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Dojo update: The Mushroomy Kingdom
It makes perfect sense: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a game that oozes Nintendo from every pore. And if there's a level in gaming that is more quintessentially Nintendo than World 1-1 from Super Mario Bros., we have yet to see it. It is iconic.The Mushroomy Kingdom -- note the extra "y" -- is Brawl's re-imagining of the most famous stage in Nintendo, nay, videogame history. It's not aged well, however. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since Mario last visited 1-1, and it shows -- just look at the state of that flag. Some things haven't changed, though. As you fight, the stage still scrolls gently sideways, and every block and pit is still in place, just ... older. Better still, selecting this level may occasionally allow you the chance to visit World 1-2. Awesome, much?Just looking at these pictures brought a smile to our faces this morning, and listening to the Mushroomy Kingdom theme only helped matters.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%Read: Mushroomy KingdomRead: Super Mario Bros.: Ground Theme
Dojo update: Manaphy and Iwata asks
Today's dojo update is a pretty good one, as we not only get shown a new Pokemon that has a pretty unique skill, but also get another installment in Iwata Asks, where the Nintendo president not only apologizes for the Smash Bros. delay, but also talks about some other stuff. As interesting as that is, we're going to shift things back to the new Pokemon included in Smash Bros. Brawl.Manaphy has a unique ability where it will swap the hearts of two combatants. What this does is cause them to switch bodies, essentially changing your character should you get caught in Manaphy's ability. For example, you can see Zelda and DK switching bodies here.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%Read - Iwata asks SakuraiRead - Manaphy
Dojo update: Zelda's Final Smash
A Japanese magazine revealed that Zelda would deploy Light Arrows for her Final Smash earlier this month, but today's dojo update is still worth a skim for those in search of greater detail, not to mention new screens of the move in action.You only get to fire a single Light Arrow as part of this Final Smash, so missing isn't the best idea (Sakurai hints that the Arrow will be easier to dodge in a one-on-one match). The good news is you can fire your precious projectile as either Zelda or Sheik, with some aspects of the attack (such as the direction your opponent gets knocked in) changing, depending on who is used.One thing is true of both fighters, however: the Light Arrow packs some real punch if it does find its target. As Sakurai puts it, once characters are hit, they're "pretty much done for." Anyone tempted to give Zelda a whirl in Brawl?%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Sticker power-ups
This week's final dojo update reveals a bit more about stickers and how you'll utilize them in-game. Not merely just the decoration we thought them to be, they're also going to take on a functional use in the game by allowing you to use each of the sticker's power-up effects, which range from bolstering "the damage from fire-based attacks" to some that even keep you "from flying as far when you take a hit." Applying them is as easy as looking under the base of a trophy.Sounds like win to us.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Lift off!
It's been just over a week since we discovered Captain Olimar would be making his presence felt in Brawl, yet already we've learned more about his capabilities and his stage (which, by the way, looks pretty great). Today, we got the skinny on his Final Smash, titled "End of Day."Grab the Smash Ball as Olimar, and night immediately sets in. As in the Pikmin games, that's the signal for the diminutive cosmonaut to head to the safety of his ramshackle spaceship, so he can take to the night sky and avoid the vicious beasts that lurk about on the ground below. Of course, his opponents won't have the same privilege, meaning they'll get chomped on by hungry Bulborbs, and suffer considerable damage in the process. There's even a spectacular coup de grâce to this Final Smash, with Olimar's ship crashing back to the stage seconds later with a bang, hurting any brawlers who are close by.Sakurai notes that End of Day won't deal as much damage in one-on-one scraps, but also points out that you're less likely to have your KO stolen in such a match (which seems pretty obvious, really, but we're not going to question the man).Anyway, that should be pretty much it for Olimar and his Pikmin chums; anybody else get the feeling that we're closing in on the end of dojo updates? We do, and this makes us sad pandas.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Another character unveiled!
Oh. It's ... Sheik. Everybody back to work! We're sorry, but you'll have to forgive our lack of surprise. You see, we already discovered that Zelda's tomboy alter ego would be appearing in Brawl.Nevertheless, we did learn some new tidbits from today's dojo update. For example, we now know that swapping between Zelda to Sheik is dead easy -- it's allocated to the down special move -- and that there are benefits to using both. Apparently, the two are completely unique characters, and comparing Sheik's moveset with Zelda's proves this to be true.Finally, if you're wondering where Sakurai and his team took the design for a Twilight Princess-era Sheik from (you'll recall that she doesn't appear in the game), it's taken from a bit of concept art that was drafted up during development. So now you know: at one point, Nintendo was kinda thinking about including Sheik in Twilight Princess, but never got around to doing so. %Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Distant Planet
We've already been introduced to Olimar and his Pikmin buddies and shown the kind of stuff they can pull off when working together, so today's update focuses on Olimar's stage. Predictably enough, it's the very same planet that the intrepid astronaut was forced to make an emergency landing on in the Pikmin games. It comes complete with Onions that will produce items if you throw a numbered Pellet into them, as well as some pretty inclement weather. And if you're wondering what Onions and Pellets are, we advise you go hunt down a copy of Pikmin or Pikmin 2. No, seriously, do -- you won't regret it for a moment.Incidentally, taunting a Bulborb many times your size by standing on its snout is not wise.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Challenges
Not to be confused with a mode that presents users with a series of challenges to overcome, this mode is set aside to inform players of rewards and how to unlock them. Once you reveal one reward (see the CD up there, that's a track you can listen to as a reward), the windows on either side of it will turn red. Once red, you can then look in and see how to unlock the reward shown.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-10206%
Dojo update: Getting the most from your Pikmin
It appears that Olimar in Brawl is pretty much the same as Olimar in the Pikmin games: helpless without his loyal, plant-based cohorts. It also transpires that he's going to be the fighter of choice for those who like to think a bit more strategically.Case in point: as in Pikmin 2, Olimar will be able to pluck five different types of Pikmin from the ground, all of which are imbued with different qualities. Red Pikmin have high attack powers, and are fire-resistant. Yellow Pikmin have a longer attack range, electrical attacks, and travel in an arc when thrown (perhaps useful for taller targets?). Blue Pikmin are generally more durable, while the heavyset Purple Pikmin have strong, body-slamming attacks, but are slow, and don't fly very far when thrown. Finally, the creepy White Pikmin can poison enemies. All of which is admirably faithful to the wonderful Pikmin games.You can have up to six Pikmin following you about when they're not being tossed onto enemies, and laying into them with their tiny plant fists. Whichever Pikmin is at the front of the line is the one you'll use next (so here, you'll attack with a Red Pikmin), and you can recall the lot of them by pressing down on the d-pad. Of course, the Pikmin serve other uses beside attacking, and it's at this point that we must reserve a special mention for the excellent Pikmin Chain, a potentially life-saving maneuver, as well as simply being an amusing sight.As unconventional as he sounds, does anybody here think they may warm to the idea of using Olimar? %Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Snake calls in the chopper
We really like the fact that Snake is in Brawl, especially the dichotomy that's created by the man's ... real-worldness and the franchise's cartoon world. But what we like even more than that is his Final Smash, which might just be the most badass thing since, well, Contra 4.With Smash Ball in hand, Snake is able to summon a helicopter to the arena, which promptly drops a rope ladder to his position. Our hero then clambers up, before pulling out a grenade launcher and unleashing round after round at his foes. You target the launcher yourself (much like you would with the Dragoon), and get a dozen grenades in total, though only a limited amount of time to fire them.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Pikmin and Olimar join the cast
And here we thought no new playable characters were going to get revealed, what with the game only weeks away and all. But, that is not the case, as Olimar from Nintendo's Pikmin joins the roster today. As you'd imagine, he utilizes the small creatures from the game in which he stars as his allies in combat, dependent upon them for a lot of his attacks, including his Final Smash.Check out some screens of Olimar in action below.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Fight the FAT
No, Brawl hasn't gone all Wii Fit on us. If you were wondering, FAT stands for "Fighting Alloy Team," and refers to your opponents in Brawl's Multi-Man Brawl mode, as unveiled today on the dojo. The new metallic fighters replace Melee's Fighting Wire Frames, and come in shades of red, blue, yellow, and green. You'll be able to scrap the FAT in a variety of ways, including a 10-Man Brawl, a 100-Man Brawl, a 3-Minute Brawl, a 10-Minute Brawl, an Endless Brawl, and the (frankly sadomasochistic) Cruel Brawl.True to form though, Brawl comes with some extra frills not seen in previous games. As the above shot of Mario and Sonic demonstrates, there's now a co-op option for Multi-Man Brawling, while the friendless can even head online and fight with a partner there. One day, maybe we'll discover a Brawl mode that isn't completely, ridiculously all-encompassing and exhaustive. But that day isn't today.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Fight above Corneria all over again
That shot of the Great Fox can mean only one thing. Well, two things, actually. Firstly, it means that the dojo is back, and that our mornings have some purpose once more. Secondly, it means that Brawl will include yet more Super Smash Bros. Melee stages, to accompany the return of Hyrule Temple.Corneria, Yoshi's Island, Onett, Brinstar, and Rainbow Ride are the returning stages, with Corneria comfortably our favorite of the revived bunch. It's also worth nothing that Brawl's total number of confirmed stages is now 25, with (we'd estimate) another dozen or so dojo updates left to add to that total. And, in the unlikely situation you ever get bored of those, you can always make your own.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Wii Warm Up: Dojo withdrawals
What with the Smash Bros Dojo being on hiatus, do you miss the daily updates, or is it kinda nice to take a break and NOT think about the fact that the game is still more than a month away? On the one hand, the daily updates are nice to soothe the burn that results from the fact that we should be playing already, right now in fact ... but on the other hand, the dojo can also be a painful reminder that we're not. Oh woe! All is angst and misery.
Dojo update: A double helping of dojo goodness
Sad smiley faces at the ready, everybody -- looks like Masahiro Sakurai has remembered he has an actual game to make, as this is going to be the last dojo update until January 7th. The good news is that it's a pretty decent one, with two pieces of news and tons of screenshots.First up, we have a new item to purr over: the Dragoon. Capable of one-hit KOs, this powerful addition to the Brawl armory comes in three parts: the nosecone, the hull, and the tail. Collecting all three lets you target your fleeing foes, before unleashing all sorts of crazy havoc on them. Like the Smash Ball, however, Dragoon components can be fumbled if the holder is hit, and the parts are also dropped if you lose a life.Secondly, we're given the skinny on the new "Smash Service," which you'll have to switch on if you want to receive data from Nintendo (including snapshots and the daily fan-made stage) and your friends. The stuff you'll get from Ninty gradually cleans itself out, freeing up your memory in the process, though anything sent by your friends will have to be either deleted manually, or saved to an SD card.And that's it. See you again for more dojo delights on January 7th, when we'll finally have something to read again on these cold, lonely winter mornings.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Coin launcher
A semi-serious thought crossed our minds upon visiting the dojo this morning: Super Smash Bros. Brawl might well be the only game we need in 2008. You see, there's not just fisticuffs on offer in Brawl, but also adventuring, construction, and now even an entirely separate game dedicated to acquiring trophies and stickers.It's called the "Coin Launcher," and it already sounds like a far more absorbing way to collect the elusive trinkets than Melee's luck-based Trophy Lottery ever was. Players get to fire the coins they've collected in the main game at various trophies as they float about on a table, while also taking care to avoid formations of enemies and incoming missiles (destroying these rewards you with stickers). It looks rather like a cross between a shmup and pinball, and as we love both shmups and pinball, we're probably going to be dedicating an unhealthy, skin-paling amount of time to this.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Sonic's boom and trophy stands
Yesterday's update featured Sonic's Final Smash, during which the hedgehog shifts into Super Sonic. Surprised? Neither are we. So, what does this transformation mean for the blue hedgehog in terms of Brawl? Using the power of speed pills Chaos Emeralds, he becomes even faster, making him a force to reckon with. While this may satisfy your need for speed, failing to control Super Sonic well will allow enemies to dodge him more easily.As for today's update, the dojo presented us with an item the trophy stand item. This item is necessary to turn enemies in the Subspace Emissary into trophies. Using one properly requires skill, but whether or not the item appears is entirely based on luck. Do you think the collecting aspect will bring more replayability to the game's adventure mode, or do trophy stands sound like more trouble than they're worth to you? We're going to go with the latter, simply because of the luck factor.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%Read: Sonic's Final SmashRead: Trophy stands
Dojo update: Wario gets classic
Today's dojo update doesn't bring us anything too exciting, especially considering that Christmas is right around the corner (yes, we're spoiled, what of it?). Wario fans will be pleased to know, however, that the flabby mischief-maker is not limited to his WarioWare outfit. Yep, that's right, the purple suspenders are back. That's not all, you greedy piglets. Aside from Wario's six standard color variations, the classic version also has its own choosable colors for you to pick from. In the end, though, we think the best outfit for Wario in Brawl is this one.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: The Subspace Awesome-ary
It's hard for us to clear our minds after watching this trailer, and have any thoughts beyond our initial reactions of drooling all over ourselves. But, we will try, if only for you, dear reader.You may remember the Subspace Emissary update in August, introducing a side-scrolling action game to flesh out Brawl's single player experience. Today's update is nothing but a preview for it, but oh, what a preview it is. If you weren't excited for the game's adventure mode before, you will be now.We don't need to hype it up for you, though; the video speaks for itself. So watch, enjoy, and try to keep your "do wants!" to two-inch voices.
Dojo update: And ... Inhale
There's a bumper Kirby update over at the dojo today, dealing entirely with the pink blob's "Inhale" move, a maneuver that allows Kirby to assume the identity and abilities of his foes by swallowing them whole.The gelatinous one already has one of our favorite Final Smashes, and his patented special move looks every bit as excellent as that. Don't believe us? Just check out Solid Kirby! Or Samus Kirby! Or Bowser Kirby! Or heck, just check 'em all out.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
