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Japanese Smash Bros. commercials tease its nearing release
GameTrailers shows three Japanese Super Smash Bros. Brawl commercials made of in-game and animated footage. We know you Smash fans have been shaking since Nintendo pushed back the fighting title; let these clips deliver your Nintendo-fighter fix before the February 10 North America release. (Japan gets it at the end of this month, while other territories have to wait even longer.)Keep your eyes peeled for random Nintendo background characters; that's our favorite game-within-the-game.See the other two videos after the break.
New Smash Bros. Brawl intro video looks amazing
We were watching this intro video to the new Super Smash Bros. Brawl adventure mode "The Subspace Emissary" when something occurred to us: Regardless of your feelings about Wii, if this video doesn't move something inside of you, then you're dead inside. It's as simple as that. It either jams a pickaxe into that carapace you call a heart and finds a deep, rich vein of nostalgia or you're a vampire. A mean vampire.How about the part where the Arwing -- wait, you know what? We don't want to ruin anything for you. Just watch above and discuss below. We'll leave you to it.
Nintendo: no plans for a Kirby Wii title
Despite Kirby's prominent appearance in the Wii's megaton title Smash Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo has no plans of giving the little pink vacuum cleaner his own game on the console, according to the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine.In the magazine's Q&A section, Nintendo's official response is: "There are no plans right now for a Kirby game on Wii but there are plenty of Kirby fans out there, so in the meantime look out for Kirby in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl which will be released in 2008."Though Kirby has always been best suited to 2D side-scrolling adventures, we're still a bit disappointed that Nintendo isn't considering any Wii love for the squishy mascot. We can't think of any clever waggle functionality, but wouldn't it just be fun to turn the Wii-mote on its side and let Kirby run free in a 2.5D adventure?[Via Wii Fanboy]
The Joystiq Weekend: December 8 - 10, 2007
Over 190 character make up this Smash Bros. image - "an image with every single Nintendo franchise in existence in it... and some third party characters to boot," according to AlgusUnderdunk. Check out a higher resolution version here, as well as a list of every character shown. Check out the highlights for today:JoystiqueryLiveblogging the 2007 Video Game AwardsMassively looks at MMOG's most influential momentsToday's most tribal video: PataponWeekly Webcomic Wrapup is Still AliveNewsWii Guitar Hero III getting DLC and replacement discsEuropean No More Heroes removes bloody gameplayGuitar Hero Mobile trailer is unsurprisingly terribleNew games this week: Unreal Tournament III editionVirtual Console graced by Pokemon Snap, Ghosts'n Goblins, Baseball Stars 2Wii getting gifting feature today2K pulls wraps off Don King Presents: PrizefighterWatch the VGA's Little Big Planet trailerIron Man's new trailer looks unexpectedly awesomeGame Head out, GameTrailers TV inKillzone 2 dev admits screenshots 'touched up'This Wednesday: Arkadian Warriors get a GripShift on XBLABorderlands premiere features a 'helluvalotta guns'Manhunt 2 one step closer to British unbanningRed vs. Blue vs. the Halo 3 'Heroic Map Pack'GT5 Prologue seen driving into uncanny valleyBungie discusses playlist tweaks for tomorrow's Heroic Map PackDragon Quest Swords unsheathed Feb. 26Prototype trailer promises 'ultimate destruction'Afro Samurai trailer sports plenty of blood, not much elsePaRappa dev targets WiiAnalyst: PS3 will catch up to Wii by 2011Rumors & SpeculationRumor: Call of Duty 5 to be set during World War IIRumor: Rock Band Canadian release pushed back past Christmas, Boxing DayCulture & CommunityBioShock drowns competition at 2007 VGAsClass Action Connect offers lawsuit against Bungie for Halo's missing pixelsJean Claude Van Damme and Guillermo Toledo promote worldwide WoW lovePortal bucks masculine first person shooter trendsReminder: Watch the Spike TV Video Game Awards tonightGameTap's top 10 rhythm games of all timeMario Kart + slot car racing = awesomeDonkey Kong becomes a monster truckCasual game reviewer responds to EA, demands respectMorgan Webb talks gaming's double standards
Brawl delayed in Europe, get out your pitchforks and lynching gear
Let's rip the Band-Aid off quickly, it might hurt less that way: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is delayed in Europe until after June 2008. A Nintendo spokesperson confirmed the bad news with VideoGamer.com, we're sad to say.Oh, Nintendo. You burn European gamers over and over again, and yet, every time it happens, we're surprised. Perhaps it's because we're filled with the naive hope that you'll get your act together. Then you go and do something like delay the Wii's most anticipated game for an entire continent of people (and let's face it, probably Australia too, although that's not yet confirmed). We can grumble all we want about you, Nintendo of Europe, but you don't seem to mind at all.Our only consolation is that if you live in England, you have the chance to use an A-Team limo service. Even when NOE fails, the A-Team will never let you down.[Via Kotaku]
Dojo update: Dedede sends out the troops
Some of the Final Smash maneuvers showcased so far on the dojo have looked devastating -- maybe too devastating in some cases -- but how about sending an entire army to do your bidding? How about sending the Waddle Dee Army? Scared yet, punk?Well, get used to it, because that's essentially the Final Smash of Kirby nemesis King Dedede, who peppers the level with Waddle Dees (in Kirby games, these are the equivalent of Goombas). Not just the bog-standard Waddle Dees that he chucks about most of the time, either -- these are faster than your common or garden Waddle Dee, and can easily sweep you clean off the stage. And just for good measure, there's also the odd Gordos hidden in there.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Dojo update: Smash Ball 101
Smash Balls are going to be a white-hot commodity when we all finally start brawling next year, and little wonder: getting your hands on one will allow you to pull off your respective character's Final Smash, a number of which we've already covered.But it's not just a matter of walking over the Ball to trigger its powers. First, you all have to beat the absolute snot out of it, with the player who lands the blow that breaks the Smash Ball getting to keep it. Once it's in your hands, a simple press of the B button will unleash your devastating Final Smash, though as Sakurai-san points out in today's update, it's all a matter of timing if you want to create the most destruction possible.You're advised not to hang around too much, though. In the period between picking up the Smash Ball and launching a Final Smash (when the player enters "Final Smash standby mode"), opponents can still swipe the Ball from your dastardly clutches, meaning some strategic thinking is required.We're also told about the Pity Final Smash, where a player who is losing badly respawns from a KO in the aforementioned standby mode. Lastly, if you'd rather not use Final Smash moves at all (though goodness knows why you wouldn't want to), you can simply turn Smash Balls off in the options.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Animated spoof of Brawl invokes the spirit of Robot Chicken, only with Flash
Before you go clicking on any links, we want to warn you that the following flash is NSFW in many ways. Now that we're clear, we thought you might enjoy this (again, NSFW) jumble of short flash skits available at Newgrounds, based on the upcoming (and highly anticipated) Super Smash Bros. Brawl. These skits are meant to spoof many of the daily updates that we've gotten from the official Smash Bros. site. While some are completely unfunny, on the whole the Flash is pretty entertaining (specifically any scene with Snake in it). Keep in mind that although the scenes themselves are short, the compilation of them all leads to a pretty long video. On the chance that we've cause you to waste five or so minutes of your life that you'll never get back, know that we'll cry inside every day just thinking about it.[Thanks, hvnlysoldr!]
Dojo update: Returning Pokemon
We've already been told about the odd newcomer from the Pokémon universe, but today's dojo update is all about those who are returning from previous Smash Bros. titles.Lugia, Entei, Suicune (hurray!), Staryu, Bellossom, Ho-Oh, Wobbuffet, Togepi, and Snorlax are amongst that number, while the likelihood of a Celebi or Mew sighting is, as ever, low. They're worth the wait however, particularly as they like to drop presents your way. Like mysterious gold CDs.%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
The Joystiq Weekend: December 1 to 3, 2007
Remember this? You were supposed to be waiting up for this right now. At least you get to keep some extra money for the already-massive lineup of AAA titles this season. And there's always this, too. (Caution: link NSFW) Check out the (many) highlights for this (rather exhausting) weekend:Gerstmann-GateLatest developments in "Gerstmann-gate"Rumorang: Gerstmann-gate editionZiff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rallyGerstmann-gate: Sunday morning updateExclusive: Gertsmann speaks about K&L review, futureBlackout Monday: virtual boycott targets GameSpot, CNET sitesGerstmann-gate: Blackout Monday updateCNET podcast hosts comment on Gerstmann controversyGameSpot posts official Gerstmann firing noticeActi-BlizzardActivision and Blizzard parent merge in $18 billion deal Blizzard wants you to know that merger won't affect their games GameSetWatch analyzes Activision/Vivendi mergerThe Activision Blizzard conference callActivision stock way up after merger newsJoystiq Podcast Roundtable - Blizzavision ... Actiblizzard?JoystiqueryJapanese hardware sales, Nov. 19 - Nov. 25: Informative puppeteer editionReminder: Last chance to win a $5K gaming PC from Falcon NorthwestToday's danciest video: Merry Xmas 2K7Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: charitable editionNewsGuitar Hero II gets DLC: Indie Label Pack IIRock Band team offers free EA game for guitar repair delays GameTap losing over 7% of games; EA, Interplay and other publishers gone Dec. 11DS gets downloadable content with official DSVision flash card peripheralNew games this week: Universe at War: Earth Assault editionVirtual Console gets Eternal Champions, Zanac, The Dynastic HeroKuju opens new Nik Nak studio aimed at kidsResident Evil: Outbreak and Monster Hunter online services cease for PS2Microsoft reveals XBLA games coming in December and JanuaryEidos trademarks 'Tomb Raider Underworld'Metallica in talks to debut new single as Rock Band DLCBig surprise: Guitar Hero 4, Call of Duty 5, and Tony Hawk 11 confirmedSega: No plans to release NiGHTS PS2 outside of JapanThis Tuesday: Arcade HitsTomb Raider engine to power Deus Ex 3Xbox 360 video playback FAQSmash Bros blog teaches us how to make friendsTurok clips show off multiplayerTingle's Rosy Rupeeland: meanest Nintendo game ever?Play as Ken and Chun Li in Korean MMO fighting gameAndy Serkis spearheading East England game industry networkTretton admits to 'missteps' in PS3's first yearRumors & SpeculationTake-Two CEO sees industry consolidation as 'inevitable'Culture & CommunitySleater-Kinney guitarist talks Rock BandGuitar Hero brings business to six-string tutorsSomething Awful pokes fun at Mass EffectMega64's VGA 2007 TV spot makes us laugh, feel guiltyAskMen's Top 10 Hottest Women in TechDIY: Weighted Companion Cube paperweightHenry Jenkins sounds off on Spencer Halpin's 'Moral Kombat'Roll your own ugly Wii Zapper using LEGOsThe 21 days of Wii from Circuit City
Dojo update: YES! Hyrule returns
We're pretty sure it's been mentioned several times on the site here, but playing Super Smash Bros. Melee has come down to us pretty much fighting on one stage: Hyrule. Now, it returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (along with the promise of other Melee stages returning, as well). Also, it's now called The Temple, so no longer will we be labeling it Hyrule. Oh, you can't believe how giddy we are, as we giggle maniacally at the inclusion of our favorite stage into the new game. Is anyone else with us on this one?%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
Betting comes to Brawl with Spectator Mode
Those with a gambling addiction or who just simply "like to watch" are in for a treat when Super Smash Bros. Brawl finally (hopefully) launches in February 2008. Hot off the official Brawl website is the news that Nintendo's all-star fighter will include a Spectator mode, allowing players to sit back and watch the carnage without lifting a finger.Not content to simply let players observe each battle, Nintendo has also included a betting system, where players can use their hard-earned coins to wager on combatants during each Brawl battle. Winning can pay off big, but Nintendo has sweetened the pot even more by promising copious amounts of stickers to all the spectators, with the potential for "extra prizes."Of course, regular paranoid Wii online limitations still remain: you won't be able to see the names of any of the players you'll be watching, and Spectator Mode matches you with upcoming online battles automatically, so it doesn't seem like you'll be able to follow one fighter over a number of matches. And we don't even really know what those coins will do in the game. Still, everyone likes gambling, right?[Thanks, Brock_UK]
Dojo update: Hang out at Ridley's place
Another day on the dojo and another stage is unveiled. The seventeenth in all. This time it's Norfair, the place called "home" by chief Space Pirate Ridley (already confirmed as a playable character, you may recall, but with the Ice Climbers returning, who knows if this is still the case) from the Metroid games.Once again, there's almost a game within a game here, with fights periodically interrupted by gushing tidal waves of lava that can come from any direction. These wash over the entire level, with only a single safe spot (complete with hatches that close at the sign of danger) remaining untouched. Problem is, there's not exactly a lot of room on your anti-lava platform, so you'll have to scrap it out for a space. A bit like musical chairs then, only with the added risk of getting horrifically burned alive in molten hot goo. We like!%Gallery-6869%
Lay out your own Brawl stage online
As excited as we are about the Super Smash Bros. Brawl's four thousand other features, we're especially anxious to play with the recently-announced Stage Builder. Penny Arcade forumer Mntorankusu shares our enthusiasm, but rather than wait until next February to live out his dream of constructing levels for a video game, he whipped up a barebones Flash application that mimics the Brawl's edit screen.In its current state, the online editor doesn't support specific structures or skinned platforms, but as you can see from our sophomoric sample stage above, there's still a lot of room for creativity. Past the post break, we've included some of the funnier and more ingenious arenas we've seen so far from the Penny Arcade forums and NeoGAF. Try it out yourself, and leave a comment with your results!
New Smash Bros character listed on voice actress resume [update]
A listing on voice actress Alesia Glidewell's online resume hints that Krystal, who debuted in the much loved (we kid, we kid) Star Fox Adventures, will make an appearance in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Glidewell lists among her credentials for video game voice over and motion capture three characters from the upcoming game: Krystal, Knuckle Joe, and Zero Suit Samus. We don't know how Krystal will be incorporated into Brawl, if at all; she could be an assist trophy, a stage-centric distraction, a cameo in the single player storyline, or even a fully-fledged playable character. Then again, Krystal might've been cut entirely, or the resume is simply mistaken. If it was up to us, we'd prefer the disc space be used to include a Pikmin wearing a Virtual Boy (thanks for the mental image, Justin), but we don't get a say in the matter. We'll have to wait for a confirmation from the Smash Bros. blog to see what plans, if any, they have for the character.Update: The listing has been removed, leaving a blank white row. [Thanks, Ross ... no, not me]
Dojo update: Stage Builder
If you ever doubted Brawl would have the potential to decimate your social life, then now is perhaps a good time to revise that opinion. According to today's Dojo update, the game will ship with a fully-fledged Stage Builder feature, allowing tinkering types like us to choose the size of the stage, the background pattern, the music that plays as you're scrapping, and offering an array of platforms, traps, terrain, ladders, and more.Once you're done, you can save your handiwork to an SD card if you like, but here's the really superb part: you can send your creations to other people, or even to Nintendo. If Ninty really likes your level, it'll be sent out over the Internet for other Brawl players to sample, with a different user-created stage distributed each and every day. As the Dojo update itself puts it, "This means you'll be able to experience a new stage every day -- the flavor of the day, if you will. However, the plan is for that stage to vanish once one day has passed. It's a once-in-a-lifetime encounter."A most excellent addition, we reckon. What say you?%Gallery-6869%%Gallery-3347%
Smash Bros Brawl gets replay sharing
In addition to unveiling new challenger King Dedede, this week's Smash Bros. Brawl update also showed the revised Target Smash mode. Hidden within that post, however, is a much more impressive feature announcement: replay sharing."This time, you can view replays," read the post. "What this means is, the game records what you did in brawls or in Target Smash and lets you review it." You can record around three minutes. Also revealed is the ability to share replay data with your Wii friends, though all allusions to sharing replays specifically reference Target Smash so we're not sure if sharing brawl-related replay sharing will be an option.We'd love to see leaderboards for downloading the best Target Smash replays, akin to Gran Turismo HD Concept, as well as some way to turn the replay data into video we can email and post online. We're hoping more replay-related features are revealed between now and the game's February launch.
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?
Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan talks Smash Bros. Brawl delay
Though she's on her way out, Nintendo's VP of marketing Perrin Kaplan still finds some time to speak to MTV's Stephen Totilo regarding all things Nintendo. As history has repeatedly shown us, one of those things inevitably turns out to be the dreaded delay -- though perhaps it's not as dreaded when it comes to the holiday months. It seems Nintendo now joins EA and Capcom in seeing the sales sense in slippage. "And I think we're actually starting to look at the annual calendar differently," said Kaplan, justifying the February release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. "The first two quarters of the year tend to be more quiet. But now we've seen some evidence of sales in that period." Avoiding the jostling of the year-end crowd is but one benefit, with the added development time yielding a game that's "absolutely as perfect as Japan knows it can be." Kaplan, who views the Wii and DS as being a little more integrated into people's (boring) lives, concludes via basketball metaphor that timing isn't necessarily everything. "I think a really good product can be a slam dunk any time of the year." A note of caution to other publishers considering delays: Let's not get carried away now. We don't want February becoming the new November.
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?
