Super Smash Bros. (series)

The Super Smash Bros. series is a series of fighting games where popular Nintendo characters are pitted against each other to fight, with every character using their unique abilities in battle. Mario, as well as some of his friends, are playable in all of the series’ games. The games are very popular, not only for being one of Nintendo's few fighting games, but also being a mass cross-over of many of the popular Nintendo Series. This includes Mario series, Pokémon series, The Legend of Zelda series, Metroid series, Kirby  series, and many more. It also has numerous character cameos, as well as the reintroduction of many locations. It has become the quickest selling, and one of the most popular series in Nintendo history. Super Smash Bros. Melee is the best-selling game for the GameCube. Masahiro Sakurai has directed all three games, and is directing the next two games, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Super Smash Bros.


Super Smash Bros. is the first installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, introduced in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. The game features eight characters from the start, with four unlockable characters, all of them created by Nintendo or one of its second-party developers.

Up to four people can play in multiplayer (Versus) mode, with the specific rules of each match being predetermined by the players. There are two different types that can be chosen: Time, where the person with the most KOs at the end of the set time wins; and stock, where each person has a set amount of lives, and when they are gone, the player is eliminated.

This game's one-player mode included one adventure mode that always followed the same series of opponents although the player could change the difficulty. Other single player modes exist such as Training and several mini-games, including "Break the Targets" and "Board the Platforms". All of these were included in the sequel, with the exception of "Board the Platforms".

There are nine playable stages in Versus mode, eight based on each of the starting characters (such as Princess Peach's Castle for Mario, Zebes for Samus, and Sector Z for Fox) and the unlockable Mushroom Kingdom, based around motifs from the original Super Mario Bros. (from which the English-language name of the Super Smash Bros. series comes), even containing original sprites and the original version of the Overworld theme from that game.

Super Smash Bros. Melee


Super Smash Bros. Melee is the second installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, released in 2001 for the Nintendo GameCube. It had a larger budget and development team than Super Smash Bros. did and was released to much greater praise and acclaim among critics and consumers. Since its release, Super Smash Bros. Melee has sold more than 7 million copies and was the best-selling game on the GameCube. Super Smash Bros. Melee features 26 characters, of which 15 are available initially, more than doubling the number of characters in its predecessor. There are also 29 stages. It introduced two new single-player modes alongside the Classic mode: Adventure mode, and All-Star mode. Adventure mode has platforming segments similar to the original's "Race to the Finish" mini-game, and All-Star is a fight against every playable character in the game, allows the player only one life in which damage is accumulated over each battle and a limited number of heal items in between battles.

There are also significantly more multiplayer modes and a tournament mode allowing for 64 different competitors whom can all be controlled by a human player, although only up to four players can participate at the same time. Additionally, the game features alternative battle modes, called "Special Melee", which involve some sort of alteration to the battle (e.g. all characters are giant by default, the speed is faster than normal, etc.), along with alternative ways to judge a victory, such as through collecting coins throughout the match.

In place of Super Smash Bros.'s character profiles, Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced trophies (called "figures" in the Japanese version). The 293 trophies include three different profiles for each playable character, one unlocked in each single-player mode. In addition, unlike its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Melee contains profiles for many Nintendo characters who are either non-playable or do not appear in the game, as well as Nintendo items, stages, enemies, and elements.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl


Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, released in 2008 for the Wii. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is also the first game in the franchise to support online play, via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and offers the ability for players to construct their own original stages. The game features a total of 39 playable characters and 41 stages.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl also features compatibility with four kinds of controllers (the Wii Remote on its side, the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination, the Classic Controller, and the Nintendo GameCube controller), while its predecessors only used the one controller designed for that system. The player also has the ability to change the configuration of controls and the controller type.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl features a new Adventure Mode titled "The Subspace Emissary". This mode features unique character storylines along with numerous side scrolling levels and multiple bosses to fight, as well as CG cut scenes explaining the storyline. The Subspace Emissary features a new group of antagonists called the Subspace Army, who are led by the Ancient Minister. Some of these enemy characters appeared in previous Nintendo games, such as Petey Piranha from the Mario series and a squadron of R.O.B.s based on classic Nintendo hardware. The Subspace Emissary also boasts a number of original enemies, such as the Roader; a robotic unicycle, the Bytan; a one-eyed ball-like creature which can replicate itself if left alone, and the Primid; enemies that come in many variations. Though primarily a single-player mode, The Subspace Emissary allows for cooperative multiplayer. There are five difficulty levels for each stage, and there is a method of increasing characters' powers during the game. This is done by placing collected stickers onto the bottom of a character's trophy between stages to improve various aspects of a fighter.

Like its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Brawl introduces several new playable characters. Among them are Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake, the series' first third-party fighters.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U is the upcoming fourth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series. At E3 2011, it was confirmed that a new Super Smash Bros. title was in development for the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U, with the two versions being cross-compatible with each other in some way. Screenshots and further information for the game were revealed at E3 2013. The games were revealed to be titled simply Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The 3DS version will feature cel-shaded graphics and stages based on games for handheld consoles, while the Wii U version will feature HD graphics and stages based on games from home consoles. At the time, the only playable characters revealed were Mario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Link, Pikachu, Kirby, Samus, Fox, and Pit, as well as three new fighters: Villager, Wii Fit Trainer, and Mega Man; the series' third third-party character. However, several more characters have been revealed since, including several more veterans, and more newcomers, being Rosalina and Luma (announced during the December 2013 Nintendo Direct), Little Mac (announced during the February 2014 Nintendo Direct), Greninja (announced during the April 2014 Super Smash Bros. Direct), Mii Fighters, Palutena (both announced during the Nintendo Digital Event at E3 2014), Pac-Man (announced at the Super Smash Bros. developer roundtable at E3 2014), Lucina, Robin (both announced during July 2014 through a live trailer on the official website), and Shulk (announced during the August 2014 Nintendo Direct). Both versions of the game will have the same playable characters, and the 3DS version will be released first.

Gameplay
The series has a completely different gameplay compared to fighting games such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Instead of making an opponent lose all of their HP, players have to knock opponents off a stage. When a character gets attacked, their damage meter (represented by percentage) increases by up to 999%, and the higher the percentage is, the easier it is to knock an opponent off the stage. After being knocked off, a player can use jumping moves to try to return to the stage.

The Super Smash Bros. series has simple controls. Rather than having to memorize buttons like in Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros. games allow the "one attack, one button" style. Also, characters do not have to face their opponent, but can run around freely. Items can be used to help players recover their percentage or to KO opponents.

Animal Crossing series
A fairly big name from Nintendo, a stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is based on it called Smashville. Villager has also been confirmed to be playable in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Balloon Fight series
A somewhat minor first-party series by Nintendo. It was represented by the Balloon Fighter trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (also in this game, the music for Balloon Trip could be played on the Summit stage). It will be represented by a stage titled Balloon Fight in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Donkey Kong series
The Donkey Kong series consists of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. DK has appeared in all three games (and will appear in the upcoming fourth installment), while Diddy was introduced newly in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (and will return in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U).

Duck Hunt series
The Duck Hunt series is represented by the Duck Hunt dog and duck being playable fighters for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

EarthBound series
Ness (all three of the released games, unlockable in the original and Super Smash Bros. Brawl), and Lucas (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) represent this series. Lucas was supposed to replace Ness in Super Smash Bros. Melee but due to the fact that Mother 3 was delayed, Ness was put in instead.

Electroplankton series
Although there are no playable characters in this series, the emblem is used for Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Hanenbow stage.

Find Mii series
A series consisting of two games in StreetPass Mii Plaza (which is featured with Nintendo 3DS and its variations), this will be represented by a stage, named Find Mii, in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Fire Emblem series
Fire Emblem is a second party series, developed by Intelligent Systems. The series is represented by Marth, Roy, Ike, Lucina, and Robin. Marth appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Roy appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee only, Ike appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and Lucina and Robin will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

F-Zero series
A Nintendo first party series (although recently fallen into obscurity) represented by Captain Falcon. He has appeared as a playable character in all three released Super Smash Bros. games and will return in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Game & Watch series
One of the oldest gaming series, the very well known (but previously unnamed) character, Mr. Game & Watch, represents the series, appearing in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Ice Climber
The Ice Climber "series" (technically not a series, due to the fact that there is only one Ice Climber game) is represented by Popo and Nana, otherwise known as the Ice Climbers in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Kid Icarus series
The Kid Icarus series is a series consisting of only three games, in which one (Kid Icarus: Uprising) came out after Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is represented by Pit, who appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and Palutena, who is a newcomer in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Kirby series
The fourth-biggest series, the Kirby series is represented by Kirby (all), Meta Knight (Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U), and King Dedede (Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U). Despite being a major series, Kirby was the only fighter in the first two Super Smash Bros. games, although Meta Knight and King Dedede were later added in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. King Dedede was intended to appear in Super Smash Bros., but was removed due to time constraints. He and Meta Knight were later set to appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but Sakurai deemed himself too humble to include any more of his characters. The gameplay of Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Adventure Mode is loosely based on the Kirby series (mainly because of how HAL Laboratory provided the engine for the game).

Mario series
The possible main series of the Super Smash Bros. series; characters from the Mario series have appeared in all three released games, and at least five will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. There are two Mario series characters in Super Smash Bros., five in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and four in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. These characters are Mario (default in all three released, and will appear in the upcoming fourth installment), Luigi (unlockable in all three released, and will appear in the upcoming fourth installment), Princess Peach, Bowser (both Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U), Dr. Mario, (Super Smash Bros. Melee only), and Rosalina (newcomer in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U). Although the Mario series also includes Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Wario, they're excluded from the list, due to the fact that they have their own series and logos.

Mega Man series
Mega Man from his series of games of the same name will appear as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, as the third third-party character of the Super Smash Bros. series (after Snake and Sonic were introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl).

Metal Gear series
A major series, albeit third party. Solid Snake represents this series in Super Smash Bros. Brawl alone. Hideo Kojima, the producer of the Metal Gear series, requested Snake to be in Super Smash Bros. Melee, however production of the game was too far for his inclusion.

Metroid series
Another of Nintendo's major series. The Metroid games are represented by Samus in all three of the released games (she will also represent the series in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U). In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Samus has the option of playing as Zero Suit Samus. Additionally, in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Zero Suit Samus will be a seperate character from Samus. Despite being a major series, other characters from the Metroid series have failed to make playable appearances, although Ridley and Meta Ridley make appearances in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as bosses in the Subspace Emissary (Adventure) mode.

Nintendo DS
Not actually a series, but a handheld gaming system, there are no playable characters representing this. However, the emblem is used for Super Smash Bros. Brawl's PictoChat stage; PictoChat being a built-in application in all DS models (with the exception of the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS).

Nintendogs series
A virtual pet simulator series, the Nintendogs series was represented in Super Smash Bros. Brawl through an Assist Trophy, a trophy, and multiple stickers. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the series will be represented by an Assist Trophy again (although this time, the French Bulldog will be used instead of the Labrador Retriever from the previous installment), as well as a stage, titled Living Room, in the Nintendo 3DS version.

Pac-Man series
Pac-Man, Namco Bandai's most well-known character, will represent his series in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. He is the fourth third-party character to be included in the series.

Pikmin series
A well known (but not as big) series, it is represented by Olimar, and his assistants; the Pikmin, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Pilotwings series
The Pilotwings series will be represented by a stage, titled Pilot Wings, in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Pokémon series
One of Nintendo's most well-known series (also owned by Game Freak and Creatures), and the series with the most playable characters (a current total of seven). The Pokémon series is represented by Pikachu (all), Jigglypuff (unlockable in all released games), Mewtwo (Super Smash Bros. Melee), Pichu (Super Smash Bros. Melee), Pokémon Trainer (along with Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard; Super Smash Bros. Brawl (on a side note, Charizard is a separate playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U)), Lucario (Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U), and Greninja (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U). The series also had the most unlockable characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee, with Pichu, Jigglypuff, and Mewtwo. In addition, various Pokémon come out of Poké Balls to assist characters. Originally Mewtwo was going to be playable in Super Smash Bros., but was removed due to time constraints. None of the playable characters in this series have more than 5 alternate colors, a trait shared with the Sonic series.

Punch-Out!! series
Little Mac from the Punch-Out!! series was an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and will be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

R.O.B.
A series consisting of the two only games compatible with the peripheral for the NES, R.O.B. makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This appearance was likely inspired by his earlier appearances in games such as Mario Kart DS.

Super Smash Bros. series
Representatives from the Super Smash Bros. series itself are usually non-playable characters, such as Master Hand and Crazy Hand, Fighting Polygons from Super Smash Bros., Wire Frames from Super Smash Bros. Melee, and the Fighting Alloy Team, Subspace Army and Tabuu from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, though the Mii Fighters are considered playable representatives of the series. Stages that represent the series are Battlefield and Final Destination.

Sonic the Hedgehog series
Sega's most successful series, the Sonic the Hedgehog series is represented by its titular character, Sonic the Hedgehog, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. There was a large hoax said about Super Smash Bros. Melee, claiming that Sonic and Miles "Tails" Prower could be unlocked as playable characters, but this was ultimately proven false.

Star Fox series
A series created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Dylan Cuthbert. It is represented by Fox McCloud (all), Falco Lombardi (Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl), and Wolf O'Donnell (Super Smash Bros. Brawl).

The Legend of Zelda series
Another one of the biggest series, represented by Link (all), Princess Zelda/Sheik (Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (although Sheik will appear as a seperate character from Zelda in the latter)), Ganondorf (Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl), Young Link (Super Smash Bros. Melee), and Toon Link (Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U).

Tomodachi Life series
Based off Nintendo's Tomodachi Life for the Nintendo 3DS, this game is represented by the Mii Apartments stage in the 3DS Super Smash Bros.

Wario series
A minor series, also a spin-off of the Mario series, this series has only its titular character representing it, Wario (Super Smash Bros. Brawl).

Wii Fit series
Wii Fit Trainer from the Wii Fit series will appear as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Xenoblade series
One of the more recent series, it is represented by Shulk, who will be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Yoshi series
A minor series, yet a spin-off of the Mario series which takes place in his past; the Yoshi series has only one playable character. Being the only real star of the series, Yoshi has appeared in all released Super Smash Bros. games (and will appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U).

Characters in the series
The series notably features playable characters from across various Nintendo and third-party franchises. Over the entire series, 46 characters have been playable, 11 are new for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Each series gets its own symbol, which each of the characters from that series use. They all have their own powers and attributes, that allow players to work out strategies against opponents.