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Master Hand

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For details in individual games, see Master Hand (SSB), Master Hand (SSBM), Master Hand (SSBB), Master Hand (SSB4), and Master Hand (SSBU).
Master Hand
Master Hand SSBU.png
Symbol of the Smash Bros. series.

Render of Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

A boss in SSB
Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Universe Super Smash Bros.
Console of origin Nintendo 64
English voice actor Jeff Manning (SSB)
Dean Harrington (Melee)
Pat Cashman (Brawl)
Xander Mobus (SSB4 and Ultimate)
Article on WiKirby Master Hand

Master Hand (マスターハンド, Master Hand) is a hand-like entity who acts as the main recurring boss in the Super Smash Bros. universe. He appears at Final Destination as the final boss of the 1P Game in Super Smash Bros. and of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. 4, and appears in the Adventure Mode: World of Light in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The player must defeat him by bringing his HP down to 0. Master Hand's left hand counterpart, Crazy Hand, was introduced in Melee.

Despite appearing in all five games of the series, considerable mystery surrounds the character, due to a lack of sufficient official explanations. However, he is known as the creator of the Super Smash Bros. universe, and in Brawl as the master of the World of Trophies.[1] His trophy info in Brawl implies that he does not use his full power against the fighters, and merely toys with them for his own enjoyment. In Super Smash Bros 4, Master Hand is shown to have some connection to Master Core, with the "Swarm" that Master Core comprises appearing from within Master Hand after he has taken enough damage. This link between the two has yet to be elaborated upon in the Smash universe. Master Hand also seemed to have some connection to Galeem in Adventure mode - World Of Light in Ultimate, though it was later determined that like the other fighters, he was captured and made a puppet.

He is only playable in the games through hacking, though in Melee he is also playable via a glitch and is playable in Ultimate in World of Light.

Origin

Wham Bam Rock as it appears in Kirby Super Star.

Although he is original to the Super Smash Bros. series, some of Master Hand's attacks are very similar to those of Wham Bam Rock in Kirby Super Star (Kirby's Fun Pak in the PAL regions).

Wham Bam Rock attacks using its hand, which is made of rocks. Wham Bam Rock and Master Hand share a move where they point their index finger at the player like a gun; however, Wham Bam Rock proceeds to make rocks fall, while Master Hand shoots out bullets. Both Wham Bam Rock and Master Hand perform a move that involves "walking" across the stage to flick the player. Both will also try to grab on to the player and crush them.[2]

In Super Smash Bros.

Official artwork for Master Hand in Super Smash Bros.
Main article: Master Hand (SSB)

Master Hand's head icon from SSB. In Super Smash Bros., Master Hand is the final boss of the 1P Game. He resides in Final Destination.

He is also seen in the opening movie. He places plush dolls of two characters on a table and positions objects around them. After counting down from three, he snaps his fingers, transforming the objects and table into a stage resembling Peach's Castle, and bringing both of the plush dolls to life.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Master Hand's appearance in Melee.
Main article: Master Hand (SSBM)

MasterHandHeadSSBM.png Super Smash Bros. Melee sees Master Hand reprising his role as a boss in Classic Mode. He is fought in the final battle on Final Destination. Defeating Master Hand once again causes the screen to fade to white as he explodes into the background.

Master Hand received a multitude of alterations to his overall fighting style in Melee. He faces only one direction, and his HP and power change with the difficulty. The highest levels of difficulty give him attacks with OHKO potential. Aesthetically, he no longer has a cuff, instead having a wrist that fades into nothingness.

The game also introduced Crazy Hand, Master Hand's left-handed partner. When the two are on the field at the same time, they can perform powerful combination attacks. Crazy Hand appears when set conditions are met. The duo also appear in Event 50: Final Destination Match as boss characters.

Trophy

Master Hand trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Master Hand's trophy in Melee
Master Hand
The Master Hand awaits anyone who survives the long difficult road to the Final Destination. This symbolic link between the real world and the imaginary battlefields of Super Smash Bros. Melee is quite a handful in battle, and just because he wears a white glove doesn't mean he fights clean. Get ready to get flicked, swatted, punched, and poked like crazy!
  • Super Smash Bros. 04/99

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Official artwork of Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Main article: Master Hand (SSBB)

Master Hand reprises his role as the final boss of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and once again is fought on Final Destination. His attacks are very similar to that of his Melee form with some changes. The amount of HP he has is still dependent on the set difficulty. Crazy Hand also returns in Classic Mode if certain conditions are met.

Role in Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary

Master Hand released from his bonds during the Subspace Emissary.

Master Hand also appears in The Subspace Emissary, as the one giving orders to Ganondorf, Bowser and Wario. Soon after a Subspace Bomb is used on King Dedede's castle, Ganondorf receives new orders from Master Hand via a video screen.

However, when all of the characters arrive in Subspace, Ganondorf reports to Master Hand after betraying Bowser. When Master Hand reveals himself, however, Ganondorf sees that he has actually been under the control of a powerful being called Tabuu. Tabuu had enslaved Master Hand using chains of light knowing that he could control and use him for recruiting fighters to aid him in his goals.

Ganondorf defiantly attempts to attack Tabuu but is easily knocked back, though his fall breaks the chains of light that Tabuu used to control Master Hand with, thus freeing him. Master Hand subsequently falls into the ground, bleeding from where he was enchained. Master Hand too attempts to strike Tabuu but is beaten with little effort, collapsing once again into the ground and lying motionless in defeat. Whatever happens to Master Hand afterwards is never revealed.

Trophy

Master Hand trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Master Hand's trophy in Brawl
Master Hand
A being tied to the link between this world, where trophies fight, and the world beyond. The meaning of his existence is unknown, as are his goals, but he seems to have obtained (and kept hidden) a power that borders on absolute. He also seems to feel a certain joy in challenging chosen warriors who've claimed many victories. He waits even now in Final Destination.
N64: Super Smash Bros.
Wii: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Master Hand in SSB4
Main article: Master Hand (SSB4)

Master Hand is once again the final boss of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. 4. At higher intensities he is fought along with Crazy Hand, and after taking a certain amount of damage, he writhes about in the air before releasing a dark mass named Master Core. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, he stars in his own mode named Master Orders.

Unlike the previous games, Master Hand and Crazy Hand share a HP meter. Each of them have new attacks they perform both individually and in conjunction with each other, such as the two tossing energy balls to one another and Crazy Hand opening a rift that sucks in characters that get caught inside.

Trophy

Master Hand's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Master Hand's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Master Hand
NTSC The mysterious Master Hand is the source of creation in the Smash Bros. universe. He appears in Final Destination when all other rivals are defeated. He fights with a diverse move set and only grows stronger if you make him angry. If you know when to fight and when to dodge, you'll take him down!
PAL Master Hand personifies creation in the Smash Bros. universe. After defeating all your rivals, you face him in Final Destination. He forms various shapes to unleash a wide range of attacks, and on high intensities he'll become speedier, deal more damage and launch you further. To beat him, you'll need to know when to attack and when to hold back.
N64: Super Smash Bros. (04/1999)
Wii U: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
An icon for denoting incomplete things.
Main article: Master Hand (SSBU)

Master Hand appears in Adventure Mode: World of Light. In the introductory cinematic, an army of many Master Hands is seen attacking the fighters alongside new foe Galeem. The Master Hands break open to reveal glowing energy-like forms within, which are then absorbed by Galeem before it unleashes a blast of light that destroys the fighters. Master Hand can also be seen as a boss or hazard on the mode's overworld map. If the player does not too the balance of power too far towards Galeem or Dharkon, the player will fight both main antagonists (as they fight each other as well), and Master Hand and Crazy Hand will join them. Crazy Hand creates a giant rift so that Master Hand can defeat 50 false characters as a temporary playable character.

Other appearances

File:KatAMHand.png
Master Hand's artwork in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror.
File:Master crazy hand.jpg
Master Hand and Crazy Hand in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror.

Master Hand appears in the Game Boy Advance game Kirby & The Amazing Mirror as a mini-boss. Inhaling him will give Kirby the Smash ability, an ability that gives Kirby some of his moves from Super Smash Bros. Melee (though in a slightly altered state). Master Hand and Crazy Hand are also the bosses of the Candy Constellation stage.

In Kirby Squeak Squad, an enemy that resembles Master Hand appears on some levels, but it is made up of black particles similar to the Master Core.

Playability

In Melee, the Master Hand glitch, a particular application of the Name Entry glitch, allows a player to control Master Hand. Aside from this, the only other methods of controlling Master Hand are by hacking with a cheating device such as GameShark or Action Replay. Several rumors exist of being able to control Master Hand in other games, particularly the original Super Smash Bros., all currently are false. In Ultimate however, he is now playable in the final stage of World of Light.

Trivia

  • Master Hand and his left hand counterpart Crazy Hand both share voice actors with the announcer in each Smash Bros. game to date.
  • Super Smash Bros. 4 is the first installment since the original Super Smash Bros. to show a VS. screen when the player reaches Master Hand in Classic Mode.
    • This is also the first time an announcer call is used in-game for Master Hand, along with Crazy Hand.
  • His idle pose consists of him simply clenching his fist. However, in all games except Super Smash Bros., this is not seen in normal gameplay due to the AI not allowing enough time between his attacks. It can be seen by using the Master Hand glitch in Melee, or using Boss control codes in Boss Battles mode in Brawl.
    • However, in Super Smash Bros. 4, there is a chance that Master Hand will not attack for a while due to Crazy Hand attacking by himself, resulting in him doing the idle pose.
  • Melee and Brawl are the only games in the series where Master Hand does not have his own theme song.
    • In Brawl, however, Master Hand's battle music is slightly altered from the Final Destination theme in that it skips the short intro at the beginning of the song and goes straight to the lyrics.
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the first game in the Smash series to have Master Hand playable through normal means.
  • Melee, Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4 are the only games in the series where Master Hand fights in the respected corner (Master Hand on the right and Crazy Hand on the left) Whereas he is free roaming the final destination stage during battle in both the original Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also the very first game where Master Hand can be stunned and incapacitated during battle.

See also

References

  1. ^ Masahiro Sakurai (10th April, 2008). Mysteries of The Subspace Emissary (text). Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Retrieved on 24th June, 2011. “Master Hand is the master of our world.”
  2. ^ CrappyCaptureDevice (3rd February, 2008). Master Hand's Moves - History Behind Super Smash Bros. Melee (video). YouTube. Retrieved on 24th June, 2011. “Shows where a few of the Master Hand's moves come from.”