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Dojo update: King Dedede is a playable character
Today's dojo update is a huge one, as a new playable character is revealed in King Dedede. He's a big mofo with a hammer, so what's not to love? It'll be nice to have a new heavy hitter to take against DK and Bowser, that's for sure.Yesterday's update involved a look at the Target Smash mode, which consists of five different levels. The neat thing is that you can record replay data and send it to your friends over Wi-Fi.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%Read - King Dedede Read - Target Smash![Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]
King Dedede joins the Smash Bros Brawl cast
Warning! Challenger approaching! Every time we pop onto the Smash Bros Brawl website and see those words, our hearts go all a-flutter. This morning, the new competitor in the ever-growing Brawl cast is King Dedede, Kirby's recurring nemesis going all the way back to the original Kirby's Dream Land on the Game Boy.King Dedede is an addition to the "heavyweight" ranks of Brawl, joining Donkey Kong and Bowser as a slow, but powerful character. He sports a brutal hammer, a big belly, and -- we're crossing our fingers -- hopefully the ability to echo Kirby's most famous move by inhaling and shooting out his enemies, in a manner reminiscent of his boss battles.This brings the number of Kirby characters in Nintendo's fighter up from a meager one in Melee to an impressive three. Could other lonely franchise characters be receiving the same treatment?
Kaplan talks Smash Bros. delay, Nintendo's new release focus
With Kaplan gearing up to ride her horse out into the sunset, she still managed to find time to sit down and chat with Stepehen Totilo from MTV. The discussion centered around the delay for Smash Bros. Brawl, but Kaplan explained that Nintendo is starting to look at the release calendar differently. Instead of cramming all of the games into the last quarter of the year, Nintendo is looking at spreading their release throughout the year."Sunday is actually a really good launch day of the week for products. And I think we're actually starting to look at the annual calendar differently. The first two quarters of the year tend to be more quiet. But now we've seen some evidence of sales in that period," she comments. "Other than the holiday quarter, I think the traditional way of viewing it is not necessarily a slam dunk. I think a really good product can be a slam dunk any time of the year."Personally, we'd like to see a more balanced release schedule throughout the year, so we like this new way of thinking. The holiday season is expensive enough for us, having to purchase presents, so we often have to overlook some titles due to constraints on our cash supply.[Via Joystiq]
Dojo update: The Kongs cometh
This short but sweet trailer starring Nintendo's simian twosome (along with cameos from Bowser's crack team of Mushroom Kingdom baddies) popped up on the Smash Bros. Dojo earlier today.Featuring a truck loaded with stolen bananas, much stomping and chest-thumping from the elder Kong, and Diddy Kong dual-wielding a pair of deadly Peanut Pop Guns John Woo-stylee, it's almost enough to make us choose Donkey Kong as our fighter in Brawl when it comes out. Almost, but not quite.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Dojo update: PictoChat
Seriously, a PictoChat level? While we're all for new stages to scrap on, we can't understand the result of a PictoChat stage making its way through the boardroom gauntlet where it was introduced, eventually becoming an actual stage in the game. While the flow of the stage seems nice (changing terrain and all), we're thinking it'll be more of a nuisance than anything else.We do like the ability to play different tunes on the stage, such as the Mii Shop Channel song and the Wii Shop Channel tune (which you may remember, we absolutely love).%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Smash Bros Brawl's Pictochat level boggles the mind, but could be better
We're all very much amazed that someone decided to place a level in Super Smash Bros. Brawl based on the Nintendo DS's PictoChat functionality. With its adorable drawings and mishmash of hazards, the PictoChat world is bound to draw (haha) comparisons to Melee's Game & Watch arena: awesome in theory, annoying in practice.As excited as we are, we can't help but feel that Nintendo's missing a golden opportunity here. If the DS can have wireless connectivity to the Wii, why not give players the option of having someone draw the stage? The Wii could beam a tiny PictoChat clone program to the DS, where a fifth player could create and erase the terrain as the Nintendo Defense Force's favorite mascots duke it out. Please, Nintendo? Pretty please?
Dojo update: Peach gets a Final Smash
Peach's Final Smash maneuver isn't really in line with most of the other brawler's super move, as she lures her foes to sleep and takes the opportunity to gorge herself on the fruit by which her name is derived. Or, she could take the opportunity to launch her enemies into the stratosphere. So, it's a difficult decision to make: heal yourself or destroy your enemies.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Dojo update: Little Mac
Oh man, why couldn't he have been a playable character?We guess we can't be too upset, considering he still made his way into the game. This is something we've been dying for since the first game on the N64. Little Mac has two different attacks, his swift jabs and his special move, the uppercut. In fact, now our thoughts are drifting toward a resurrection for the franchise on the Wii.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Dojo update: The return of the Home Run Derby
Remember the Home Run Derby from Smash Bros. Melee? Well, it's returning, but getting beefed up for Brawl. Not only will it feature simultaneous play for two players, but it will also allow for online play. Yup, two players can either alternate or go at it at the same time, which we imagine can be quite the ordeal. Trying to battle on that platform for the right to send that big bag of sand into the the atmosphere sounds like quite the bit of fun.What do you guys think?%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Dojo update: New Pork City?! Get a rope!
Mother 3 fans are getting everything but the actual GBA game with Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- Franklin Badges, Lucas as a playable character, and now, New Pork City, one of several memorable locations from the Earthbound sequel. The massive arena is one of the game's largest, putting to rest worries that the game wouldn't have any Hyrule-Temple-sized battlegrounds. New Pork City boasts among its attractions a swinging boat and a stage-specific menace. Before you preview the screenshots at the Dojo, be warned that there are some Mother 3 spoilers scattered around the images. You can also watch a 2D tour of the metropolis after the post break.%Gallery-3347%%Gallery-6869%
Smash Bros. delay could spell doom this holiday for Wii
In speaking to Chris Kohler over at Wired, Michael Pachter stated that the delay of Smash Bros. Brawl could be a very bad thing for Nintendo and their Wii this holiday season. He thinks that Microsoft might be a contender now, stating "instead of Nintendo being the clear winner this holiday, maybe Microsoft has a chance of keeping up. There's not as much compelling Nintendo content this holiday without it." Instead of it being the killer app for Nintendo, Pachter thinks their big title will now be one from Activision. A little known title called Guitar Hero III.Even though it's releasing next month, we'd like to think that a title called Super Mario Galaxy is going to be the big hit this holiday
Dojo update: Taking snapshots
Following the other updates we've seen, the final one for this week might seem like it's not quite as exciting. Well, maybe it isn't, but the ability to take snapshots anytime and save them to your Wii's memory or to an inserted SD card is pretty neat. Also, being able to send them over WFC to your friends is a nice feature.Oh, and you might notice one feature is blurred out there. That should be revealed in a future update, but feel free to speculate in the comments.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Getting in on the Brawl, direct from Nintendo's presser
The crew at IGN sat down to throw down in some Smash Bros. Brawl earlier today, taking care to write up their impressions and upload some video of the happenings for all of the internet to see. Available to those lucky enough to try the demo are 14 different characters and 10 different maps, allowing those to play the demo as Mario, Link, Samus, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Fox, Pikachu, Pit, Meta Knight, Ike, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser and, recent newcomer, Sonic. Also of note, the demo allowed players to use the Wiimote to control the action or the Classic controller. Some of the crew at IGN preferred the Wiimote, for the use of the d-pad, while others chose the analog control of the Classic controller. Were it us, we'd go Classic as well.Hit up past the break for some more footage.
Smash Bros. Brawl delayed in US until February 10, 2008
At a media summit this morning in San Francisco, Nintendo of America's George Harrison (via MTV Multiplayer) has confirmed that the US version of Smash Bros. Brawl will follow in its Japanese brethren's footsteps and be delayed until February 10, 2008. The loss of this future bestseller during the holiday season will definitely sadden some fans (and Nintendo's profit margin), but then again Mario Galaxy is also coming in November (so far as we know) and it was always uncharacteristic of Nintendo to space AAA-title releases so close together.No word yet on a delay for PAL territories, though we suspect a similar fate.
Dojo update: Sonic has got some moves
Following the revelation of Sonic appearing in the game and the trailer of him working his magic, today we get a breakdown on his arsenal of special moves. And, from the looks of it, he is either going to be our new favorite character, or most despised enemy. His special moves look like they may be cheaper than that of Fox's, if he's zipping around all quick like in a little ball, just running everyone over. Guess we'll have to wait and see.In the meantime, be sure to hit up our gallery below for some images of Sonic performing his special moves.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Brawl character selection screen revealed
As you may have gathered from this post's very title, what you're looking at is none other than the character selection screen for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While normally we wouldn't create a post on a single image such as this (we crave substance in our news items), we felt you readers wanted to discuss it, regardless. So, do us proud and engage in the internet talkings.[Thanks, Ryan!]
Dojo update: Sonic the Hedgehog (of course)
After dropping the bomb on us very late last night (or really early this morning, depending on how you want to look at it), it's only natural that the dojo would update us with a new trailer and bio for newcomer Sonic the Hedgehog. And, based on the trailer above, Sonic's Final Smash involves him transforming into his super self. Be sure to also hit up the gallery below, where some screens of Sonic in-game await your eager eyes. And be sure to head past the break for another new trailer for the game.%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Smash Bros site downgrades release date to 'TBD'
It appears Smash Bros Brawl, now with an added dose of Sonic the Hedgehog, may follow in Japan's footsteps and be delayed, possibly until next year (Nintendo confirmed last night Japan's Brawl delay to January 24, 2008). The official Brawl website now lists the release date as the dreaded TBD, which as we wall know stands for "Total Bummer / Downer."We've contacted Nintendo for a statement on the matter.
Watch Sonic school Mario, turn Super Sonic in Brawl
For those still in denial, the footage above should be incontrovertible proof that Sega's favorite punching bag mascot is joining the Smash Bros. Brawl cast this December. Shown are some of Sonic's devastatingly fast moves, the return of his horrible voice acting, and the return of that horrible theme song from Sonic Adventure 2. So I guess we can all stop writing those fan letters petitioning Nintendo, huh?Now, how about some Tails action?
Sonic, online co-op confirmed for Smash Bros Brawl
Nintendo has announced at their fall press conference (via IGN) that Sonic the Hedgehog, having already put aside 16-bit differences to challenge Mario in the Olympics, has joined the lineup for Smash Bros. Brawl. A new trailer was shown at the event that shows him transforming into Super Sonic. Anyone want to take bets on what his down+B special move is going to be?Also announced was the inclusion of online cooperative play. While North American Smash Bros. fans might be finding it hard to wait until December 3 to pick up the game, Japanese gamers have it even harder - Nintendo also announced that Brawl isn't hitting Japan until January 24, 2008.
