Editing Erase Data

'''Erase Data''', previously known as '''Backup Clear''' in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', is an option in the first three installments of the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series. It allows the player to erase any specific data in the game, such as high scores, [[Trophy|trophies]], [[unlockable character]]s, and [[unlockable stage]]s. In all three appearances, the option to erase singular categories of data is available, alongside an "Erase All" ("ALL Data Clear" in ''Smash 64'') option.

If the player chooses to erase all data, there is no way to recover it when erased. As such, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' advises players to create a copy of the data onto a separate [[memory card]]. However, this is only possible in ''Melee'' alongside the Virtual Console version of ''Smash 64'' (which can have data copied to an SD card instead). The game data in ''Smash 64'' saves automatically to the [[Nintendo 64]] cartridge while the game data in ''Brawl'' cannot be copied from one [[Wii]] to an [[SD Card]] without modding, though a non-modded Wii does allow a ''Brawl'' save already on an SD card to be copied to the system memory.

Neither ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' nor ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' have an "Erase Data" option, making it impossible to selectively erase any specific data. In both versions of ''Smash 4'', players can erase all data by holding {{button|3DS|A}}, {{button|3DS|B}}, {{button|3DS|X}}, and {{button|3DS|Y}} (though in the [[Wii U]] version, it only works with the [[Wii U GamePad]]) on the startup and selecting "Yes" three times when prompted (just like in ''Brawl'' for "Erase All"). In ''Ultimate'', the player can manually erase all data under the "Manage Save Data/Screenshots and Videos" option of the Data Management section in the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s System Settings; due to this, a built-in application is not included.

Erase Data SSB64.png|The Backup Clear option in ''Smash 64''

EraseDataMelee.png|The Erase Data menu in ''Melee''

Erase Data Brawl.png|The Erase Data menu in ''Brawl''

EraseDataWarning1SSBB.png|First warning when erasing all data in ''Brawl''

EraseDataWarning2SSBB.png|Second warning

*''Brawl'' is the first installment in the series which does not have the "Erase Hidden Characters" and "Erase Hidden Stages" options.

**This is due to a special stipulation. Due to the way [[unlockable character]]s appear in [[The Subspace Emissary]], it is not possible to restart the [[unlockable character]]s and [[unlockable stage]]s.

*When deleting all save data in ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'', the player is asked twice to confirm that they wish to lose that data; in ''Melee'', a siren plays on the first prompt, and an alarm on the second prompt. In ''Brawl'', the player is asked three times to confirm. The first prompt plays a siren, the second one plays a sped-up version of the siren, and the third and final plays an alarm similar to Melee's "challenger approaching" theme. ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' similarly present three prompts, but only have the siren and sped-up siren on the second and third prompts. While ''Ultimate'' doesn't contain the in-game option, a similar set of three prompts are present when deleting [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]]'s save files.

*In ''Smash 64'', the sound effect that plays when erasing data is the same as {{SSB|Ness}}'s [[PSI Magnet]].