Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are both versions of the fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series being developed by Sora Ltd. and Namco Bandai Games. Each version has a different release date due to the time that it will take to finish each one. The Nintendo 3DS version was released on September 13, 2014 in Japan, and has been released in most other parts of the world on October 3, 2014. It was released the day before in Germany (as to not coincide with a national holiday), and was released in Australia the day after. The Wii U version is set to be released on November 21, 2014 in North America, December 5 in Europe, and December 6 in Oceania and Japan.

Gameplay
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / 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 Wii U version's Adventure Mode will also be significantly different than The Subspace Emissary. The pace of battles has also been stated to be in between Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Both games will have the same roster of playable characters in order to keep them consistent, but the movesets and animations of returning characters will go through a larger amount of change than the returning characters did from the transition of Super Smash Bros. Melee to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with many returning characters being shown with completely new moves, and some appear to be getting significantly altered (such as Bowser). Aesthetic wise, 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.

Customization/cross-connectivity
It has been stated that players will be able to 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 different attack types rather than customizable moves, and customizable moves cannot be used in With Anyone online. 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. Additionally, by connecting the two games the player will also be able to use their Nintendo 3DS as a controller for the Wii U version. It has been confirmed that there will be other elements that connect the two versions of the game, though said elements have not been revealed.

Nintendo 3DS version
For the Nintendo 3DS version, which is the first Super Smash Bros. game on a handheld, the fighters are given outlines during matches so as to be seen easier on-screen. The size of these outlines can be adjusted, as well as be removed. When playing a team match, the color of the characters' outlines match that of their team. This version features stages with a bigger focus on handheld games, and runs at 60 frames per second even when using the stereoscopic 3D; the Assist Trophy and Pokémon characters, however, run at 30 frames per second. The bottom screen displays the character's icons and damage percentages, and tapping one of the icons highlights that character.

The game requires 2.1 GB (17,300 blocks) of memory on an SD Card, if downloaded from the Nintendo eShop.

A Miiverse community for the game also exists, but it will not allow players to post screenshots, as Miiverse access will be disabled while Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is active. However, players can still save screenshots during battles.

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 only equip a certain number of items based on their weight, the maximum weight being determined by the player's current equipment; heavier characters are capable of carrying more equipment.

While fighting, players can collect several items similar to patches. These patches can increase attack power, special attack power, jumping, or movement speed; there are also special patches which increase all stats. After five minutes, players are shown their final stats, courtesy of the patches 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 (to play below a 2.0 difficulty, however, the player must pay gold). In addition, if at any point the player dies, the difficulty automatically lowers itself by .5 if they decide to try again. 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 green being the easiest, blue 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, the prizes do as well.

Classic Mode consists of six rounds: four are normal, the fifth involves fighting 10 enemies that are significantly easier to launch, 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 a harder boss. If the player chooses this path, the fight will consist of both Master Hand and Crazy Hand. If the intensity is 5.1 if high enough the battle is a three-phase battle consisting the hands, then a swarm of creatures that take can on various shapes (the number also depending on the intensity), and finally the Master Core; if the intensity is 8.0 or higher, then only the three-phase battle is available.

All-Star
All-Star mode also returns from Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Like in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, up to two players can play together locally. In this mode, players fight against every playable character 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.

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 ten large, red targets and several more smaller, green amongst structures that must be broken through; a trophy, piece of eqiupment, 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 sounds, view records, and view a series of tips.

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. 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, the player loses time.

Training
Training also returns from previous games, identical to the previous games. Within Training, players can training against a computer opponent, and can automatically select when items appear, game speed, the number of computers, their behavior, and the current amount of damage for both 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.

Challenges
Also returning from Super Smash Bros. Brawl is 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.

Wii U version
The Wii U version has been confirmed to not make use of the GamePad's touch screen during gameplay. This version has also been announced to be compatible with the upcoming amiibo NFC figurines. 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.

Online Play
Both versions of the game are to feature 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 not playing with friends, two basic modes are available for play: For Fun and For Glory. In For Fun mode, players can battle on any of the stages except Final Destination with any rules, the stages being picked at random; only victories are recorded in this mode. In For Glory mode, players can only play on the "Final Destination" versions of stages, without items. One-on-one matches are possible in this mode, and both victories and losses are recorded.

In addition, rather than have an online leaderboard, the games make use of a different type of ranking system, called "Global Smash Power". When playing in Games & More, the player's scores in the various modes determine their Global Smash Power for each game, the number indicating how many players around the world they outrank.

Another mode, known as Conquest, is also available in the Nintendo 3DS version as of the 1.0.1 update; Conquest mode began on September 15, 2014 in Japan, and on October 2, 2014, in all other regions of the world. Conquests occur over the course of a few days; players fight as the given characters in With Anyone to increase the score for said characters, and if the player's team wins they receive gold and custom parts by going to the Conquest menu and viewing the finished conquest.

Playable characters
This installment features a total of 49 playable characters, consisting of 34 veterans and 15 newcomers. 37 characters are available from the start of the game, whereas the other 12 must be unlocked by meeting certain conditions. Due to limitations with the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, certain characters from the previous installments in the series have been cut from the rosters of both versions in order to keep them consistent. Unlike previous games in the series, with the removal of in-game transformations, Sheik, Zero Suit Samus, and Charizard are now standalone characters.

Note: Characters in italics are unlockable in the 3DS version. It is not confirmed if the same characters will be default and unlocked in the Wii U version.

Character movesets

 * F.L.U.D.D. (Mario attack)
 * Toad (Peach attack)
 * Mecha-Koopa (Bowser Jr. attack)
 * 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's Final Smash)
 * Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and/or Clyde (Pac-Man attack)
 * Galaga (Pac-Man attack and taunt)
 * Mappy (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Pooka (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Don-chan (Pac-Man taunt)
 * Dunban (Shulk's Final Smash)
 * Riki (Shulk's Final Smash)

Stage bosses

 * Yellow Devil (Wily Castle)
 * Master Hand
 * Crazy Hand
 * Master Core

Mario series

 * Banzai Bill
 * Bill Blaster
 * Big Goomba
 * Bullet Bill
 * Flame Chomp
 * Goomba
 * Hammer Bro.
 * Koopa Paratroopa
 * Koopa Troopa
 * Lakitu
 * Magikoopa
 * Spike Top

Donkey Kong series

 * Kritter
 * Tiki Buzz

The Legend of Zelda series

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

Metroid series

 * Geemer
 * Kihunter
 * Reo

Yoshi series

 * Fly Guy
 * Shy Guy

Kirby series

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

Pokémon series

 * Chandelure
 * Cryogonal
 * Gastly
 * Petilil
 * Koffing

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
 * Souflee

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. series

 * Bytan
 * Glice
 * Glire
 * Glunder
 * Mite
 * Poppant
 * Roturret

Stages
According to Masahiro Sakurai, both versions of the game will feature different stages, with a few exceptions. The Nintendo 3DS version features 34 stages, while 24 have been confirmed for the Wii U version, for a total of 58 stages between both. The Wii U version will mostly feature 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 will have 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 are confirmed to have some new items. Both versions will 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 are set to return. 37 Assist Trophies have currently been confirmed, of which 21 are new, and the other 16 are returning from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Pokémon
Just like the Assist Trophies, Nintendo has implemented the use of Pokémon. This set of Pokémon will feature more focus on the fifth and sixth generations, but will still feature Pokémon from previous generations. So far, 37 different species have been announced, of which 22 are new.

Nintendo 3DS
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 gameply 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. On October 7th, 2014, four days after the international launch of the game, Nintendo announced that Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has sold over 2.8 million copies worldwide.

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. .

Nintendo 3DS
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 the Conquest mode that started on September 15.

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. An update is also available for the international versions of the game, posted on October 2, 2014 and updating the game to version 1.0.2 like the Japanese version, allowing players to have the update in advance of obtaining the game. The update requires 364 blocks of space to download.

According to a press release by Nintendo of Europe on October 7, 2014, an update is planned for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS to include amiibo compatibility.

Soundtrack
A two-disc soundtrack for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U is set to be released exclusively to Club Nintendo. Members who register a copy of both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS game can obtain a copy of the soundtrack.

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 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.

(Nintendo 3DS version)
This glitch occurs only while using Peach. In the online mode "For Glory", players are not allowed to use items. The vegetable Peach throws is considered an item, and this has caused numerous players to be banned from playing online. An update to fix this has been released.

(Nintendo 3DS version)
This glitch occurs when playing as Villager against Dr. Mario. If Villager has 100% or more damage, and KOs two Dr. Marios, the chant used for the Ice Climbers in Super Smash Bros. Brawl plays. This glitch occurs only in Japanese copies of the game. NTSC and PAL versions are fixed, as the chant is instead Villager's one.

(Nintendo 3DS version)
While playing as Yoshi in Multi-Man Smash, when Yoshi faces a giant rival, the player can continuously use their neutral special, Egg Lay, to make the opponent larger.

Trivia

 * This is the only game so far where Rosalina is part of the default roster. In all other games where she appeared, she was either unlockable, or somehow was not part of the starting roster.