In our eyes, one of the best things about the build-up to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's release was the beautiful mural, constantly evolving as more and more characters were announced. Not only was it a joy to look at, but it really gave a sense of just how big the game was going to be and watching new characters squeeze in every few weeks was a blast.
This idea was also used in-game, with the Classic Mode seeing players take on a series of challenges to fight their way to the end of another mural design. Just as majestic as the first, this mural features all of the fighters in epic poses, right up until the coveted 9.9 intensity mark at the very end but, strangely, we haven't really heard all that much about its creation. That is, until now, because series director Masahiro Sakurai has answered a fan question on the very topic in a recent issue of Famitsu.
The fan's question asks about the people who made it, noting how impressed they were by it in the process. Here's Sakurai's response (translated by the folks at Nintendo Everything):
“Thank you very much! A few members of the staff worked on it, offering up a stylistic caricature while maintaining the integrity of the design, all the while fine-tuning their work. In addition to getting an OK from me, though, we had to go through and get the OK from each IP’s original publisher, so it took a lot more time and effort than just having to draw it.”
The logistics of creating each Smash Bros. game has always sounded like a bit of a nightmare, having to get approval from various publishers along the way, but this shows just how tricky the process must be. Working with third parties goes well beyond them agreeing to have a character featured; each individual piece of artwork seemingly needs to be approved, too.
Still, we thoroughly enjoyed discovering more and more of the mural as we played so we're glad the work was put in. Have you managed to clear Classic Mode at the 9.9 intensity? Let us know below.
[source nintendoeverything.com, via famitsu.com]
Comments 30
That thing is so beautiful. If I were Nintendo I'd commission a real version somewhere.
Well, of course it's awesome.
The whole "we had to get an OK from IP owners" thing totally went over my head, though. We can only wonder if Square had their say on Cloud being on the far right of it, given making Cloud even more of a bad-butt could be good publicity for them in spite of the abysmal amount of FF content on offer here.
I still think they should sell them as prints. I would snap one up
If anything deserves to be a wallpaper on My Nintendo, it's this.
Nintendo should seriously consider selling this mural, with a nice frame and all.
It would be absolutely gigantic and a total pain to find a wall big enough to put it on, not to mention the price, but it'd be soooo worth it! ^_^
Of course you have to get their approval on everything. They don't just say "yup, go ahead" and let you do whatever you want, these are hugely valuable properties they need to make sure that they stay on brand and are not mis-representing the brands. It's amazing how Smash has been able to bring them all together!
I haven’t gotten to 9.9 yet...I keep stopping at 9.8. 😂
@MH4
I'm fairly sure that 9.9 is unobtainable if you've had a continue during a classic mode run, but I'm not sure.
Even if you spend a classic ticket to prevent reducing intensity.
@RupeeClock You can still get to 9.9 after using a classic ticket (intensity doesn't go down and it can still go up), it makes the task a lot easier. I think you can even use multiple tickets and still reach 9.9.
Every time I hear of the IP approval hell that goes in Smash, I can't hope but wonder who is the nice person hiding in Konami who allows Snake to be portrayed in such comic way
Yes, I'm aware of Metal Gear series humor, but ever since Brawl, Snake has had his good share of "plain stupid" moments in Smash
Maybe they just want to keep the brand alive?
@Bobb
Ever heard of DreamMix TV World fighters?
That had Solid Snake duking it out with Bomber Man and Optimus Prime.
@ALinkToMyProfile @RupeeClock I hope you can still get to 9.9 by using Classic Tickets. Hasn’t worked for me yet. I keep dying at the final boss of the run and having to use a ticket (or two, haha).
@MH4
It's probably your performance at the end boss of the run that's costing you the 9.9 then, if it is achievable with the use of classic tickets.
Some runs are easier than others, any that end in a match against both Master Hand and Crazy Hand are far tougher than those that do not.
I've found Mega Man to be an easier 9.9 clear.
I managed to clear 9.9 on my second solo playthrough of Classic mode as Link, after coming real close with Kirby.
yes i have, With Ganondorf
@TossedLlama
"It's March 11 and the sticker isn't here yet..... I sent a message and he gave me some BS story that he ran out of something it was already a month of waiting so i knew i wasted my time and money. Avoid seller."
@NinjaSyao could make it reeeally small!
@Ogbert there is a good setup there for a joke regarding SEGA but I don't want to be the one to do it.
@TossedLlama
Wasn't me, but perhaps people ought to be wary.
Logistical nightmare? That probably doesn't even begin to describe it. Another reason why Sakurai-san always looked on the verge of needing to be in hospital.
I have to imagine the entire development of Ultimate was a challenge. Getting approval from everyone involved had to be so time consuming. I just hope people appreciate how difficult it must have been over the years.
I want that mural on my living room wall.
Such a fantastic piece of art indeed.
I genuinely appreciate that there are people out there with a ton of artistic talent. Personally, I'd love to pick up prints of at least certain sections of this mural.
If you were to tell me back in 2002 that in the future there will be a game where Mario, Sonic, Cloud Strife, Ryu, Mega Man, Simon Belmont, Pac-Man, and Solid Snake fighting each other at the same time, I would had never believe you.
It is a really cool mural, but I wish they could update it. I was really interested in what pose and where Piranha Plant would be located, and it's not in there with the rest of the cast. Kinda sad.
@MH4 @RupeeClock I've reached 9.9 with two different characters. They way it works is that you need to have already reached 9.9 before you get to the boss, as beating the boss will award you however many points you got up to a final total of 9.8 (Ex: 9.2 before boss, +1.0, 9.8 after boss). The amount of tickets you use does not affect your chances of reaching 9.9, outside of dying in and of itself being a determining factor. However, if you die in the process (which is likely) and do not use a ticket, it does lower your chances of reaching level 9.9 because doing so reduces your level.
@RupeeClock Haven't heard of this one yet, but it does sound hilarious
I'm actually glad Konami allows us to have that
@Bunkerneath I contacted a private company and got a print done, it's massive and occupies that space above my window.
@Rect_Pola Nintendo actually installed a somewhat different – but still giant and impressive –Smash mural at their various convention booths from E3 onward
The murals look great!
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