Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the fifth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series, and was developed by Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Games. While this game and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS were developed simultaneously, the Nintendo 3DS version launched earlier due to its earlier completion of development.

Gameplay
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U have some similarities and differences from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as differences between the two versions. Final Smashes and Footstool Jumping make a return, while the "tripping" mechanic has been removed. The pace of battles has also been stated to be in between Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Both games have the same roster of playable characters in order to keep them consistent. The movesets and animations of some returning characters were changed more significantly than during the transition from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with many returning characters having completely new moves, and major alterations (such as Pit). Aesthetically, the games are much more stylized and visually intense than previous entries, with the overall colors being bolder and brighter and many elements having been redone to stand out more.

The Wii U version does not make much use of the GamePad's touch screen during gameplay. However, in addition to Off-TV Play, the Wii U GamePad can display in-battle stats, such as damage percentages. Like in all games, Smash has its traditional fighting game mode with its customized rules where four chosen fighters play on chosen stages. This includes the Stamina mode (where players get HP that decreases), Time (time limit), Stock (lives) and Coin Battle (winner is the one that collects the most coins). Special Smash also returns in this version, allowing players to battle under certain conditions.

Customization/cross-connectivity
Players can send customized fighters from one version to the other. Players can customize fighter's special attacks with one of three variations for each. The Mii Fighters and Palutena, however, have custom special attacks that aren't variants of the original attacks; these are unlocked from the beginning. Players can also equip items to fighters to increase specific attributes (attack, defense, or speed) while sacrificing others. Up to three items can be equipped at a time, and some items provide additional side effects to the fighter.

Custom characters cannot be used in With Anyone online. Additionally, by connecting the two games the player can use their Nintendo 3DS as a controller for the Wii U version ; alternatively, players can download the "Smash Controller" application off the Nintendo 3DS eShop to use their system as a controller.

8-Player Smash
A new game mode known as 8-Player Smash is also available. As opposed to the traditional four player battles Super Smash Bros. is known for, up to eight players can join a single battle. In this special game mode, most stages are restricted when five or six players are playing and even more when seven or eight are playing.

Smash Tour
Smash Tour is a new mode serving as the exclusive mode for the Wii U version. Smash Tour is a board game mode in which players (as Miis) travel around a board by spinning a wheel, collecting fighters and power-ups for their fighters scattered around the board. Players start with two fighters by default. If two players cross paths, then all players are pitted into a Smash battle for a reward, and the winner obtains a fighter from one of the other players. Players may also obtain items that can be used to trigger various effects, and random events may also occur on the board. Checkpoints are also scattered around the board which boost players' stats when they pass over them. After all the turns have ended, players fight in a Stock match using their stat boosts, their stock based on the fighters they collected. The player can choose between a small, normal-sized, and big board to play on.

Special Orders
In Special Orders, the player has the choice of playing either "Master Orders" or "Crazy Orders", referring to Master Hand and Crazy Hand. In their respective modes, Master Hand and Crazy Hand construct challenges for the player. Players purchase tickets in order to face challenges. In Master Orders, players purchase tickets in order to try one of three challenges, the reward depending on the difficulty; each ticket is used separately, and each challenge may only be tried once. Playing Crazy Orders requires the player to either use a pass or pay gold; the player can then play any number of challenges to rack up rewards within a set time limit before facing Crazy Hand in a final battle. If the player loses at any point they lose some of their rewards.

Events
Events return exclusively in the Wii U version of the game, in which players take on a series of themed battles. Events are arranged in a grid, however, and the path forward reveals itself when the player completes a given event. Players can also receive various rewards such as trophies, gold, and Special Orders passes by completing challenges. Like in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, two player Events are also available.

Classic
The Wii U version's Classic Mode operates in a different manner from that of the 3DS version. It still maintains the intensity system in the 3DS version; players can spend gold to increase the intensity level, and if the player gets a Game Over, some of his/her rewards will be lost, and the intensity will lower by .5, unless the intensity level is set at 2.0.

Instead of paths, the player has to choose which group of fighters that he/she wants to fight. As many as seven opponents may be fought in a single stage. One of the opponents includes the rival, which is programmed to be harder than the other opponents. The longer the rival stays alive, the stronger it'll become. On some occasions, an intruder may pop up for one match; the intruder will either be giant-sized or metallic. Some opponents may even possess rewards, which can either be gold, trophies, custom parts, or a Crazy Orders Pass.

When the player KOs any opponents, their trophies will be displayed in the "Fighters Defeated" box. The defeated opponents can later be used as allies for any team battle matches. In team battles, opponents that the player's allies KO will also be added to the "Fighters Defeated" box.

There are a total of seven stages, with the first three stages consisting of battles against default opponents and the rival. For stages 4 and 5, the player will face an additional group of opponents, but they'll use their alternate color schemes; these opponents may also come equipped with their custom special moves. Stage 6 pits the player against the Fighting Mii Team, where he/she must KO twenty Fighting Miis. Stage 7 pits the player against Master Hand, but higher intensities will add Crazy Hand, and even Master Core to the mix. Unlike in the 3DS version, the player does not have the option to avoid fighting Crazy Hand on intensity levels 3.0 and higher.

All-Star
Unlike Classic, All-Star is almost the same as in the Nintendo 3DS version. Some differences include a larger rest area, and the reversed fighting order; in the beginning, players face the characters that debuted first, later finishing with the oldest fighters in the game.

* - Only available in the full All-Star mode. ** - Downloadable character. Only available as an opponent in this mode after downloading, but it will be removed from the list if the player deletes the game's DLC data. Inclusion does not affect any of the game's challenges. *** - Downloadable stage. Only available in this mode after downloading.

Stadium
Just like in the Nintendo 3DS version, three stadium games are playable. Home-Run Contest follows the same rules as in the previous installment but with an option to compete with four players. Target Blast now has three stages to play with instead of one, up to four players can participate, and the bomb is bigger in the second round, resulting a bigger explosion when that happens. Multi-Man Smash remains the same as in the Nintendo 3DS version.

Vault
Similar to the Nintendo 3DS version, the Vault allows players to view and buy Trophies and view records, tips, and replays as well as listen to the sound effects and music. In this version however, players can also view the games' promotional trailers, ending movies for the fighters, as well as play Masterpieces.

Trophies
There are a total of 716 trophies in the Wii U version. In the Trophies menu, players have the option to buy Trophies from the Trophy Shop like in the Nintendo 3DS version. Trophy Rush is also available, though in this version up to two players can play. Like in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Photo Studio allows the player to pose and resize their Trophies on various backgrounds and take pictures of them. Another new mode known as Trophy Box allows the player to fill boxes with trophies based on a given criteria, such as game series (Paper Mario, New Super Mario Bros.) or specific games (Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2).

Masterpieces
Masterpieces from Super Smash Bros. Brawl returns as a feature exclusively in the Wii U installment. It offers many short demos of past Nintendo games that can be played for a certain amount of time. The game can redirect the player to the Nintendo eShop where they may purchase the Virtual Console version of the game, if it is available on the service.

The following is a list of the Masterpieces:
 * Super Mario Bros.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
 * Wrecking Crew
 * Kirby's Dream Land
 * Kirby's Adventure
 * Kirby Super Star
 * The Legend of Zelda
 * Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
 * ''Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (Japan only)
 * Super Mario World
 * Super Mario Kart
 * Dr. Mario (Game Boy)
 * Yoshi
 * Mega Man 2
 * F-Zero
 * Pilotwings
 * Pac-Man
 * Balloon Fight
 * Donkey Kong
 * Punch-Out!!
 * Metroid
 * Super Metroid
 * Kid Icarus
 * EarthBound

Online Play
This game features online play similar to Super Smash Bros. Brawl in that players from all over the world can face others in matches. When playing With Friends, players can customize the rules to their liking. Voice chat is also available when playing With Friends, though like Mario Kart 8 it can only be used between battles. When playing With Anyone, two basic options are available: For Fun and For Glory. In For Fun mode, players battle on randomly-selected normal stages, excluding Final Destination, with all items turned on. Losses are not recorded in this mode. In For Glory mode, players only play on the flat, Final Destination versions of stages, without items. Players can either play standard Smash or Team Smash matches in both modes, and For Glory offers a 1-on-1 mode as well.

Conquest pits some of the game's various characters against each other, and players who win battles with them in With Anyone mode will add points to that character's score. After a few days, the winning fighter is revealed, players who took part in the conquest by playing as that character get rewarded with gold, and the next conquest begins.

Spectate mode allows players to view matches and bet gold on their outcome, view replays of past online matches, and view a map showing the players currently online.

Rather than an online leaderboard, the game makes use of a different type of ranking system, called "Global Smash Power". A player's GSP score is recorded for each of the various single-player modes, the number indicating how many players around the world they outrank.

Playable characters
This installment features a total of 49 playable characters, counting the three types of Mii Fighter as one character. These consist of 34 veterans and 15 newcomers. Certain characters from previous Super Smash Bros. games have been removed from the rosters of both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions in order to keep them consistent, partly due to limitations with the Nintendo 3DS version. Unlike previous games in the series, with the removal of in-game transformations, Sheik, Zero Suit Samus, and Charizard are now standalone characters.

Mewtwo has been confirmed to return from Super Smash Bros. Melee as a downloadable, 50th character, releasing for free to Club Nintendo members who signed up for a promotion involving the purchase of both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions of the game. It was released as a paid download later on for those who did not register both versions. In addition, two more characters returned from previous installments as downloadable characters including Roy from Super Smash Bros. Melee and Lucas from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Ryu from Street Fighter made his debut appearance as the 53rd playable character.

NOTE: Characters in italics are newcomers.

Character movesets

 * F.L.U.D.D. (Mario attack)
 * Toad (Peach attack)
 * Mechakoopa (Bowser Jr. attack)
 * Shadow Mario (Bowser Jr.'s Final Smash)
 * Navi (Link taunt)
 * Phantom (Zelda attack)
 * Gordo (King Dedede attack)
 * Chrom (Robin's Final Smash)
 * Pikmin (Olimar attack)
 * Lloid (Villager attack)
 * Tom Nook (Villager's Final Smash)
 * Timmy and Tommy Nook (Villager's Final Smash)
 * Rush (Mega Man attack)
 * Mega Man X (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Mega Man Volnutt (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * MegaMan.EXE (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Star Force Mega Man/Geo Stellar (Mega Man's Final Smash)
 * Wild Gunman (Duck Hunt attack and Final Smash)
 * Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and/or Clyde (Pac-Man attack and taunt)
 * Galaga (Pac-Man attack and taunt)
 * Galaxian (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Gaplus (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Mappy (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Pooka (Pac-Man taunt)
 * King (King & Balloon) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Souvalou (Xervious ship) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Boscononian (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Hero (Tower of Duraga) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Hero (Dragon Buster) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Sky Kid (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Rally-X Car (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Unknown beholder-like creature (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Unknown fuzzy troll-like creature (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Don-chan (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Dunban (Shulk's Final Smash)
 * Riki (Shulk's Final Smash)

Stage bosses

 * Nabbit (Mushroom Kingdom U)
 * Yellow Devil (Wily Castle)
 * Ridley/Meta Ridley (Pyrosphere)
 * Metal Face (Gaur Plains)
 * Master Hand
 * Crazy Hand
 * Master Core

Stages
Both versions have different stages with a few exceptions. The Nintendo 3DS version features 34 stages, while there is 47 for the Wii U version, making a total of 81 stages between both. The Wii U version mostly features stages based on games released on home consoles, while the 3DS version mostly features stages based on games released on handheld systems. In the Nintendo 3DS version, each stage has only two tracks that can play, whereas the Wii U version has a comprehensive list similar to My Music from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Additionally, players can toggle between playing on "Final Destination" variations of most stages (represented by a "Ω") in addition to playing on the standard versions, being a flat course with no obstacles or other platforms. Stages listed in italics are unlockable.

Items
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U feature many new items. Both versions feature the same types of items.

Normal items
75 items, 26 of which are new, appear in the games.

Assist Trophies
In both games, Assist Trophies return. 37 Assist Trophies are featured, of which 21 are new, and the other 18 are returning from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Pokémon
Just like the Assist Trophies, Nintendo has implemented the use of Pokémon. This set of Pokémon features more focus on the fifth and sixth generations, but still features Pokémon from previous generations. The Wii U and 3DS versions have the same amount of Pokemon. 40 different species are featured, of which 23 are new.

Reception
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has received critical acclaim, praising its variety of modes and character selection.

Within three days of launch in North America, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sold over 490,000 units, making it the fastest-selling Wii U title in North America. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U also won the award for the "Best Fighting Game" at The Game Awards 2014.

1.0.1
Release date: November 21, 2014 On the same day as the release of the game, update version 1.0.1 was released for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The update makes fixes to enhance gameplay stability. For those who pre-ordered the game digitally, the update is part of the game download.

Replay data that was created before this update will be rendered unplayable.

1.0.2
Release date: January 29, 2015 The second update was released January 29, 2015, the update's download size is 316 MB, and it updates the game to version 1.0.2. It is also required for online play. The update adds 15 additional stages to 8-Player Smash mode, nine standard and six omega forms, in addition to making other minor fixes.

1.0.6
Release date: April 15, 2015 The third update for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was released the same day as the Mewtwo downloadable content for Club Nintendo members as well as the additional Mii suits, updating the game directly to version 1.0.6, the same as the current version of the Nintendo 3DS game. In addition to adjusting the character balance, the update adds a prompt to the Notifications menu to take players directly to the Nintendo eShop to purchase downloadable content. The update also adds Share mode to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, allowing players to post, view, and download replays, photos, Mii Fighters, and custom stages online. The update also adds six additional Ω versions of stages to 8-Player Smash mode.

The update is required to use any purchased downloadable content.

1.0.7
Release date: April 23, 2015 For the game's fourth update, a glitch in interpreting Global Smash Power for Mewtwo was fixed that prevented players from accessing Online, since the data was interpreted as invalid.

1.0.8
Release date: June 14, 2015 The fourth game update allows for the game to receive the latest set of downloadable content. The Miiverse stage, along with Dreamland N64 has been added into the game, and individual communities have been created for every character allowing users to post comments to cheer that fighter on. Various other gameplay adjustments have also been made.

Future updates
According to series director Masahiro Sakurai, Tournament mode is planned to be added into the game in August. Also planned is the ability to post replays to Miiverse and YouTube.

Downloadable content
Three downloadable features have been confirmed thus far; a Miiverse stage exclusive to the Wii U version, and Mewtwo as well as Lucas as playable fighters in both versions. The Miiverse stage will be released for free shortly after the Wii U release. Mewtwo is released in April 2015 as the DLC, for both versions; owners of both versions that have registered the games in Club Nintendo will receive the DLC for free. Lucas is planned for release in June.

amiibo
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U natively features amiibo support, and is the first Wii U game to feature amiibo compatibility. Using these figures allows players to have the figure's character appear in the game and fight, either with or against the player or against each other. Every time an amiibo competes in battle, it increases its level and battle stats, the highest level being fifty. Its moves are also customizable. The Super Smash Bros. line of amiibo launched alongside the Wii U game as the first line of amiibo figurines; the Super Smash Bros. line is being released in waves, with every fighter planned to receive an amiibo.

Soundtrack


A two-disc soundtrack for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U was distributed exclusively to Club Nintendo members who registered a copy of both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game before January 13, 2015. The red disc contains tracks from the Nintendo 3DS game, while the blue disc contains tracks from the Wii U game.

Pre-release and unused content
According to Masahiro Sakurai on Famitsu, he was planning on adding the Ice Climbers for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, but despite the characters running without problems on the Wii U version, the team had trouble getting the Ice Climbers working in the Nintendo 3DS version due to issues on the hardware power that Sakurai mentions in the Super Smash Bros. Direct video that all fighters will get 60 FPS in the Nintendo 3DS version during in the development that caused the problem during in the debug testing. However, remnants of their chant in the game can be found through a glitch.

In The Mushroom Kingdom U stage if Yoshi loses his last stock he can get stuck inside of Nabbit. The egg will stay inside of Nabbit until he leaves the stage. The details of this glitch are still unknown.