Intelligent Systems

Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd
Type	Private
Founded	February 18, 1984
Headquarters	Kyoto, Japan
Key people	Toru Narihiro
Industry	Video Games
Products	Video Games
Employees	175 (2024)
Website	Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd
Article on Wikipedia	Intelligent Systems

Intelligent Systems (株式会社インテリジェントシステムズ, Intelligent Systems Ltd.) is a Japanese game developer. They played a part in the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Similar to HAL Laboratory, they are a second-party developer for Nintendo and primarily create games for Nintendo's consoles.

Originally founded as an auxiliary programming team to support many of Nintendo's in-house games, Intelligent Systems would go on to develop a number of their own games and series that would come to be represented in Smash over their long history. They are the primary developers of such series as Fire Emblem, Paper Mario, WarioWare, Nintendo Wars, Panel de Pon, Pushmo, Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls), Cubivore, and Soccer. Intelligent Systems also developed Mario Kart: Super Circuit in the Mario Kart series, and co-developed Metroid and Super Metroid. Outside of Nintendo products, they have also developed titles in the Dragon Quest series, including the Dragon Quest 25th Anniversary Collection and Dragon Quest Wars but both were exclusive to Nintendo consoles.

Aside from developing games, they continue to serve their original role in supporting Nintendo with certain projects, such as programming many of Nintendo's in-house development tools for both hardware and software and building the 3D camera into the Nintendo 3DS.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

In its worldwide debut as a franchise, Fire Emblem receives major representation with two playable characters: Marth, the protagonist of the first game in the series, and Roy, a clone of Marth and the protagonist of the then-upcoming sixth game in the series. Melee is often cited as a major reason as to why Fire Emblem games from the seventh game onwards were brought overseas. Melee additionally received a medley of the tracks "Story 5: Meeting" and the main Fire Emblem theme, both from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, simply dubbed Fire Emblem. A stage was also planned for the game, but did not make it in.

Outside of the Fire Emblem series, Cubivore saw representation in a trophy for a character named Alpha, though no such character exists within Cubivore itself. Several Panel de Pon references appears in this game such as the Garbage Block in Kirby's Stone move and Lip's Stick as an item both based off Lip, the protagonist of the first Panel de Pon game. The shop manager of the series' card shop, Maruo Maruhige from Card Hero appears as a trophy. Paper Mario from the eponymous game appears as a trophy.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

As a result of its increased popularity as a franchise, Fire Emblem gained a large boost in representation in Brawl. Marth made a return as a playable character, this time joined by Ike, the protagonist of Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn. A stage based around several aspects of the series, dubbed "Castle Siege", also appeared in Brawl, with numerous musical tracks from the Fire Emblem series. Lyn, the protagonist of the seventh entry in the series, also debuted as an Assist Trophy. Several other Fire Emblem characters appear as trophies.

The WarioWare series is represented with Wario as a playable character, with his default outfit being his biker attire from the WarioWare series, and his more classic overalls appearing as an alternate costume. A stage based around the microgames from the series, simply called WarioWare, Inc., appears as well, with multiple tracks from the games. Kat & Ana appear as an Assist Trophy as well.

The Infantry and Tanks from Advance Wars appear as an Assist Trophy, in the 8-bit style of their origin game. Max, Sami, and Andy from Advance Wars appear as stickers, as well as Jake, Hawke, and Rachel from Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

Several references to Lip and the Panel de Pon series reprises their respective role in this game such as the Garbage Block in Kirby's Stone move and the Lip's Stick as an item both based off Lip, in addition to an unlockable remix of her theme for the Pictochat stage. In addition to stickers for Furil, Pure, Sala, and Cecil from Nintendo Puzzle Collection, along with one of the titular Panels. (However, in localized versions of the game, these fairies are incorrectly named as Lip, Ruby, Elias, and Seren; these are the names of their respective counterparts from the Super Famicom version of Panel de Pon.)

Soccer Ball from Soccer also appears as an item. Soccer's theme also appears in a Famicom Medley on the Mario Bros. stage. Yakuman Player on the cover of the Game Boy version, Hiroshi from Trade & Battle: Card Hero, as well as Tameo and a Master card all appear as stickers.

Trophies of various Paper Mario characters appear, this time based on their designs from Super Paper Mario. Those characters, along with others and some items, also appear as stickers.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Fire Emblem gains more representation yet again, as Marth and Ike are now joined by Robin, the avatar character from Fire Emblem: Awakening, Lucina, a clone of Marth and a major character in Awakening, and Corrin, the avatar character and protagonist of Fire Emblem Fates. Roy also makes a return to the series as DLC. Lyn reprises her role as an Assist Trophy. A stage based on Arena Ferox, an iconic location in Awakening, appears in the 3DS version, while a stage based on various coliseums from the franchise appears in the Wii U version. A Mii costume of the Black Knight, Ike's rival, was also made as DLC.

WarioWare also gains new content, with a stage based on the Gamer minigame from Game & Wario appearing in the Wii U version, and Ashley debuting as an Assist Trophy. WarioWare, Inc. returns as a stage in the 3DS version. Kat & Ana reprise their roles as an Assist Trophy, as do the Infantry and Tanks.

The Paper Mario stage in the 3DS version features three locations from the series: Hither Thither Hill from Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the S.S. Flavion from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Bowser's Sky Castle from Paper Mario: Sticker Star along with the Paper Mario Medley. In addition, trophies of various Paper Mario characters appear.

The Sablé Prince, the main character of Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru, appears as an Assist Trophy. Pushmo also cameos as a collectable trophy in the 3DS version.

Several references to Lip and the Panel de Pon series reprises their respective role in this game such as the Garbage Block in Kirby's Stone move, the Lip's Stick as an item, and the Brawl remix of her theme on the Wrecking Crew stage only on the Wii U version of he game.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Along with all other Fire Emblem characters from previous entries, Chrom, the main protagonist of Awakening, joins the roster as an Echo Fighter of Roy. All Fire Emblem stages from past entries return, as well as Lyn as an Assist Trophy. Many new music tracks and spirits debut in this game, including content from Fire Emblem Heroes, a mobile game that Intelligent Systems co-developed alongside DeNA. Byleth, the main protagonist of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, appears as a downloadable character as part of Challenger Pack 5, accompanied by the Garreg Mach Monastery stage.

WarioWare keeps Wario as its playable character, and Ashley reprises her role as an Assist Trophy. Both WarioWare stages return, as does the Paper Mario stage. The Sablé Prince reappears as an Assist Trophy, and the Pushmo series has a music track in the game.

Several references to Lip and the Panel de Pon series reprises their respective role in this game including the Garbage Block in Kirby's Stone move, the Lip's Stick as an item, and the Brawl remix of her theme on stages only on Summit, Duck Hunt, and stages from non-playable universes. Lip makes her first on-screen appearance in the Smash Bros. series (as well as her first physical appearance in any form of media released in Western territories) as a Support Spirit. She is also the basis for a costume for Mii Swordfighters and a Friend Icon for online play. The appearance of the flower effect has been changed, now resembling those seen on the title screen of Panel de Pon.

Several Nintendo Wars spirits makes an appearance such as The Infantry & Tanks from Famicom Wars (whom do not reprise their roles as an Assist Trophy), Andy, Eagle, and Olaf from the Advance Wars series.

Henry Fleming from Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. makes an appearance as a Spirit, as well as a remix of Trouble Brewing II appears, playing only on Summit, Duck Hunt, and stages from non-playable universes. Additionally, the tracks Code Name: F.E., Lords-A Chance Encounter, and Lords-Showdown, remixes of Fire Emblem music, are listed as Fire Emblem music in Ultimate, thus they only play on Fire Emblem stages.

Other spirits includes Maruo Maruhige from Melee (named as "Maruhige Shop Owner"), Yakuman Player from Brawl, the ST Falcon, Mike's ST from Battle Clash, Satoru, the main protagonist of Kousoku Card Battle: Card Hero, and a pig from Cubivore.

In addition to the rest, Yoshito Sekigawa and Hiroki Morishita helped out for the arrangements. Sekigawa arranged Aquarius and Awake while Morishita arranged Dark Stage, Training Menu - Wii Fit U, and Gear Up For...