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 any 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 while that is in ''Melee'', this is not possible in other games aside from Melee. In ''Smash 64'' the game data is directly saved to the [[Nintendo 64]] game cartridge while in ''Brawl'' the game data cannot be copied from one [[Wii]]/[[Wii U]] to another (nor to an [[SD Card]]). In Smash 64 (on [[VC]] for Wii), the game data cannot be copied from one Wii/Wii U to another nor to an SD card --similar to Brawl.  

''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' (if both versions count as one game) is the first installment in the series which does not 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 A, B, X, and 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 such built-in application does not exist.

**As a special stipulation in the game, 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.

*If the player chooses to erase all data in ''Brawl'', the game asks the player three times if they are sure they want to lose that data. 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 (like in Brawl for "Erase All"), but only have the siren and sped-up siren on the second and third prompts. While ''Ultimate'' doesn't contain the in-game option, the similar three prompts are present when deleting [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]]'s save files.

**This is based on the messages when deleting save files in {{uv|Kirby}} games starting from ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land}}'', likely due to both games are developed by [[Masahiro Sakurai]]; this became the same way as in ''Smash'' starting from ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby's Return to Dream Land}}'', even though the game is made after Sakurai's departure from HAL Laboratory.