One year since Smash 4
One year ago, today Smash 4 launched in Japan. After a year and a half of daily hype images of Luigi touching his nose, Smash 4 3DS was finally out!
This was a pretty huge launch for the 3DS. Smash Bros hadn't ever been on a handheld before, and here was Smash 3DS, looking and feeling like a proper Smash Bros. They were able to push the 3DS to the absolute limits and have smooth, 60fps action with higher than average detailed models all while maintaining Smash's signature complex physics and fighting style.
Launching with a roster of 51 characters, Smash 4 was the largest roster Smash had ever seen. From all stars like Mega Man, Pac Man and Dark Pit to lesser known characters like Shulk, and even surprise appearances by Duck Hunt and Animal Crossing's Villager. The latter had been specifically said to not appear in Smash because Animal Crossing was a non-violent game, so it was a surprise to see him/her appear. Unfortunately, the release roster wasn't all that much of a surprise, as it had leaked months prior. BUT OH WELL, we'll pretend like we didn't know.
Smash 4 3DS' release wouldn't be the end however. There was still the International version and the Wii U version. And many, many patches adding new characters, new stages, new modes and new costumes, along with major balance changes. Smash 4 is the first Smash game to make use of patches for balance, and in fact, one of the first Nintendo games to receive major balance updates. We saw the entire system for DI gutted and changed, probably the largest change the game had. Wario Lost the ability to fly wherever he pleases, Charizard's Seismic Toss went from a bland fairly useless throw to (rightfully) the best Kill Throw in the game and Lucina got some changes to declone her slightly, at least with damage numbers. And plenty of other changes.
And like other Nintendo games like Splatoon and Mario Kart, Smash has continued to receive new, free features and modes through patches!
New free content includes
- One entire new stage (for the Wii U). Miiverse, sometimes affectionately called Memeverse, is a slight variation on Battlefield that also features posts from Nintendo's famous message board, Miiverse. So now you can be told you suck and see lewd drawings of the female fighters while you battle! It also has a ton of music, featuring remixes from games like Nintendo Land and Mario Paint, which are kind of oddball games to remix, but they're appreciated. Dat Wii Shop channel remix.
- One new free Mii Costume. Every player gets the K. K. Slider costume for free just by booting the game! Previously exclusive to 7-11 in Japan, you know what they say, "the first hit is free."
- Lots more 8-Player maps (Wii U)! The game had a fairly small 8-player map rotation early on, but over time lots more maps have been made 8 player compatible. Interestingly, these maps also remove hazards, so they would be nice to have for regular matches, but this isn't Play Station All Stars! RIP balanced Pokemon Stadium 2.
Lots more features as well
- The ability to upload and share your Anime Inspired Miis online with others, along with questionable screenshots of Zero Suit Samus, custom stages with no blastzones (Wii U only) and replays of that amazing time you killed a Little Mac online by doing nothing.
- Day 1 saw the addition of Conquests, which earn you coins for using specific characters online in "themed" battles. Kind of a minor feature, but nice overall.
- All Star gets less bad and random (on the Wii U) with the change to how stages are picked. Now 8-Player variants are used when one exists, which means the majority of stages are hazard free in All Star now. And then you get a run into Garden of Hope and Wiley's Castle in the same run while trying for the Beat All Star in 6 minutes with Jigglypuff and you rage quit. I guess All Star should have less hazards to make it more balanced and fair, but we can't get a toggle for the same in normal modes?
- The Wii U saw the addition of Tournies and Tournaments. This online only mode lets users create pseudo-lobbies with specific rulesets. Except it's missing 1v1 as an option, so its utility is somewhat less than it could be. Also Nintendo now hosts online Tournaments that run about every 15 minutes. These have various themes. Most allow Miis. So it's okay to use your Hitler Mii with randoms in this mode, but For Glory is completely off limits for Adolf to kick butt because of reasons.
- Improved 3DS AI. At release Olimar was basically useless. His Pikmin were determined to kill themselves, so he was a challenge to use. AI was also really, really bad. Even at 9, the AI would often just not recover, walk off ledges or just forget they were playing Smash. Those were all fixed and optimized and now the AI of Pikmin and CPU players is almost to the level of the Wii U. Nice job with this, optimization can be tricky, and they've managed to do well here.
- Youtube replays. On the Wii U you can record your replays and upload them to YouTube. This is useful because replays are made useless after every balance patch (every few months). But not quite as useful because it takes forever and is limited to around three minutes, much shorter than a lot of matches, which can run up to 8 minutes at times.
And of course DLC. What would a modern game be without DLC.
- Four new characters. Three vets and one New Comer. Fan favorite Mewtwo returns from a decade hiatus to torment the battlefield as the second lightest fighter in the game and one of the tallest fighters. A potent mix of glass and... sort of a cannon! For some reason the world's most powerful Pokemon has never quite fit well, balance wise, into Smash. He was also super glitchey at release, banning players if they used him in 10 Man Smash. Then came Lucas. Legit tears were shed by the Internet as Lucas returned to the battle after being cut rather surprisingly. Then came Our Boy and Ryu. Roy was a surprise addition to some because many assumed he wasn't really popular or there were too many Fire Emblem characters. Those people were wrong, Roy is the best. He was also decloned a bit, with new animations, and a great new redesign. Ryu was Smash's first DLC new comer. He came to Smash with a completely unique control scheme that lets you use fighting game inputs for special attacks and he has different standard attacks depending on how long you push the button. A really cool character people didn't know they wanted until he was in the game.
- Four new stages. With Ryu came our first new DLC stage, Suzaku Castle, which is based on his stage from Street Fighter II. A really nice looking stage, but sorely lacks Guile's Theme. I guess it doesn't go with everything. We also got (arguably) the most balanced stage in the series, Dreamland 64. This stage also came with the sorely missed Fountain of Dreams music, along with other good music. A nice and appreciated stage. And then two more veteran stages from the 64, Peach's Castle and Hyrule Castle. They are basically the same as they've always been, and also come with new music. Six different versions of the Zelda Main Theme and some classic Mario Music.
- More Mii Hats! Taking a cue from Valve, Nintendo sells costumes for Miis including popular characters like Fighting Game Minecraft Man, One Armed Tan Swordfighter, Obese Wonky Eyed Crocodile, Freddie Fozbear, and Everyone's Favorite Stage Hazard™. On a serious note, the costumes are well designed and fun, Protoman is especially great because a well made Mii basically adds Protoman to the roster because of how well done the costume is.
All and all, Smash 4 has a had a great year. It was one of the biggest games at EVO and always makes a huge splash when it's at tournaments. People enjoy watching and playing Smash 4 and the constant balance updates has turned a game that had okay balance into an extremely well balanced fighter with large character and stage diversity.
Who knows what updates and DLC will come in the future. What leaks will bring a tear to Sakurai's eye, and when it'll all end and the feeling of crippling emptiness will fall upon everyone until the Smash 5 hype train starts rolling? There's still the Fighter Ballot that's ending soon, and apparently a character will come from that, so we at least know DLC will go into next year. Will the entire roster of Melee return? Will Snake ever come back? When the heck are they finally adding Wolf like we all know they will? Will K Rool stay dead or will he rise again?
