A new miniature Nintendo Direct video features Super Smash Bros series director Masahiro Sakurai discussing the newest game in the popular crossover fighter series.
In the video Sakurai — who has directed all Super Smash Bros. titles thus far — goes over general information about how the Wii U and 3DS versions differ. The 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. has thick lines around the character models to help players see them better on a smaller screen when the camera is pulled further out. While the character roster is the same between games, says Sakurai, some of the stages will differ: The 3DS version will have more stages themed around handheld releases like Nintendogs, whereas the Wii U version will have stages based on home console games.
Sakurai then touches on the three new characters unveiled alongside the game today: Mega Man, a villager from the Animal Crossing games, and the trainer from Wii Fit. As the Villager spends games in his series collecting things, Sakurai says it was important for that aspect to come out in his gameplay. All of his attacks use different items like slingshots and bowling balls, and he can catch projectiles like Mario's fireball or Samus' missile before throwing them back at an opponent.
As an iconic character who fans have been clamoring to see for some time, it was important to get Mega Man right, says Sakurai. His design and animations are based off of his appearance in the original NES games, and his attacks and abilities are all taken from prior appearances. Since Mega Man is best known for stealing the powers of bosses, he retains those abilities in Super Smash Bros, like the Metal Blade and Leaf Shield. Having such a versatile power set makes him a very unique character, says Sakurai.
Few might have expected the Wii Fit trainer to join the Super Smash Bros roster, says Sakurai, but she's a very unique character with a powerful screen-clearing Final Smash. She considers her health very important and uses workout moves in combat, and will occasionally deliver health tips during a brawl.
With the exception of four-player battles, Sakurai was playing all of the footage seen in this video himself, sometimes simultaneously.
Super Smash Bros. will launch on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS sometime in 2014.
