Norfair

Norfair
File:Metroid Icon.gif
Universe	Metroid
Appears in	SSBB
Availability	Starter
Tournament legality Brawl Singles: Counter-pick Doubles: Counter-pick

Norfair is a stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It was revealed on Smash Bros. DOJO!! on November 9, 2007.

Overview

In Super Metroid, Norfair was a very hot, dangerous area of the planet Zebes and was Ridley's home. In Brawl, Norfair has five small platforms in the air with a volatile sea of lava at the bottom of the stage. The pass-through platforms are ideal for characters with far-reaching ground attacks or for characters with good air game/up-specials.

As you fight on Norfair, lava will rise every so often and cover the platforms, similar to the acid in Brinstar in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Lava sometimes falls from the sides too - this hazard covers half of the stage. A wave of lava will also appear from time to time, slowly approaching the stage from the background. When this wave forms, a safe area will pop up on a random platform, with the design based on the bubble doors from the Metroid series. It is unnecessary to fight for this safe haven as all lava hazards can be shielded and even perfect shielded with decent timing, and since characters can still be hit through the refuge by those on the outside, it can be more of a hindrance than a help. It is also possible with characters with many short jumps such as DeDeDe, Kirby and Jigglypuff to completely avoid the wave by jumping over it. The final stage hazard of Norfair are the ocassional showers of lava that spurt in an arc and land on the middle platforms, which are better avoided than shielded given the difficulty in determining where they will hit.

Currently, Norfair is officially ruled as a "counter-pick" by the SBR, but is still frequently banned in tournament play. Proponents of banning the stage claim that the increased number of edges promotes stalling the game by constantly alternating between edges for invincibility, and that the lava plumes provide an unnecessary degree of unpredictability. Those who believe the stage should be counter-pickable insist that ledge-stalling is not that effective, and that the uniqueness of the stage is not brought down by the hazards, which can be defended against fairly easily. Regardless, the stage can assist characters who are easily gimped, since they are given more opportunities to grab an edge (especially tethers). The only exception to this rule is Ivysaur, who not only has a horrible air game, but is vulnerable to fire-based knockback.

Trivia

• A new platform is created in the background for the Pokemon Trainer to move around on if he is selected.
• If you use Zelda/Sheik's Transform move just before you touch the lava at the bottom when the stage lowers, it is possible to either take a few hits from the lava until you rise again from it, or get KOed.
• With proper timing, it is possible to avoid damage from the large lava wave by sidestepping or using Counter.
• The safe zone that comes when the lava wave appears will always spawn an item.
• This is the only stage in Brawl in which the "true" theme has to be unlocked.

Songs in My Music

The wave of the lava coming in to the stage. The safe zone (shown in the upper right corner) is the primary way to avoid getting damaged.

• Main Theme (Metroid)
• Ending (Metroid)
• Norfair
• Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior
• Battle Scene/Final Boss (Golden Sun)
• Marionation Gear

Songs in bold must be unlocked