Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata first announced a new Super Smash Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U at E3 in June 2011. Development officially began only after series creator Masahiro Sakurai finished his other project, Kid Icarus: Uprising, in March 2012. The game became a joint effort between Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd., with staff from Soulcalibur and Tekken assisting Sakurai. Sakurai had previously handled balance alone but brought on more staff to improve competitive fairness. The title was revealed publicly at E3 2013 on June 11 during a Nintendo Direct presentation. Sakurai chose cinematic trailers over a story campaign because he believed uploading cutscenes online ruined their impact. He omitted the tripping mechanic introduced in Brawl to keep gameplay between the speed of Melee and the pace of Brawl. A decision to release the Wii U version later allowed each platform its own debugging period. Hardware limits on the 3DS forced design choices like removing mid-match transformations and excluding Ice Climbers. In late August 2014, leaked photos appeared online showing unannounced fighters before being removed by copyright claim. Gamers in Japan and Taiwan confirmed these leaks on September 11 when they streamed footage two days early.
Players use attacks and items to deal damage until opponents fly out of the arena. Damage percentages increase how far characters fly back when hit. Items appear randomly, including Smash Balls that grant Final Smashes or Assist Trophies that summon non-playable allies. Each stage features an Omega form that removes hazards for flat battles. Customization lets players alter existing fighters and Mii Fighters with unique power-ups. These customizations transfer between versions but cannot be used against strangers online. Solo play returns Classic mode with intensity settings influenced by Kid Icarus: Uprising. The Home-Run Contest returns with a four-player competitive variation. Target Blast challenges players to launch bombs into targets for points. Trophy Rush clears crates to build a Fever meter for rewards. An online ranking system called Global Smash Power shows scores relative to others without listing positions. Matchmaking pairs similar skill levels while spectators can bet gold on outcomes. Conquest allows teams to earn bonuses during winning streaks. Online multiplayer and services ended on the 8th of April 2024.
The base game includes 51 playable characters plus seven downloadable additions released between April 2015 and February 2016. Mewtwo appeared first on the 28th of April 2015, though Club Nintendo members got early access starting April 15. Roy, Lucas, and Ryu joined the roster on the 14th of June 2015. Cloud Strife arrived the 15th of December 2015 following fan requests for Final Fantasy representation. Corrin and Bayonetta launched the 3rd of February 2016 in North America and the next day elsewhere. Bayonetta won a player ballot running from April 1 to the 3rd of October 2015. Sakurai and Satoru Iwata withheld top poll results to avoid pressuring third-party companies. In October 2021, Sakurai revealed Sora and Banjo & Kazooie topped the list before appearing in Ultimate. The eShop closed in March 2023 making new purchases impossible. Reinstalling previously bought DLC failed after the Nintendo Network shutdown on the 8th of April 2024 until fixed by April 17. Seven total fighters expanded the original roster of 51 across both platforms.
The 3DS version uses stereoscopic 3D graphics with optional cel-shaded outlines for visibility. It includes exclusive modes like Smash Run where players navigate open areas fighting enemies for power-ups. StreetSmash lets users control discs on top-down boards via StreetPass technology. New Nintendo 3DS systems support C-Stick controls but cannot use Circle Pad Pro due to hardware limits. The Wii U offers high-definition 1080p visuals and an eight-player mode restricted to larger stages. Eight-Player Smash cannot be played online though patches added more compatible stages later. Three unique Wii U modes include Smash Tour board game mechanics, Special Orders challenges from Master Hand, and Event Mode themed tasks. The Wii U supports diverse controllers including GamePad, Wii Remote, Classic Controller, and GameCube adapters. A Smash Controller app released the 14th of June 2015 allows 3DS systems to act as Wii U controllers. Updates added content sharing features and Miiverse stage integration in mid-2015. An online tournament mode arrived the 31st of July 2015 alongside replay uploads to YouTube.
Review aggregators rated the 3DS version generally positive despite criticism of single-player depth and screen size issues. Players reported damaging Circle Pads through excessive play while latency plagued local and online matches. The 3DS sold over one million copies its first weekend in Japan reaching 3.22 million worldwide by October 2014. Critics praised the Wii U for graphics quality and fast action calling it a major leap forward. Daniel Starkey noted inconsistent online performance but called the title incredible overall. Thomas Schulenberg highlighted stuttering frame rates during matches yet praised the abundance of goals. The Wii U became the fastest-selling console game in the United States selling 490,000 units in three days. By September 2022 the 3DS version reached 9.64 million copies globally while Wii U hit 5.38 million. The 3DS sold over two million copies in the US alone by year-end 2014. Nearly 2.19 million copies moved in Japan within six months of release. Awards included Handheld Game of the Year at the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and Best Fighting Game from The Game Awards.
The game's enduring popularity led to its successor Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launching on Nintendo Switch in 2018. Sales figures show strong commercial success across both platforms with millions of units moving worldwide. The Nintendo eShop closure in March 2023 ended all new downloadable content purchases permanently. Online multiplayer services shut down completely on the 8th of April 2024 affecting global connectivity. A technical issue prevented reinstalling previously bought DLC until resolution arrived the 17th of April 2024. The franchise continues evolving through future titles while this entry remains a benchmark for crossover fighting games. Community engagement persists despite service termination as players maintain local play traditions. The decision to split versions allowed dedicated debugging periods benefiting each platform individually. Sakurai's involvement ensured balance improvements beyond his previous solo work. Third-party participation expanded significantly with characters like Mega Man and Pac-Man joining the lineup. The series maintains relevance through continuous updates and community-driven tournaments even after official support ends.
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Common questions
When was Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U first announced?
Former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata first announced a new Super Smash Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U at E3 in June 2011.
Who developed Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U?
The game became a joint effort between Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd., with staff from Soulcalibur and Tekken assisting series creator Masahiro Sakurai.
What dates did downloadable characters release for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U?
Seven downloadable additions released between April 2015 and February 2016, starting with Mewtwo on the 28th of April 2015 and ending with Corrin and Bayonetta on the 3rd of February 2016.
How many copies of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U were sold worldwide?
By September 2022 the 3DS version reached 9.64 million copies globally while Wii U hit 5.38 million units sold.
When did online services end for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U?
Online multiplayer and services ended on the 8th of April 2024 affecting global connectivity and preventing reinstalling previously bought DLC until resolution arrived the 17th of April 2024.