The DLC for Super Smash Bros. 4 drew to a close earlier this month, easily making this the most packed version of Smash Bros. to date. Naturally, there's a lot of franchises from across many companies that could easily belong in a Smash Bros. game, and the process of deciding who and what gets represented likely isn't one that gets taken lightly.
Nintendo Dream recently interviewed Masahiro Sakurai in last month's latest issue, and he discussed the process behind making the DLC items. For the stages returning from previous entries, the three from Super Smash Bros. were chosen mostly due to how there were only nine stages available from the first game, and there were a few stages that had already made it in.
It seems that the 3DS hindered development somewhat and impacted which stages were picked; Pirate Ship was too complex for the platform, while Midgar and Super Mario Maker had to be simplified so they'd fit within the 3DS' limitations. Midgar especially took some time to make, as the studio had to do most of it from scratch. Summons were chosen based on popularity, looks, and attacks, and the team had to find the right balance for how often they could appear.
For Suzaku Castle, they decided to add two extra platforms to the left of the main platform to give the stage a bit more variety, seeing as how 2D fighting games typically just have flat stages. The stage's music also changes when a fighter's percentage reaches a certain point and they're in danger of being knocked out.
For the Umbra Clock Tower, the team also had to build this one from scratch, as the stage data they received from Platinum Games wouldn't work within a Smash game. For this version, they changed up how the Inspired Snake would move at it flies around the stage, and they made sure to reference the fact that the stage exists in Purgatorio, a parallel dimension that remains mostly invisible to the normal world.
Hat tip to Nintendo Everything for the translation work.
What do you think? Are you glad that the team made sure to pay attention to all of the details? What's your favorite stage? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments (23)
And then people have the gall to call Sakurai lazy.
ERROR!
Source Gaming made these translations.
http://www.sourcegaming.info/2016/02/21/nintendodream3/
Source Gaming made the translation by the way.
http://www.sourcegaming.info/2016/02/21/nintendodream3/
@Detective_TeeJay Well, like half of the DLC stages do have the same Battlefield layout. I kid, I don't really think Sakurai is lazy. I think he overexerts himself, although I do wish the DLC stages were a bit more diverse in layout, but that's just me.
Was gonna say Source Gaming did it, but it's covered.
The analysis of the individual stages are really interesting.
I like the bit about 2D gaming and platforms in Suzaku Castle.
I still can't believe that Bayonetta made it in without the game being made into a 16. Sakurai is not lazy.
I wonder if Square Enix had the ultimate say in the minutiae of the Cloud download. Between the lack of extra trophies (Ryu got Ken, Bayonetta got a BUNCH, and Cloud practically begs for either an Aerith or Sephiroth trophy) and only having two songs to choose from, I can't see Sakurai and his team intentionally withholding putting more in.
I wonder if there was any cut stages that were this close of being completed
I've loved having an on the go version, but I would prefer to have a console version that isn't as hindered by trying to cater to a hand held version next time. Not that it has hurt it a ton since it's still a jam packed fun game.
My kid has been pestering me for the Bayonetta DLC and he doesn't really even know who she is. Though I think that's more her being"OP" than the level. Personally I really like the Midgar level but I don't play the game.
Waiting for "My Nintnedo "next month to see hw this all works out. Still don't know if they'll have a "Family" account so we're trying not to buy anything until then. Set up 4 "Nintnedo" accounts for my family but didnt' see any way to link those.
Also waiting on Cloud and Cereza amiibo. If we like those enough to purchase then I'll buy the DLC just to play "as them" not alongside them. Stupid amiibo implementation. Not looking forward to paying $40 for 2 characters though - DLC and amiibo - seems like a rip-off.
Maybe we should just wait for the NX port?
I have no doubt that a ton of work went into building all of the various stages and for that, I am grateful. Still think the price is a bit on the expensive side though.
Think the DLC is great quality and enjoy it all, shame that Midgar only had two songs and Suzaku Castle basically having two songs (Gulie's theme goes with everything including this stage). If they were to make one more returning stage I would want great bay back the most!
loved the extra touch with the street fighter stage where the music changes makes me feel epic hen I'm about to knock someone out! Honestly what makes a stage for me is mostly the music as if you get an epic song like the final boss music from bowser's inside story makes a battle intense I really love the Fire Emblem stages as the design and music both work! I also loved the Pokemon ones when Cynthia's theme plays! I've had no problem with the dlc apart from mii costumes (I only got the final fantasy and fire emblem costumes) Still it's been a great ride thanks Sakurai!
Hard worker and great developer, but I still think he lets his own bias influence his character decisions too much. Granted, if I was in charge of Smash Bros, I would absolutely do the same thing.
@PtM Nintendo Everything has a history of stealing from SG without giving credit.
@rjejr How else exactly would you have expected Smash to implement amiibo?
It's sad to see just how much the 3DS version really limited the Wii U version. Especially with the Ice Climbers and various stages. I don't mind having a 3DS version available, but I wish they made the Wii U version different than the 3DS version, by letting the Wii U version go beyond the 3DS's capabilities. In my opinion, if the Wii U is capable of having a lot more power than the 3DS, then Wii U games should be allowed to use that extra power. And with the Wii U version getting Smash Tour instead of Smash Run, I think the Wii U version deserves an extra stage or something to make up for the loss.
@DoctorOverbuild I was so excited when I saws that the Bowser's Inside Story final boss theme was in there, seeing as that's the best song in a Mario game.
@Undead_terror The more I listen to Guile's Theme, the more I realize that it does go with everything. I heard this really awesome guitar cover of it a few weeks ago: https://soundcloud.com/nimrod16/guile-theme-1
@Zelda_Rocks Yup so was I it makes anything epic!
Truth be told, most people do not like stage effects and would rather take a Battlefield or Final Destination-styled map where they can just concentrate on brawling rather than watching out for how the map changes. Cutting down on such unwanted field effects would have brought down development time by so much and players wouldn't have even missed much. Truthfully can people tell me whether they do or do not play maps with stage effects? I and all my friends hate such maps for sure.
@ProfessorNess Whenever I play casually, I just get a bunch of friends and we always randomly selected a course.
Besides, Sakurai is alreayd aware of competitive side. Why do you think Omega mode exists?
@Detective_TeeJay "How else exactly would you have expected Smash to implement amiibo?
Well as somebody who owns abut 100 amiibo and 30 Disney Infinity characters I would like to be able to buy a $13 amiibo of Ryu, Cloud or Bayonetta and be able to play as them in the game. I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have never purchased a Skylander or Disney Infinity figure and then also had to purchase additional DLC to be able to play as the character in the game.
The original roster was already in the game, so maybe they handled those amiibo as best they could. But for the additional DLC characters and corresponding amiibo it just doesn't make any sense to me at all that I should have to buy both the amiibo and also the character in the game. I don't'expect them to give me a free amiibo for a $7 DLC purchase, but for a $13 amiibo purchase I would expect the character to be playable in game.
@rjejr lol spoiler
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