Super Smash Bros Features
Talking Point Super Smash Bros. Can Finally Reach Its Money-Spinning Potential
All the pieces have come together
We often talk up Nintendo's alternative and unique approach in the current games market, primarily that of generally focusing on colourful, fun games that often run at a silky smooth 60 frames per second; when it comes to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, we're even looking at a native 1080p resolution to round off the...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Sixty Two
Master Beast! Mario Circuit! Smash Tour! More!
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U arrives this week in North America, which makes this the last entry in this feature series before that HD iteration lands — those in PAL regions and Japan have a little longer to wait. As a result Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts are typically...
Hands On Wii U GameCube Controller Adapter
Party like it’s 2001
The GameCube controller has become the community gold-standard for playing Super Smash Bros. So much so that Nintendo has wheeled out an adapter to make the controller released in 2001 compatible with its home console released in 2012. All for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The adapter is about as thick as two retail game cases...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issues Sixty & Sixty One
Two for the price of none, as they're free anyway...
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is around the corner, and so we're bringing you a double issue of our regular summary of Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts. Naturally some of you may wonder what the heck happened last week — previews of the actual game and your humble scribe...
Feature Does Super Smash Bros. Wii U's Smash Tour Live Up To Expectations?
Mario & chums party hard
Whilst at Nintendo UK’s headquarters, we were lucky enough to get a go on the brand new mode exclusive to the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros.: Smash Tour. Going in we didn't really know too much about the mode beyond that it was a Mario Party-esque affair with a Smash Bros. flavour. After a short debriefing we managed...
Feature The UK's Best Super Smash Bros. Player Is Crowned In A Thrilling Grand Final
Watch our video highlights from the big event
Last Friday saw the culmination of Nintendo's effort to find the best Super Smash Bros. player in the whole of the UK, with the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Grand Finals taking place at the historic York Hall in London. 32 finalists — picked during national heats which took place all over the...
Preview Using amiibo with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
We’ve got amiibo all figured out
This holiday period is arguably Nintendo’s most crucial since the Wii U launched back in late 2012. The company's banking on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U not only attracting a lot of sales but, more specifically, system sales from those yet to pick up the console. Moreover, Nintendo’s new range of NFC (near...
Preview Having a Brawl With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Extended time with Nintendo's biggest game this holiday season
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the most anticipated Nintendo title this holiday season, and with good reason. Whether it's the intricate and deep gameplay mechanics, the sheer amount of content reported to be on offer or the crossover Nintendo theme and the fan service that comes with...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Nine
Nintendo Direct! Eight-Player Smash! NES Zapper! More!
Last week was rather exciting for those awaiting Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, as Nintendo provided a Nintendo Direct outlining over 50 'Must-See facts. That naturally played a big role in Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts, as he
Feature Breaking Down Over 50 Must-See Things in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Step by glorious step
Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Nintendo Direct delivered what it promised — 50 'Must-See Things'. In fairness to the 'New Things' wording deployed on multiple occasions by Nintendo of America, meanwhile, it wasn't far off that target either, even if that would require a little more slack and an absence of cynicism. In...
Feature Five 'New Things' We Want in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Time to take the franchise to another level
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U increasingly close to release, Nintendo's gearing up to answer the call for full details of its features with an upcoming live Nintendo Direct that'll introduce 50 'new things'; that's a bold and exciting promise. Though, as an important note, some of Nintendo's messaging...
Round Table Let's Talk Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo Life team chat about the handheld brawler
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has been out for a few weeks now, so we've all had chance to blast through Smash Run, collect plenty of trophies and face off against human opponents both locally and online. Here at Nintendo Life Towers we felt that now was the perfect time to look back at the...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Eight
It's back! Apologies for its absence! Please understand!
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is on the way, and many are already masters of the 3DS version. Masahiro Sakurai is doing what comes naturally, then, updating the Director's Room Miiverse community with new posts every day. Yet still, let's address the obvious question to our loyal and eagle-ey
Feature Brawl With The Nintendo Life Team in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Fight club
Many 3DS owners will already be well into their time with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS by this point, customising their fighters and pinning down their 'main' for tough online battles. A fun feature of this game, of course, is its Mii integration: you can choose from three core Mii Fighter types — Brawler, Swordfighter and Gunner...
FAQ Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
Got a niggling question? We could have the answer
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is without a doubt one of the biggest releases of the year, and has already shifted almost 3 million copies worldwide. However, if you've not picked it up so far then you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Smash may be popular with seasoned Nintendo fans,...
Guide How to Unlock the Full Roster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Big decisions, spoilers included
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is now available around the World, and millions of 3DS gamers will be booting up the game and taking their first tentative steps into the first portable entry in the series. It's always exciting to move into a new generation of Smash Bros. and try out old favourites, or to jump...
Guide Everything You Need to Know About Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
The time is now
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is finally here, the latest brawling behemoth from Masahiro Sakurai and his team. It's been critically acclaimed, awarded 9/10 in our own review, and has proven that — despite some initial fears — the franchise arrives on the portable as a full-fat, fantastic game. With midnight launches on the...
"We need to listen not just to the biggest fans"
This week sees the launch of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the first portable iteration of the famous fighting game franchise. As you'll already know if you're a seasoned reader of Nintendo Life, we've delivered our critical verdict of the game and found it to be something of a smash hit, and in...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Seven
Master Hand mystery! Conquest! Mii Outfits! More!
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is now just days away from arriving all around the world, much to our delight, and it looks set to be just the beginning as we then look ahead to the Wii U release later in the year. It's almost too much to handle. Yet handle it we must, and we still have Masahiro...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Six
Conquest! StreetSmash! Castle Siege stage! More!
Super Smash Bros. is now only a little over a week away in the West, helping to ease the jealousy around lucky gamers in Japan; many will be rather familiar with the demo, too. As a result the hype levels continue to build ahead of millions more gamers getting their hands on the title. Masahiro...
Guide How To Beat Everyone At Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
Going to EGX? Check out these top tips to ensure you have a smashing time
There's less than a week to go before the UK's biggest and best gaming expo, EGX London, kicks off, offering consumers the opportunity to go hands-on with a wide selection of upcoming games due out this holiday season or at some point next year. As you may already know,...
Developer Profile Masahiro Sakurai
About the man behind two of Nintendo’s most significant franchises
"I decide what goes in the game; nobody else." These were the words of Masahiro Sakurai during a 2008 interview with Official Nintendo Magazine about Super Smash. Bros. Brawl. It's a quote that stands out because it contrasts quite starkly with the modest way in which the man...
Video We Take A Look At Super Smash Bros. 3DS' Exclusive Smash Run Mode
Smash Run races for victory!
Recently we showed off twenty-five minutes of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS Classic mode, so today we're going to focus on the all-new and 3DS-only Smash Run mode. This mode is a little different from anything that's gone before, with a five minute prep time on an oversized stage filled with random adversarie
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Five
Demo! Alph! Spectator Mode!
Super Smash Bros. hype moved to a whole new level last week, with the 3DS version's launch in Japan revealing the final roster, the arrival of a demo for Club Nintendo members in the West and more. There were some crazy scenes. Masahiro Sakurai'
Talking Point The Super Smash Bros. 3DS Demo Has Been an Easy Triumph for Nintendo
The 3DS brawler is given a chance to shine
With around 24 hours passed since its announcement, we can't help but be slightly amused by the understated nature of Nintendo of America's announcement of a Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS demo. Two of the Nintendo Treehouse staff stood outside their venerated department and, with a mixture of...
Preview Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Goes Big on the Portable
Will Nintendo's portable brawler smash it out of the park?
It may be less than a month to go until Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is finally released in North America and Europe, but that doesn’t change the fact that the wait over the next few weeks is going to be unbearable for its most ardent fans. The game — which at the time of writing...
Video We Battle Through Our First Twenty-Five Minutes Of Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
Smash hit, or a (Ninten)dog?
In our first video with the retail version from Japan, Kerry jumps straight into Classic Mode, completing a run and tackling a recently leaked new character. Don't watch if you want to avoid spoilers. The latest version of Nintendo's epic brawler finally hits 3DS — in Japan. Luckily Nintendo Life is on the case and...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Four
All-Star Mode! Outfit Colours! Smash Run running! More!
Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 3DS is now just days away in Japan, so it's a short matter of time before full — official — details around the roster, stages and modes are available. Masahiro Sakurai is likely to remain the source of some final reveals, with the Director's Room Miiverse...
Feature Introducing The New Challengers in Super Smash Bros.
Adding diversity and a little weirdness to the franchise
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will be the biggest entries in the franchise in a number of ways, with a daunting range of stages, trophies and extras promised. One area that looks all set to be more sizeable than ever before is the roster, with recent leaks suggesting that the...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Three
Spectator Mode! Customisation! Shulk! More Stuff!
The buzz around Super Smash Bros. remains strong, with the last week being relatively dramatic for the upcoming Wii U and 3DS blockbusters. Masahiro Sakurai contributed to the commotion with his Director's Room Miiverse community posts, particularly with a new character reveal
Feature The Benefits of a Portable Super Smash Bros.
Why being able to take the fight with you is a good thing
This year sees a number of landmark moments for the Super Smash Bros. series: it’s now 15 years old, two games are being released within mere months of each other and one of them will feature glorious high-definition graphics. However, even more significant than all of these notable...
Feature The History of Super Smash Bros.
How Nintendo's crossover fighting series smashed its way to fame and glory
Despite its immense popularity — not to mention the frenzied hype and anticipation that comes during the lead-up to each new instalment — the origins of the Super Smash Bros. series are in fact remarkably humble. When its creator, Masahiro Sakurai, initially came up with...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Two
Nightmare Wizard! Skimpy Samus?! Lord Ghirahim! More!
The hype keeps rolling on for Super Smash Bros., with official — and less official — updates showing us what we can expect when it arrives on the 3DS in early October. There's a sense that Masahiro Sakurai is getting to the nitty-gritty details. Sakurai-san's posts in the Director's Room...
Talking Point A History of the Sexualisation of Samus
Exploring the long, complicated history of the bounty hunter's public image
Zero Suit Samus' alternate costumes in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Just this week, Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai revealed the new alternate costumes for Zero Suit Samus in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U: “From the ending of
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty One
Mii outfits! Meta Knight! Mega Man! More!
It feels like we're approaching the home straight of Super Smash Bros. hype, with the nights (slowly) drawing in and the arrival of the 3DS entry well under two months away. There are still some mysteries to be unravelled, however, and Masahiro Sakurai has been upping his efforts to get gamers excited about...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty
Pokémon again! Trophies! Game Boy! More!
We're up to issue 50 of this series, which means two things — this idea is beyond old, and the hype for Super Smash Bros. has been bundling along for quite a while. Consider the fact that we didn't even start this run when screenshots were already flowing on Miiverse, and you'll have a rough idea of how...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Nine
Paper Mario! Target Blast! Pokémon! More!
Another week has passed, which means we're ever closer to Super Smash Bros., with the 3DS version less than two months away. The tingle of anticipation is real, almost as real as the never-ending hype. Masahiro Sakurai knows this, of course, and continues to serve up daily doses of screenshot loveliness on...
Gallery A Closer Look At 13 amiibo Toys
Prepare your wallets
Nintendo's lining up multiple blockbuster releases for the Holiday season, but the most important will likely be its range of NFC toys — amiibo. Marketing these figures, successfully implementing them in games and securing plenty of shelf space with the biggest retailers represent three major challenges for Nintendo, though...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Eight
Star Fox! Robin! 3DS menu! More!
After causing quite a stir two weeks ago, the Super Smash Bros. hype was relatively reserved last week, though the 3DS version was particularly prominent in Nintendo's Gaming Lounge broadcast from Comic-Con. On the screenshot front, Masahiro Sakurai continued his fine form on the Director's Room Miiverse community
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Seven
Rayman! New Challengers! Nintencats! More!
Last week was a big one for Super Smash Bros., with plenty of hype surround a live broadcast that revealed Captain Falcon, Lucina and Robin as new challengers. As you would expect, that dominated the week's new screens. Masahiro Sakurai did also move onto other details in his Dire
Poll Which is Your Favourite Super Smash Bros. Challenger So Far?
This week's reveal brought us to 36 in the roster
There's little doubt over what counts as this week's most exciting event, from the perspectives of many Nintendo gamers. The company decided to build hype levels by announcing a special Super Smash Bros. reveal video, and the three minute live broadcast delivered a slickly animated sequence in which...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Six
Palutena! Patriotic Mario! Pac-Man taunting! More!
Super Smash Bros. has had a busy week so far. Nintendo got the hype started by announcing a new fighter reveal video, and the resulting broadcast brought Captain Falcon, Lucina and Robin into the roster. We've not exactly been short of screens, either, with
First impressions HD Brawling with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Big screen action
At a first glance, you could be forgiven for assuming that Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is simply a HD refresh of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, especially given that the core gameplay concept hasn't evolved a great deal. Nevertheless, underneath its incredibly polished aesthetics and smooth 60 frames per second speed, there’s a wealth...
Interview Pro Smash Competitors Armada & Mew2King on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
"The game’s graphics are on a completely different level"
With Evo 2014 around the corner, competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee players are gearing up for one of the year's biggest events. Of course, the new Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will potentially become a competitive main
First Impressions Going Portable With Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
Anything but a little ruckus
While much attention remains on a home console version of a certain iconic franchise, it's perhaps worthwhile reminding ourselves that Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is now less than three months away and giving us our first fix in the series since Brawl on Wii — we should pay it more attention. As much as Nintendo is...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Four
Massive pixels! Outfits! More Mii characters! Other Things!
Super Smash Bros. is still approaching, as we continue to grasp at straws and say that this week will mark the three month mark for the arrival of the 3DS version. How time crawls when Smash is on the way. Masahiro Sakurai and his team are no doubt gearing up and putting in extra hours to...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Three
Mii Fighters! Pac-Man! Dr. Robotn... Eggman machine!
Super Smash Bros. creeps closer yet still seems far away, especially as Summer heat starts to kick in for some of us pasty-faced individuals in the northern hemisphere. We're drifting off-topic, yes, but doesn't change the fact that the next entry in the iconic franchise still remains...
Feature Braving the Queue At Nintendo's Best Buy Smash-Fest
An account of Nintendo’s second foray into digital demonstrations
Not one to keep its ideas safely inside of the metaphorical box, Nintendo decided once again to forgo the standard E3 press conference this year and instead broadcast its own "Digital Event" directly to the consumers. While this caught many off guard last year during the first...
Talking Point Mii, Myself and I - The Arguments For and Against Miis in Super Smash Bros.
Are you talking to Mii?
Well, would you look at that, you're finally in Super Smash Bros., we're finally in Smash Bros. and — if you set your mind to it — Barack Obama is finally in Smash Bros.. In what many considered to be an inevitable announcement, Nintendo unveiled the Mii Fighter as a new combatant in the latest instalment of its all-star...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Two
Posing Miis! Pac-Man! Third-Party All-Stars! More!
Super Smash Bros. is getting tantalisingly close, with the 3DS version confirmed for 3rd October and the Wii U iteration once again pegged for the Holiday season. Both titles were extensively shown off at E3, too, enhancing the excitement further. Despite the madness in LA, Masahiro Sakurai didn't...