Super Smash Brothers

About

Super Smash Bros. is a crossover melee fighting video game franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Unlike most conventional fighting games, Super Smash Bros. revolves around fighting opponents until enough damage have been inflicted on them to be knocked off the edge of the screen.

History

Super Smash Bros. was developed during 1997 by Nintendo’s second-party studio HAL Laboratory led by Masahiro Sakurai, who conceived an idea for a unique four-player player fighting game involving Nintendo characters. To his surprise, the idea was approved by Satoru Iwata and the game was released for the Nintendo 64 console in 1999

Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 64

Super Smash Bros. (Also known as Super Smash Bros. 64) was released on January 21st, 1999, in Japan and became so successful that it was released worldwide. The multiplayer mode allows up to four human or computer controlled fighters play on a selected stage with set conditions and features a dozen of iconic NIntendo characters: Mario (Super Mario), Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong), Link (The Legend of Zelda), Samus (Metroid), Yoshi (Super Mario), Kirby (Kirby), Fox (Star Fox) and Pikachu (Pokemon), in addition to Luigi (Super Mario), Captain Falcon (F-Zero), Ness (Earthbound) and Jigglypuff (Pokemon) who could be unlocked as the game progress.

Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube

Super Smash Bros.‘s successor, Super Smash Brothers Melee was released for the Nintendo Game Cube in 2001 by HAL Laboratories. This new game added to its predecessor by including new characters, tournaments, stages, and a story mode. In 2003 it was made part of Player’s Choice and later bundled with the Nintendo Game Cube console for $99 in 2005.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the Wii entry into the Super Smash Bros. Franchise. It was announced at Nintendo’s 2006 E3 Press conference^[1] and released January 31 2008 in Japan, March 9, 2008 in the Americas, June 26, 2008 in Australia and June 27, 2008 in Europe. It has sold 9.48 million copies worldwide since March 2010, becoming the eighth best selling Wii title.

Super Smash Bros for Wii U & 3DS

During Nintendo’s 2011 E3 Press Conference, following the announcement of the Wii U, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata suggested that the company is in the planning stages for the next Super Smash Bros game.

On June 11th, 2013, at the conclusion of Nintendo’s 2013 E3 Presentation, an official trailer for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for 3DS was unveiled. Along with Mario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Kirby, Pit, Fox, and Pikachu; the characters Villager and Megaman were unveiled to be playable characters. After the conference Nintendo’s official Smash Brothers Website went live.^[6] In a separate interview with series creator Masahiro Sakurai, the character Wii Fit Trainer was unveiled to be playable in the cast as a surprise character.

New Characters

Following the unveiling of The Villager and Wii Fit Trainer as new characters in Super Smash Brothers 4, the popularity of two of the announcement characters exploded, spawning a flood of fanart and image macros.

Since 2013 E3, Olimar, Luigi, Peach, Sonic, Marth, Zelda, King Dedede, Lucario, Diddy Kong, and Ike were subsequently revealed as returning playable characters over Nintendo’s Miiverse and the official Smash Brothers Website. At the December 18th 2013 Nintendo Direct, newcomer Rosalina was unveiled. And during the February 13th 2014 Nintendo Direct, newcomer Little Mac was Unveiled.

On April 8th, 2014, Nintendo announced that the Super Smash Bros will be released on the 3DS in summer and the Wii U several months later. Along with this information, the company also revealed several additional details about the enhancements in gameplay and a new batch of playable characters, including Charizard (Pokemon), Sheik (The Legend of Zelda), and Zero Suit Samus (Metroid), which were only available as evolved forms of their base characters in the previous titles, a new Pokemon Greninja from Pokémon X and Y and the returning character Yoshi.

During Nintendo’s E3 2014 Press Conferences; the Mii Characters where announced as customizable fighters, the Goddess Palutena from the Kid Icarus series was announced, and during a Developer Round Table the character Pac Man was announced to be a playable fighter making him the third Non-Nintendo character to ever become playable in the series. It was also hinted that Dark Pit would in some way be appearing in the game, and Mr. Game and Watch was teased to be back in the game as well.

During a Livestream on July 14th 2014, Captain Falcon confirmed to be returning as well as two new characters; Robin and Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening. Chrom was also confirmed to make a Cameo during Robin’s Final Smash.

Shulk Announcement

On August 19th, 2014, Shoryuken^[11] reported that a screenshot had been posted on a 4chan forum which seemed to featured the new characters in the upcoming Super Smash Brothers video game.

On August 29th, 2014, Nintendo announced Shulk,^[7] a character originally seen in RPG Xenoblade Chronicles would be a character in the second Super Smash Brothers game which will be released for 3DS and Wii U. The same day Nintendo’s YouTube channel^[8] posted a video revealing Shulk in Super Smash Brothers titled “Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U Looks like we don’t have a choice!” (referencing the character leaks). Within a week the video gained over 540,000 views.

Within a week the hashtag #Shulk^[8] was tweeted out over 400 times.

Reception

Fandom

Super Smash Land

Super Smash Land is a fan project to “demake” the Super Smash Bros. Franchise using visuals, sound and controls from the original GameBoy. Super Smash Land was released on September 14th 2011^[2].

Super Smash Flash (1 & 2)

Super Smash Flash^[3] is a flash game developed by Cleod 9. It copies the game-play style of Super Smash Brothers, and adds several other characters from different video game and anime series to the roster. It’s sequel, Super Smash Flash 2, is currently in it’s 0.9th beta phase and whose game-play is much closer to that of the actual series.

Webcomics

The Fsjal Comic

Fsjal’s origin comes from a comic by Deviantart user “burgertime”, revolving around Super Smash Brothers.

Awkward Zombie

Katie Tiedrich, creator of the Awkward Zombie Web-comics^[4], became popular through the making of Super Smash Brothers Melee (and surrounding universes) comics.

Brawl in the Family

Brawl in the Family^[5] is a Web-comic that features characters that have appeared in the Super Smash Bros. Universe (Mostly featuring Kirby and King Dedede). It is written and drawn by Matthew Taranto.

There Will Be Brawl

There Will Be Brawl is a live-action web-series that features characters that appear in the Super Smash Bros. universe. It was eventually hosted by The Escapist and is planned for a DVD release. The plot follows Luigi, who is now a jaded drug dealer trying to make ends meet in the seedy underworld of the Mushroom Kingdom for both himself and his brother. As the plot thickens and new dangers arise, Luigi searches for a reason to keep fighting for a city that seems beyond salvation.

Related Memes

Super Smash Bros. Character Predictions

Super Smash Bros. Character Predictions are fan guesses / wishes for the next roster of the next Super Smash Bros. game (The next one announced is the Wii U / 3DS Smash Bros. announced at E3 2011 which hasn’t started development). A Challenger Approaches is simply a form by which new characters are introduced to the player in the game.

Falcon Punch

The Falcon Punch is a move performed by Captain Falcon in the games despite not existing in Captain Falcon’s game series, F-Zero. It is often used online as a verb to intensity punch someone or to abort teen pregnancy.

Brawl Taunts

Brawl Taunts is a flash animation video created by Newgrounds users Kirbopher and Rina-Chan. The video contains animated versions of Brawl Characters doing all sorts of weird random things; relating to the actions done in Brawl and sometimes relating to existing memes.

Ike Quotes

Ike Quotes are a trio of lines said by the Fire Emblem character Ike in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and have been quoted with pictures or videos of him.

You’re Too Slow!

You’re Too Slow! is a taunt used by Sonic the Hedgehog in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and is considered extremely annoying.

Wombo Combo

Wombo Combo is the catchphrase derived from a recorded Super Smash Bros. Melee match that became famous for both the incredible combo pulled off during the match as well as the overly excited reaction that could heard in the background as the match was being recorded.

No X, Fox Only, Final Destination

No X, Fox Only, Final Destination is a parody of competitive Super Smash Brothers players, who oftentimes will exclude items, certain characters, and stages trying to make the game have as little luck factor as possible. To the casual player, the competitive rules seem oftentimes ridiculous and restrictive.

Pikaman (Longchu)

Pikaman (also known as Longchu) is the name given to Pikachu when his default moveset is replaced by that of Gannondorf. This forces Gannondorf’s character model rig onto the Pikachu model, causing it to appear vaguely humanoid.

Hammer MADs

The Hammer MAD is a remix video fad using the tune/sound effects from the Hammer Item, which is a powerful and common item found in all three games in the Smash Brothers Series.

Ridley Is Too Big

“Ridley is Too Big” is an argument against allowing the alien creature Ridley from the Metroid video game series to become a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. fighting video games due to his large size relative to other characters.

Search Interest

Super Smash Bros. interest began to rise upon it’s announcement of Super Smash Brothers Brawl, spiking at it’s release, and subsequently returning down to a steady interest rate. Likewise, the interest spiked during Smash Brothers Wii U/3DS reveal trailer, and recently spiked again after the Super Smash Brothers Direct.

External References