Are you all exhausted? I know I am, but in the good, been playing too many video games sort of way. Namely, lots and LOTS of Super Smash Bros for 3DS! Though we pretty much know everything there is to know about that version of the game, Sakurai still has reveals coming out until the Wii U release in November, and as long as he’s putting out pictures, oprainfall will be covering them! Smashing Saturdays will live on until that flow of screenshots dries up to a mere trickle. In the meanwhile, I”m here this week to cover the latest pics, as well as some other notable updates to the site. So let’s get Smashing!
I’ll be honest. Though I love the idea of Conquest mode, I could not figure out how to contribute until a friend clued me in. I like intuitive interfaces, and thought I could get from the Conquest mode tab to the actual gameplay, but apparently it just tracks any online battles during the time period of the particular Conquest. Which is a complicated way of me saying I was unable to bolster the Blue Bombers ratings against the darn plumber. Oh well. I can always help with Ness, Peach and Yoshi in Conquest mode…
The wait for the Wii U version is getting kinda intolerable, isn’t it? I mean I love the 3DS version to pieces, but I want to see what tricks the Wii U version has in store. I’m also sort of curious if the online matches will function more smoothly on that console… Regardless, I’m still not that excited about the amiibo functionality. So I’ll let Sakurai chat for a bit – “For the first time ever in the Super Smash Bros. series, you can play with a collection of real-life trophies in the form of amiibo. Simply touch them on this part of the GamePad. This particular screen is dedicated to activating amiibo, but you can also tap your amiibo on the GamePad at the character-selection screen to let that character join the battle.” Which brings us to the next pic for Tuesday –
Though I’m underwhelmed by Sakurai’s choice for amiibo in this pic, it is a cool looking transition. I find it more interesting how Sakurai has coined the term he uses to describe them – “Once you do, the trophy of your amiibo character transforms into a Figure Player (FP)!! FPs fight and develop on their own.” FP, huh? Be weird if that actually caught on in the Smash community…
I’m sure this screen is no surprise to those of you who have been diligently playing the game, but for the rest of you, I’ll discuss this at length. Yes, we know Ness is back, to much fanfare on my part. More exciting? He brings a new Earthbound level with him known as Magicant! I’d like to say I’m familiar with the stage, but I have yet to get into the meat of my Virtual Console copy of Earthbound. I will, once I have the time. Regardless, I LOVE the Flying Men in the Magicant stage! The first character to touch these retro wonders befriends them, and they go on to divebomb the hell out of everybody else, even resulting in Smash attacks off the stage! Some feel they are too cheap, but I love that random element prevalent in Smash Bros.
Not much to say about Thursday’s screen. This is what the Trophy Shop looks like in the Wii U version. It’s certainly prettier, but not much to be excited about. Moving on to Friday.
I honestly have nothing to say about Friday’s screen, but I’ll let Sakurai discuss it. Stick around afterwards for a quick “secret character” update – “Unfortunately, I’ve been too busy working on developing the Wii U version that I haven’t had a chance to play Home-Run Contest with my Global Smash Power turned on. So fighters, with the game now released worldwide, how are you faring with your home-run distance and Global Smash Power? I wonder if Ganondorf gives you some advantage.” Very exciting, I’m sure, Sakurai.
Moving on to the next segment. Warning — stop reading here if you only plan on getting the Wii U version and don’t want to be spoiled.
Okay, everybody here wants to be, right? So here are the two updated secret characters officially revealed this week.
Yes, both Dr. Mario and Dark Pit are playable in Super Smash Bros for 3DS! Though I was initially bothered by the good doctor’s return, I have since warmed up to him, and prefer playing him to regular Mario. The same can actually be said for Dark Pit as well, who is a much more brutal, heavy hitting version of Pit. So yes, I guess clones aren’t always bad. Also, if you haven’t checked it out already, please do make time to read our review of Smash Bros for 3DS by Tyler Lubben! Thanks for reading, and check back next week!
