Editing Pause

'''Pausing''' is an action that is performable in all ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' games that stops all action on the screen until the pause button is pressed again. Starting in ''Melee'', players cannot pause in VS mode after losing all of their stocks.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', game elements (such as [[Final Smash]]es or the next [[Fighter|character]] in line during a mid-match character swap) continue to load when the game is paused. This game limitation can be abused, such as making events like [[Co-Op Event 5: The Yoshi Team of 50]] easier (by shortening loading time compared to time remaining). It is difficult to tell whether this usage is also the case in other games in the series, but as loading in general is faster and not nearly as noticeable, it would have much less useful effect.

Pausing is also possible during a [[List of cutscenes in The Subspace Emissary|cutscene in The Subspace Emissary]]. If the pause button is pressed, the cutscene will temporarily stop, and an option will be displayed at the top-right of the screen to 'skip movie' by pressing the {{button|Wii|2}} button on a horizontal [[Wii Remote]]; or the {{button|Wii|A}} button on a Wii Remote with [[Nunchuk]], a [[Classic Controller]], or a [[GameCube controller]].

*[[Nintendo 64]] controller: {{button|N64|A}}+{{button|N64|B}}+{{button|N64|Z}}+{{button|N64|R}}.

*[[Nintendo GameCube]] controller: {{button|GCN|A}}+{{button|GCN|B}}+{{button|GCN|Z}}+ one of {{button|GCN|L}} or {{button|GCN|R}} in ''Smash 64'' Wii VC, {{button|GCN|L}}+{{button|GCN|R}}+{{button|GCN|A}}+{{button|GCN|Start-Pause}} in all other games

*[[Wii Remote]] sideways: {{button|Wii|B}}+{{button|Wii|1}}+{{button|Wii|2}}+{{button|Wii|Plus}}

*Wii Remote + [[Nunchuk]]: {{button|Wii|Z}}+{{button|Wii|B}}+{{button|Wii|1}}+{{button|Wii|Plus}} in ''Brawl'', {{button|Wii|1}}+{{button|Wii|2}}+{{button|Wii|Z}}+{{button|Wii|Plus}} in ''Wii U''.

*[[Classic Controller]]: {{button|WCC|A}}+{{button|WCC|B}}+ one of {{button|WCC|ZL}} or {{button|WCC|ZR}}+ one of {{button|WCC|L}} or {{button|WCC|R}} in ''Smash 64'' Wii VC, {{button|WCC|L}}+{{button|WCC|R}}+{{button|WCC|A}}+{{button|Wii|Plus}} in ''Brawl'' and ''Wii U''

*[[GamePad]]/[[Wii U Pro Controller]]: {{button|Wii U|L}}+{{button|Wii U|R}}+{{button|Wii U|A}}+{{button|Wii U|Plus}}

*Horizontal left [[Joy-Con]]: {{button|Switch|SL}}+{{button|Switch|SR}}+{{button|Switch|Right}}+{{button|Switch|Minus}}

*Horizontal right [[Joy-Con]]: {{button|Switch|SL}}+{{button|Switch|SR}}+{{button|Switch|X}}+{{button|Switch|Plus}}

*Dual Joy-Con/[[Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]]: {{button|Switch|L}} + {{button|Switch|R}} + {{button|Switch|A}} + {{button|Switch|Plus}}

*Nintendo 64 controller: {{button|N64|L}}

*GameCube controller: {{button|GCN|Z}} in ''Melee'', ''Brawl'' and ''Wii U'', {{button|GCN|D-Pad}} on Wii VC

*Classic controller: {{button|WCC|ZR}} in ''Brawl'' and ''Wii U'' (players can alternatively use {{button|WCC|ZL}} in Wii U), {{button|Wii|D-Pad}} on Wii VC

*Wii Remote (horizontal or with Nunchuk): {{button|Wii|A}}

*GamePad and Wii U Pro Controller: {{button|Wii U|ZL}} or {{button|Wii U|ZR}}

''[[Melee]]'' further expanded the camera by allowing players to switch between different characters by pressing the {{button|GCN|L}} or {{button|GCN|R}} buttons, as well as allowing players to zoom in and out of the action by pressing the {{button|GCN|X}} or {{button|GCN|Y}} buttons. A [[Camera]] mode was also included in ''Melee'', allowing players further control over the camera to assist them in taking [[snapshots]].

In ''Ultimate'', players have the same functionality as ''Smash 4's'' camera but with being able to zoom in further. A new feature introduced in ''Ultimate's'' camera is the ability to use filters to make unique [[snapshots]]. With any analog stick pressed once, players can use motion controls to pan the camera. Another new feature also can do a frame by frame to see frames for attacks. If needed, players can turn off attack effects by holding {{button|Switch|X}} and left and right on the {{button|Switch|D-Pad}}.

In an apparent visual oversight, if a controller is disconnected in the last 5 seconds of a timed match, then after resuming the match, the timer will disappear (it will not appear in either the corner or as countdown numbers). The announcer's voice can still be heard, and "TIME!" still displays. This oversight will not occur if the Connect Controller screen is opened manually from the pause menu, even if a controller is disconnected during it. After the oversight occurs, opening the Connect Controller screen manually does not fix it.

 

This option is unavailable in Home-Run Contest, even in its Co-Op mode. If a controller disconnects, that character just becomes uncontrollable, and reconnecting the controller automatically assigns it to the relevant character. Disconnecting one of a pair of Joy-Con controllers will cause the other one to be unresponsive as well.

==In competitive play==

In tournament sets, pausing is generally required to be turned off. This is to prevent players from pausing (intentionally or not) the game, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay, potentially causing a player to mistime their [[recovery]] or mess up their [[combo]]. In addition, if left on, pausing is often used to quickly exit out of a losing game (commonly known as rage-quitting), to disrespect the opponent during a flashy combo, or as a courtesy due to outside interference (such as if the opponent's controller accidentally gets unplugged, although ''Ultimate''’s Connect Controller feature makes the last reason moot).

While pausing is supposed to be turned off during a tournament set, this setting is not always strictly enforced, and pausing is still sometimes left on; additionally, the same disruptive effects of pausing can be caused by (intentionally or not) pressing the [[home button]] on controllers that have it, a functionality that can't be disabled in any game. As such, various penalties can be imposed on players who pause the game, accidentally or intentionally. Some rulesets require the pausing player to automatically forfeit their current [[stock]], while other rulesets leave punishment at the discretion of the [[tournament organizer|tournament organizer (TO)]]. These can range from no punishment in a "neutral" position, or a loss of up to two stocks in a more critical situation, such as a pause causing a player to fail their recovery. Nowadays, the blanket punishment of one-stock loss is widespread, while the "two-stock loss" rule has been pushed by the [[Melee It On Me]] ruleset.

However, punishments for pausing are not consistently applied. In a serious tournament set, a pausing player is technically required to give up their stock, but oftentimes, the enforcement of the stock loss is determined by the opponent. As a result, some players will choose not to enact the punishment and will allow their opponent to keep their stock. This inconsistent nature has been criticized for placing unnecessary pressure on the opposing player. A significant amount of stigma exists surrounding the pausing rule: players who allow their opponent to keep their stock are often regarded as sportsmanlike or "homies". Meanwhile, players who require their opponent to forfeit the stock are often vilified, even though they're technically following the rules of the tournament. A controversial incident surrounding the pause rule occurred in [[Apex 2013]], during [https://youtu.be/a2snQglitnk?t=8m30s a doubles set] between {{Sm|Leffen}} & {{Sm|Ice}} and {{Sm|Scar}} & {{Sm|SFAT}}. Pausing was left on, and Scar having gotten KO’d while having two stocks (leaving him with one), paused the game while attempting to share stock (having miscounted the number he and SFAT had). As a result, the opposing team "forced" Scar to give up his stock. SFAT was left to 1v2 for the rest of the match, and Leffen & Ice won the set. Scar appeared visibly unhappy with the opponents' decision, and many crowd members began booing Leffen after the set. Following the incident, most players agreed that Leffen was unfairly treated for simply playing by the rules of the tournament.