brawl
Latest
New Smash Bros. trailer and character revealed Friday [Update 1]
You know that game called Super Smash Bros. Brawl featuring Nintendo characters and Solid Snake duking it out across a wide variety of environments? No? Okay then ...Well, all horrible attempts at being humorous aside, it turns out another new character is coming to the game and will be revealed in a new trailer, set to release this Friday during the kickoff of Nintendo World 2006. Time to let the speculation begin (we're assuming you all think it will be Sonic?) and the comments fly![Thanks Franky Digital; via Go Nintendo][Update: Turns out our translation of the page was inaccurate as 1UP says this will be footage of the new characters moving in-game, not the unveiling of new characters for the game. Bummer ... ]
Sonic in the next Smash Bros. game?
According to the September issue of Tips & Tricks, one Shigeru Miyamoto and Masahiro Sakurai have gone on record stating that they would both like to see other third-parties step up and ask to include their characters in the Smash Bros. experience. In citing that Kojima asked to have Snake involved in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the magazine says that the request was made too close to deadline, so they were unable to include him. Shiggy and Sakurai have said that they are close to including one other outside character, and commented that the most requested character is none other than Sega's mascot, and Mario's old rival, Sonic the Hedgehog.Now, we've all heard about the April Fool's joke about Sonic being unlockable in SSBM, but with strong support of the new console from Sega with some launch title, one of which being an all-new Sonic adventure, we're inclined to say that this is likely to happen. Is the character they're in talks to include none other than the speedy, ring-obsessed Sonic?[Via QJ; Thanks vidGuy!]
A look at how Smash Bros. could work online
Gamedaily has a feature running right now where they look at how Super Smash Bros. Brawl online could work. Dissecting the experience down to three important fields, they discuss what the most important aspects of the title need to make the online roster to ensure the online experience is as endearing as the game is offline.First up are what different game modes will be available for online play. Now, Smash Bros. is such an experience that it can be augmented each and every time you play. There is a core underlying mechanic in just attempting to beat your opponent silly, but there are factors such as stock count, time, locale, as well as the variants such as Coin Battle, that are really going to be tough to bring online. Game Daily thinks that Nintendo really has to leave all of this content in for the online arena, and we're inclined to agree. Really, it's a no-brainer to say that the online multiplayer should very much resemble that of the local multiplayer.Next item of interest is latency issues, or lag. Now, it's no secret that most fighting games rely on speed and intensity to create a great experience, with Smash Bros. being no exception. Other games such as the upcoming Virtua Fighter 5 refuse to take their game online because the lag will take away from the title. Nintendo will have their work cut out for them if they hope to provide a lag-free experience. Tecmo's Dead or Alive 4, however, has managed to remain excellent online, so hopefully Nintendo will be able to look to that title for inspiration in how to ensure that the game remains the same online.Finally, the game will undoubtedly need a ranking system. I mean, what's the point if you can't get into a match and/or lobby with your incredible record and talk smack. The question is exactly how will it be done and what will be the criteria for rewarding players with better ranks.Now, we're still not sure this game will even be online or not yet, so keep that in mind while you mull some of this over. When will we find out if it'll be online or not? Probably next year, sadly.
A different sort of Wii-shlist
Yeah, yeah, you can bust up some Yakuza punks and rampage across New York, but what else can we do with the Wiimote? British gadget mag T3 was kind enough to offer some possibilities for any game designers itching to find the perfect new idea. Their recommendations? Mario Darts Super Tokyo Juggling Rush Gladiators Barroom Brawl 2007 Ghostbusters The T3 blokes chose their Ghostbusters idea as the most viable of the lot, but we have to go with Mario Darts. Why buy a real dartboard and risk putting one through little Timmy's thigh when you can bring that smoky barroom favorite right into your living room with no fuss, no muss? This is probably a good time to admit a secret hankering for a game about soccer hooligans. Football, beer, and raging across London with your best mates, crowbars in hand. What could possibly be wrong with that? C'mon, reader -- design your own no-holds-barred use for the Wiimote. What do you want to bash today? [Via Go Nintendo]
Destructible environments and custom characters in SSBB?
Rumors are coming in that a programmer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl has recently said on his blog that the game will be featuring destructible environments and customizable characters. The environments are said to feature terrain that will reflect damage through burning and crumbling. Whether this can be used as a weapon in the game is yet to be determined, as well as the validity of the statement on a whole.As for customizing characters, supposedly the game will employ a new stat system that allows you to customize the play style of each character, inputting data to balance its speed, strength, etc. to the player's liking. Also, it is said that each character will have an arsenal of moves that the player may map to the character, allowing for even more customization.While this is all a huge rumor right now, we sure hope that it turns out to be truth.[Thanks Thousand Dragoon Link!]
Smash Bros. most popular game on Game Stats
That's right Halo 3, go take a walk!Over at Game Stats, today's (and yesterday's) most popular game is next year's Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Besides the previously-mentioned, alien-exterminating cyborg, the game has some seriously stiff competition, a majority of which are on the Wii. The console, and obviously its games, are getting major buzz, and for good reason. Face it, we all, Nintendo fanboys or not, want to take Snake into the Smash Bros. arena (namely Hyrule) and kick some ass. Link vs. Snake, or Samus vs. Snake...oh we cannot wait.See also: Rumor: Ubisoft character making Super Smash Bros. Brawl roster Smash Bros. Brawl: who's in, who's out
Rumor: Ubisoft character making Super Smash Bros. Brawl roster
By way of DS Revolution, we're to believe that a gamer, who naturally has an inside source at Nintendo, is telling him that a few of Ubisoft's most notable characters are being looked at to be included in the roster of characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Of Ubisoft's long line of franchise characters, the proposed character has been narrowed down to Jade, Rayman, the Prince, and Sam Fischer. Now, this is purely a rumor, but the thought of either Jade or Sam Fischer being included tickles my fancy in ways it was not meant to be tickled. Obviously, Sam versus Solid Snake would be a stealth fan's dream come true, but the thought of Jade getting in the spotlight again, which would then help bring us a much needed sequel to Beyond Good & Evil, is too much to pass up. Yes it's a rumor, but who would you like to see the cut if it turns out to be true?
Smash Bros. Brawl: who's in, who's out
Masashiro Sakurai recently let slip some information about who would not be making the cut come time for Brawl's release, along with who some of the newer cast members are outside of the previously mentioned. We here at The Fanboy don't agree with cutting anyone out of the game, so when we heard that Young Link, Ice Climbers, and Mr. Game & Watch would be getting the boot, we were a little more than upset. The inclusion of three new characters in Young Bowser, Ridley (YES!), and Wind Waker Link are nice, however we just don't understand why anyone has to be cut at all. I think I'm most upset that I won't get to scream 'sauuuuusages' at people in the tone of the famous Kids in the Hall sketch when playing Mr. Game & Watch anymore.[Via Codename Revolution; Thanks BPM and RageOverdose!]
Smash Bros. site updated again
The Smash Bros. site has been updated again with two more character bios in Wario and Zero Suit Samus. Turns out that the Zero suit Samus is not a fully selectable character and instead, regular old Samus will shed her armor if certain conditions are met. So considering how Zelda could transform into Sheik in the last game, we're thinking Samus could just shed her armor with a button combination, although why you would want to just throw away the awesome arm cannon is a mystery to me.[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]
Smash Bros. Dojo updated
Smash Bros. Dojo, the official Smash Bros. website, has updated the character section. Pit, star of the game Kid Icarus for the NES, and Meta Knight, rival to the gluttonous pink ball that is Kirby, are the first two of the game's characters to receive the star treatment with added screenshots and biographies.
Goro Abe interview [Update]
For those of you unaware, Goro Abe is the director of development for Warioware: Smooth Moves, the Wii installment in the popular Warioware franchise. In a lengthy Q & A session, Goro discusses how the team comes up with the quirky minigames the series has been known for and some of the challenges that come from developing a title for Nintendo's next-gen system, and even discusses his role in bringing Wario to Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[Update: It's Goro, not Masamichi.]
