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Conjecture Countdown: 5 days to go
Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true.Rumor: Super Smash Bros. Brawl's online mode will be revealed! It's an online store in which you can purchase different-colored ties for Donkey Kong.
Apt timing for Nintendo's pre-E3 downers
On Tuesday, we saw two announcements from Nintendo that we're sure caused a handful of fanboys to tear up: no online Metroid and no playable Smash Bros at E3. Why did the House of Mario decide to break hearts just one week before their E3 press briefing? It's just good business, as observed by Newsweek's N'Gai Croal. Nintendo PR revealed their "damage control playbook" last year, Croal said, when they announced the then-distressing final name for the Revolution, Wii, just 12 days before E3 2006. (Check the linked post and its 593 comments for a look back at the announcement.) Of course, the oft-teased title change did little to waver its hype and Nintendo is widely regarded as having a stellar E3 showing that year. Sony, as Croal noted, gave their bad news at the very end -- namely, the $600 price tag. And with it being their final note, they left a sour taste in all gamers' mouth. With Nintendo's bad news out of the way this year (hopefully), Iwata and company can end on a high note. We've illustrated this phenomenon on a chart above. (Note: all values are approximate)
New E3 to not have playable Smash Bros. on display
According to the fine folks over at Game | Life, next week's E3 is going to be disappointing to fans of those brothers who make with the super smashing. Why? No playable version of the game will be available at the show. And, as much as we'd like to, we'll refrain from quoting that line about voices crying out and being suddenly silenced.The Nintendo representative that confirmed all of this to Game | Life said that due to the nature of the new E3, Nintendo decided to go with a smaller roster of games. With several new titles that we've never seen before likely to pop up at the show, Nintendo undoubtedly wants to keep the focus on them. Can't blame them, but with Smash Bros. being the high-profile title it is, we can't say we would've made the same decision.
Dojo update: Bowser
Today's Dojo update brings us images and the character profile for the game's resident tank character Bowser. If there's one thing we can say after seeing today's update, it's that Bowser looks amazing. Seriously, look at that character model above. Do you not cower in fear? We do, oh how we do.Check out the new images of Bowser in the gallery below.%Gallery-3347%
Conjecture Countdown: 8 days to go
Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true.Rumor: Having peeked into the distant and dystopian future of December 2007 through the mystic arts of augury and tea leaf reading, we've discerned several Assist Trophy characters that are guaranteed to appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Take care, young readers, as you pull back the curtain that separates your eager eyes from what lies beyond the post break. Once you've known the truths that destiny has planned, you can never unknow them!
Dojo update: Wario's special moves
We are so happy when the new Brawl info is new for real! Today's update is about Wario's special attacks, which are unexpectedly awesome.We've all seen the amusing flatulence attack from the original trailer. That's the Down special attack, and it gets more powerful the longer the interval between uses. It turns out we saw another Wario special move too.Wario's other special attack, the Side attack, is the business, and is probably going to make Wario quite a popular character. He summons a motorcycle! You can do 180's with the Control Stick (or D-pad?) and jump off with an attack button. You can apparently also be knocked off. The bike seems to be persistent, so can other players hop on and steal it?
Dojo update: custom controller configurations
Today's Dojo update is a rather interesting one, revealing the custom control schemes supported by the game. As with Melee, you can save your own profile name, but this time around it will also keep your preferred control method settings. Not only that, but you can also change the button mapping, allowing you that much more freedom when it comes to laying the smack down on the competition.You can see some images of how it will look in the gallery below.%Gallery-3347%[Thanks, vidGuy!]
Dojo update: a comedy classic
Today's Super Smash Bros. Brawl Dojo update actually revealed something new! Like, actually new, and not something that was also in Melee. We wonder if it was a mistake-- maybe this update was meant for September and they accidentally posted it instead of more about Fox.Banana peels are the newest addition to the arsenal of items that serious players will ban. We look forward to the hilarity! Poor Kirby looks really annoyed, either because he slipped or because he didn't get to eat the banana and gain its Potassium Power.
Wii Warm Up: The no-waggle zone
Sometimes, waggle makes everything better ... and sometimes, it makes us want to gouge out our eyes, or maybe a friend's eyes. Really, any eyes will do. We're not picky. The thing is, everyone has different opinions one what makes for a good waggle game. And what exactly counts as waggle, anyway? Excite Truck and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam used limited motion-sensing controls, and that worked out pretty well. But a lot of people are uncertain about how a fast-paced game like Super Smash Bros. Brawl will work with the Wiimote and nunchuk control scheme. Will we like it? The good thing is, if we don't, we have option. But we're not always so lucky.In the games released so far, where do you think the controls have worked, and where have they been less than good?
Dojo update: Zelda bio
It's been a long weekend, void of no new information regarding one of the three biggest titles to hit the Wii this year. As we come back to work, it's nice to see the Dojo has updated us with a new character bio. Aside from her updated design, nothing particularly new is revealed, but at least we have new screens to gawk at.You can check them out in the gallery below.%Gallery-3347%
Conjecture Countdown: 16 days to go
Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true. Rumor: The disembodied head of Dr. Kawashima will be revealed as a surprise character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl! The catch? You can only use him once per day.
Believe it or not: Zelda in Smash Bros Brawl
We apologize if this news is just a bit too intense for your Monday morning slump, but we thought you'd like to know that the Princess of Hyrule herself, Zelda, is a playable character in Super Smash Bros Brawl. A completely and utterly unexpected twist to be sure, we're just glad to have had the luxury of sitting down upon receiving this news. The virtual high-fives accounted for, it's time for the community to get down to business -- nitpicking.Where were you when Fox McCloud's nose changed colors from black to brown? You mean you don't remember? Oh, well then you probably won't even realize that Zelda's hair color appears differently by a few shades. More like some missing highlights, but that hasn't stopped a bunch of folks from flying off the handle over it. We expect your petition by the end of the day.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Dojo update: Crates, barrels and Samus oh my!
Holy freaking crap. Does Samus not look absolutely amazing?! The detail on her suit, it's shine ... oh man, we're pumped (mostly because she's our favorite character). Aside from that, she's pretty much the same Samus we all know and love. Crates and barrels also get shoved into the spotlight. Turns out, they change appearance depending on the stage they occupy. Sounds like a nice cosmetic change to us.Be sure to check out new images of Samus, as well as the barrels and crates, in the gallery below.%Gallery-3347%Read - Crates and barrelsRead - Samus bio
Dojo update: Pikachu and Kirby get profiled
The Smash Bros. Dojo updated again, providing a few biographies on some familiar faces in the franchise. Taking a look at both Kirby and Pikachu, it's revealed that they both haven't changed much from the last game. We find that to be a very good think in Kirby's case, but we're not so sure about Pikachu. We found that every single person who used them couldn't help but be the cheapest player ever. Check out new images of Pikachu and Kirby in the gallery below.%Gallery-3347%Read - Kirby's bioRead - Pikachu's bio
Smash Bros. update: Delfino Plaza and Cracker Launcher
The DOJO has been steadily updating, giving us a glimpse into some of the game's new items, new stages and new characters. Oh, and there was the Final Smash maneuver, as well. Now, we get yet another new item and stage, as the site reveals Delfino Plaza and the Cracker Launcher.Delfino Plaza is a rotating stage, where players start on a platform and revolve around the Plaza, landing and taking back off every so often. As you can imagine, it looks exactly as it does in Super Mario Sunshine, with several of the locales easily recognized in the screens. Personally, we never enjoyed the moving stages much (battling on Hyrule is where it's at!).As for the new item, the Cracker Launcher is a large tube-like weapon. Upon picking it up, it'll constantly fire until its ammo is depleted. It fires large bursts of fireworks that explode in large areas and, with the ability to tilt the aim high and low as well as move about while firing and aiming, looks to be quite the weapon.Check both the new stage and weapon out in our gallery below.%Gallery-3347%Read - Delfino Plaza stageRead - Cracker Launcher weapon
Rumors: Mario Kart Wii, dates for Smash and Galaxy at E3
French gaming site JeuxFrance is reporting on a few rumors involving the house that N built, mostly revolving around a portly plumber. They're stating that Nintendo is planning on whipping out some big guns at the show, revealing the next installment in the Mario Kart franchise for the Wii, as well as solid release dates for Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Galaxy. As if that weren't enough, they're also reporting that Nintendo will have some big hardware news for us.Maybe they're going to reveal a headset add-on for the Wiimote? As for the other rumors, it's a safe bet that Nintendo will be giving us the goods on release dates for its hottest games this year, already providing us a release date for one of this year's most anticipated games, but the Mario Kart news is anyone's guess. It would make sense for Nintendo to bring a Mario Kart game to the Wii, but is the timing right?
Smash Bros. site reveals Final Smash item
The DOJO has updated with a new item called the Final Smash today, revealing what we're assuming is an insta-kill item in the game. It's referred to as a "kind of like a powerful and personalized hammer." So, after one obtains the item, they can then perform their character's personal own Final Smash maneuver, which should allow them to send an opponent (or perhaps opponents?) flying from the map to their death.And as you scroll down the page further, you'll see Mario in his Final Smash form. Remember when he shoots that huge fireball in all the videos we've seen for the game? Yeah, that's his Final Smash move.%Gallery-3347%
Super Smash Bros. Brawl still on for 2007
It's tough going to the party without a date. Earlier this week, Nintendo laid out its release plans up until September 2007, notably leaving a still dateless Super Smash Bros. Brawl out of the whole affair, forcing it to watch as Metroid Prime 3 marched to the ball with an alluring 20th of August on its cannon arm. With no solid release window in sight, the Wii's frantic fighter must have considered going on a lonely drinking binge and slipping into a coma until 2008. That is, until Reggie Fils-Aime administered an unforgiving slap to the face and instilled hope once more. Speaking at the recent Nintendo Summit in Seattle, the Nintendo of America president confirmed that the musically rich Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy would both be out before your Official Iwata Swimsuit 2007 calendar becomes worthless. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS was given similar assurances and will likely join the anticipated Wii duo in this holiday season's battle for shoppers. You'd best start stocking up on that financial ammunition.
Smash Bros. Brawl site updates with some character profiles
The Smash Bros. Brawl website has updated again, this time giving us character profiles for two of the franchise's, as well as Nintendo's, oldest characters Mario and Link. Aside from that, nothing else appears to have changed from the first update we all saw yesterday. Which, we don't have to tell you, makes us sad.%Gallery-3347%
Smash Bros. website finally updates
After a day of wearing out our F5 key, the Super Smash Bros. Brawl webpage has finally made its promised update. Unfortunately, we have yet to find any huge megaton announcements. In fact, some of the content is a little too non-megaton-- like an explanation of the (unchanged) basic rules of Smash Bros.There is neat stuff to be found, though, most obviously in the form of a few screenshots that, while they still don't show any new or new-to-Brawl characters, do show off a day/night cycle. Also, the list of composers contributing to the game is massive-- a total who's-who of Japanese game music. Some of the composers, we're sure, are only credited for having created the music from Smash characters' original games. But Jun Fukuda and Masafumi Takada from Grasshopper Manufacture are on the list, and that is really exciting.The website promises updates every weekday, so don't let the somewhat underwhelming first day put you off. Keep checking the site for the inevitable character announcements and control scheme explanations!%Gallery-3347%[Thanks, Tigeron Starfire!]
