Editing Super Smash Bros. Brawl

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''}}

{{ArticleIcons|brawl=yes|featured=yes}}

{{cquote|They're back. Stronger than ever. And they brought friends. Lots of them.|cite=North American commercial}}

| title       = Super Smash Bros. Brawl

| image       = [[File:SSBB Cover.jpg|250px|SSBB USA cover]]

| caption      = USA box art for ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.

| developer   = [[Sora]]<br>[[HAL Laboratory]]<br>[[Game Arts]]<br>[[Monolith Soft]]<br>[[Paon]]<br>[[Intelligent Systems]]

| publisher   = [[Nintendo]]

| distributor  =  

| designer     = [[Masahiro Sakurai]] (director) Kazushige Nojima (scenario writer)<ref name="IwataAsksSubspace">{{cite web|last= Sakurai|first= Masahiro |interviewer= Satoru Iwata |title= Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |url=http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol4_page2.jsp |format=Transcript |program= Wii.com |accessdate=2008-04-11}}</ref>

| engine       = [[Havok (company/engine)|Havok]]

| released     = {{Flag|Japan}} January 31, 2008<br />{{Flag|North America}} March 9, 2008<br />{{Flag|Australia}} June 26, 2008<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=1143 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl at Nintendo Australia |accessdate=2007-06-20 |date=2006-05-12 |publisher=[[Nintendo]]}}</ref><br />{{Flag|Europe}} June 27, 2008<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ms.nintendo-europe.com/e32007/enGB/pr_releaselist.html |title=Upcoming Nintendo titles for Wii and Nintendo DS across Europe |publisher=Nintendo-Europe |accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/news/article.do?elementId=Fyu4YOmOJP1c4ewdiPJkW2VHfwfh-ZgK |title=Look who is attending the Brawl! |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |date=2007-10-10 |accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref>

| genre       = [[Wikipedia:Fighting game|Fighting]], [[Wikipedia:Platform game|Platform]]

| modes       = Single player, Multiplayer, Online multiplayer<ref name="Online">{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi01.html |title=Wi-Fi Play |accessdate=2007-09-18 |date=2007-09-18 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=Smashbros.com}}</ref>

| ratings = {{vgratings|CERO=A|ESRB=T|OFLCA=PG|PEGI=12+}}

| platforms   = [[Wii]]

| media       = [[Wikipedia:Nintendo optical discs|Wii Optical Disc]] (Double-layer)

| requirements = 128 free blocks of memory in the Wii System Memory

| input       = [[Wii Remote]], [[Nunchuk]], [[Classic Controller]], [[GameCube controller]]<ref name="four control">{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_uk/gamemode/various/various01.html |title=Four Kinds of Control |accessdate=2007-06-08 |date=2007-06-08 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=Smashbros.com}}</ref>

'''''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''''' ({{ja|大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズＸ|Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Ekkusu}}, ''Great Fray Smash Brothers X''), often shortened to "'''''SSBB'''''" or "'''''Brawl'''''", is the third installment in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]] published by [[Nintendo]]. The game was designed by [[Masahiro Sakurai]], who also created the two preceding ''Super Smash Bros.'' games, and was developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of [[Sora]], [[Game Arts]], and staff from other developers, beginning in October 2005. The game uses an engine called [[Havok (company/engine)|Havok]] provided by an Irish company of the same name.<ref name="oldDojo">{{cite web | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061116161044/www.smashbros.com/en/main.html | title = Foreword | accessdate = 2007-11-11 | last = Sakurai | first = Masahiro |publisher=Smash Bros. DOJO!! (Internet Archive)}}</ref>

The game released on January 31st, 2008 in Japan, March 9th, 2008 in North America, June 26th, 2008 in Australia, and June 27th, 2008 in Europe.

''Brawl'' uses four types of controllers<ref name="four control">{{cite web|url= http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various01.html|title=Four Kinds of Control|accessdate=2007-06-08|date=2007-06-08|publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!!}}</ref> - a [[Wii remote]] alone, the Wii remote and [[Nunchuk]] auxiliary controller, a [[Classic Controller]]/Classic Controller Pro, or a [[GameCube controller]]. Up to four players can engage in local [[Versus Mode|multiplayer battles]] at any given time with any combination of controllers, while ''Brawl'' also supports online play through the Nintendo [[Wi-Fi Connection]], the first game in the series to do so.<ref name="Wi-Fi Play">{{cite web|url= http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi01.html|title=Wi-Fi Play|author=Sakurai, Masahiro|date=2007-11-16|publisher=Smash Bros. DOJO!!|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref>

While ''Brawl'' continues to include the tournament-like "[[Classic Mode (SSBB)|Classic]]" and "[[All-Star Mode|All-Star]]" single-player modes, ''Melee''’s [[Adventure Mode]] has been replaced with [[Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]]; a more extensive side-scrolling beat-'em-up mode featuring both the playable characters and many enemies specifically created for the game. The resulting mode includes an involved plot, including numerous pre-rendered cutscenes, and some platform game elements during gameplay. Up to four players can play local multiplayer games using one of four sets of controllers.

 

Further following from the earlier games in the series, ''Brawl'' showcases a wide selection of characters from Nintendo and its second parties, setting them to fight in several different types of matches. Unlike its predecessors, however, ''Brawl'' also includes two third party characters in [[Solid Snake]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. In total, the number of playable characters was increased from ''Melee''’s 25<ref>26 including [[Sheik]] as a separate character from [[Princess Zelda]]</ref> to 35.<ref>39 including Sheik & [[Zero Suit Samus]] separately from Zelda and [[Samus]], and counting Squirtle, Ivysaur, & Charizard individually rather than grouped as Pokémon Trainer</ref>

 

Most of the game's musical score is made up of newly-arranged versions of pieces that originated in earlier video games starring the characters featured in ''Brawl''; with the remainder taken directly from the original games. The new arrangements were composed in a collaboration between 38 renowned video game composers<ref name="Musicians">{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music01.html |title=The Musicians |accessdate=2011-01-16 |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date="May 22 Tue. 2007"|publisher=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]]}}</ref> and has been critically acclaimed for its representation of different generations in gaming history.<ref name=GameRevolution>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/wii/super_smash_bros_brawl|title= Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review at Game Revolution .|first=Chris|last=Hudak|accessdate=2008-04-21|publisher=Game Revolution}}</ref>

 

 

 

The game requires 128 free blocks of memory in the Wii System Memory. No data, except some vault data, can be copied to an SD Card or transferred onto another Wii. If the player does not create a save file when they start, he or she will not be able to play via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and vault data will not be saved. As of May 20, 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has been closed, so ''Brawl'' can no longer be played online.

In the [[opening movie]] of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', the cinematic utilizes [[List of cutscenes in the Subspace Emissary|scenes]] from the [[Subspace Emissary]], along with a few selections of [[Vs. Mode]] matches, as opposed to featuring unique footage in the manner of the game's predecessors, ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.

 

 

[[File:Character Selection - Super Smash Bros. Brawl.png|thumb|right|300px|The character-selection screen of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' (all characters unlocked).]]

The cast of 35 playable characters (39 if [[Sheik]] and [[Zero Suit Samus]] are included and the three different Pokémon of the [[Pokémon Trainer]] are treated as individual characters) includes 20 (21 including Sheik) returning veterans from ''Melee'' and 15 newcomers (18 including transformations). Of these, 21 are [[starter character]]s and 14 [[unlockable character|need to be unlocked]]. Many of the returning characters have been updated or refined since their last appearance, either in terms of appearance, fighting capabilities, or both. For example, [[Link]] and [[Fox McCloud]] have taken on new designs from more recent titles, while [[Samus Aran]] has gained the ability to change into a new form, [[Zero Suit Samus]], by using her [[Final Smash]] or by the player pressing a certain button after picking Samus and before picking a stage.

Five characters do not return from ''Melee'', which are ''{{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}''{{'}}s [[Young Link]], ''{{uv|Pokémon}}'''s [[Mewtwo]] and [[Pichu]], ''{{uv|Fire Emblem}}''{{'}}s [[Roy]], and ''{{uv|Mario}}'' universe's [[Dr. Mario]]. Out of these, only Mewtwo was not a moveset clone, and it was the furthest into development of the cut characters. Outside the Mario series, these series gained new characters: for ''The Legend of Zelda'', [[Toon Link]] was added; for ''Pokémon'', [[Lucario]] and [[Pokémon Trainer]] (who controls [[Charizard]], [[Squirtle]], and [[Ivysaur]]) were added; and for ''Fire Emblem'', [[Ike]] was added to the playable roster.

Several franchises already represented in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series gain additional character slots, with the [[Kirby (universe)|''Kirby'' universe]] the biggest gainer, as both [[King Dedede]] and [[Meta Knight]] make their playable ''Super Smash Bros.'' debuts. Otherwise, ''{{uv|EarthBound}}'' sees [[Lucas]] join, the ''{{uv|Star Fox}}'' franchise adds [[Wolf O'Donnell|Wolf]], and the ''{{uv|Donkey Kong}}'' universe, has [[Diddy Kong]] added to the roster; while ''{{uv|Metroid}}'' has Samus' aforementioned "Zero Suit" form, which originally debuted in ''[[Metroid: Zero Mission]]'', added as a transformation for its sole character.

New character slots which go to Nintendo series previously unrepresented include [[Pit]], in the first appearance of elements from the ''[[Kid Icarus (universe)|Kid Icarus]]'' series in a video game since the 1991 Game Boy game ''{{s|Wikipedia|Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters}}'';

[[Wario]], originally a ''Mario'' spin-off but long launched into [[Wario (universe)|a franchise of his own]]; [[Captain Olimar]] from the ''{{uv|Pikmin}}'' series; and the NES accessory [[R.O.B.]]

Finally, [[Solid Snake]], the main protagonist of the ''{{uv|Metal Gear}}'' franchise, and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] from [[Sonic (universe)|his eponymous series]] become the first third-party characters to appear in a ''Super Smash Bros.'' game.

|[[Image:Ness SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Ness (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|Ness}}'''<br>{{symbol|eb|20px}}

|colspan=2|[[Image:Marth SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Marth (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|Marth}}'''<br>{{symbol|fe|20px}}

|colspan=2|[[Image:Mr. Game & Watch SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Mr. Game & Watch (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}'''<br>{{symbol|gw|20px}}

|[[Image:Diddy Kong SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Diddy Kong (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}<br>{{symbol|dk|20px}}

|[[Image:Toon Link SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Toon Link (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|Toon Link}}'''<br>{{symbol|zelda|20px}}

|[[Image:Wolf SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Wolf (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|Wolf}}'''<br>{{symbol|starfox|20px}}

|-style="vertical-align:bottom"

|[[Image:Pokémon Trainer SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Pokémon Trainer (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}<br>{{head|Squirtle|g=SSBB|s=20px}}{{head|Ivysaur|g=SSBB|s=20px}}{{head|Charizard|g=SSBB|s=20px}}<br>{{symbol|pokemon|20px}}

|[[Image:Wario SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Wario (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Wario}}<br>{{symbol|wario|20px}}

|[[Image:Olimar SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Olimar (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Olimar}}<br>{{symbol|pikmin|20px}}

|[[Image:R.O.B. SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=R.O.B. (SSBB)]]<br>'''{{SSBB|R.O.B.}}'''<br>{{symbol|rob|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:MasterHandBrawl.jpg|100x100px|link=Master Hand (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Master Hand}}<br>{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:CrazyHand.jpg|100x100px|link=Crazy Hand (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Crazy Hand}}<br>{{symbol|smash|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:Petey.jpg|100x100px|link=Petey Piranha]]<br>[[Petey Piranha]]<br>{{symbol|mario|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:Porky.jpg|100x100px|link=Porky Minch]]<br>[[Porky Minch|Porky]]<br>{{symbol|eb|20px}}

|-style="vertical-align:bottom;"

|[[Image:Duon.jpg|100x100px|link=Duon]]<br>[[Duon]]<br>{{symbol|subspace|20px}}

|[[Image:Meta Ridley SSBB.jpg|100x100px|link=Meta Ridley]]<br>[[Meta Ridley]]<br>{{symbol|metroid|20px}}

|[[Image:TabuuFull.jpg|100x100px|link=Tabuu]]<br>[[Tabuu]]<br>{{symbol|subspace|20px}}

|}

 

:{{symbol|smash|20px}} [[Fighting Alloy Team]]

{{main|Trophy|List of trophies|Sticker|List of stickers (complete list)|CD|Coins (collectable)}}  

The number of Trophies, statuettes of Nintendo characters and objects which can be collected in-game, was almost doubled from ''Melee''.<ref name="Trophies">{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various05.html |title=Trophies |accessdate=2007-10-24 |date=2007-09-24 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=Smashbros.com}}</ref>  A related feature was the introduction of [[sticker]]s, small pieces of Nintendo artwork which can be picked up from offline and online matches, along with the Smash Service's "Spectator Mode." Stickers also make an appearance in the single-player and multiplayer modes, such as the Stadium mode. Stickers also act as a sort of enhancement to the characters' abilities when using attacks in [[Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary]].<ref name="Stickers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various03.html |title=Stickers |accessdate=2007-10-24 |date=2007-08-15 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=Smashbros.com}}</ref>.  Through the [[Trophy Hoard]] and [[Sticker Album]], players can place trophies and stickers onto virtual backgrounds and take snapshots, all of which is recorded into the Wii's internal hard drive or onto SD cards depending on the player's choosing. From this point, these virtual items can be sent to other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, "WiiConnect24".<ref name="Trophies"/><ref name="Stickers"/>

{{main|Masterpieces}}

''Brawl'' introduces "Masterpieces", time-limited [[Virtual Console]] game demonstrations, to the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. The international release has twelve such games available, each of which features one or more of the playable characters from ''Brawl''. Seven games are available for play to begin with, with five more unlockable by completing [[Challenges]], which range from Mario's debut in ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'' to the critically acclaimed late [[Nintendo 64]] title ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. The time-limits on each individual play last between 30 seconds (''Donkey Kong''), to five minutes (''Ocarina of Time)''.

The Japanese release has two Masterpieces more than the international releases - the SNES games ''Mother 2'' (known as ''[[EarthBound (game)|EarthBound]]'' in its US release) and ''[[Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo]]''.

{{main|My Music|Music (SSBB)|Super Smash Bros. Brawl Main Theme}}

{{main|Stage}}

 

|width="20%"|[[Image:Delfino Plaza.jpg|100x100px|link=Delfino Plaza]]<br>[[Delfino Plaza]]<br>{{symbol|mario|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:Mushroomy.jpg|100x100px|link=Mushroomy Kingdom]]<br>[[Mushroomy Kingdom]]<br>{{symbol|mario|20px}}

|width="20%"|[[Image:Mario1.jpg|100x100px|link=Mario Circuit (SSBB)]]<br>{{SSBB|Mario Circuit}}<br>{{symbol|mario|20px}}

|[[Image:Hanenbow.jpg|100x100px|link=Hanenbow]]<br>'''[[Hanenbow]]'''<br>{{symbol|ep|20px}}

At the pre-E3 2005 press conference, the president of Nintendo, [[Satoru Iwata]], announced the next installment of ''Super Smash Bros.'' was not only already in development for their next gaming console, but would be a launch title with Wi-Fi compatibility for playing online.<ref name="E3 2005">{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=2005-05-17 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/670/670552p1.html |title=E3 2005: ''Smash Bros.'' For Revolution |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2006-05-03}}</ref> The announcement was unexpected to the creator of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, [[Masahiro Sakurai]]. Back in 2003, he had left [[HAL Laboratory]], the company that was in charge with the franchises' development and was never informed of this announcement despite the fact shortly after resigning from the company, Iwata said if a new game was to be made, he would be in charge. It was not until after the conference Sakurai was called to Satoru Iwata's room on the top floor of a Los Angeles hotel where he was told by Iwata, "We'd like you to be involved in the production of the new ''Smash Bros.'', if possible near the level of director".<ref name="director">{{Cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/667/667525p1.html |title=''Smash Bros. Revolution'' Director Revealed|author=IGN Staff |accessdate=2007-06-21 |date=2005-11-16 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> Although originally announced to be a launch title, Sakurai stated "I decided to become director. And as of May, 2005, I was the only member of the new Smash Bros. development team". Development of the game never actually started until late 2005, and just for its production, Nintendo opened a new office in Tokyo at the beginning of October 2005. Nintendo also enlisted outside help from a company who, at that point in time, just finished development of a major title. Sakurai also stated that these people had spent excessive amounts of time playing ''Melee''. The team had access to all the original material and tools from the development of ''Melee'', courtesy of HAL Laboratory.

''Brawl'' was absent from Nintendo's Wii showing at its 2006 Pre-E3 press conference. The next day, on May 10, 2006, its first official trailer was unveiled at E3 and at the After-Hours Press Conference, Nintendo officially revealed the game under the name of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. In an interview with IGN, Sakurai said the Wii's motion sensing features might not be included because, "we found that trying to implement too much motion-sensory functionality can get in the way of the game."<ref name="E3 2006">{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |coauthors=Peer Schneider |date=2006-05-10 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/707/707504p1.html |title=E3 2006: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref> As far as [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|Wi-Fi]] play is concerned, Sakurai stated his plan was to include Wi-Fi connection compatibility and online functionality, he goes on to say "one of the primary reasons ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' was created was that Nintendo, when taking Wii online, wanted to have Smash Bros. to do that".<ref name="E3 2006"/> However, as stated on the Japanese version of the ''Smash Bros.'' website, "there would be many hurdles to cross," and an online ranking system is unlikely to be implemented.<ref name="Joystiq">{{Cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/05/sakurai-reveals-new-smash-bros-brawl-details/ |title=Sakurai reveals new Smash Bros. Brawl details |accessdate=2007-06-21 |last=Miller |first=Ross |date=2006-06-05 |publisher=Joystiq}}</ref> During a test play between Sakurai and [[wikipedia:Hideo Kojima|Hideo Kojima]], creator of the ''Metal Gear'' series, Kojima stated that the game felt complete and that Nintendo "could put it out right now and it would sell millions of copies."<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3159049 |title=Kojima's Played Super Smash Bros. Brawl |accessdate=2007-06-21 |last=Dormer |first=Dan |date=2007-04-27 |publisher=1up.com}}</ref> Starting May 22, 2007, the site had updates every weekday until shortly after ''Brawl'''s release. Throughout October 18-22, 2007 at the first Entertainment for All Expo show in Los Angeles, California, Nintendo hosted a ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wii.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=10866 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Galaxy Playable at E for All |accessdate=2007-10-21 |last=Wirgler |first=Matthew |date=2007-10-09 |publisher=Advance Media Network}}</ref>

At the Nintendo Media Conference at E3 2007, it was announced by Nintendo of America president [[wikipedia:Reggie Fils-Aime|Reggie Fils-Aime]] that ''Brawl'' would be released on December 3, 2007 in the Americas.<ref name="E3 conference 2007">{{Cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/803/803335p1.html |title=Nintendo E3 2007 Press Conference |publisher=IGN |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=2007-07-11 |accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref> However, just two months before its anticipated December release, the development team asked for more time to work on the game. During the Nintendo Conference on October 10, 2007, Nintendo of Japan president Iwata announced the delay, saying:

{{cquote|In order to fine tune Smash Bros., with this unprecedented game depth, we have decided that we have to take a little more time to complete the game than we announced before. We are sorry for the fans that are already anxiously waiting for the launch, but we would like to launch this game on January 24th, 2008 in Japan. As for the North American launch, we will review that too, and our local subsidiaries will make their own announcements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irwebcasting.com/071010/53/f078bbc3f8/main/index_hi.htm |title=Nintendo Conference Fall 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-11 |date=2007-10-10 |format=mpg |publisher=E-news.co.jp}}</ref>}}

On October 11, 2007, George Harrison of Nintendo of America announced that ''Brawl'' would be released on February 10, 2008 in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/826/826579p1.html |title=Smash Release Date Confirmed |accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref> Apparently, the American English game was delayed again to March 9th. <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://smashboards.com/news/articles/457/brawl-delayed-again |title=Brawl Delayed Again |date=2008-01-15}}</ref>

Sakurai stated that he did not want to emphasize Japan-only characters;<ref name="thirdparty">{{Cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151198 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Details |accessdate=2007-09-13 |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=2006-06-05 |publisher=1UP}}</ref> in Brawl's cast, only [[Lucas]] had not appeared outside of Japan (although [[Marth]] had only previously only appeared internationally in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', rather than his home franchise). Sakurai also stated there would be no more than three third-party characters;<ref name="thirdparty" /> these characters were [[Solid Snake]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. The inclusion of Konami-created character Solid Snake may seem to conflict with the ''Super Smash Bros.'' paradigm — to only include characters from games made by Nintendo and its second parties — but Sakurai said Hideo Kojima "practically begged" for Snake to be included in ''Melee'', which did not happen because the game was too far in development. This in turn led to his appearance in the following game instead.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/nintendo/e306-super-smash-bros-brawl-qa-173071.php |title=E306: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Q&A |accessdate=2007-09-18 |last=Mcwhertor |first=Michael |date=2006-05-11 |publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> Similarly, [[Lucas]] from ''[[Wikipedia:Mother 3|Mother 3]]'' was intended to be used in ''Melee'', but was left out because ''Mother 3'' was delayed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0717/index.html

|title=速報スマブラ拳: Ness |accessdate=2007-10-21 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |language=Japanese}}</ref>

Japanese fans were asked to submit their desired characters and musical themes via a forum on the game's official Japanese site, with some possibly appearing in the game. Likewise, fans from other countries were asked to submit ideas on Nintendo's official forums.<ref name="character poll">{{Cite web |date=2006-05-11 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/707/707671p1.html |title=E3 2006: Fans Asked to Fill Smash Bros. Roster |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2006-05-11}}</ref>

Suggestions were no longer being taken as of June 9, 2006. In August 2006, Sakurai and Miyamoto stated that Nintendo was negotiating rights to other third-party characters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wii.qj.net/Sakurai-and-Miyamoto-Comment-on-Sonic-s-Popularity/pg/49/aid/62240 |title=Sakurai and Miyamoto Comment on Sonic's Popularity |accessdate=2007-08-04 |author=Rushan S. |date=2006-08-17 |work=Nintendo Wii News |publisher=QJ.NET |quote=Nintendo hopes that Snake's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl will encourage other publishers to allow their characters to join the Smash Bros. line-up, and is already actively negotiating for the rights to include at least one other non-Nintendo character.}}</ref> The most requested third-party character, Sega's [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], was announced to be in the game on October 10, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/sonic.html |title=Sonic The Hedgehog |accessdate=2007-10-10 |date=2007-10-10 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=Smashbros.com}}</ref>

:{{main|Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trailers}}

Several different trailers for ''Brawl'' were released before the game came out. The original trailer was shown at E3 2006 on May 11, 2006 and revealed Solid Snake as a playable character. A second trailer was shown at the Nintendo World 2006 convention in December, and revealed Fox's return as a playable character. A third trailer was shown at the October 10, 2007 Nintendo Press Conference, which revealed Sonic as a playable character. A final trailer showcasing ''Brawl's'' adventure mode, the Subspace Emissary, was released on Friday, December 21, 2007. This trailer revealed that Ike and the Ice Climbers would appear in this mode, among other things.

|1UP = A<ref name="GameScore">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3166844&p=44&sec=REVIEWS|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review|date=2008-03-07|first=James|last=Mielke|accessdate=2008-05-16|publisher=1UP.com}}</ref>  

|Edge = 9 of 10<ref name="Edge">{{cite book|url= http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9575&Itemid=51|title= Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review|author=Edge staff|year=2008|month=April|journal=Edge|issue=187|pages=84–85}}</ref>  

|EuroG = 9 of 10<ref name="euroReview">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=128676&page=1|title=Eurogamer Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review|first=Tom|last=Bramwell|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=Eurogamer}}</ref>  

|Fam = 40 of 40<ref name="Famscore">{{cite news|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3165462|title=Famitsu Gives Smash Bros. Brawl a Perfect Score|author=Gray, Brian|publisher=[http://www.1up.com/ 1up.com]|date=2008-01-16|accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref>  

|GT = 9.4 of 10<ref name="GameTrailersReview">{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31663.html|title=GameTrailers Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review|accessdate=2008-03-09|publisher=GameTrailers}}</ref>  

|IGN = 9.5 of 10<ref name="IGNReview">{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/856/856580p1.html|title=IGN Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review|first=Matt|last=Casamassina|accessdate=2008-03-04|publisher=IGN}}</ref>  

|NP = 10 of 10<ref name="NPBrawl">{{Cite news | date=March 2008 | magazine=Nintendo Power | publisher=Future US | volume=226 | title=Simply Smashing | last=Slate | first=Chris | pages=82–83 | postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>

|NGamer=93<!--The link shows a score of 9.3/10, but this is CVG.com's method of scoring - NGamer itself scores with solid numbers. Check its article.--><ref name="ngamer">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=183358| title=Ngamer&nbsp;— Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl|accessdate=2008-02-26|first=Matthew|last=Castle|work=NGamer}}</ref>

|ONM = 95%<ref name="ONMReview">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=4885|title=Wii Review: Super Smash Bros.|first=Martin|last=Mathers|date=2008-06-26|accessdate=2008-10-02|publisher=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]}}</ref>

|MC = 93% (81 reviews)<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/supersmashbrosbrawl|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl (wii: 2008): Reviews|accessdate=2008-04-23|publisher=Metacritic}}</ref>

|award1 = Best Fighting Game<ref name="Gamespotfighting"> {{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2008/genre-awards/index.html?page=4|title=Gamespot: Best Fighting Game of the Year|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref>

''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' received critically positive reviews and sold successfully. In the United States, the game sold 874,000 units on launch day and 1.4 million units in its first week to become the fastest-selling video game in Nintendo of America's history, according to Nintendo. The game has sold 10.79 million units worldwide as of March 2012 according to Nintendo, which makes it the best selling fighting game of all time. ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is the 8th best selling game for the [[Wii]], and sold 12.14 million units worldwide, as of March 31, 2014. ''Brawl'' currently holds an aggregate review score of 92.84% on Gamerankings and a score of 93% on Metacritic. Despite this, British publication NGamer received criticism for awarding a 93% rating to ''Brawl'', with readers deeming the score too low, especially in comparison to Official Nintendo Magazine's 95% rating. ''Brawl'' has reviews with ratings equal or slightly better than ''Melee''. The game's multiplayer was received excellently, but single player, while noted as superior to ''Melee's'', was still only average.

==Changes from ''[[Melee]]'' to ''Brawl''==

*Generally, the game plays slower: every veteran has a slower [[falling speed]] and [[gravity]], [[L-cancel]]ling has been removed, [[dash]]ing barely increases forward momentum in midair, and characters must wait a slight amount of time before being able to meteor cancel.

*The [[air dodge]] no longer involves characters shifting in a direction; instead, characters continue on whatever path they were moving before the air dodge. This allows air dodging to not put characters into a [[helpless]] state, so any attack or another air dodge can be used afterwards, but it makes [[wavedashing]] impossible.

*The amount of time a launched character is forced to stay in hitstun is significantly decreased, and can be air dodged or attacked out of after a certain amount of time; this makes [[combo|true combos]] almost nonexistent.

*Some characters now have unique [[meteor cancel]] windows: while it is 25 frames for most characters, those with tether recoveries only (such as {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}) have a smaller delay in meteor canceling, while characters that use wings for multiple jumps (such as {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}) must wait for longer. Additionally, attempting to meteor cancel with a jump before this window of time will result in a 40-frame penalty where the character cannot meteor cancel.

*[[Tether recovery|Tether recoveries]] are generally less useful than the [[wall-grapple|wall-grappling]] they replaced; they only aim for ledges as opposed to walls, and can be very easily [[edgehog]]ged.

*Characters must wait a short amount of time before being able to move after grabbing a ledge.  

*[[Shieldstun]] has been drastically decreased, with an increased [[perfect shield]] window.  

*It only takes 7 frames to shield drop, making the game more defensively-focused.

*There is a [[landing lag glitch]] on not all but several characters, that causes the character when they land to be inflicted with the landing lag of a helplessness-inducing [[special move]], if they grabbed the edge during the move, or after using the move before landing.

*Characters can grab a [[ledge]] with their back facing it, and most recovery moves (though not all of them) also cancel for the character to grab the edge, making recovery easier and more flexible, as well as lowering the effectiveness of attacks that turn the opponent around, such as Mario's [[Cape]].

*Edge teching is no longer possible, as well as [[ledge canceling]] attacks. Characters can now air dodge while [[tumbling]], so [[teching]] itself is harder to perform, and has become generally less useful due to the reduced hitstun and [[momentum cancel]]ing.

**"Pain yells" are reliant on how long a character is in stun, and each character only has one.

**Characters no longer have a single noise for being KO'd horizontally or falling; each character now has two (this is most notable with {{SSBB|Pit}} and {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}). Additionally, most characters have multiple noises for their aerial attacks and tilts (all of them are shared; {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, for example, can make the same noises when executing his down tilt as when executing his up aerial).

**Characters only make one sound when doing smash attacks ({{SSBB|Mario}}'s "Yeeha!" heard when he does his [[up smash]] is among the easiest to notice).

*Visually, most characters appear much less saturated and have more realistic, detailed textures, even if it doesn't match with their appearances in other games. This is easily noticeable in {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Kirby}} and the {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}.

*[[Spike]]s are no longer existent, as the trajectory range for what the game recognizes as a meteor smash has been increased, and all attacks that have a downwards angle now fall into this range.  

*The [[footstool jump]] allows characters to bounce off of other characters' heads while sending the opponent downward; it acts like a [[meteor smash]], though the footstool jump is not a true meteor smash.

*[[Pummel]]s now deal variable damage from 1% to 3% depending on the character, rather than all dealing 3%, and have variable speeds depending on their strength: while characters like {{SSBB|Mario}} pummel as slow as in the previous game whiling dealing more damage per pummel, others like {{SSBB|Kirby}} can pummel very quickly, dealing less damage per pummel.

*Some characters can [[crawl]], while others can [[glide]] or [[wall cling]], and every character can [[swim]] in water instead of falling through it.

*All characters now have a [[Final Smash]].

*[[Moonwalking]] has been removed.  

*[[Short hop]]ping is easier as characters are a bit slower at jumping.  

*[[Smash Taunt]]s do not end if the user flinches; they have to be KO'd to end it early.  

*Up smashes can be performed while running, known as a [[slide smash]].  

*Characters can now [[pivot grab]].  

*All characters now have three taunts instead of one, and have unique [[on-screen appearances]], which return from the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''.

*Players can now configure personalized [[controls]] for [[name]]s.

*Outside of the main game, players can build [[custom stage]]s and save [[snapshot]]s and [[replay]]s.  

*Melee's [[Adventure Mode]] has been replaced by [[The Subspace Emissary]].  

*[[Target Test]] is now known as "Target Smash!!", and it now has selectable difficuties, though there are now only five stages for all characters, rather than every character having their own target test.

*The [[Home-Run Contest]] puts a temporary shield around the platform.  

**All of the four modes above can also be played in co-op, and players can also play [[Wi-Fi|online]] in various modes.

*In one-player game modes, the [[C-stick]] acts the same as in multiplayer modes: instead of [[Camera|zoom]]ing, it is used as how the player has configured it, the default function being [[smash attack]]s.

*Shin'ichirō Miki - {{SSBB|Charizard}}

*[[Masahiro Sakurai]] - {{SSBB|King Dedede}}

*[[Charles Martinet]] - {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Wario}}

*Pat Cashman - Narrator, {{SSBB|Master Hand}}, {{SSBB|Crazy Hand}}

*Michele Knotz - {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}, {{SSBB|Squirtle}}

Note: {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBB|Olimar}}, {{SSBB|R.O.B.}}, and {{SSBB|Samus}} have no voices, and therefore, no voice actors.

File:SSBB-cover-PAL.jpg|PAL cover art

File:SSBB Limited Edition.jpg|PAL Limited Edition packaging

File:SSBB Game Logo.jpg|The game logo.

*The ''Brawl'' menu was designed to be very similar to the menu in ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby Air Ride}}'', including the Challenges Checklist. Interestingly, ''Air Ride''{{'}}s menu used a deeper versions of the confirm and toggle sound effects from ''Melee''{{'}}s menu.

*Unlike most other [[Wii]] games, the game disc for this game has two layers instead of one, as a result of the large amount of data used for the game.

**The release of ''Brawl'', however, caused some older Wii consoles to be unable to read the disc. The various Nintendo branches around the world offer a free cleaning program for affected Wii consoles.

*''Brawl'' is the only game in the entire series not to include a new {{uv|Mario}} character, not counting {{SSBB|Wario}} and {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, who despite technically being a part of the ''Mario'' universe and appearing in several of the same games, are considered to be from the {{uv|Wario}} and {{uv|Donkey Kong}} series, respectively.

**It is also the only game in the series to cut a {{uv|Mario}} series character, as it cut {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}

*Not counting the [[Virtual Console]], this is the only Wii appearance for {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Wolf}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, and [[SSBB|Pit]].

*''Brawl'' is the first game in which the {{uv|Donkey Kong}}, {{uv|Metroid}}, {{uv|Kirby}}, and {{uv|EarthBound}} universes (which had one character in previous installments) have multiple characters.

*This is the only ''Super Smash Bros.'' game whose single-player mode features [[The Subspace Emissary|an actual storyline]]. This was removed for the [[Super Smash Bros. 4|fourth installment]], although some enemies and boss characters from the Subspace Emissary, such as [[Roturret]] and [[Ridley]], make appearances in other ways as opponents, following similar patterns as their appearances in ''Brawl''.

*This is the only game in the series not to have any appearance from Peach's Castle in any way or form.

*This is the only game in the series not to include a stage from the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''; though this is only true should one count [[downloadable content]] for ''[[Super Smash Bros. for 3DS]]''.

**This is the only game in the series to not include the stage {{SSB|Dream Land}}.

*This is the most recent ''Super Smash Bros.'' installment to feature Luigi, Captain Falcon and Marth as unlockable characters.

*[http://www.smashbros.com/wii/ Official ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' website]

* [http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/Wii_Super_Smash_Brawl.pdf Official PDF-file instruction manual] for ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' <small>(English)</small>