Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the fourth installment and the first handheld game in the Super Smash Bros. series. Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Games developed these games. It is developed at the same time as its partner game, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but it is released earlier due to earlier completion. It shares many contents as its partner game, but it has a few exclusives, most notably, the Smash Run mode. It can also connect with its partner game and transfer customized characters between each other, and the Nintendo 3DS can be used as a controller for the Wii U version. The game requires 2.1 GB (17,300 blocks) of memory on an SD Card, if downloaded from the Nintendo eShop. Screenshots cannot be posted to the games' Miiverse community from an original Nintendo 3DS model, as the game's high processing requirements stop Miiverse from being accessible when the game is active. The New Nintendo 3DS, however, can access Miiverse, due to its improved processing power.

Gameplay
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS features similar gameplay to its predecessors, although it most closely resembles the engine in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For instance, air dodging has remained the same and Final Smashes and Footstool Jumping have returned, although random tripping has been removed.

The core gameplay of the Smash Bros. games consist of characters having percentages starting at zero. When they take damage, their percentages rise and they get more easily knocked away. A character is KO'd once that character is knocked far enough, beyond the blast line, indicated by a colorful explosion, falling in the background and turning into a star, or hitting the screen.

Characters can attack with simple button commands. The button is used generally for standard attacks, and the direction of  while  button is pressed can dictate the direction, type, and strength of attack. Tapping while pressing  initiates a Smash Attack, a strong move which is often used to score KOs. is used for special attacks, which can vary from character to character, although their up specials tend to be recovery moves. Players can shield to block attacks with. Grabbing, which can stop shielding or help position opponents, is done with. The trigger buttons have been switched from the previous Super Smash Bros. games, where one left should button is used for shielding while one right shoulder button is used for grabbing.

Each character is given at least two jumps, activated by pressing, , or by pressing up on , which can be extended once with an up special move, usually. If players are knocked out of the stage, they can use these jumps to attempt to recover to the stage.

Aesthetically, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS features black outlines around each fighter. Players can adjust the outline from three options: thick, thin, and none. During a team match, regardless of the option, an outline corresponding to the team color surrounds the character. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are the first games that allow any character's color to be on a team, whereas on the previous Super Smash Bros. games, characters are required to use one of three colors that match their team. For example, in the previous Super Smash Bros. games, Mario on the blue team is required to use his blue color scheme where in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Mario can use any color scheme to be on the blue team.

From the transition from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the overall theme has been changed, with brighter and bolder colors, and many characters have a more cartoony set of facial expressions.

Customization/cross-connectivity
Players can customize each fighter by giving them equipment to increase specific attributes (attack, defense, or speed) while sacrificing others. Up to three pieces of equipment can be equipped at a time, and some items provide additional side effects to the fighter. Players can customize fighter's special attacks with one of three variations for each, provided that the variations are unlocked first. The Mii Fighters and Palutena, however, have custom special attacks that original moves; these are unlocked from the beginning. Players can have up to ten custom characters saved at a time, though the player can have as many Mii Fighters as they want. Custom characters cannot be used in With Anyone online.

Players can send customized fighters from one version to the other. Custom fighters transferred from one version cannot be edited on the receiving version, however. Additionally, by connecting the two games the player can use their Nintendo 3DS as a controller for the Wii U version.

Smash Run
A new mode, Smash Run is a Nintendo 3DS-exclusive mode strongly resembling the City Trial mode from Kirby Air Ride while including elements of the Subspace Emissary mode from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In this mode, players travel in a large maze-like map, fighting enemies from both Nintendo games and from Super Smash Bros. games, such as Magikoopas, Chandelure, Goombas, Shy Guys, and Kremlings. Before going into battle, players can equip powers, which have a variety of effects, such as being a more powerful attack, temporarily increasing stats, healing, or equipping the player with an item. The player can equip only a certain number of powers based on their weight, the maximum weight being determined by the player's current equipment and the fighter.

While fighting, players can collect several items similar to patches. These stat boosts can increase attack power, special attack power, jumping, or movement speed; there are also special stat boosts which increase all stats. After five minutes, players are shown their final stats, courtesy of the stat boosts they collected, and they are pitted in one of several modes, similar to the Stadiums from City Trial, in which players must fulfill the given conditions to win.

StreetSmash
StreetSmash is another new game mode serving as the StreetPass functionality for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Players compete against other player character's tokens with their own by charging into them to knock them off the stage. Players attack by holding down the to build up power, then letting it go and holding the Control Pad in a certain direction to charge forward into an opponent. Players can also shield by pressing, and can dodge by moving when shielding; pressing after dodging allows the player to counterattack. In StreetSmash mode players can either play against other players they have StreetPassed with or in practice mode; both allow the player to earn gold.

Classic
Like previous games in the series, Classic mode has the player travel through a series of challenges to reach the end. However, this mode is shorter than before, only being six stages long. Before starting, the player can adjust the difficulty level by betting gold, exactly like the Fiend's Cauldron from Kid Icarus: Uprising; a higher difficulty yielding better rewards. The player can also choose to lower the intensity below 2.0, but has to pay 5G for every level decrease that's made. Intensity level 2.0 doesn't require any gold to play. If at any point the player gets a game over, the intensity level automatically lowers itself by .5 if they decide to try again. However, the intensity will never drop below 2.0; if the player plays on a difficulty lower than 2.0 and gets a game over, the intensity also does not lower.

Before each challenge, the player travels across a map, and they can select which challenge to face by taking one of the diverging paths colored by difficulty, with blue being the easiest, green being medium, and red being the hardest; opponents are based upon the characters the player has unlocked, and unlocking any characters allows the player to face them in Classic. After each match, the player can receive various rewards, including gold, trophies, and custom parts; the exact type of reward depends on the results of a roulette before the battle. As the intensity increases, so does the number of rewards.

Classic Mode consists of six rounds: four are normal, the fifth involves fighting 10 enemies that are significantly easier to launch (either a "team" of a character or the Fighting Mii Team), and the final round is a boss fight. The player can face either Master Hand or, if the intensity is 3.0 or higher, the player can choose a black path to fight both Master Hand and Crazy Hand. (If the intensity is 8.0 or higher, then only the black path will be available.) If the intensity is 5.1 or higher, the player must also fight the Master Core. The number of its forms the player will have to fight varies depending on the intensity level.

All-Star
All-Star mode also returns from Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl and up to two players can play together locally just like the latter game. In this mode, players fight against every playable character (except for the Mii Fighters) until they reach the end; this time, however, characters are organized by time periods they were introduced in rather than by series. All-Star Mode is also available from the beginning of the game, though the player can only play against the default roster until every character is unlocked. After each match, players may be given a reward, and occasionally a trophy or custom part will appear in the break room. The break room also gives the player a Maxim Tomato, Fairy Bottle, and Heart Container to heal between matches; in the full All-Star mode, the player is given a second Heart Container. When All-Star Mode is cleared, the player earns a trophy of an alternate color of their character rather than a Final Smash trophy like in the previous game.

* - only available in the full All-Star mode.

** - Downloadable character, only available as an opponent in this mode after downloading.

Training
Training also returns from previous games, identical to the previous games. Within Training, players can train against a computer opponent, and can automatically select items that appear, game speed, the number of CPU opponents, their behavior, and the current amount of damage for all players. The player can also adjust the camera view and toggle the info display at the top of the screen, as well as restart the session or quit.

Stadium
In Stadium mode, three different games are available: Multi-Man Smash, Home-Run Contest, and Target Blast. The Home-Run Contest works like in previous games, in that players have ten seconds to build up damage on the Sandbag before having to launch it as far as they can. Several tweaks have also been made to this mode from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, such as having a more durable shield.

In Multi-Man Smash, the player fights against the Fighting Mii Team, consisting of Miis loaded from those on the player's system. Two players can also play this mode together via local wireless. The options for this mode are the same as in the previous games, though with a brand new mode as well:


 * 10-Man Smash - The player must defeat ten enemies.
 * 100-Man Smash - The player must defeat 100 enemies.
 * 3-Minute Smash - The player must defeat as many Miis as possible in three minutes.
 * Rival Smash - A brand new mode, in which players compete against a computer version of themselves to defeat as many enemies as possible before being KO'd. Once KO'd, however, only the difference between scores is counted as the player's final score; if the player KO's less Miis than the opponent, their score is zero.
 * Endless Smash - The player must defeat as many enemies as possible before being KO'd.
 * Cruel Smash - The player must fight against more difficult enemies that can easily KO, and defeat as many as possible.

Target Blast functions like a combination of the Home-Run Contest and Target Smash in previous games. In this mode, players have ten seconds to attack and launch a bomb to destroy as many targets as possible; the countdown starts as soon as the player starts attacking. There are fourteen large, red targets and several more smaller, green amongst structures that must be broken through; a trophy, piece of equipment, or special move may also be among the targets. Also scattered throughout are explosives that can be detonated by having the bomb touch them. The player has two rounds to break as many targets as they can and accumulate the highest score possible.

Vault
Within the vault, players can view collected trophies, snapshots taken during play, and saved replays; listen to the game's music and voices in the sounds menu; view records; and view a series of tips.

Trophies
There are a total of 685 trophies in the 3DS version. Within the trophies menu itself, players have the option of viewing their collected trophies or earning more by either buying them in the shop or by playing the Trophy Rush minigame.

In Trophy Rush, the player must pay gold to increase the amount of time they spend in the minigame, the minimum being thirty seconds and the maximum being 2:30. In the game itself, players must attack crates and rock blocks as they fall from above to destroy them; destroying multiple consecutively creates a chain that increase the player's score. Bomb blocks also fall and explode after three seconds. Destroying the falling blocks builds up a meter that, when full, initiates "Frenzy", in which gold, trophies, and on occasion custom parts fall from above for the player to collect. If the blocks and crates reach above a certain point or the player falls off the stage, the stage disappears, clearing the board and, in the case of the former, costing the player time.

Challenges
Also returning from Super Smash Bros. Brawl are Challenges. In this mode, players are given a board of challenges which can be completed by clearing the given criteria. Clearing a challenge unlocks a picture on the top screen as well as a trophy, custom part, stage, CD, Smash Run power, or Poké Ball Pokémon. Completing a certain number of challenges on a given panel unlocks a new panel of challenges. Occasionally the player will also be rewarded with a Golden Hammer, which can be used to automatically clear a challenge.

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. 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 became available in the Nintendo 3DS version through an update on September 15, 2014 in Japan, and October 2, 2014 in all other regions. Conquests pit 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.

As of version 1.0.5, there is also a Share mode, which allows players to send and download screenshots, replays, and Mii Fighters from around the world. Players can share their Mii Fighters and replays with friends or post them to the server, while snapshots can also be posted to Miiverse. When searching for replays players can search by their creator (self, anyone, or friends), location, mode, stage, and character; when searching for snapshots or Mii Fighters, players can search by creator, location, and, in the case of Mii Fighters, the type of fighter.

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 will release as a paid download later on for those who did not register both versions. It is the only DLC character confirmed so far.

NOTE: Characters in italics are newcomers.

Character movesets

 * F.L.U.D.D. (Mario attack)
 * Toad (Princess 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)
 * Fighter (Galaga) (Pac-Man attack and taunt)
 * Galaxip (Galaxian) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Hypership (Gaplus) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Mappy (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Pooka (Dig Dug) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * King (King and Balloon) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Solvalou (Xevious) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Fighter (Bosconian) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Gilgamesh (Tower of Duraga) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Clovis (Dragon Buster) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Red Baron (Sky Kid) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Car (Rally-X) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Paccet (Baraduke) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Topcup (Libble Rabble) (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Don-chan (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Dunban (Shulk's Final Smash)
 * Riki (Shulk's Final Smash)

Stage bosses

 * Dark Emperor (Find Mii)
 * Yellow Devil (Wily Castle)
 * Flying Man (Magicant)
 * Master Hand
 * Crazy Hand
 * Master Core

Mario series

 * Banzai Bill
 * Big Goomba
 * Bill Blaster
 * Bullet Bill
 * Chain Chomp
 * Flame Chomp
 * Goomba
 * Hammer Bro
 * Kamek
 * Koopa Paratroopa
 * Koopa Troopa
 * Lakitu
 * Shy Guy
 * Spike Top
 * Spiny

Donkey Kong series

 * Kritter
 * Tiki Buzz

The Legend of Zelda series

 * Bubble
 * Cucco
 * Darknut
 * Octorok
 * Peahat
 * Peahat Larva
 * ReDead
 * Stalfos

Metroid series

 * Kihunter
 * Metroid
 * Reo
 * Geemer

Yoshi series

 * Fly Guy

Kirby series

 * Bonkers
 * Bronto Burt
 * Gordo
 * Parasol Waddle Dee
 * Plasma Wisp
 * Shotzo
 * Tac
 * Waddle Dee
 * Waddle Doo

Pokémon series

 * Chandelure
 * Cryogonal
 * Gastly
 * Koffing
 * Petilil

Mother series

 * Devil Car
 * Starman

Ice Climber

 * Polar Bear

Kid Icarus series

 * Boom Stomper
 * Bumpety Bomb
 * Clubberskull
 * Daphne
 * Flage
 * Lethinium
 * Lurchthorn
 * Mahva
 * Megonta
 * Mimicutie
 * Monoeye
 * Nutski
 * Orne
 * Reaper
 * Reapette
 * Skuttler
 * Skuttler Cannoneer
 * Skuttler Mage
 * Souflee
 * Zuree

Pikmin series

 * Bulborb
 * Iridescent Glint Beetle

Rhythm Heaven series

 * Sneaky Spirit

Find Mii

 * Ghost

Sonic the Hedgehog series

 * Eggrobo

Mega Man series

 * Mettaur

Pac-Man series

 * Bacura
 * Pooka

Super Smash Bros. The Subspace Emissary series

 * Generator
 * Glice
 * Glire
 * Glunder
 * Mite
 * Poppant
 * Roturret

Stages
There are 34 stages in this game, with most of them being based on handheld games. Each stage has two songs, with players being able to play the alternate song by holding the R button while selecting a stage. Additionally, players can toggle between playing on "Final Destination" variations of all 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 features many new items.

Normal items
75 items, 26 of which are new, appear in this game.

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
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, this set of 40 Pokémon, 23 new features more focus on the fifth and sixth generations, but still contains Pokémon from previous generations. The Wii U and 3DS versions have the same amount of Pokemon. Several Pokémon such as Chikorita, Munchlax, Piplup, and Torchic however, have been removed or replaced from the previous games.

Reception
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has been generally praised by critics for taking the Super Smash Bros. formula and successfully putting it on a handheld device, as well as for the amount of content it has and the variety of customization options. The version-exclusive Smash Run mode has also met positive reception as a nice diversion from the standard gameplay. The graphics and gameplay have received overall praise, though several critics have noted issues with the game's controls, as well as the Nintendo 3DS's screen size being too small to keep track of the gameplay. The online mode has also been a point of contention, being prone to slowdown and input lag.

Within two days of its Japanese release, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sold over one million copies, combining both physical and digital sales. Sales of the physical game totaled at 944,644 units for its launch, selling through 93.45% of its initial shipment. The game was also the highest-selling game that week in Japan. Additionally, the game sold 705,000 copies in two days on its launch in the United States. On October 7th, 2014, four days after the international launch of the game, Nintendo announced that Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS had sold over 2.8 million copies worldwide. On October 29, 2014, it was announced that the game had sold 3.22 million copies worldwide since its original Japanese release. At The Game Awards 2014, the Nintendo 3DS version received nominations for the "Best Mobile/Handheld Game" and "Best Fighting Game" awards. However, it did not win either of these awards.

Demo
A downloadable demo for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released on the Japanese Nintendo eShop on September 9, 2014, and was released internationally on September 19; however, select Platinum rank Club Nintendo members who achieved the status during the 2013-2014 year and have registered a Nintendo 3DS and software were e-mailed four download codes for an unlimited use version of the demo. The demo requires 1016 blocks of space and the public version has 30 uses. The only mode available for play in the demo is Smash, playable both in solo and multiplayer via Download Play, though in the Games and More menu players can access the Tips option. Only Mario, Link, Pikachu, Villager, and Mega Man can be used in the demo. Each character also has only three alternate costumes available. The only stage available for play is Battlefield, both in normal and "Final Destination" form. A select number of items appear, though only when playing on normal Battlefield, and each match is by default a two minute time match.

1.0.1
Release date: September 13, 2014 (Japan) Blocks required: 372 An update for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released on launch day in Japan, updating the game to version 1.0.1. While players who buy a physical copy must manually download the update, the downloadable version comes with the update preinstalled. The update adds online functionality as well as Conquest mode, which started on September 15.

1.0.2
Release date: September 19, 2014 (Japan), October 2, 2014 (international) Blocks required: 264 On September 15, Nintendo announced a second update for the game, meant to fix a glitch in the online mode that accidentally bans players who play as Peach in the For Glory lobby. The update was released on September 19, 2014, updating the game to version 1.0.2. The update fixes the aforementioned glitch as well as making other unspecified changes. The update was also made available for the international versions of the game on October 2, 2014, updating the game to version 1.0.2 like the Japanese version and also allowing players to have the update in advance of obtaining the game. The update requires 264 blocks of space to download.

1.0.3
Release date: October 17, 2014 Blocks required: 561 On October 17, 2014, a third update for the game was released, updating the title to version 1.0.3. The update makes adjustments to the balance of the game, and hides the current Conquest statistics.

1.0.4
Release date: November 18, 2014 Blocks required: 658 (NA)/859 (EU) A fourth update for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was announced on November 11, 2014, and was released on November 18, updating the game to version 1.0.4; it requires 658 blocks to download in North America, and 859 in Europe. The update fixes some bugs and balancing issues. Replays saved before the update also cannot be viewed, and players also cannot play locally against other players who have not downloaded this update.

If players access their game data after updating to version 1.0.4, they will be required to have the update. If the update gets deleted, the game will no longer allow the players to access their game data until it's reinstalled; if the update isn't reinstalled, players will play a new game that never saves.

1.0.5
Release date: February 10, 2015 Blocks required: 1010 The fifth game update adds amiibo compatibility into the game for New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. The update also adds Share mode to the Online menu, which allows players to post photos, replays, and Mii Fighter data online, as well as share it with others on their friend list. Players can also upload photos to the Miiverse Snapshot Sharing Community.

1.0.6
Release date: April 15, 2015 Blocks required: 1388 The sixth software update for this game was released on the same day Mewtwo releases for Club Nintendo members who registered their games and the additional Mii costumes. The update adds the ability to purchase downloadable content in-game, as well as making adjustments to the character balance.

amiibo
As of the version 1.0.5 update Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, like the Wii U version, supports amiibo functionality, though only with New Nintendo 3DS systems; a peripheral will be released to add amiibo compatibility for standard Nintendo 3DS systems. Both games are also the first games for their respective consoles 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 is set to be released exclusively on Club Nintendo. Members who register a copy of both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game before January 13, 2015, can obtain a copy of the soundtrack. The red disc will contain tracks from the Nintendo 3DS game, while the blue disc will contain tracks from the Wii U game.

Beta elements
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. However, remnants of their chant in the game can be found through a glitch.