed. {{SSB4|Sheik}} and {{SSB4|Zelda}}, and {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}} and {{SSB4|Samus}}, are all now completely separate characters, while {{SSB4|Charizard}} returns as a standalone fighter in place of the Pokémon Trainer. These changes are due to hardware limitations on the 3DS and Sakurai’s own wish for both versions of the game to feature the same roster.

 

As a possible effort to balance gameplay, ''Smash 4'' has removed a few exploitable techniques that were prevalent in previous entries. The mechanics of grabbing ledges have undergone an unprecedented overhaul, with [[edge-hogging]] having been removed entirely, as attempting to grab a [[ledge]] that someone else has already grabbed onto will now gently remove them from the ledge and "steal" it, a mechanic known as "ledge trumping". This changes the entire edge metagame, with players now having to attack opponents that they have ledge trumped instead of completely stopping their recovery by grabbing the edge, along with making [[edgeguarding]] more reliant on stage spikes and meteor smashes. On the other hand, ledge trumping itself can be used as an edgeguard, as it leaves the recovering opponent vulnerable.  

 

An additional overhaul is the elimination of most [[planking]] strategies, as the length of [[intangibility]] given by grabbing the ledge is now affected by air time and current damage, and does not carry over if the character drops from the ledge. No intangibility at all will be granted if a character grabs the ledge twice without touching the ground or being hit (making them more open to edgeguarding). Finally, the difference between fast and slow edge options based on current damage has been removed. The general [[recovery|recoveries]] of the cast have also been improved, with many of them traveling farther and having better protection while benefiting from the faster air speeds and new ledge mechanics; these changes weren't entirely consistent across the cast, however, and recoveries are overall more polarized than in previous games. On the other hand, meteor canceling has been removed, making [[meteor smash]]es functionally equivalent to spikes and thus much deadlier edge-guarding moves; to compensate, several meteor smashes are now weaker, with a few requiring more specific hitboxes (such as {{SSB4|Ike}}'s down aerial).

 

In ''Smash 4'', characters are granted 70 frames of invulnerability to all [[grab]]s after being released from a grab or [[throw]]n (not counting special moves). This change makes it impossible to perform [[chain grab]]s, which was not only possible but rather common in previous games. Possibly in relation to this, [[stale-move negation]] has been weakened, making it harder for characters to abuse the mechanic which allows for moves to combo for longer; at the same time, characters do not have to worry about preserving their KO moves as much as they did in ''Brawl'', though still more than in ''Melee.'' Characters can also not grab the ledge after going through [[hitstun]] for at least 55 frames.

 

[[Hitstun canceling]], a controversial mechanic introduced in ''Brawl'' that allowed characters to escape combos with ease, has been toned down. Characters can now air dodge or use an aerial attack to cancel hitstun after 40 or 45 frames respectively, compared to ''Brawl''’s 13/25 frames, with the window being pushed back when a character sustains 69 or more frames of hitstun, due to a limit being set on how fast a fighter's current launch speed can be when attempting to cancel hitstun. As a result, true [[combos]] at low and mid percents are much more prevalent. However, with the increased knockback growth on many throws, moderate falling speeds, [[gravity]] increasing vertical knockback, the continued lack of advanced techniques such as [[wavedashing]] and [[L-cancelling]], and the retained ability to cancel hitstun, true combos in ''Smash 4'' are generally shorter and less varied compared to the ones in ''Melee'' and ''Smash 64'', especially at high percents. Additionally, many of the faster, more combo-oriented fighters, such as {{SSB4|Sheik}}, {{SSB4|Fox}}, Meta Knight, and Diddy Kong have had their damage outputs reduced, likely to compensate for their improved combo abilities or to balance them out with the slow, heavy characters. The changes to hitstun also prevent characters from immediately performing moves to [[momentum cancelling|slow their momentum]], reducing their ability to survive powerful attacks.

 

[[Directional influence]] works differently. The angle deviation is less significant than in previous games, while a submechanic known as [[launch speed influence]] (LSI for short) has been introduced, which increases characters' [[Knockback|launch speed]] the more the [[control stick]] is held upward, and decreases it the more it is held downward. As of update [[1.0.4]], moves with too vertical angles are only affected by DI, not LSI. These changes make it harder to carry out horizontal combos, especially at higher percents since opponents will often be sent too far for followups. In turn, this indirectly benefits characters who possess vertical-launching moves, notably Mario, Meta Knight, Zero Suit Samus, and {{SSB4|Ryu}}, as it is now comparatively easier to combo and KO with attacks that deal vertical knockback. The effects of [[smash directional influence]] have also been drastically weakened, which is most easily visible with multi-hit attacks, making it much harder to escape them than in earlier games.

 

 

A new mechanic, unofficially known as “[[rage]],” has been implemented. Characters receive a steady increase to the knockback (and therefore hitstun) of their attacks as their damage rises starting at 35%, with the effect capping out at 150%. Rage becomes more visible when a character reaches 100%, as they begin to flash red and emit steam.

 

Defensive options have been heavily modified. [[Shield]]s now take 19% more damage from attacks, rather than 30% less. As of update [[1.1.1]], [[shield stun]] has been significantly increased, making [[out of shield]] options less reliable; thus, shields are much more fragile than in ''Brawl''. Furthermore, when having their shields broken, fighters are now intangible until they hit the ground and enter their [[stun|stunned]] animation. This slightly narrows the window in which a fighter can be attacked when their shield is broken, as well as making it impossible to use windboxes to push opponents offstage while falling to the ground to be stunned. However, it also prevents players from saving teammates who are tumbling to their death due to being forced over the ledge when their shield broke. Finally, when a fighter's shield is hit when they are right on the ledge, they are no longer guaranteed to be [[Edge slipping|pushed off the ledge]] and put into [[tumble]], and instead the attack must be sufficiently strong enough to push the shielding player with enough force to trigger a ledge slip.

 

As well as the changes made to shields, various changes were made to dodges too. Attempting to land with an [[air dodge]] now results in high landing lag (21 frames), but air dodges in general are faster, having decreased intangibility durations, but also lower ending lag (roughly 5 frames, down from 10 to 30 in ''Brawl''), making air dodges safer for aerial combat but riskier when done close to the ground. [[Sidestep]]s and [[roll]]s have slightly less ending lag but offer fewer intangibility frames, which makes rolls overall safer for quick repositioning.

 

[[Star KO]]s and [[Screen KO]]s now do not always occur when a character is KO'd over the top [[blast line]]; also, the Screen KO animation has been lengthened to last a few frames longer than the Star KO animation. They no longer occur near the end of a [[time]]d match (unless characters are launched to the upper blast line when [[End of Day]] is active, the only known exception to this) or [[Sudden Death]]; being instead replaced by regular blast KOs. They also will not occur when a character is launched at a fast enough speed.

 

Fighters experiencing knockback can no longer knock into other victims ([[careening]]).

*''Super Smash Bros. 4'' introduces the [[Mii Fighter]]s, making it the first game in the series to have playable characters representing the ''Super Smash Bros.'' universe.

*''Super Smash Bros. 4'' is one of two games to not feature Adventure Mode, the first being the original ''Super Smash Bros''.

**''Super Smash Bros. 4'' is the only game in the series with third-party characters as starting characters.

**''Super Smash Bros. 4'' is also the only starter appearance of veterans Marth, [[Lucario]], [[Toon Link]], and [[Sonic]], as well as Ganondorf and Jigglypuff in the Wii U version.

*''Super Smash Bros. 4'' is the first, and currently only ''Smash'' game to have playable characters that debuted on the same console the ''Smash'' game was featured on.

**This includes {{SSB4|Greninja}}, {{SSB4|Dark Pit}}, {{SSB4|Lucina}}, {{SSB4|Robin}} and {{SSB4|Corrin}}, all of whom debuted on the 3DS. Meanwhile, [[Alph]], who debuted on the Wii U, appears as playable character as an alternate skin for Olimar.