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{{ArticleIcons|brawl=yes|fa=yes}}
{{ArticleIcons|brawl=yes|fa=yes}}
{{disambig2|the Adventure Mode in ''Brawl''|other uses|Adventure Mode (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Game
{{Infobox Game
|title         = The Subspace Emissary
|title=The Subspace Emissary
|image         = [[File:Subspace Emissary Logo.jpg|200px]]
|image=[[File:Subspace Emissary Logo.jpg|250px]]
|caption       = The official SSE logo.
|caption=The official SSE logo.}}
}}
'''Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary''' ({{ja|亜空の使者|Akū no Shisha}}, ''Emissary of Subspace''), sometimes abbreviated as '''SSE''' or shortened to '''Subspace Emissary''', is a mode in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and the successor to ''[[Melee]]''{{'}}s [[Adventure Mode]]. It was hinted at with the [http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea01.html This world...] [[DOJO|Dojo]] update on July 20th, 2007, and fully unveiled on August 3rd of the same year. This mode was succeeded by ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''{{'}}s. [[World of Light]].
'''Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary''' is a mode in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', similar to [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|''Melee''’s]] [[Adventure Mode]]. It was hinted at with the [http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea01.html This world...], Dojo update on July 20th 2007, and fully unveiled on August 3rd of the same year.


==Overview==
==Overview==
On July 20th, Smash Bros. DOJO!!! was updated with a collection of enigmatic images that depicted [[Mario (SSBB)|Mario]] and [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]] transforming from [[Trophy|trophies]] into fighters (akin to the introduction of ''Melee''). After Kirby's apparent defeat at the hands of Mario, he is changed back into a trophy, but Mario reverses the transformation and Mario and Kirby shake hands. However, the sky darkens soon after, and Meta Knight’s ship, the [[Halberd]], flies over the stadium, soon followed by the appearance of a mysterious character. The screen shots were accompanied with this description:
On July 20th, [[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] was updated with a collection of enigmatic images that depicted {{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Kirby}} transforming from [[Trophy|trophies]] into fighters (akin to the introduction of ''Melee''). After Kirby's apparent defeat at the hands of Mario, he is changed back into a trophy, but Mario reverses the transformation and Mario and Kirby shake hands. However, the sky darkens soon after, and [[Meta Knight]]’s ship, the [[Halberd]], flies over the stadium, soon followed by the appearance of [[Primid|a mysterious character]]. The screenshots were accompanied by this description:


''In this world, trophies fight.  They know nothing but fighting.  Fighting is the sole reason for their existence.  Being turned back into a trophy, being unable to fight, is much like death.  Those are the rules of this world.  But...When someone...or something...breaks those rules, the world will pay a terrible price...''
''In this world, trophies fight.  They know nothing but fighting.  Fighting is the sole reason for their existence.  Being turned back into a trophy, being unable to fight, is much like death.  Those are the rules of this world.  But...When someone...or something...breaks those rules, the world will pay a terrible price...''


The post was placed under a mode referred to as ???until August 3rd, when it was changed to "Adventure Mode." On August 3rd, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated again. This time, more information was given. The mode was dubbed “The Subspace Emissary,and a multitude of screenshots were shown, as well as a cutscene related to the “This World…” update. In the cutscene, Mario and Kirby were seen shaking hands, as depicted in the screenshots, and after waving to the crowd, the Halberd appeared as it did in “This World…” The mysterious character from before was shown to be one of apparently many odd, robot-like creatures formed from some sort of shadowy matter. [[Peach (SSBB)|Princess Peach]] and [[Zelda (SSBB)|Princess Zelda]] were seen watching from the sidelines, but rushed down to the middle of the stadium to assist Mario and Kirby in fighting the mysterious army. After Peach and Zelda reach the stage and help destroy the Primids, an entity from the sky called the [[Ancient Minister]] appears on the stage. The Ancient Minister drops a [[Subspace Bomb]] on the arena, then flies off. As Mario approaches the bomb, he is hit by a cannonball and is sent flying from the arena. [[Petey Piranha]] appears and captures Peach and Zelda in cages.  
The post was placed under a mode referred to as "???" until August 3rd when it was changed to "Adventure Mode". On August 3rd, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated again. This time, more information was given. The mode was dubbed "The Subspace Emissary", and a multitude of screenshots were shown, as well as a cutscene related to the "This World…" update. In the cutscene, Mario and Kirby were seen shaking hands, as depicted in the screenshots, and after waving to the crowd, the Halberd appeared as it did in "This World…". The mysterious character from before was shown to be one of apparently many odd, robot-like creatures formed from some sort of shadowy matter. {{SSBB|Peach}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}} were seen watching from the sidelines but rushed down to the middle of the stadium to assist Mario and Kirby in fighting the mysterious army. After Peach and Zelda reach the stage and help destroy the [[Primid]]s, an entity from the sky called the [[Ancient Minister]] appears on the stage. The Ancient Minister drops a [[Subspace Bomb]] on the arena, then flies off. As Mario approaches the bomb, he is hit by a cannonball and is sent flying from the arena. [[Petey Piranha]] appears and captures Peach and Zelda in cages.  


The various screen shots in the update depicted a multitude of new enemies, as well as a few familiar ones, such as a [[Hammer Bro]], who was previously confirmed as an [[Assist Trophy]], and [[Bullet Bill]]s. There were also a new series of enemies that were introduced that are part of the Subspace army. Some enemies of the Subspace army appear to be helpful while other ones are dangerous.
The various screenshots in the update depicted a multitude of new enemies, as well as a few familiar ones, such as a [[Hammer Bro]], who was previously confirmed as an [[Assist Trophy]], and {{b|Bullet Bill|enemy}}s. There were also a new series of enemies that were introduced that are part of the Subspace army. Some enemies of the Subspace army appear to be helpful while other ones are dangerous.


===Stages===
Masahiro Sakurai has stated that substantial single-player content was a core priority during the development of ''Brawl''. An adventure on the scale of a stand alone video game was decided early in development. Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that Sakurai always wanted to make a mode like this for the series, but was advised to focus on the multiplayer aspects of previous games due to the relatively short development times of previous games and there already being no shortage of single-player games. The much longer development time allotted to ''Brawl'' allowed the mode to be made.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/i-miyamotosakurai?page=2 Miyamoto and Sakurai on Nintendo Wii
[[File:Subspace Emissary Plotmap.svg|thumb|400px|A map of the stages and which characters are available in each one, not counting Wolf, Toon Link, and Jigglypuff.]]
E3: Smash Bros., Mario, more.]</ref> The initial plan was to outsource development of this mode to another studio, but no suitable contractor was available. In the end, the entire mode was developed internally by the main ''Brawl'' team. Only the cutscenes were created by a different studio.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXpFTHtlmCo&t Super Smash Bros. Brawl [Game Concepts]]</ref>
Multiple stages are in [[Subspace]]. If more than two are listed, that means there are more parts of the story there. They are listed by order:
*[[Midair Stadium]]
*[[Skyworld (SSE)|Skyworld]]
*[[Sea of Clouds]]
*[[The Jungle]]
*[[The Plain]]
*[[The Lake]]
*[[The Ruined Zoo]]
*[[The Battlefield Fortress]]
*[[The Forest]]
*[[The Research Facility (Part I)|The Research Facility I]]
*[[The Lake Shore]]
*[[The Path to the Ruins]]
*[[The Cave]]
*[[The Ruins]]
*[[The Wilds (Part I)|The Wilds I]]
*[[The Ruined Hall]]
*[[The Wilds (Part II)|The Wilds II]]
*[[The Swamp]]
*[[The Research Facility (Part II)|The Research Facility II]]
*[[Outside the Ancient Ruins]]
*[[The Glacial Peak]]
*[[The Canyon]]
*[[Battleship Halberd Interior]]
*[[Battleship Halberd Exterior]]
*[[Battleship Halberd Bridge]]
*[[The Subspace Bomb Factory (Part I)|The Subspace Bomb Factory I]]
*[[The Subspace Bomb Factory (Part II)|The Subspace Bomb Factory II]]
*[[Entrance to Subspace]]
*[[Subspace (Part I)|Subspace I]]
*[[Subspace (Part II)|Subspace II]]
*[[The Great Maze]]


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
The Subspace Emissary mode is a side-scrolling adventure in the style of a platformer, inspired by the ''[[Mario (universe)|Mario]]'' and ''[[Kirby (universe)|Kirby]]'' games. However, it retains all basic mechanics of the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], such as a [[damage meter]], [[stock]]s, and Smash-style attacks. It can also be classified as a beat 'em up; often stages will pause at specific points and force the player to defeat all opposing enemies, which prevents one from simply running through everything.
[[File:AdventureMap.jpg|thumb|400px|The [[Adventure Map]], after completion of The Subspace Emissary.]]
[[File:The plain Mario.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Mario in The Plain]]
The Subspace Emissary mode is a side-scrolling adventure in the style of a platformer, inspired by the {{uv|Mario}} and {{uv|Kirby}} games. However, it retains all basic mechanics of the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], such as a [[damage meter]], [[stock]]s, and Smash-style attacks. It can also be classified as a beat 'em up; often stages will [[ambush|pause at specific points]] and force the player to defeat a set of enemies, which prevents one from simply running through everything.


The mode features a world map where stages are selected; once a stage is selected, the difficulty can be chosen, and the character(s) will enter the stage. The selectable characters will change depending on the plot. There is also a two-player option.
The mode features a [[Adventure Map|world map]] where stages are selected; once a stage is selected, the difficulty can be chosen, and the character(s) will enter the stage. The selectable characters will change depending on the plot. Stages that have been completed already can be played again, with the one exception being a stage being consumed by a Subspace Bomb; if this happens, the player must complete the Subspace Emissary to be able to access the stage again.


In the two player option, the first player must be present or have stock left, otherwise the game will offer a continue, regardless of whether the second player still has a stock or is alive (though when the second player runs the stock out, the first player can continue without him/her). The second player also has the option to [[Space Jump|warp]] to the first player (except in boss battles) by pressing the [[Start-Pause button|button that would normally pause the game]]. In addition, the first player has priority over the screen (unless it is scrolling), making it possible that the second player gets run off the screen if the players are not coordinated. In addition only the first player can navigate through [[door]]s (though the second player can still utilize [[key]]s).
The mode also has a two-player option, using one stock to join in. When using two players, the first player will have priority over the screen, making it possible for the second player to get run off the screen if the two players are not coordinated. However, the second player has the option to [[Space Jump|warp]] to the first player at any time (except in boss battles) by pressing the [[Start-Pause button|button that would normally pause the game]]. The first player must be present with stock left at all times; if the first player is defeated with no spare stock remaining, the game will end and offer a continue. If the second player is defeated, the first player can continue alone. In addition, only the first player can navigate through [[door]]s (though the second player can still utilize [[key]]s) and temporary switches. If the second player goes into a barrel cannon or minecart they will be teleported back to the player seconds later unless the first player goes in right after. The second player can also decide when barrel cannons shoot.


When playing a level for the first time, many cutscenes will pause just before gameplay begins, showing a view of all available characters. A message will display how many stock the level allows, and a cursor will appear that allows choosing which characters to play. The order characters are chosen in is the order they will appear: they will cycle through in that order until all stock is depleted. Playing through a level again, there will be a screen before the level allowing choosing between any available characters instead of cutscenes during the level. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: there is a wider character variety to choose from, but one cannot (for example) choose only three characters for a four-stock stage. Additionally, no mid-level cutscenes will play, including ones that would normally allow a re-pick of characters which replenishes stocks. While on many levels this makes little difference, it is very problematic on long stages like the second Subspace Bomb Factory, where a replay provides only a fraction of the stock originally given.
When playing a level for the first time, many cutscenes will pause just before gameplay begins, showing a view of all available characters. A message will display how many stock the level allows, and a cursor will appear that allows choosing which characters to play. The order characters are chosen in is the order they will appear: they will cycle through in that order until all stock is depleted. Playing through a level again, there will be a screen before the level allowing choosing between any available characters instead of cutscenes during the level. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: there is a wider character variety to choose from, but one cannot pick less characters than the number of stocks the stage has (meaning if a stage has four stocks, the player must choose four characters). Additionally, no mid-level cutscenes will play, including ones that would normally allow a re-pick of characters that replenishes stocks. While on many levels this makes little difference, it is very problematic on long stages like the second Subspace Bomb Factory, where a replay provides only a fraction of the stock originally given.


The physics of many (if not all) characters are also tweaked slightly. In general, characters run slower, fall faster, and jump better than in brawls. Move mechanics are not altered, although the differing jump heights, jump timing, and gravity will change how effective aerial attacks are. The most significant change is the removal of stamina from Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon, which allows one to use one Pokémon exclusively. Characters are also able to [[swimming|swim]] for significantly longer. Characters retain their standard physics in boss battles.
The physics of many (if not all) characters are also tweaked slightly. In general, characters run slower, fall faster, and jump better than in brawls. However, the [[midair jump]]s of a character that possesses more than one will be worse than normal. Move mechanics are not altered, although the differing jump heights, jump timing, and gravity will change how effective aerial attacks are. The most significant change is the removal of stamina from Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon, which allows one to use one Pokémon exclusively. Characters are also able to [[swimming|swim]] for significantly longer. Characters retain their standard physics in boss battles. Because Smash relies on KOs by being knocked off stage, in order for the platforming nature to be retained, the camera's reaction time in following a character decreases in proportion to the player's damage.  


In addition, [[grab]]bing mechanics are altered. Normal enemies cannot be held onto for any length of time; they will be thrown immediately after being grabbed, making it impossible to [[pummel]] them. This means that choosing which throw to use must be done with the Control Stick during the grab animation; inputting no direction will result in a forward throw (with the exception of [[Donkey Kong (SSBB)|Donkey Kong]], who cannot carry enemies, and instead will utilize his up-throw). Special moves that involve grabbing will fail to grab; such moves have extra Subspace Emissary-only hitboxes (for example, [[Egg Lay]] will deal 13% damage, while Pikmin will deal damage when [[Pikmin Throw|thrown]]). Bosses and large enemies such as Big Primids cannot be grabbed. None of these changes apply when facing an opposing Smasher, though Kirby will be unable to copy their abilities.
[[Grab]]bing mechanics are also altered. Normal enemies cannot be held onto for any length of time; they will be thrown immediately after being grabbed, making it impossible to [[pummel]] them. This means that choosing which throw to use must be done with the Control Stick during the grab animation; inputting no direction will result in a forward throw (with the exception of {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, who cannot carry enemies, and instead will utilize his up-throw). Special moves that involve grabbing will fail to grab, like Yoshi and Kirby's standard special moves; such moves have extra Subspace Emissary-only hitboxes (for example, [[Egg Lay]] will deal 13% damage, while Pikmin will deal damage when [[Pikmin Throw|thrown]]). Bosses and large enemies cannot be grabbed; however, Big Primids can be grabbed effectively. None of these changes apply when facing an opposing Smasher due to playing like an actual Brawl, though Kirby will be unable to copy their abilities.
 
===Clear %===
{{see also|Clear %}}


===Difficulty Levels===
===Difficulty Levels===
 
Like most other single-player modes, one can select different difficulty levels to play The Subspace Emissary. At the creation of a new game file, the player may select a "default" [[difficulty]] from Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Intense. Stages normally use this default difficulty (which cannot be changed), although the difficulty of a stage can be altered before it is begun. The game keeps track of the hardest difficulty level at which each stage has been cleared, and when a stage is selected, it suggests a difficulty higher than the highest completion level.
Like other single-player modes, one can select different difficulty levels to play the Subspace Emissary. At the creation of a new game file a "default" difficulty is selected from Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Intense. Stages normally use this default difficulty (which cannot be changed), although the difficulty of a stage can be altered before it is begun. The game keeps track of the hardest difficulty level each stage has been cleared at, and when a stage is selected, it suggests a difficulty higher than the highest completion level.


As one selects higher difficulties, the game makes these adjustments:
As one selects higher difficulties, the game makes these adjustments:


*Enemy health goes up, sometimes considerably.
*Enemy health goes up, sometimes considerably with bulky enemies like Greaps.
*Enemies move and attack faster; especially noticeable with the vulnerability period of large enemies and bosses.
*Enemies move and attack faster; especially noticeable with the vulnerability period of large enemies and bosses.
*Some enemies use different attacks.
*Enemies and obstacles do more damage and have more KO power.
*Enemies and obstacles do more damage and have more KO power.
*Some enemy hitboxes are slightly bigger.
*Enemies' AI generally get smarter (such as attacking more often, or [[Bytan]]s duplicating nonstop).
*Enemies are harder to flinch.
*More (and sometimes deadlier) enemies appear during locked battles.
*Enemies generally get smarter (such as attacking more often, or [[Bytan]]s duplicating nonstop).
*Less favorable items appear, although an increased number of stronger healing items appear when enemies are defeated.
*More (and sometimes more dangerous) enemies appear during locked battles.
*[[Stock Ball]]s may get rarer (or, in the case of Very Hard and Intense, not exist, being replaced by recovery items instead).
*[[Trackball]]s lose energy faster.
*Certain features travel faster, giving the player less reaction time.  
*[[Auroros]] can't be thrown as far, making it more difficult to use them against other enemies.
**Auto-scrolling areas scroll faster.
*Less favorable items appear, although more and more powerful healing items appear when enemies are defeated.
**Moving walls, floors, and ceilings move faster, making characters more easily [[KO|crushed]].
*Stock Balls may get rarer (or, in the case of Intense, not exist).
**Platforms move or fall faster.
*[[Barrel Cannon]]s, [[Slide Launcher]]s, [[Minecart]]s, and other vehicles (such as the orange [[platform]]s in [[The Research Facility]]) move faster, therefore being harder to control.
**Bomb block explosion chains move faster.
*Auto-scrolling areas scroll faster.
**The effects of temporary switches are shorter.
*Moving walls, floors, and ceilings move faster, making characters more easily [[KO|crushed]].
*Platforms move or fall faster.
*Bomb block explosion chains move faster.
*The effects of temporary switches last shorter.
*Wind speeds increase (including the wind from a [[Borboras]]), sometimes to nonsensical levels.
*Wind speeds increase (including the wind from a [[Borboras]]), sometimes to nonsensical levels.
*Keys break easier.
*More, higher quality, and rarer stickers appear.
*More, better, and rarer stickers appear.
*More collectibles (CDs, trophies, stickers) appear.
*More collectibles (CDs, trophies, stickers) appear.
*More trophy stands appear.
*More trophy stands appear.
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==Plot==
==Plot==
{{see also|List of cutscenes in the Subspace Emissary}}
{{main|Plot summary of The Subspace Emissary}}
Notes: Because it is possible to take more than one path in Adventure Mode, there are sometimes two characters' names, divided by slashes when describing a scenario. (i.e.; Peach/Zelda) This means that if you take the first path, the scenario involves the first character, and vice versa. Also, there is no official chapter-by-chapter layout to the actual mode; the following material is divided in to chapters strictly for the sake of clarity.
 
===Prologue===
:''The following prologue material is pulled from information in in-game trophies and the Dojo, and is not depicted in in-game video cinematics.''
 
''The Subspace Emissary'' depicts two realms: The "main realm" of "our world", a somewhat typically Earth-like setting known as the [[World of Trophies]], and the realm of [[Subspace]], a world of darkness. The "master" of the world of Trophies is the entity known as [[Master Hand]]; likewise, [[Tabuu]], the main villain of the plot, is the master of Subspace and is its effective embodiment. Tabuu intends to cut the World of Trophies into pieces and assimilate them into his own world. In preparation for this plot, he has long observed Master Hand and the fighting denizens of the World of Trophies (hereafter referred to as [[Smasher (character)|"Smashers"]]), studying the fighting styles and mechanics of the trophy-based characters. Tabuu himself cannot leave Subspace, so his plan is to gather and arrange an army that Master Hand would lead as his proxy.
 
Tabuu captures and enslaves Master Hand, and bends him to Tabuu's will using chains of light. Very shortly after acquiring Master Hand, Tabuu learns of the Smasher named [[Mr. Game & Watch (SSBB)|Mr. Game & Watch]], an individual without any concept of good or evil who, as an entity, is comprised of a trans-dimensional "mass" that has strange qualities. An infinite amount of a primordial substance known as [[Shadow Bug]]s can be extracted from Mr. Game & Watch, so Tabuu and his puppet Master Hand capture him for themselves. Using the Shadow Bugs, Tabuu creates much of his [[Subspace Army]], the force which he will have his unwilling puppet Master Hand command to invade Master Hand's own world and forward the plot to bring it into Subspace.
 
The next preparatory phase Tabuu's takes for his goal centers on the Isle of Ancients, a mysterious landmass that floats in the sky above the World of Trophies. Within the floating island is a technologically advanced society comprised of sapient robots classified as [[R.O.B. (SSBB)|R.O.B.s]], and up until now they have existed without ever having interacted with those living on the landmass below. All the R.O.B.s are arranged in a simply structured hierarchy: lesser R.O.B.s serving one ruling R.O.B. known as the Master Robot with complete loyalty. They have all lived in peace... until now.
 
By Tabuu's will, Master Hand directs the Subspace forces to invade the Isle of Ancients and take captive all its denizens. The Master Robot and its R.O.B. brethren are blackmailed into agreeing to serve as the main front of the Subspace offensive; The R.O.B.s thus begin to develop and mass-produce the various armaments and utilities that the Subspace Army would employ, including the [[Subspace Bomb]]s - timed explosive devices that, upon detonation, would engulf a massive portion of the world into a pocket of Subspace and send that part of the World of Trophies into Tabuu's realm. Each bomb is to be deployed by the Master Robot himself, and to arm each bomb and set its countdown timer, two R.O.B. underlings are to plug themselves into it bomb - R.O.B.s are sacrificed with each detonation of a Subspace Bomb, in other words. The Master Robot, out of shame and sorrow for his decision to serve Tabuu's master plan while simultaneously sealing the fates of his brethren, cloaks himself in a disguise and assumes the identity of the "[[Ancient Minister]]".
 
The Subspace Army, taking the technology from the Isle of Ancients and basing it on the plans for the Subspace Bombs, also begins construction on the [[Subspace Gunship]] within Tabuu's realm. This colossal airship can shoot blasts that fully emulate the effects of a detonated Subspace Bomb, and is intended as the Subspace Army's "ultimate weapon" and trump card in its operation. But in order to allow this giant airship to enter the World of Trophies, a massive subspace portal would need to be made.
 
The captive R.O.B.s furthermore develop personal weapons called [[Dark Cannon]]s, whose projectiles instantly turn any Smasher into trophy form as though they were defeated and knocked back by an extremely powerful attack. This emulates an ability Tabuu himself holds within his otherwise fragile wings: a deadly form of energy attack known as [[Off Waves]]. The trophification of this world's Smashers is one of Tabuu's goals in his operation, so as to remove any chance of resistance they might mount otherwise. These prized weapons are few in number, though, and they can only be expected to be used properly by Subspace Army affiliates that aren't just single-minded, mass-produced grunts; indeed, Smashers themselves would best be able to use them. So, to bolster the morale and organization of the Subspace Army, Tabuu has Master Hand seek out and recruit Smashers and other high-profile figures within the World of Trophies that would be willing to go along with "Master Hand's" operation to assimilate their world into "his" realm of Subspace. Villainous characters that have had personal conflicts with other Smashers in the past are the ones Master Hand successfully recruit, such as [[Petey Piranha]] and [[Ridley]], and the actual Smashers among them are the ones that are given Dark Cannons, signifying their positions as the highest-ranking members and commanders of the Subspace Army: [[Ganondorf (SSBB)|Ganondorf]], [[Bowser (SSBB)|Bowser]], and [[Wario (SSBB)|Wario]].
 
Ganondorf, a powerful, sinister warlock with aspirations for further power and control, swears allegiance to Master Hand in outward appearances only; his real motive is to usurp power from within and take out Master Hand when the time is right. Bowser, a brutish dragon-turtle-like Smasher with his own personal army of grunts and minions named the Koopa Troop, is relatively loyal to Master Hand and likely joins for the sake of settling his long-standing conflict with certain other Smashers, but does not care for Ganondorf. And Wario, a bellicose thug with a penchant for mischief, cares very little for the actual objective he was given and just wants to continue doing whatever he pleases, but he certainly appreciates having a Dark Cannon with which to turn Smashers into trophies. Of course, none of these three Smasher accomplices to Master Hand are aware of Tabuu.
 
Tabuu's final preparatory motion before his invasion of the World of Trophies is the acquisition of the impressive flying warship named the [[Halberd]], currently owned and piloted by the masked swordsman smasher [[Meta Knight (SSBB)|Meta Knight]], as a primary transportation means for the Subspace Army. The Subspace Army launches a violent attack on Meta Knight; Meta Knight attempts to defend, but by complete coincidence this attack transpires at the same time one of Meta Knight's rivals, a penguin-like self-styled "king" among Smashers named [[King Dedede (SSBB)|Dedede]], attacks him. Dedede unknowingly makes it impossible for Meta Knight to repel the Subspace Army's attack, so Meta Knight is forced to flee and give up his ship to the Army, and hide in seclusion elsewhere.
 
Dedede gets caught up in the Subspace Army's attack on the Halberd, during which he comes to know all about Tabuu, his true nature, and the potential of his Off Waves ability to turn Smashers into trophy form. After managing to flee from the scene, Dedede begins to worry what will happen once all the Smashers of the world are turned into trophies; in this world, a character that has been turned into their respective trophy form from having taken too much damage may be restored to normal should another, active character hit their trophy base. If every Smasher in the world is reverted to trophy form, however, there would be no one left to restore them and each other, and the World of Trophies would effectively end by Tabuu's hand. Thus, Dedede gets to work on developing special brooches named [[Dedede Brooch]]es, which are set to work on a timer; once set, after a particular stretch of time has elapsed, whichever inanimate Smasher trophy the brooch happens to be attached to would restore that Smasher to normal. Dedede intends to use these Brooches on himself and some Smashers he may find as trophies down the line, so that there is a chance that he and some other Smashers can cheat themselves out of the potential doomsday scenario that could likely happen in the near future.
 
By this time, the preparation phases of Tabuu's operation is now complete; all of his standing forces and weapons have been assembled, and the Halberd has been prepped to serve as the Subspace Army's frontal flagship and "dropship" - it will deposit payloads of Shadow Bugs onto any area where the Subspace Army is needed to facilitate each of the Ancient Minister's bomb deployments. Acting on Tabuu's will, Master Hand begins the Subspace Army's campaign to invade the World of Trophies, slice it up into pieces, and send its pieces into Tabuu's realm of Subspace.
 
===Chapter One===
High up in the sky, at a floating arena named the [[Midair Stadium]]; a large crowd is gathered to spectate a competitive one-on-one brawl between two combatants that are sent to the arena in trophy form and take living form: jumping-plumber-turned-celebrity hero [[Mario (SSBB)|Mario]] and the rotund, childlike-yet-heroic pink puffball [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]]. Amongst those delightedly spectating from the crowd are two more Smashers, Princesses [[Zelda (SSBB)|Zelda]] and [[Peach (SSBB)|Peach]], the latter of whom is closely associated with Mario. Spectators to this match are not limited to the crowd in attendance; floating above the Midair Stadium is an area named [[Skyworld (SSE)|Skyworld]], which is otherwise uninhabited by Smashers except for a young angel knight named [[Pit (SSBB)|Pit]], who cheers by himself while watching the match through the waters of a magic fountain in Skyworld's palace. As the audience watches, Mario and Kirby have their competitive Brawl, and one defeats the other and emerges the victor. In an act of good sportsmanship, the victor soon restores his opponent to living form by hitting his trophy stand base, and the crowd cheers as Mario and Kirby shake hands and wave to the audience.
The sky suddenly darkens with red clouds, heralding the arrival of the [[Halberd]], which deposits a payload of Shadow Bugs into the stadium that form into Subspace Army units. Mario and Kirby are quickly joined by Peach and Zelda as they all battle the mysterious invaders; soon, what they perceive to be the leader of the army, the [[Ancient Minister]], floats by and deploys a Subspace Bomb, and it is armed and its 3-minute countdown timer is set by two [[R.O.B. Squad|R.O.B.s]] that plug themselves into it. The four Smashers barely have time to investigate the bomb when all of a sudden, major Subspace Army member [[Petey Piranha]] - a prior enemy to Mario and Peach - appears in the stadium and shoots a cannonball out of his mouth at Mario, blasting Mario out of the stadium and far into the sky. Petey immediately proceeds to capture Zelda and Peach in individual cages. Kirby must now face the gigantic plant monster and rescue the two princesses alone.
 
After Kirby defeats Petey, the cages holding the princesses break open. Kirby and the one princess he focused on rescuing first, Zelda/Peach, then watch as another major member of the Subspace Army, the smasher Wario, makes his entrance. Wario points a Dark Cannon at Kirby and Zelda/Peach at first, but then notices Peach/Zelda in her more helpless position and shoots at her instead; a dark arrow that is shot out pierces the princess' body and instantly turns her into trophy form. Wario grabs the trophy and flees the stadium with all haste, but as Kirby and Zelda/Peach begin to pursue him, Kirby notices that the Subspace Bomb's countdown timer is merely 5 seconds before detonation. Kirby and Zelda/Peach manage to flee Midair Stadium just in time on Kirby's preferred mode of transportation, a [[Warp Star]], just as the bomb detonates and the stadium is engulfed in a Subspace Explosion that sends its area of space to Subspace, leaving an enormous, dark-purple sphere of Subspace behind in its place. Kirby and the princess immediately set off in pursuit of the Halberd and Peach/Zelda.
 
Back in Skyworld, Pit helplessly watches as the Midair Stadium is consumed by the Subspace explosion. Just then, he is summoned by the goddess of Skyworld, the benevolent [[Palutena]], who grants him the task of combating the Subspace menace and liberating the world. Palutena bestows a [[Palutena's Arrow|magical bow]] upon Pit to use as his weapon; enthusiastic, Pit gracefully descends from Palutena's palace into the clouds below and begins his journey. Pit very quickly must begin to fight, for the Halberd passes through Skyworld and deposits a payload of Shadow Bugs. Then, Pit spots Mario's trophy, where it has landed since being blasted out of the Midair Stadium by Petey's attack, and revives him. The two team up to fight the Subspace Army and pursue the Halberd through the cloud-like terrain, but they aren't quite fast enough to reach the flying airship. However, a smaller attack ship called an [[Arwing]] is seen flying towards the Halberd.
 
Meanwhile, Kirby and Zelda/Peach have been flying about in search of the Halberd; they are soon surprised to find themselves right in front of it, but seize the opportunity of the moment to make a crash-landing on the battleship's roof. They have only started exploring the ship's roof when the Arwing catches up to the Halberd and engages it in combat; the Arwing is skilled at dodging heavy enemy fire, but only up until the Halberd employs its Combo Cannon, which scores a direct hit. The Arwing is sent spiraling out of control, and as it falls it nearly collides with Zelda/Peach and Kirby. The gust from the near-collision sends the duo falling off the Halberd, and they make a landing at a region of Skyworld named the [[Sea of Clouds]]. They briefly explore the Sea of Clouds, and climb down until they make it to solid ground. The two continue their search for the Halberd on foot as they cross through a field.
 
===Chapter Two===
In [[The Jungle|a region of jungle]] far away from Mario and Kirby's respective groups that is the domain of the gorilla Smasher [[Donkey Kong (SSBB)|Donkey Kong]], he and his monkey nephew, the Smasher [[Diddy Kong (SSBB)|Diddy Kong]], pursue the Koopa Troop as they try to take back their prized hoard of bananas. After much fighting, the two simians find their stolen bananas, but [[Bowser (SSBB)|Bowser]] himself appears and takes the opportunity to shoot his Dark Cannon at Diddy. Donkey Kong, in a split-second decision, [[Giant Punch]]es Diddy and takes the shot. Diddy briefly glimpses Donkey being turned into trophy form as he is sent flying across the jungle, and Bowser claims Donkey Kong's trophy as his prize.
 
Mario and Pit, meanwhile, have touched down on solid ground into [[The Plain|a large plain]], and continue their pursuit of the Subspace Army. Eventually, they come across the Ancient Minister himself, but though the two put up a valiant effort, the Ancient Minister still manages to escape.
 
Elsewhere in the jungle, Diddy swings his way away from where he was saved from Bowser by Donkey Kong, hoping to find help. He soon arrives at [[The Lake|a lake]], and discovers near the shoreline the smoking wreck of the Arwing that courageously but unsuccessfully engaged the Halberd earlier. Suddenly, out of the lake emerges an immense, serpentine beast, the legendary Pokémon [[Rayquaza]], who is obviously angry with Diddy and the Arwing for invading its territory. Rayquaza blasts the wrecked Arwing with an energy beam, grabs Diddy, and prepares to finish him off. In the nick of time, the pilot of the destroyed Arwing, [[Fox (SSBB)|Fox McCloud]], jumps out of the wreckage and saves Diddy, and the two Smashers team up to defeat Rayquaza together.
Fox is about to head off on his own when he is stopped by Diddy, who tries to convince Fox to help him search for Bowser and try to get back Donkey Kong, and Diddy soon has to resort to literally dragging Fox behind him by his suit's collar. From that point onward, Fox and Diddy travel together and battle Bowser's troops, and they soon encounter what would appear to be the Koopa King himself; strangely, Bowser emits a purple aura, glowing yellow eyes, and is physically larger, and he attacks, but nevertheless, Fox and Diddy defeat him in battle. Diddy and Fox celebrate their victory, but just then, the trophy of Bowser dissolves into shadow bugs, revealing that it was a clone of Bowser comprised of shadow bugs. The real Bowser appears and fires another Dark Cannon shot at them; through quick thinking and reflexes, Fox grabs Diddy and jumps off a nearby cliff, saving them both.
 
===Chapter Three===
Elsewhere in the World of Trophies, a young, timid boy named [[Lucas (SSBB)|Lucas]] wanders an area that is essentially [[The Ruined Zoo|a deserted, dilapidated zoo]]. He is suddenly confronted by Subspace Army forces headed by a colossal, animatronic stone statue called the [[Porky Statue]]. Lucas uses his psychic powers in an attempt to help himself run from the statue, but he trips and gets trapped. Before Lucas can meet his doom, another psychic child, [[Ness (SSBB)|Ness]], heroically appears and topples the statue with his [[PK Thunder]], then shatters it with his [[PK Flash]]. The statue reveals itself to be containing the arch-nemesis of both Ness and Lucas, [[Porky Minch]], a misanthropic child their age serving the Subspace Army as one of its major members. Operating from within his personal spider mech, Porky attacks, but Lucas and Ness team up to defeat Porky through an extended battle.
 
Lucas and Ness are then attacked again, this time by Wario, who fires his Dark Cannon at Ness repeatedly. After missing several times, Wario aims his weapon at Lucas, and Ness selflessly shoves Lucas out of the way to take the shot for himself. As a frightened Lucas runs away, Wario takes possession of Ness' trophy and lets out a laugh. Lucas soon runs into the taller and more confident [[Pokémon Trainer (SSBB)|Pokémon Trainer]], who is in the area seeking Pokémon to catch. Currently, the Pokémon Trainer owns a water turtle Pokémon named [[Squirtle (SSBB)|Squirtle]], and after battling their way through more Subspace forces, the two boys go their separate ways at first. But Lucas, remembering Ness, boldens up and joins the Pokémon Trainer, and the two boys travel together from that point forward.
 
Elsewhere in the world again, in the middle of a vast, desert-like battlefield, swordsman prince [[Marth (SSBB)|Marth]] is standing on the balcony of [[The Battlefield Fortress|his fortress]], watching some R.O.B.s detonate a Subspace Bomb far out in the distance. Marth races to investigate whatever destructive plot is transpiring, but his fortress is besieged by the Subspace Army, forcing him to fight his way through repeated swarms of enemies until he gets to the grounds outside of the fortress. When he reaches the zone of the detonated Subspace Bomb, Meta Knight suddenly flies in and attacks Marth, each momentarily assuming that the other is a member of the Subspace Army. The two duel briefly, but they soon find themselves surrounded by Subspace minions, showing each other very clearly and quickly that they aren't enemies. The two swordsmen team up to battle and clear out the wave of Subspace Army grunts, and shortly afterward, the they catch sight of the Ancient Minister carrying yet another Subspace Bomb. They desperately try to catch up to him, but are unable to; Out of nowhere, a third fellow swordsman named [[Ike (SSBB)|Ike]] makes an appearance and attacks with his [[Aether]] sword technique, severing the unset bomb from under the Minister and sending the surprised Minister whirling off into the sky. Ike joins the other two to form a swordsman trio, and they immediately resume their pursuit of the Ancient Minister.
 
By this point, King Dedede has learned that Bowser and Wario have joined the Subspace Army and are turning Smashers into a collection of trophies. With his Dedede Brooch gambit in mind, he decides to start his own trophy collection. On a remote road, he and his [[Waddle Dee]] underlings find, subdue, and trophify a lone Smasher, Mario's slightly cowardly brother [[Luigi (SSBB)|Luigi]]. Just as Dedede finishes this, he sees Wario passing by on his hovering [[Cargo]] with the trophies of Peach/Zelda and Ness in tow, and figures this is a perfect opportunity to collect more trophies for himself. Dedede places the Luigi trophy alone on the road to lure Wario, and when Wario tries to collect the apparent freebie he is ambushed and swarmed by Waddle Dees while Dedede takes away the Luigi trophy, steals Wario's Cargo, and drives away with it. Now Dedede has added Wario's previous trophy acquisitions of Ness and Peach/Zelda to his trophy collection, much to Wario's chagrin.
 
===Chapter Four===
In [[The Forest|a thick forest]] in the southwest region of the World of Trophies, young Hylian warrior and Smasher [[Link (SSBB)|Link]], a close acquaintance of Zelda in the same way as Mario and Peach are associated, comes across a podium while accompanied by a blue fairy he befriended as a child. Set within this podium is the great weapon he was destined to wield in his fight against darkness, the [[Master Sword]], and he draws it out and holds his sword once again. A short time later, Link watches the Halberd pass over the forest's airspace and deposit Subspace Army forces into his area. A sleeping denizen of the forest, the green dinosaur Smasher [[Yoshi (SSBB)|Yoshi]], wakes up to see this as well, and he and Link very quickly decide to team up to fight off Subspace Army goons and pursue the source of the threat, the Halberd.
 
In a cargo room inside the Halberd itself, the boxes are stacked in an orderly fashion, with the exception of a single, out-of-place [[cardboard box]] that is perched on a beam. The box mysteriously stirs.
 
On the Isle of Ancients, a young woman named [[Samus (SSBB)|Samus Aran]], an athletic and capable Smasher even in just her [[Zero Suit Samus (SSBB)|Zero Suit]], has infiltrated the floating island and is now sneaking her way into [[The Research Facility (Part I)|the research facility areas]], battling and defeating R.O.B. Squad minions along the way. She soon finds a room where an electric Pokémon Smasher named [[Pikachu (SSBB)|Pikachu]] is trapped and held captive in a generator that is cruelly extracting its electric qualities to power the area's machines and technology. Samus breaks Pikachu out of its holding cell with her [[Plasma Whip]], which sets off an alarm and causes many R.O.B. minions to enter the room and attack. The two Smashers team up and battle their way through the facility, and soon find a control room where Samus determines the location of what she has been apparently seeking out in the facility: Her personal [[Power Suit Samus|Power Suit]].
 
Kirby and Zelda/Peach by now have settled in [[The Lake Shore|the shore of another lake]] following their experience with the Halberd back in Skyworld. Kirby hears a threatening noise in the distance and chases after it, but Zelda/Peach remains behind. Almost immediately, Bowser makes a surprise appearance, and shoots Zelda/Peach with his Dark Cannon and turns her into trophy form. A Shadow Bug clone of Bowser that arrived with him dissolves, swarms over the trophy, then forms itself into a Shadow Bug clone of the princess while Bowser retreats with the original trophy in tow. By this point, Link/Mario and Yoshi/Pit have arrived at the lake shore and are running through the area in their continued pursuit of the Halberd. The clone of Zelda/Peach tries to shoot Link/Mario and Yoshi/Pit with a Dark Cannon, but the weapon is destroyed when Pit/Link, who has also arrived at the lake shore with Mario/Yoshi, slices it in half with his weapon. The Zelda/Peach clone then engages Mario/Link and Pit/Yoshi in combat and is defeated.
 
Link/Mario stops running, looks up, and sees Mario/Link and Pit/Yoshi standing by the trophy of the fake clone of Zelda/Peach, which disintegrates. To Link/Mario's eyes, this appears as though Zelda/Peach has been destroyed by the other two Smashers, so in a rage Link/Mario launches an attack against Mario/Link, and their respective companions join the 2-on-2 fray. Despite what can be characterized as their justified vengeance, however, Link/Mario and Yoshi/Pit are eventually defeated by Mario/Link and Pit/Yoshi and turned into trophies. Just then, King Dedede returns driving his Cargo (Mario/Link briefly glimpses the trophy of Peach/Zelda as part of the Cargo's cargo) to grab the trophies of Link/Mario and Yoshi/Pit with his vehicle's mechanical arm. But Kirby appears from the back of the vehicle (revealing that Dedede's Cargo was the noise he had heard earlier), cuts the arm in half to free the two trophies, and immediately revives them, to Dedede's shock and annoyance. The revived Link/Pit immediately returns thanks by shooting his bow-and-arrow at Dedede's Cargo in an attempt to slow it down, and the two pairs of Smashers seem to immediately forgive each other and join forces to form a five-man band (including Kirby) as they run after Dedede's Cargo as fast as they can, hoping to catch him and get the three trophies in Dedede's possession. They run all the way into and through the first part of a cave complex, and eventually the five heroes glimpse Dedede's castle far in the distance; they see the Halberd appearing to approach it. To reach the castle, they must go through a second cave complex.
 
In a control room somewhere, Ganondorf, who knows that Dedede and several Smashers' trophies are in the castle below the Halberd's position, transmits the castle's coordinates to Bowser, who acknowledges the order and proceeds to the castle with his Koopa Troop.
 
===Chapter Five===
At a remote mountain near the ruined zoo, Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer see a dragon-like Pokémon named [[Charizard]] fly into a cave, and Lucas tags along as the Pokémon Trainer follows Charizard down [[The Path to the Ruins|a path into an extensive series of ruins]] that stretch both underground and above ground. Their journey takes them across an active lava pit, and once they cross through back outside, they confront Wario by the entrance to another underground ruin's cave's entrance. Seeing Wario and remembering Ness, Lucas grows bolder and joins the Pokémon Trainer's Squirtle in fighting Wario for the last time.  After Wario is defeated and turned into trophy form, Lucas' spirit is uplifted by his victory. But upon remembering Ness, Lucas is distraught to see that the trophy of Ness that Wario originally took is nowhere in sight. Pokémon Trainer cheers him up by suggesting that Ness might be in the next set of cave ruins.
 
In his personal castle, King Dedede decorates his three trophies - Luigi, Ness and Peach/Zelda - with his Dedede Brooches. He realizes he only has enough Brooches for the three trophies, and though he is dejected that he will have to take off the one he intended for himself to put it on the princess' trophy, he does so, and intends to make another Brooch for himself later. However, at that very moment, Bowser and his troops begin their invasion of the castle. The cement ceiling collapses, and the large blocks of cement that fall to the floor knock Dedede out cold and bury the trophies of Luigi and Ness out of sight. Bowser drops through the ceiling and sees the trophy of Peach/Zelda - the other princess he has been wanting to capture since his capture of Zelda/Peach earlier - and grabs it and runs away from the castle.
 
By now, Mario, Link, Pit, Yoshi and Kirby clear [[The Cave|the second set of cave complexes leading to the castle]], and catch up to Bowser. Mario attempts to attack his personal nemesis with a punch, but Bowser forces Mario to miss by holding up Peach/Zelda's trophy as a shield. Pit fires an arrow that Bowser barely dodges, but which makes the Dedede Brooch fall off Peach/Zelda's trophy. Bowser jumps back and seems to fall backward off a cliff, but it is revealed that below the cliff is where he had parked his personal mode of transportation, the Koopa Clown Car. The Koopa King laughs as he flies off to the Halberd with the princess' trophy in his possession, and Mario and his group are left frustrated. While the other four look upon the Halberd, however, Kirby walks over to the dropped Dedede Brooch, and eats it because he thinks it is food. While all of this is happening, the Ancient Minister and his R.O.B. underlings deploy and set a Subspace Bomb outside of Dedede's castle, and as Ganondorf watches on the display screen in his control chamber, the detonation engulfs the castle (and the trophies of Dedede, Luigi, and Ness inside it are also sent to Subspace). Ganondorf then receives new orders from Master Hand on his display screen.


Back at [[The Ruins|the underground ruins]], the Pokémon Trainer and Lucas continue to explore and fight through Subspace Army minions in search of their respective goals - Lucas searches for Ness' trophy while Pokémon Trainer searches for wild Pokémon to capture and add to his fighting collection. Pokémon Trainer soon encounters and captures the plant-lizard Pokémon [[Ivysaur (SSBB)|Ivysaur]], and later he and Lucas team up to defeat and capture the [[Charizard (SSBB)|Charizard]] they saw earlier. The two boys eventually make it into [[The Ruined Hall|a great underground hall]], which for all intents and purposes is a dead-end for them.
==Stages==
[[File:Map-labeled.png|thumb|Every level numerically ordered:<br>1: Midair Stadium<br>2: Skyworld<br>3: Sea of Clouds<br>4: The Jungle<br>5: The Plain<br>6: The Lake<br>7: The Ruined Zoo<br>8: The Battlefield Fortress<br>9: The Forest<br>10: The Research Facility I<br>11: The Lake Shore<br>12: The Path to the Ruins<br>13: The Cave<br>14: The Ruins<br>15: The Wilds I<br>16: The Ruined Hall<br>17: The Wilds II<br>18: The Swamp<br>19: The Research Facility II<br>20: Outside the Ancient Ruins<br>21: The Glacial Peak<br>22: The Canyon<br>23: Battleship Halberd Interior<br>24: Battleship Halberd Exterior<br>25: Battleship Halberd Bridge<br>26: The Subspace Bomb Factory I<br>27: The Subspace Bomb Factory II<br>28: Entrance to Subspace<br>29: Subspace I<br>30: Subspace II<br>31: The Great Maze]]
The Subspace Emissary consists of thirty-one different stages. As some stages share the same name, the earlier stage is denoted with an I while the later-appearing stage is followed by a II.


Back at [[The Wilds (Part I)|the desert-like area]], Marth, Ike, and Meta Knight see a colossal, mechanical agent of the Subspace army named [[Galleom]] patrolling the desert, and they decide to pursue it through the desert until they catch up to it and engage it in battle. Though Galleom proves to be a fiercely powerful opponent, the swordsmen defeat it nonetheless, but the still-operational beast leaps down a nearby cliff face and lands onto the ground outside the cave ruins. The ground below Galleom collapses under its weight because there is a huge, empty hall right below its position, so it falls down into the ground and ends up at the bottom of the hall which happens to be right where Pokémon Trainer and Lucas are. Galleom immediately attacks the boys in its second battle in a row, but they defeat the robot like the swordsmen did before. Thoroughly weakened, Galleom sets a Subspace Bomb with a 15-second countdown timer hidden within its head as an emergency feature, and grabs the boys and flies upwards out of the hall, out of the ground and into the sky. The Pokémon Trainer has fainted, much to Lucas' despair, but Lucas demonstrates courage by using his own PK Thunder attack to blow apart Galleom's arm and sever themselves from the robot's body. They both enter free fall toward what seems like certain doom, until Meta Knight - who had been watching events unfold from nearby with the other two swordsmen - flies in and catches them both at the last second. Behind them, Galleom's Subspace Bomb detonates in midair next to the mountain containing the ruins, sucking up into Subspace the Wario trophy that was left behind at the mountain's cave entrance. Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer happily share a handshake while accompanied by the three swordsmen, and Marth, Ike, Meta Knight, Pokémon Trainer, and Lucas form a team.
{|class=wikitable
!width="5%"|Icon
!width="5%"|Stage
!width="20%"|Fighters available
!width="10%"|Unlocked fighters
!width="20%"|Lost fighters
!width="20%"|Recovered fighters
!width="5%"|Total fighters
!Width="5%"|Teams
|-
|[[File:SSE-Midair Stadium.png]]
|[[Midair Stadium]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}} (the battle with Kirby if he was chosen and the battle with the Subspace Army), {{SSBB|Kirby}} (all phases, except the battle with Mario if he was not chosen), {{SSBB|Peach}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}} (both only in the battle with the Subspace Army)
|{{SSBB|Kirby}} and {{SSBB|Peach}} or {{SSBB|Zelda}} (Mario is sent flying and Wario kidnaps either Zelda or Peach when the other princess is freed from Petey Pirahna)
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|2
|1, new team: {{SSBB|Kirby}} and {{SSBB|Peach}} or {{SSBB|Zelda}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-Skyworld.png]]
|{{b|Skyworld|SSE}}
|{{SSBB|Pit}} (all phases) and {{SSBB|Mario}} (the last side-scrolling section after Pit rescues him)
|{{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|4
|2, new team: {{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-Sea of Clouds.png]]
|[[Sea of Clouds]]
|{{SSBB|Kirby}} and {{SSBB|Peach}} or {{SSBB|Zelda}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|4
|2
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Jungle.png]]
|[[The Jungle]]
|{{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} and {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}
|{{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} (Bowser captures Donkey Kong)
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|5
|3, new team: {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Plain.png]]
|[[The Plain]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|5
|3
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Lake.png]]
|[[The Lake]]
|{{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} and {{SSBB|Fox}}
|{{SSBB|Fox}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|6
|3, {{SSBB|Fox}} joins {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Ruined Zoo.png]]
|[[The Ruined Zoo]]
|{{SSBB|Lucas}} (all phases), {{SSBB|Ness}} (only the battle with Porky) and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}} only) (only after defeating Porky)
|{{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}}) (Wario kidnaps Ness; Ness will not be unlocked in any mode)
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|8
|4, new team: {{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}})
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Battlefield Fortress.png]]
|[[The Battlefield Fortress]]
|{{SSBB|Marth}} (all phases), {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} (second and third phases) and {{SSBB|Ike}} (third phase only)
|{{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and {{SSBB|Ike}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|11
|5, new team: {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, and {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Forest.png]]
|[[The Forest]]
|{{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}}
|{{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}} and {{SSBB|Toon Link}} <ref name="pre1">Toon Link, Wolf and Jigglypuff appear after completing story mode and revisiting the stage to find a hidden door. Entering the door intiates a one stock match against the character. Win and the character joins the team.</ref>
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|13
|6, new team: {{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Research Facility pt1.png]]
|[[The Research Facility (Part I)|The Research Facility I]]
|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} (all phases) and {{SSBB|Pikachu}} (all phases starting with the second)
|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|15
|7, new team: {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Lake Shore.png]]
|[[The Lake Shore]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}} (entire level if Zelda was rescued, only the last section if Peach was rescued), {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}} (entire level if Peach was rescued, only the last section if Zelda was rescued) and {{SSBB|Kirby}} (only the last section)
|&mdash;
|{{SSBB|Peach}} or {{SSBB|Zelda}} (Bowser captures them)
|&mdash;
|14
|5, {{SSBB|Kirby}} joins {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}}.
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Path to the Ruins.png]]
|[[The Path to the Ruins]]
|{{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}} only)
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|5
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Cave.png]]
|[[The Cave]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}} and {{SSBB|Kirby}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|5
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Ruins.png]]
|[[The Ruins]]
|{{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} (with {{SSBB|Squirtle}} for all phases and {{SSBB|Ivysaur}} after Pokémon Trainer finds it)
|{{SSBB|Ivysaur}}, {{SSBB|Charizard}} and {{SSBB|Wolf}}<ref name="pre1"/>
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|5, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}} and {{SSBB|Charizard}} become part of {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}'s party
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Wilds pt1.png]]
|[[The Wilds (Part I)|The Wilds I]]
|{{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, and {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|5
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Ruined Hall.png]]
|[[The Ruined Hall]]
|{{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|4, {{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} join {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, and {{SSBB|Ike}}.
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Wilds pt2.png]]
|[[The Wilds (Part II)|The Wilds II]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}} and {{SSBB|Kirby}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|14
|4
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Swamp.png]]
|[[The Swamp]]
|{{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBB|Fox}} (all phases) and {{SSBB|Falco}} (all phases sans the first)
|{{SSBB|Falco}} and {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}<ref name="pre1"/>
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|15
|4, {{SSBB|Falco}} joins {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} and {{SSBB|Fox}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Research Facility pt2.png]]
|[[The Research Facility (Part II)|The Research Facility II]]
|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} (all phases, transforming from Samus by taunting whenever possible), {{SSBB|Pikachu}} (all phases) and {{SSBB|Samus}} (after defeating the False Samuses)
|{{SSBB|Samus}}
|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} (Samus replaces her; playing as Zero Suit Samus is still possible by taunting or pressing C on the nunchuck)
|&mdash;
|15
|4, {{SSBB|Samus}} replaces {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-Outside the Ancient Ruins.png]]
|[[Outside the Ancient Ruins]]
|{{SSBB|Olimar}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} (both all phases), {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, and {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} (both only in the battle with the Subspace Army)
|{{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSBB|Olimar}}
|{{SSBB|Fox}} and {{SSBB|Falco}} (they did not become trophies, but Diddy Kong leaves their group and they all go their separate ways)
|&mdash;
|16
|4, {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} leaves Fox and Falco and joins {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSBB|Olimar}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Glacial Peak.png]]
|[[The Glacial Peak]]
|{{SSBB|Ice Climbers}} (only the sidescrolling section), {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} (the side-scrolling section and the battle with Lucario if the player chose him) and {{SSBB|Lucario}} (only if the player chose it in the battle with Meta Knight)
|{{SSBB|Ice Climbers}} and {{SSBB|Lucario}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|18
|5, new team: {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and {{SSBB|Lucario}}. {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}} take Meta Knight's place in this level's featured group
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Canyon.png]]
|[[The Canyon]]
|{{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}}, {{SSBB|Kirby}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|18
|4, {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}}, {{SSBB|Kirby}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}} and {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}}, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}, {{SSBB|Charizard}}) intertwine
|-
|[[File:SSE-Battleship Halberd Interior.png]]
|[[Battleship Halberd Interior]]
|{{SSBB|Snake}} (all phases), {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and {{SSBB|Lucario}} (after the latter two meet Snake)
|{{SSBB|Snake}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|19
|4, {{SSBB|Snake}} joins {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and {{SSBB|Lucario}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-Battleship Halberd Exterior.png]]
|[[Battleship Halberd Exterior]]
|{{SSBB|Peach}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}}/{{SSBB|Sheik}}
|{{SSBB|Zelda}} or {{SSBB|Peach}}
|&mdash;
|{{SSBB|Fox}} and {{SSBB|Peach}} or {{SSBB|Zelda}}
|22
|5, new team: {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Peach}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-Battleship Halberd Bridge.png]]
|[[Battleship Halberd Bridge]]
|{{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}}, {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Falco}}, {{SSBB|Peach}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}}/{{SSBB|Sheik}}
|{{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}
|&mdash;
|{{SSBB|Falco}}
|24
|4,  {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Peach}}, {{SSBB|Zelda}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}} and {{SSBB|Snake}} intertwine, along with {{SSBB|Falco}} and {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Subspace Bomb Factory pt2.png]]
|[[The Subspace Bomb Factory (Part I)|The Subspace Bomb Factory I]]
|{{SSBB|Samus}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|24
|4
|-
|[[File:SSE-The Subspace Bomb Factory pt1.png]]
|[[The Subspace Bomb Factory (Part II)|The Subspace Bomb Factory II]]
|{{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSBB|Olimar}} (all phases); {{SSBB|Samus}}, {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} (by taunting as Samus), {{SSBB|Pikachu}} and {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} (second section onwards)
|{{SSBB|R.O.B.}}
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|25
|1, all three teams intertwine
|-
|[[File:SSE-Entrance to Subspace.png]]
|[[Entrance to Subspace]]
|{{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Falco}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, {{SSBB|Kirby}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBB|Olimar}}, {{SSBB|Peach}}, {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}, {{SSBB|R.O.B.}}, {{SSBB|Samus}}, {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}} and {{SSBB|Zelda}} (only four chosen characters can be played as)
|&mdash;
|All current fighters (Tabuu reduces them to their trophy forms)
|&mdash;
|0
|0, all current fighters are reduced to their trophy forms


===Chapter Six===
|-
The Ancient Minister, witnessing the detonation of Galleom's Subspace Bomb from [[The Wilds (Part II)|a different region of the same desert]], exhibits an increasing degree of sorrow over the sacrifices of his R.O.B. brethren that occur whenever they set and detonate such a bomb themselves. He has another Subspace Bomb in tow now, which he is to deploy elsewhere in the desert. After suddenly dodging an arrow shot by Pit, the other four members of his group arrive to resume their chase after the Minister, and the Minister flees while shooting lasers at them. Once again, despite the five-man group's efforts, the Ancient Minister's R.O.B. minions successfully set-up and activate the Subspace Bomb's 3-minute countdown timer, which cannot be stopped however hard the Smashers try. Just as the detonation ensues, one R.O.B. unit waves "good-bye" at the Minister, and all R.O.B. units in the immediate area are sucked into the Subspace explosion and meet their doom. All five of Mario's group barely escape the huge Subspace explosion by relying on their fastest members - Mario rides Yoshi, while Link, Pit, and Kirby hold onto the Warp Star.
|[[File:SSE-Subspace pt1.png]]
 
|[[Subspace (Part I)|Subspace I]]
Fox and Diddy Kong have been traveling east through the jungle since their last encounter with Bowser, which had ended when they both jumped off a cliff, and they have been battling Subspace Army goons and Bowser's Koopa Troop alike. Eventually, they leave the jungle, but Diddy is suddenly shot in the back by Bowser's Dark Cannon blast. A swarm of Shadow Bugs, under Bowser's command, then crawls over Diddy's trophy, then forms a Shadow Bug clone of Diddy. Fox appears to be out-manned and about to be turned into a trophy himself when his fellow Arwing pilot, the cocky [[Falco (SSBB)|Falco Lombardi]], flies in his own Arwing and jumps out to save the day. He kicks the Dark Cannon out of Bowser's hands and destroys it with his two blasters. Frustrated, Bowser flees in his Koopa Clown Car, but the clone of Diddy then absorbs many more Shadow Bugs to grow to three times its size. Fox quickly revives the original Diddy, and the three team up and battle and destroy the evil clone together.  
|{{SSBB|King Dedede}} (all phases), {{SSBB|Ness}} and {{SSBB|Luigi}} (only in the side-scrolling sections)
 
|{{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Bowser}} and {{SSBB|King Dedede}}
Falco is about to head off on his own when he is stopped by Diddy, who tries to convince Falco to help him try to get back Donkey Kong, and Diddy soon has to resort to literally dragging Falco behind him by his suit's collar, just like he had done to Fox. Falco, Fox, and Diddy travel together and battle their way through [[The Swamp|a swamp]]. When they reach a river that ends in a cliffside waterfall, they eventually see a [[Smash Skiff]] with DK's trophy on it fly off towards the Isle of Ancients, visible in the distant sky. Falco calls for support in the form of the [[Great Fox]], Fox and Falco’s co-owned command vessel, so that the three Smashers can fly in the direction of the transport.
|&mdash;
 
|{{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBB|Samus}}, {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Falco}}, {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Olimar}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}}, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}} and {{SSBB|Charizard}}) (only if rescued by the starting fighters; fighters not rescued can still be found when replaying the level)
Samus and Pikachu [[Research Facility (Part II)|continue their exploration]] through the Isle of the Ancients' research facility in search of Samus's Power Suit, battling their way through more R.O.B. units and Subspace Army grunts. Upon finally reaching the room with the suit, the pair are confronted by two Shadow Bug clones of the Suit, which they dispatch. Soon, Power Suit Samus is back in action, and together she and Pikachu continue their run through the base in search of whoever is leading the R.O.B. units so that they can shut down the base. When they reach a particular dead-end, however, Samus is suddenly assaulted by her arch-nemesis, the dragon-like [[Ridley]] and major Subspace Army member, who brutally attacks Samus until Pikachu saves her by attacking Ridley with its [[Thunder]] attack. While Samus is fazed from the experience, her power suit is still functional, and she and Pikachu team up against Ridly and successfully defeat him in battle. The two victorious Smashers proceed to exit out of a secret door into the exterior portion of the Isle of Ancients, whereupon they see some R.O.B. units carrying Subspace Bombs out of another part of the base that appears to be a factory for the bombs. Samus and Pikachu decide to reenter the base through that opening.
|From 4 to 19
 
|1, new team: {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Bowser}} and any of the fighters rescued in this level
In another region on the Isle's exterior portion, of the Isle, [[Outside the Ancient Ruins|outside a set of ancient ruins]], a little astronaut named [[Olimar (SSBB)|Captain Olimar]] is watching as many small, colored plantlike creatures he has command over, [[Pikmin (species)|the Pikmin]], attack an oversized R.O.B. unit, but they fail to deal any damage, and many of them are wiped out by the R.O.B.. Olimar is afraid until he looks behind him and sees an [[Blue Falcon|extremely fast racing machine]] piloted by superhero-like bounty hunter [[Captain Falcon (SSBB)|Captain Falcon]] zooming toward his position, and Captain Falcon leaps out of the machine and destroys the R.O.B. with a decisive [[Falcon Punch]]. Captain Falcon's show-off moment is spoiled when he accidentally wipes out all but one of Olimar's remaining Pikmin when he lands.
|-
 
|[[File:SSE-Subspace pt2.png]]
That mishap aside, the two captains decide to team up and fight their way through this area of the Isle, and they soon make it to the floating island’s edge. There, they watch as the [[Smash Skiff]] carrying Donkey Kong's trophy approaches the island, and Falco's Arwing flies in, which drops Diddy onto it, who in turn blasts the Subspace grunts occupying the transport and revives Donkey Kong. Seeing their opportunity to help out, Captain Falcon and Olimar jump down onto the skip to introduce themselves to the simians, and not a moment too soon, as more waves of the Subspace Army attack. The four of them join forces to defeat their enemies. The transport then autopilots itself into the interior of the Isle, giving the four Smashers the perfect opportunity to sneak in and strike at the core of the menace from within...
|[[Subspace (Part II)|Subspace II]]
 
|{{SSBB|Kirby}}
===Chapter Seven===
|{{SSBB|Ganondorf}} (if Kirby found Link and Zelda, who rescue him) and {{SSBB|Wario}} (If found)
Back in the desert, Meta Knight sees the Halberd engaging in a battle with the Great Fox near [[Glacial Peak|a snow-covered mountain]]. He leaves Marth, Ike, Lucas, and the Pokémon Trainer behind on the ground as he charges his way up the mountain in hopes of catching up to his airship. Along the way, he passes by a pair of mountain-climbing parka-clad children named the [[Ice Climbers (SSBB)|Ice Climbers]] currently hiking up the mountain, and they interpret Meta Knight’s hurried course up the mountain as a challenge. The Ice Climbers put in an effort to get up to the top of the mountain before him, and while both of them have more minions of the Subspace Army to fight through together along the way, they both make it to the summit. Despite working together, the Ice Climbers reach the summit shortly before Meta Knight and cheer for themselves.
|&mdash;
 
|{{SSBB|Kirby}} (guaranteed), {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}}, {{SSBB|Peach}}, {{SSBB|Zelda}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}}, {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} and {{SSBB|Snake}} (only if rescued by Kirby; fighters not found can be rescued upon replaying the level)
Meta Knight encounters a mystic Pokémon named [[Lucario (SSBB)|Lucario]] meditating at the top of the mountain peak, who awakens and challenges Meta Knight to a duel. Meta Knight/Lucario wins the duel, and after he revives Lucario/Meta Knight from his trophy-state, the two shake hands in respect. Just then, the Halberd, which has won its battle with the Great Fox and has it tied underneath itself, rams the Great Fox into the mountain, causing the Ice Climbers to fall to the bottom, but Meta Knight and Lucario manage to jump onto the ship and enter its interior. The Ice Climbers meet up with Marth, Ike, Lucas, and the Pokémon Trainer at the bottom of [[The Canyon|a mountain canyon]], and are threatened by another wave of Subspace Army soldiers, but luckily Mario's five-man group arrives and jumps down to help out the other group. After a long fight, the two teams are left standing victorious.
|From 5 to 31
 
|1, {{SSBB|Kirby}} and any of the fighters rescued in this level, including Ganondorf, if Link and Zelda are found, and Wario, if he is found.
[[Battleship Halberd Interior|Inside the Halberd]], out of a cardboard box disguise emerges a special forces agent and Smasher codenamed [[Snake (SSBB)|Solid Snake]], who had infiltrated the Halberd much earlier for the probable reason that he is trying to combat the menace of the Subspace Army in their own battleship in his own way. As the heavily damaged Great Fox is seen flying away from the Halberd, Snake sneaks through the airship, but quickly hides himself in his box when he hears Meta Knight and Lucario approaching his position. As the other two Smashers pass by, Lucario’s attunement to [[Aura]] allows him to sense Snake in the box, and Lucario blows Snake’s cover by lifting up the box. Snake and Meta Knight are just about to fight when Lucario stops them and conveys that the color of Snake's Aura indicates he is a good character (Lucario's Aura Sight shows Snake's Aura to be colored a dark blue, while the Primids of the Subspace Army show up as red). With another wave of Subspace Army units on the way to attack them, Snake joins Meta Knight and Lucario in fighting their way through the airship. The three make their way into a room that has Zelda and Peach's captive trophies in cages; almost immediately, Shadow Bugs swarm over the trophies and create Shadow Bug clones of both princesses. After the clones are defeated, the princesses are freed and revived, and Snake tells them to stay put in the room while he and the other two keep looking around.
|-
 
|[[File:SSE-The Great Maze pt1.png]]<br>[[File:SSE-The Great Maze pt2.png]]<br>[[File:SSE-The Great Maze pt3.png]]<br>[[File:SSE-The Great Maze pt4.png]]
After Snake, Meta Knight, and Lucario leave, Zelda transforms into her alternate guise, the ninja-like [[Sheik (SSBB)|Sheik]], and she and Peach make their own combat-filled journey through the [[Battleship Halberd Exterior|exterior of the Halberd]] in spite of Snake's order. They eventually make it to the front deck of the Halberd; at the same time they arrive at that area, Fox, now piloting another Arwing, engages the Halberd again, and destroys one of the airship’s turrets. The explosion from that occurs dangerously close to where Peach is walking, however; Sheik, thinking Fox was shooting at Peach, [[Vanish|teleports]] onto Fox's Arwing and spearhands straight through Fox's cockpit window, forcing Fox to eject out of the Arwing and land onto the Halberd's front deck with Sheik. The two are about to engage in a violent fight when they are stopped by Peach, who offers each of them a cup of tea. Fox is stunned, but realizes that Sheik and Peach aren't his enemies.
|[[The Great Maze]]
 
|{{SSBB|Bowser}}, {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, {{SSBB|Kirby}}, {{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Ness}} (guaranteed), {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Falco}}, {{SSBB|Fox}}, {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBB|Olimar}}, {{SSBB|Peach}}, {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} ({{SSBB|Squirtle}}, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}, {{SSBB|Charizard}}), {{SSBB|R.O.B.}}, {{SSBB|Samus}}, {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Wario}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi}}, {{SSBB|Zelda}} (only if they were rescued in the previous two levels) and {{SSBB|Sonic}} (only in the battle with Tabuu)
In the meantime, Snake, Meta Knight, and Lucario have made it to the Halberd’s main control room, where they discover what appears to be several [[Mr. Game & Watch (SSBB)|Mr. Game & Watch]] copies infesting the place. They send the clones flying through the windows of the control room onto [[Battleship Halberd Bridge|the main deck]] where Fox and the princesses are, and the clones melt into Shadow Bugs, which merge into a gigantic, immensely powerful mechanical monster named [[Duon]]. As Meta Knight stays behind in the control room to regain control of his ship, Snake and Lucario jump out to join Peach, Sheik, and Fox, and Falco jumps out of his Arwing to join the fight as well. The six heroes engage in an intense fight with the monster and eventually defeat it, and the monster melts into Shadow Bugs, leaving behind the trophy of Mr. Game & Watch. Peach revives Mr. Game & Watch and scolds him for the trouble he caused. Mr. Game & Watch feels ashamed for this, so Peach lets him join their group, as Meta Knight retakes his Halberd.
|{{SSBB|Sonic}}
 
|&mdash;
===Chapter Eight===
|&mdash;
Back at the Isle of Ancients, Samus and Pikachu’s infiltration of the [[Subspace Bomb Factory (Part I)|Subspace Bomb Factory]] plays out at the same time as Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, and Captain Olimar’s own infiltration of the [[Subspace Bomb Factory (Part II)|Isle’s same factory complex]]. Thus, the two groups of Smashers cross paths with each other in the final room of the Isle of Ancients - and all six of them are faced with none other than the Ancient Minister himself, the full remnants of the [[R.O.B. Squad]], and hundreds of Subspace Bombs. The Ancient Minister hangs his head as if he is sad, though, and appears entirely unwilling to perform any more detonations, but then a holo-projection of Ganondorf appears and gives the R.O.B. Squad the command to set every bomb in the facility simultaneously. The Minister defiantly stands in the way of his brethren to stop them, but Ganondorf manually controls the enslaved R.O.B.s and have them shoot their former "master", setting his cloak aflame. Then as the R.O.B.s set each bomb, the other Smashers desperately try to stop them and their bombs, but to no avail. As Ganondorf's projected image disappears, he summons the first wave of Subspace Army minions to distract the heroes.
|From 6 to 32
 
|1, {{SSBB|Sonic}} joins
The burning Ancient Minister shoots down some of the enemy forces with his eye lasers, then sheds off his cloak to reveal his true appearance and identity as the master robot named [[R.O.B. (SSBB)|R.O.B.]], leader of his kind and a Smasher himself. Though he officially joins forces with the other six Smashers in clearing out the entirety of the Subspace minion horde, it becomes all too clear that the detonation of the Subspace Bombs is inevitable. Captain Falcon remotely arranges for his personal flying ship, the [[Falcon Flyer]], to fly into the doomed Isle of Ancients so that everyone may escape from the island in time. Donkey Kong carries R.O.B. with the others as the robot bids a final, sad farewell to the other R.O.B.s. All seven Smashers pile into the ship and fly off toward the isle's exit at full-speed. However, Ridley reappears, now having been reconstructed as a cybernetic version of himself named [[Meta Ridley]], and pursues the Falcon Flyer as it tries to make its escape. The Smashers climb onto the Falcon Flyer's roof and engage Meta Ridley in a high-velocity midair clash in which Meta Ridley makes every attempt to destroy the speeding vessel. They soon manage to defeat Meta Ridley in time to pilot the Falcon Flyer out of the Isle of Ancients. The floating island is soon completely engulfed in a titanic Subspace explosion generated by an enormous group of Subspace bombs set off simultaneously and close together.
|}
 
====Notes====
In the desert, Mario, Link, Pit, Yoshi, Kirby, Marth, Ike, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer, and the Ice Climbers witness the Isle's Subspace explosion from far off-shore. The Falcon Flyer containing R.O.B., Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Samus, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, and Captain Olimar flies in and lands near Mario's group of Smashers, and at the same time the Halberd, containing Meta Knight, Peach, Zelda, Fox, Falco, Lucario, Mr. Game & Watch, and Snake, arrives and lands near the others. The two-dozen-plus Smashers fully acquaint themselves with each other and presumably discuss matters at hand.
<references/>
 
When only one character is available in Co-op mode, P2 will control an alternate costume of that character. This happens in nine stages: Kirby (in the Midair Stadium vs Petey Piranha and the entirely of Subspace II),  Pit (in The Skyworld, before having Mario join), Lucas (in The Ruined Zoo when he runs from the statue), Marth (in The Battlefield Fortress, before joining Meta Knight and Ike), Zero Suit Samus (in The Research Facility before she joined Pikachu), Meta Knight/Lucario (in The Glacial Peak, only in the battle against the character P1 didn't choose), Snake (in the Battleship Halberd Interior, before he joined Meta Knight and Lucario) and King Dedede (in the Subspace I, only in the battle against Bowser). A ninth battle is at the beginning of the game, where Mario and Kirby duel. This also applies to Diddy Kong when replaying any stage after completing the Jungle before completing the Lake.
===Chapter Nine===
<gallery>
The huge Subspace rift left behind by the combined detonation at the Isle of Ancients is large enough to allow the Subspace Army's ultimate weapon through from the other side: the completed Subspace Gunship emerges halfway out of Subspace into the World of Trophies. Indeed, the original purpose of the detonation of so many Subspace Bombs was to open a rift between realms physically large enough to allow the Subspace Gunship through, while discarding the Subspace Bomb Factory at the Isle of Ancients in the process, as there would have been no further use for the factory once the Gunship enters the world. With Ganondorf and Bowser operating the gunship from its top canopy, the Gunship's incredibly large main cannon points toward an area of the ocean off to the side and produces a test-shot, generating a huge Subspace explosion.
Subspace Emissary Plotmap.svg|A map of the stages and which characters are available in each one, not counting Wolf, Toon Link, and Jigglypuff.
 
</gallery>
Then, Ganondorf and Bowser see the Halberd racing toward the Gunship at full throttle. By Ganondorf's command, the hundreds of enormous turrets lining the Gunship open fire on the Halberd all at once; the Halberd, though able to dodge several of the massive laser shots at first, is completely destroyed by the onslaught. Very quickly, however, the lesser aircraft containing all of the Smashers - the Falcon Flyer, Samus' personal gunship, Fox or Falco's Arwing, and Captain Olimar's Hocotate rocket - emerge from the dust cloud and speed toward the portal to Subspace that the Subspace Gunship is currently connected do, skillfully dodging every round of turret fire sent their way. Then Kirby, individually piloting his "personal" ultimate vessel, the [[Dragoon]], flies straight into the Gunship and pierces it, causing the Gunship to begin exploding and disintegrating from the inside. Ganondorf and Bowser must retreat to Subspace, while the Smashers' other five ships manage to enter the portal to Subspace even as the Gunship explodes around them. Now [[Entrance to Subspace|inside the realm of Subspace]], the combined force of Smashers - Mario, Peach, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Yoshi, Link, Zelda, Samus, Pit, Ice Climbers, R.O.B., Kirby, Meta Knight, Captain Olimar, Fox, Falco, Captain Falcon, Pikachu, Pokémon Trainer, Lucario, Marth, Ike, Lucas, Mr. Game & Watch, and Snake - begin their exploration of the realm of darkness in search of whoever or whatever is responsible for the Subspace invasion and to put an end to this chaos.
 
Ganondorf and Bowser are on their way to report to Master Hand, but Ganondorf decides that now is the time to go through with his intended plan to usurp Master Hand's position, so he turns his Dark Cannon on Bowser and shoots him from behind. As Bowser's trophy is left behind, Ganondorf faces Master Hand in person... but immediately sees the chains of light binding Master Hand, and looks upon the puppetmaster [[Tabuu]] for the first time - the true orchestrator of the plot to send Master Hand's World of Trophies into Subspace, Tabuu's own realm. Shocked and angered that he has been used by Tabuu the whole time, Ganondorf leaps forward to attack Tabuu, but the incredibly powerful entity turns Ganondorf into trophy form without much effort. The force of the impact of Ganondorf's trophy against Master Hand physically snaps the chains of light off from him, and he falls to the ground free from Tabuu's mind-control. Master Hand regains his composure and immediately and angrily tries to attack Tabuu with all the force he can muster, but due to Tabuu's mighty power, he too is defeated very easily. The force of Smashers finally arrive in time to witness the fallen Master Hand and look upon the master of Subspace. But before they have an opportunity to attack, Tabuu seizes this incredibly convenient opportunity, stretches his wings, and releases his full-powered Off Waves. Every single Smasher is instantly trophified without further incident.
 
As the Smasher trophies lay scattered and lost within the Subspace realm, Tabuu takes the portions of the World of Trophies that prior Subspace Bomb detonations had sent to his realm, and rearranges them to construct [[The Great Maze|a nightmarish and extensive maze]], filled with shadowy versions of Smashers and reincarnations of major Subspace Army members and other monsters (including Ridley, Duon, and even Rayquaza), all of which were created based on detailed analysis carried out by the Subspace Army. The creation and future expansion of this twisted project was apparently Tabuu's ultimate motive in wanting to assimilate the World of Trophies into Subspace, and now with quite literally every Smasher from the World of Trophies turned into trophy form and removed as a threat to his operation, there appears to be nothing else that could possibly stop Tabuu from taking the rest of the World of Trophies for himself.
 
===Chapter Ten===
In the portion of the Subspace Realm currently containing the World of Trophies area containing Dedede's castle, and thus the inanimate trophies of King Dedede, Luigi, and Ness within, the timers within the Dedede Brooches attached to Luigi and Ness reach zero, and suddenly revive the two Smashers. In a moment, they make sense of the circumstances and understand it was King Dedede who caused them to revive, so they revive King Dedede from trophy-form in return. Dedede is ecstatic that his gambit has paid off and is deeply thankful to Ness and Luigi for reviving him, and the three immediately resolve to team up and search [[Subspace (Part I)|the rest of Subspace]] for the trophies of the other fighters. After having collected a large portion of the trophies, they reach the area near the entrance to Tabuu's Great Maze where Master Hand lies motionless. King Dedede finds and revives the trophy of Bowser, but Bowser immediately roars and engages Dedede in battle. Dedede defeats Bowser and turns him back into a trophy, then revives Bowser again - and when the ever-so-pompous Bowser roars and tries to confront Dedede again, Dedede smacks Bowser in the face and points him toward the rest of the scene. Bowser takes in the current state of affairs, expresses regret, and begrudgingly allows himself to join Dedede's group.
 
Elsewhere in Subspace, Kirby is suddenly and spontaneously revived out of trophy state. He spits out what caused him to revive - the Dedede Badge he had inhaled a long while back. Kirby proceeds to set out on [[Subspace (Part II)|his own exploration of Subspace]], battling Subspace Army minions and finding and restoring Smasher Trophies along the way. By the time he makes it to the same area that Dedede is in, both Kirby and Dedede have had the potential to collect and restore every Smasher trophy independently. Kirby finds Ganondorf's trophy, but before he can do anything, Bowser physically vents out his anger at Ganondorf's trophy in retaliation for Ganondorf shooting him with a Dark Cannon earlier, then goes into the Great Maze. When Kirby and King Dedede see each other, Dedede happily glomps Kirby and enthusiastically drags Kirby along for the final confrontation in Tabuu's Great Maze.
 
If Wario's trophy, which had been sucked into Subspace after his last encounter with Lucas at the Ruins in the normal world, was one of the trophies that Kirby revived during his run, Wario will briefly confront Dedede over what Dedede had done to him long ago (when Dedede stole Wario's Cargo and trophy collection), but is taken aback to see that Ness and Luigi - two of the trophies he would have had in his possession had Dedede not stolen them - are in support of Dedede. All three of them point Wario to Tabuu's Great Maze nearby to tell him that they are about to engage Tabuu in a battle to save the World of Trophies; Wario, after a moment of self-reflection, hops on his [[Wario Bike|motorbike]] and rides straight into the maze to assist all the other Smashers.
 
In a similar scenario, if Link and Zelda's trophies had been revived during Dedede and Kirby's runs, the two come over to Ganondorf's trophy and agree to revive him; in the past, prior to the Subspace invasion, Link and Zelda had personal conflicts of their own with Ganondorf, but they propose to the newly revived Ganondorf to work with everyone else in the upcoming battle against Tabuu. As the two leave, Ganondorf clenches his fist in frustration over how he was tricked by Tabuu and now must join forces with his two greatest rivals; he does understand that Tabuu is the bigger foe, and puts his personal grudges aside. Thus, the formerly villainous Smashers Bowser, Ganondorf, and Wario join King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, and the other two-dozen-plus Smashers in their greatest challenge yet.
 
The Smashers enter and explore Tabuu's Great Maze, reliving the many challenges they faced throughout the Subspace invasion of the World of Trophies, while battling the dark versions of the Smashers and the reincarnated major members of the Subspace Army that were all set up to guard the labyrinth. After a lengthy and combat-filled exploration, the thirty-plus heroes finally reach Tabuu. Tabuu immediately spreads his wings and readies a second helping of his Off Waves assault, but all of a sudden, out of nowhere a new hero arrives: an extremely speedy hedgehog named [[Sonic (SSBB)|Sonic]] propels himself straight through Tabuu's wings and shatters them, crippling his trophification ability. The weakened Tabuu proceeds to engage the Smashers in direct combat, and Sonic joins the other heroes in their battle against Tabuu, the most powerful opponent they all have faced. At the end of one final struggle, Tabuu is finally defeated; Tabuu explodes, which sends all of the segments of his Great Maze back to their former locations in the World of Trophies, restoring them all back to normal, and all of the Smashers manage to escape back to their world.
 
And so, Subspace has finally disappeared, the World of Trophies has been saved, and the thirty-plus heroic Smashers stand triumphant on a cliff and share a brilliant sunset. This victory has not been without a heavy price, though: the sheer number of Subspace Bombs involved in the explosion that consumed the Isle of Ancients has prevented that area of space from ever returning to normal despite Subspace having been completely removed, so the Isle is gone forever, and an X-shaped mark of light remains in its place. As of now, R.O.B. will remain the last of his kind.
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;" width="100%">'''The End'''</div>


==Bosses==
==Bosses==
These battles are fought with the bosses having a specific amount of health; once their health runs out, they are defeated.
These battles are fought with the bosses having a specific amount of health; once their health runs out, they are defeated.
* [[Petey Piranha]] (fought by Kirby)
{|class="wikitable"
* [[Rayquaza]] (fought by Fox and Diddy Kong)
!width="10%"|Boss
* [[Porky Minch|Porky]] (fought by Ness and Lucas)
!width="20%"|Stage
* [[Galleom]], Part 1 (fought by Marth, Ike, and Meta Knight)
!width="70%"|Fighters
* [[Galleom]], Part 2 (fought by Lucas and Pokémon Trainer)
|-
* [[Ridley]] (fought by Samus and Pikachu)
|align="center"|[[File:PeteyRage.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Petey Piranha]]
* [[Duon]] (fought by Fox, Falco, Lucario, Snake, Peach, and Sheik in a party of 4)
|Midair Stadium
* [[Meta Ridley]] (fought by Samus/Zero Suit Samus, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, Olimar, and R.O.B. in a party of 4)
|Kirby
* [[Tabuu]] (fought by King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, Bowser, Kirby, Sonic and any rescued characters in a party of 6)
|-
|align="center"|[[File:RayquazaRoar.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Rayquaza]]
|The Lake
|Fox and Diddy Kong
|-
|align="center"|[[File:PorkyBot.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Porky Minch]]
|The Ruined Zoo
|Ness and Lucas
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Galleomdesert.jpg|100px]]<br>[[File:Galleom tank.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Galleom]]
|The Wilds I and The Ruined Hall
|Marth, Ike and Meta Knight (The Wilds I)<br>Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (The Ruined Hall)
|-
|align="center"|[[File:RidleyWings.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Ridley]]
|The Research Facility II
|Samus and Pikachu
|-
|align="center"|[[File:HalberdBridge.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Duon]]
|Battleship Halberd Bridge
|Fox, Falco, Lucario, Snake, Peach and Zelda/Sheik in a party of four
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MetaRidleyFalconFlyerSwoop.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Meta Ridley]]
|The Subspace Bomb Factory II
|Samus, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, Olimar and R.O.B. in a party of four
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Tabuu Fight.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Tabuu]]
|The Great Maze
|King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, Bowser, Kirby, Sonic and any fighters rescued in the previous two levels (besides Toon Link, Wolf and Jigglypuff) in a party of six
|}
 
All the bosses return in [[The Great Maze]].


===Mini-Bosses===
===Mini-Bosses===
Due to these battles being against smashers or slightly modified versions of same, they are fought like regular brawls.
Due to these battles being against smashers or slightly modified versions of them, they are fought like regular brawls. Note that the player characters listed are only mandatory for the first playthrough and that other characters may be used if the level is replayed.
* [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]]/[[Mario (SSBB)|Mario]]-(fought by Mario/Kirby)
{|class="wikitable"
* [[False character#False Bowser|False Bowser]]-(fought by Diddy Kong and Fox)
!width="10%"|Opponent
* [[False character#False Peach|False Peach]]/[[False character#False Zelda|False Zelda]]-(fought by Link/Yoshi and Mario/Pit)
!width="20%"|Stage
* Mario/[[Link (SSBB)|Link]] and [[Pit (SSBB)|Pit]]/[[Yoshi (SSBB)|Yoshi]]-(fought by Link/Yoshi and Mario/Pit (1 is CPU controlled unless Co-op Mode))
!width="70%"|Fighters
* [[Wario (SSBB)|Wario]]-(fought by Lucas and Squirtle)
|-
* [[Charizard (SSBB)|Charizard]]-(fought by Ivysaur, Lucas, and Squirtle)
|align="center"|[[File:MarioVsKirby.png|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Kirby}} or {{SSBB|Mario}}
* Giant [[False character#False Diddy Kong|False Diddy Kong]]-(fought by Falco, Diddy Kong, and Fox)
|Midair Stadium
* 2 [[False character#False Samus|False Samus]]es-(fought by Zero Suit Samus and Pikachu)
|Mario or Kirby, player fights the one they did not choose
* [[Lucario (SSBB)|Lucario]]/[[Meta Knight (SSBB)|Meta Knight]]-(fought by Meta Knight/Lucario)
|-
* False Peach and False Zelda-(fought by Meta Knight, Lucario, and Snake)
|align="center"|[[File:Lakeshore Subspace Emissary.png|100px]]<br>[[False character#False Bowser|False Bowser]]
* [[Bowser (SSBB)|Bowser]]-(fought by King Dedede)
|The Lake
* All Bosses and [[False character#Beings made of Subspace|Clones]] of all characters but Sonic and below characters (fought by any characters rescued in Subspace in a party of 4)
|Diddy Kong and Fox
* [[Toon Link (SSBB)|Toon Link]]-(fought by 1 character that entered the Forest) (optional)
|-
* [[Wolf (SSBB)|Wolf]]-(fought by 1 character that entered the Ruins) (optional)
|align="center"|[[File:False Peach Brawl.png|100px]]<br>[[File:False Zelda Brawl.png|100px]]<br>[[False character#False princesses|False]] Peach or Zelda
* [[Jigglypuff (SSBB)|Jigglypuff]]-(fought by 1 character that entered the Swamp) (optional)
|The Lake Shore
 
|Link and Yoshi (if Peach was rescued) or Mario and Pit (if Zelda was rescued)
'''Note:''' When only one character is available to fight a boss or mini-boss in Co-op mode, the second player plays as a [[color change]] of that character.
|-
|align="center"|{{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}} or {{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}}
|The Lake Shore
|Link and Yoshi (if Peach was rescued; after false Peach's battle) or Mario and Pit (if Zelda was rescued; after false Zelda's battle). Ally is CPU controlled unless playing in Co-op Mode.
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Subspace wario.PNG|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Wario}}
|The Path to the Ruins
|Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle only)
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Charizard Subspace Emissary.png|100px]] {{SSBB|Charizard}}
|The Ruins
|Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle and Ivysaur only, Charizard is obtained after the battle)
|-
|align="center"|[[File:FalseDiddy.png|100px]]<br>[[False character#False Diddy Kong|False Diddy Kong]]
|The Swamp
|Diddy Kong, Fox, and Falco
|-
|align="center"|[[File:FalseSamus.png|100px]]<br>Pair of [[False character#False Samus|False Samus]]es
|The Research Facility II
|Zero Suit Samus and Pikachu
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Lucario Meta Knight Standoff Subspace Emissary.png|100px]] {{SSBB|Lucario}} or {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}
|The Glacial Peak
|Meta Knight or Lucario, player fights the one they did not choose
|-
|align="center"|False Peach and Zelda
|Battleship Halberd Interior
|Meta Knight, Lucario and Snake
|-
|align="center"|[[File:SubspaceIntro-Bowser.png|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Bowser}}
|Subspace I
|King Dedede
|-
|align="center"|[[File:FalseDKfight.jpg|100px]]<br>[[False character#Beings made of Subspace|Newly-replicated versions]] of every fighter except Sonic, Jigglypuff, Toon Link and Wolf
|The Great Maze
|King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, Bowser, Kirby and any characters rescued in the previous two levels in a party of four
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Toon Link Subspace Brawl.png|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Toon Link}}
|Secret door in The Forest that teleports to the [[Pirate Ship]]  
|rowspan="3"|Any character; optional post-game battle
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Wolf Subspace.png|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Wolf}}
|Secret door in The Ruins that teleports to the [[Lylat Cruise]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Jigglypuff Subspace Emissary Brawl.png|100px]]<br>{{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}
|Secret door in The Swamp that teleports to the [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]
|}
'''Note:''' When only one character is available to fight a boss or mini-boss in Co-op mode, the second player plays as a [[color change]] of that character. This is the only way to play as a character’s alternate costume outside of replaying a stage where a character is battled, selecting this character as any stock aside from the first and not losing enough stocks to spawn as the character before the player activates the battle, in which afterwards the player should lose enough stocks so that they spawn as this character. This only happens in four battles: Mario/Kirby vs the character not chosen by P1, Kirby against Petey Piranha, Meta Knight/Lucario against the character not chosen by P1, and King Dedede against Bowser.


===Other special enemy battle===
===Other special enemy battle===
*[[Porky Statue]] (The Ruined Zoo)
*[[Porky Statue]] (The Ruined Zoo): it chases Lucas but it does not fight with him.
 
==Dialogue==
 
The vast majority of character interaction in the Subspace Emissary takes place through gestures and expressions, augmented by short grunts or exclamations. The only spoken words besides a quick "Hey!" or "Yeah!" are those that are a distinctive part of a character's attacks, like [[PK Thunder]] or [[Falcon Punch]], or [[taunt]]-like sounds that have been put in key places. The only character who speaks in more than one cut scene is Pikachu. In Jigglypuff's only scene the crowd chants, making them the only non-playable characters to say a line.
 
Only one character in all of the Subspace Emissary ever speaks in a full sentence; in 'Battleship Halberd Interior', [[Solid Snake]], after revealing himself to the player, directly says to the player, "Kept you waiting, huh?"


==Similarities to Kirby Super Star and other Kirby games==
===Battles with Subspace Armies===
Because the Kirby and Smash Bros. games were both developed by [[Masahiro Sakurai]], ''The Subspace Emissary'' contains gameplay elements similar to the sub-games of ''Kirby Super Star'' and other elements from Kirby games. One should keep in mind that the Kirby series and Smash Bros. franchise are two different things.
Some segments in levels, or all a level, has a battle with some enemies from Subspace. Unlike ambushes during sidescrolling segments, red dots on screen are used to indicate how many enemies are left to defeat.
{|class="wikitable"
!width="10%"|Order
!width="10%"|Enemies to defeat
!width="20%"|Stage
!width="60%"|Fighters
|-
|align="center"|First
|30
|Midair Stadium
|Mario, Peach, Zelda and Kirby (after the battle between Mario and Kirby and before Petey Piranha appears)
|-
|align="center"|Second
|30
|The Battlefield Fortress
|Marth and Meta Knight (Ike joins later)
|-
|align="center"|Third
|40
|Outside the Ancient Ruins
|Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon and Olimar
|-
|align="center"|Fourth
|50
|The Canyon
|Mario, Pit, Kirby, Link and Yoshi in a party of four
|-
|align="center"|Fifth
|50
|The Subspace Bomb Factory II
|Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, Olimar, Samus, Pikachu and R.O.B. in a party of four
|}


==Similarities to the ''Kirby'' series==
''The Subspace Emissary'' contains gameplay elements similar to the sub-games of ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' and other elements from ''Kirby'' games. This is likely intentional, given [[Masahiro Sakurai]]'s work on both games.
*The Halberd plays a very strong role in both games, and in both, it's destroyed and crashes in the ocean.
*The Halberd plays a very strong role in both games, and in both, it's destroyed and crashes in the ocean.
*Being chased down by the Pig King Statue is similar to being chased down by the Heavy Lobster (including the enemy, activating switches, the foe destroying anything in its path and a small delay from the foe).
*The beginning of [[The Ruined Zoo]] (more specifically the boss battle against the [[Pig King Statue]] and [[Porky Minch]]) is similar to the Heavy Lobster battle in ''Revenge of Meta Knight'': The player is chased by the boss, who remains invincible for this duration and plows through anything in its path. Following the chase, the boss becomes vulnerable and attacks the player head-on.
*Both feature [[Minecart|cart rides]] and [[Slide Launcher|special devices]] that propel characters forwards. The latter's design and function comes directly from KSS. Additionally the slide launchers puts characters in a shield position, just like KSS.
*Both feature {{b|minecart|vehicle}}s and [[Slide Launcher|special devices]] that propel characters forwards. The latter's design and function comes directly from ''Kirby Super Star''. Additionally, the slide launchers puts characters in a shield position, just like in ''Kirby Super Star''. There are also bomb blocks which function identically to those from the ''Kirby'' series.
*The [[Space Jump]] is just like how P2 from Super Star comes back to P1.
*The [[Space Jump]] is just like how P2 from ''Kirby Super Star'' comes back to P1.
*The final boss ([[Tabuu]]) teleports around the stage repeatedly (a common feature in most final bosses in Kirby games, such as Marx and Nightmare).
*The final boss ([[Tabuu]]) teleports around the stage repeatedly (a common feature in most final bosses in ''Kirby'' games, such as [[Marx]] and [[Nightmare]]).
*Bosses from the Kirby games, such as Dyna Blade and Marx, have similar moves to bosses in ''Brawl'', such as Ridley and Tabuu.
*Bosses from the ''Kirby'' games, such as {{iw|wikirby|Dyna Blade}} and Marx, have similar moves to bosses in ''Brawl'', such as Ridley and Tabuu.
*The Subspace Emissary has a map that allows the player to re-enter a stage anytime they want, this was also in Milky Way Wishes.
*Golden boxes are inspired from the treasure chests from Great Cave Offensive; in both games, when the player takes the prizes, it will not appear again.  
*Bosses do not flinch.
*Bosses do not flinch.
*Enemies cannot survive underwater; they will be KO'd immediately upon touching it.
*Enemies cannot survive underwater; they will be KO'd immediately upon touching it.
*[[Jyk]]s are similar to Kirby's [[Gordo]]s, they sit and some move in a repeated pattern, invincible and have spikes.
*[[Roader]]s are similar to ''Kirby'''s {{iw|wikirby|Wheelie}}s.
*The planet Floria in Milky Way Wishes has a similar concept to the [[Door#day-changing doors|day-changing doors]], except that it has four rooms and they are based on seasons instead of day and night.
*The [[Bucculus]] attacks in a similar way to {{iw|wikirby|Leap}}.
*King Dedede first appears to be evil but later turns out to have good intentions in most Kirby games.
*The planet Floria in Milky Way Wishes has a similar concept to the [[Door#Day-changing doors|day-changing doors]], except that it has four rooms and they are based on seasons instead of day and night.
*All the Kirby characters play a significant role in the game.
 
**Kirby:
==Differences from other game modes==
***Saves a Princess
===Gameplay===
***Saves Mario/Link and Pit/Yoshi from King Dedede
Despite characters using the same moves and using much of the same engine as in the other modes of ''Brawl'', the gameplay of the Subspace Emissary differs from that of ordinary [[Versus mode|brawls]]:
***Destroys the Subspace Gunship
*The walking speed, running speed, and [[air speed]] of most characters has been normalized; slower characters move faster, while faster characters move slower. This is quite noticeable with Captain Falcon and Sonic's dashing.
***Frees a good fraction of the Smashers turned into trophies by Tabuu
*Player 2 will receive a significant walking speed, running speed and jump height increase as their distance from player 1 increases. This is presumably to prevent them from falling behind too much, but happens regardless of whether they run ahead or fall behind.
**Meta Knight:
*All characters jump 2 frames faster, jump 18% higher, have slightly higher gravity, and have a 19% faster falling speed. As a result, vertical movement is in general faster, while some characters' recoveries (such as Jigglypuff and Pit) are indirectly [[nerf]]ed by the heavier physics.
***Saves Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer from falling to their doom
**Peach's double jump has 40% more force; no other character has a change of more than 10%.
***Retakes the Halberd
**Snake's double jump has 12% less force.
**King Dedede:
**Some special moves that grant temporary hovering, such as Diddy's [[Rocketbarrel Boost]], can't keep up with the increased gravity and so are also indirectly nerfed.
***His Dedede brooches
*During side-scrolling stages, the player cannot get [[Star KO]]'d - the player crashes into the top of the screen, leaving behind the colorful explosion. Players are only Star KO'd or Screen KO'd in ambushes, boss battles, and fights against Subspace clones.
***Also frees a good fraction of the Smashers turned into trophies by Tabuu
*All characters can [[swim]] considerably longer.
*The [[Pokémon Change#Stamina|Stamina]] mechanic of the {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}'s Pokémon is removed.
*Grab-only special moves such as [[Inhale]] and [[Egg Lay]] deal damage to enemies instead of grabbing.
*In addition to blocking most attacks, [[Mirror Shield]] can also now do damage.
 
===Dialogue===
While various characters in the ''Smash'' series have one-liners through [[taunts]], battle cries, and the like, the cutscenes of ''The Subspace Emissary'' have very little spoken dialogue. The vast majority of character interaction takes place through actions, gestures, and expressions, augmented by short grunts or exclamations. Some cutscenes feature moves that have battle cries where the character says the move's name, such as Ness and Lucas using their [[PK Thunder]] or Captain Falcon using his [[Falcon Punch]]. The only character who speaks in more than one scene is Pikachu, who only "speaks" via yelling its own name. In Jigglypuff's only scene, the crowd chants its name, making them the only non-playable character to say a line.


==Gameplay differences from other modes==
Only one character in all of The Subspace Emissary ever speaks in a full sentence; in [[Battleship Halberd Interior]], {{SSBB|Snake}} directly says to the player, "Kept you waiting, huh?" after revealing himself. This is a classic line from the ''Metal Gear'' series. In ''Brawl'', it references the extensive voicework in the ''Metal Gear Solid'' games, the frequent [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|breaking of the fourth wall]] in the series, and the fact that the player had seen a brief glimpse before already in a much earlier cutscene.
Despite characters using the same moves and using much of the same engine as in the other modes of ''Brawl'', the overall feel of the Subspace Emissary differs from that of ordinary [[Versus mode|brawls]]. For instace:


*When charging [[Rocketbarrel Boost]], {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} will continue to drop downwards, while in a normal brawl, he would be briefly suspended in the air.
==Names in other languages==
*The running speed of most characters has been altered; slower characters now dash faster, and faster characters dash slower.
{{langtable
*The [[Pokémon_Change#Stamina|Stamina]] mechanic of the [[Pokémon Trainer]]'s Pokémon does not exist.
|ja={{ja|亜空の使者|Akū no Shisha|?}}
*The jumping ability of some characters is altered, either [[Buff|buffing]] or [[Nerf|nerfing]] a character's aerial prowess. This can easily be seen with Jigglypuff, who now has a very poor vertical recovery, while in ordinary games, it's very long and effective. Some [[Up B]] attacks have also had their recovery capabilities nerfed, such as [[Wings of Icarus]].
|jaM=Emissary of Subspace
*Everyone can [[swim]] considerably longer in any of the bodies of water the player can find.
|en=The Subspace Emissary
*In the Subspace Emissary, the player cannot get [[Star KO]]'d - the player crashes into the top of the screen, leaving behind the colourful explosion. Players, however, are still Star KO'd or Screen KO'd in boss battles and against Subspace clones.
|fr=L'émissaire Subspatial
|frM=The Subspatial Emissary
|es=El Emisario Sub Espacial
|esM=Subspace Emissary
|de=Der Subraum-Emissär
|deM=The Emissary Subspace
|it=L'emissario del Subspazio
|itM=The Emissary from Subspace
|ko={{ja|아공의 사자|Agong-ui Aaja|?}}
|koM=Emissary of Darkness
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
[[File:MarioTrophyTransform.jpg|thumb|Mario's trophy coming to life in Melee's opening, compared to in the [[Midair Stadium]] of the Subspace Emissary.]]
[[File:MarioTrophyTransform.jpg|thumb|Mario's trophy coming to life in ''Melee''{{'}}s opening, compared to in the [[Midair Stadium]] of the Subspace Emissary.]]
*[[Mario (SSBB)|Mario]] and [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]] fighting might be a reference to the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' intro, which Mario and Kirby are seen fighting in a field. Another similarity is to the opening of ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', which included a Mario trophy "coming to life" as it lands in a stadium; in the same opening sequence, one of the competitors in the stadium was Kirby.
*The Subspace Emissary's camera is programmed to only be able to move through certain area, and will lock if the player goes outside these areas. However, if the player goes a sufficiently large distance above or below the stage's vertical origin, this restriction will inexplicably be bypassed. It's possible that this was programmed in as a failsafe, but this is never possible in normal gameplay, due to the game using a local blast zone system based on the camera's location, and the different behaviour of the upper blast zone. Thus, this phenomenon can only occur if the local blast zones are modified to extend much further out.
*It is possible to complete the Subspace Emissary using as few as thirteen characters: [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]], [[Pit (SSBB)|Pit]], [[Lucas (SSBB)|Lucas]], [[Marth (SSBB)|Marth]], [[Zero Suit Samus (SSBB)|Zero Suit Samus]], [[Snake (SSBB)|Snake]], [[King Dedede (SSBB)|King Dedede]], [[Diddy Kong (SSBB)|Diddy Kong]], either [[Link (SSBB)|Link]] or [[Yoshi (SSBB)|Yoshi]], either [[Pikachu (SSBB)|Pikachu]] or [[Samus (SSBB)|Samus]], either [[Olimar (SSBB)|Olimar]] or [[Captain Falcon (SSBB)|Captain Falcon]], [[Meta Knight (SSBB)|Meta Knight]] or {{SSBB|Lucario}}, and either [[Peach (SSBB)|Peach]] or [[Sheik (SSBB)|Sheik]].
*While the mode effectively encourages players to use almost every character in the game, it is possible to complete The Subspace Emissary using as few as twelve characters, or barely one-third of the roster: {{SSBB|Kirby}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} (transforming from Samus by taunting whenever Samus must be chosen), {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, either {{SSBB|Link}} or {{SSBB|Yoshi}}, either {{SSBB|Olimar}} or {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, and one of either {{SSBB|Peach}}, {{SSBB|Zelda}} or {{SSBB|Sheik}}.
*If the player chooses to play as Kirby in the Kirby vs. Mario match at the beginning of the Subspace Emissary, once the player defeats him, there will be an error in the cutscene which shows Mario turned into a trophy: While the left eye of Mario's trophy is present, the right eye is missing. In all other cutscenes which show Mario's trophy, though, the right eye is present.
**Co-op mode adds {{SSBB|Mario}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBB|Fox}}, Pokémon Trainer's {{SSBB|Squirtle}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}} alongside both pairs (instead of just one) of Link and Yoshi, Olimar and Captain Falcon, Peach and either Zelda or Sheik to the required list.
*If no trophies are rescued in Subspace, the player will still have six characters to choose from: Ness, Luigi, and Kirby are revived by the Brooches, King Dedede is revived by Luigi and Ness, Bowser is revived by King Dedede, and Sonic appears at the very end of the Great Maze.
*Assuming the player rescues no other characters in either [[Subspace (Part I)|Subspace I]] or [[Subspace (Part II)|Subspace II]], it is possible to finish The Subspace Emissary with only 6 characters available in the player's roster: {{SSBB|Luigi}}, {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, and {{SSBB|Bowser}} from Subspace I, {{SSBB|Kirby}} from Subspace II, and {{SSBB|Sonic}}, who appears at the end of the [[Great Maze]].
*[[Palutena]] is the only character in The Subspace Emissary who is neither a villain/enemy nor playable.
*As far as playable characters go, {{uv|Wario}}, {{uv|R.O.B.}}, and {{uv|Sonic}} are the only universes that do not have a song played at any time.
**In addition, {{uv|Star Fox}} (excluding the hidden room in The Ruins) and the universes mentioned above are the only universes that do not have a song played in normal gameplay.
*Outside of the boss characters, the ''Super Mario'' universe is the only represented franchise that uses some of its characters as regular enemies, those being Goomba, Koopa Troopa/Paratroopa, Bullet Bill, Hammer Bro, and Giant Goomba. All of the other enemies are original characters.
*{{SSBB|Mario}} and Kirby are playable in more levels than any other character, with a total of nine.
**Pit is playable in eight levels; Link, Yoshi, and Diddy Kong are playable in seven; Peach or Zelda, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer, Meta Knight, and Samus and Pikachu are playable in six (if one count all Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon ({{SSBB|Squirtle}} appears in all six levels, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}} appears in four levels, and {{SSBB|Charizard}} appears in three levels) and both of Samus' versions ({{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} appears in the first two levels, and Samus in the last five levels)), Zelda or Peach, {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}, and {{SSBB|Fox}} are playable in five; {{SSBB|Lucario}} can be playable in four or five; Marth, {{SSBB|Ike}}, {{SSBB|Falco}}, Captain Falcon, Olimar, and Snake are playable in four; {{SSBB|Ness}}, {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, and {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} are playable in three; {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBB|Luigi}} and {{SSBB|King Dedede}} are playable in two; {{SSBB|Bowser}}, {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBB|Wario}}, and {{SSBB|Sonic}} are playable in one; and {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}, {{SSBB|Toon Link}}, and {{SSBB|Wolf}} are absent until after completing The Subspace Emissary.
*The opening battle between Mario and Kirby in The Subspace Emissary may be a reference to the [[opening movie]] of ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', where the two face each other near the end of the movie.
**In addition, Mario's [[trophy]] coming to life in the first cutscene could be a reference to the beginning of ''[[Melee]]'''s opening movie.
*The Subspace Emissary is the only mode in the ''Smash Bros.'' series thus far that allows players to unlock characters without fighting and defeating them. ''Ultimate''{{'}}s [[World of Light]] bypasses the usual "Challenger Approaching" battle, but it still requires the player to fight the character that will be unlocked.
*The Subspace Emissary is mentioned several times in {{forwiiu}} in [[Palutena's Guidance]] during the conversation of Mario and [[Mr. Game & Watch]] and the North American English boxing alias for [[R.O.B.]] Also, some enemies from The Subspace Emissary return in {{for3ds}}'s [[Smash Run]] mode. The Subspace Emissary is also referenced in one of the riddles regarding Tabuu, located in the [[Mysterious Dimension]] sub-world of World of Light.
*The health bars for [[enemies]] (not including [[boss]]es) are compressed at the left hand side, so a length of health bar represents more health at the left of the bar than the right. This makes attacks appear to deal less damage the closer an enemy is to dying.
*While all characters use their in-game models during cutscenes, certain parts of characters such as loose clothing and hair have increased polygon counts in order for them to perform smoother. Examples of this are Marth's cape, Link's hair, and Lucas's shirt.
{{clr}}
 
==See also==
*[[List of cutscenes in The Subspace Emissary]]
*[[Adventure Mode (SSBM)]]
*[[Adventure Mode: World of Light]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/gamemode/modea/index.html Adventure Mode index]
*[http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/index.html Adventure Mode index]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaKrNrcq40g Video of the Tabuu fight after reviving no trophies.]


{{Universe}}
{{SSBBMenus}}
{{SSBBMenus}}
[[Category:Single Player Modes]]
[[Category:Modes (SSBB)]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]
[[Category:Single-player modes]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. universe]]
[[Category:Subspace Emissary]]
[[Category:Subspace Emissary]]
[[Category:Co-op modes]]

Latest revision as of 11:11, November 13, 2024

This article is about the Adventure Mode in Brawl. For other uses, see Adventure Mode (disambiguation).
The Subspace Emissary
Subspace Emissary Logo.jpg
The official SSE logo.

Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary (亜空の使者, Emissary of Subspace), sometimes abbreviated as SSE or shortened to Subspace Emissary, is a mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the successor to Melee's Adventure Mode. It was hinted at with the This world... Dojo update on July 20th, 2007, and fully unveiled on August 3rd of the same year. This mode was succeeded by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's. World of Light.

Overview[edit]

On July 20th, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated with a collection of enigmatic images that depicted Mario and Kirby transforming from trophies into fighters (akin to the introduction of Melee). After Kirby's apparent defeat at the hands of Mario, he is changed back into a trophy, but Mario reverses the transformation and Mario and Kirby shake hands. However, the sky darkens soon after, and Meta Knight’s ship, the Halberd, flies over the stadium, soon followed by the appearance of a mysterious character. The screenshots were accompanied by this description:

In this world, trophies fight. They know nothing but fighting. Fighting is the sole reason for their existence. Being turned back into a trophy, being unable to fight, is much like death. Those are the rules of this world. But...When someone...or something...breaks those rules, the world will pay a terrible price...

The post was placed under a mode referred to as "???" until August 3rd when it was changed to "Adventure Mode". On August 3rd, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated again. This time, more information was given. The mode was dubbed "The Subspace Emissary", and a multitude of screenshots were shown, as well as a cutscene related to the "This World…" update. In the cutscene, Mario and Kirby were seen shaking hands, as depicted in the screenshots, and after waving to the crowd, the Halberd appeared as it did in "This World…". The mysterious character from before was shown to be one of apparently many odd, robot-like creatures formed from some sort of shadowy matter. Peach and Zelda were seen watching from the sidelines but rushed down to the middle of the stadium to assist Mario and Kirby in fighting the mysterious army. After Peach and Zelda reach the stage and help destroy the Primids, an entity from the sky called the Ancient Minister appears on the stage. The Ancient Minister drops a Subspace Bomb on the arena, then flies off. As Mario approaches the bomb, he is hit by a cannonball and is sent flying from the arena. Petey Piranha appears and captures Peach and Zelda in cages.

The various screenshots in the update depicted a multitude of new enemies, as well as a few familiar ones, such as a Hammer Bro, who was previously confirmed as an Assist Trophy, and Bullet Bills. There were also a new series of enemies that were introduced that are part of the Subspace army. Some enemies of the Subspace army appear to be helpful while other ones are dangerous.

Masahiro Sakurai has stated that substantial single-player content was a core priority during the development of Brawl. An adventure on the scale of a stand alone video game was decided early in development. Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that Sakurai always wanted to make a mode like this for the series, but was advised to focus on the multiplayer aspects of previous games due to the relatively short development times of previous games and there already being no shortage of single-player games. The much longer development time allotted to Brawl allowed the mode to be made.[1] The initial plan was to outsource development of this mode to another studio, but no suitable contractor was available. In the end, the entire mode was developed internally by the main Brawl team. Only the cutscenes were created by a different studio.[2]

Gameplay[edit]

The Adventure Map, after completion of The Subspace Emissary.
Mario in The Plain

The Subspace Emissary mode is a side-scrolling adventure in the style of a platformer, inspired by the Mario and Kirby games. However, it retains all basic mechanics of the Super Smash Bros. series, such as a damage meter, stocks, and Smash-style attacks. It can also be classified as a beat 'em up; often stages will pause at specific points and force the player to defeat a set of enemies, which prevents one from simply running through everything.

The mode features a world map where stages are selected; once a stage is selected, the difficulty can be chosen, and the character(s) will enter the stage. The selectable characters will change depending on the plot. Stages that have been completed already can be played again, with the one exception being a stage being consumed by a Subspace Bomb; if this happens, the player must complete the Subspace Emissary to be able to access the stage again.

The mode also has a two-player option, using one stock to join in. When using two players, the first player will have priority over the screen, making it possible for the second player to get run off the screen if the two players are not coordinated. However, the second player has the option to warp to the first player at any time (except in boss battles) by pressing the button that would normally pause the game. The first player must be present with stock left at all times; if the first player is defeated with no spare stock remaining, the game will end and offer a continue. If the second player is defeated, the first player can continue alone. In addition, only the first player can navigate through doors (though the second player can still utilize keys) and temporary switches. If the second player goes into a barrel cannon or minecart they will be teleported back to the player seconds later unless the first player goes in right after. The second player can also decide when barrel cannons shoot.

When playing a level for the first time, many cutscenes will pause just before gameplay begins, showing a view of all available characters. A message will display how many stock the level allows, and a cursor will appear that allows choosing which characters to play. The order characters are chosen in is the order they will appear: they will cycle through in that order until all stock is depleted. Playing through a level again, there will be a screen before the level allowing choosing between any available characters instead of cutscenes during the level. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: there is a wider character variety to choose from, but one cannot pick less characters than the number of stocks the stage has (meaning if a stage has four stocks, the player must choose four characters). Additionally, no mid-level cutscenes will play, including ones that would normally allow a re-pick of characters that replenishes stocks. While on many levels this makes little difference, it is very problematic on long stages like the second Subspace Bomb Factory, where a replay provides only a fraction of the stock originally given.

The physics of many (if not all) characters are also tweaked slightly. In general, characters run slower, fall faster, and jump better than in brawls. However, the midair jumps of a character that possesses more than one will be worse than normal. Move mechanics are not altered, although the differing jump heights, jump timing, and gravity will change how effective aerial attacks are. The most significant change is the removal of stamina from Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon, which allows one to use one Pokémon exclusively. Characters are also able to swim for significantly longer. Characters retain their standard physics in boss battles. Because Smash relies on KOs by being knocked off stage, in order for the platforming nature to be retained, the camera's reaction time in following a character decreases in proportion to the player's damage.

Grabbing mechanics are also altered. Normal enemies cannot be held onto for any length of time; they will be thrown immediately after being grabbed, making it impossible to pummel them. This means that choosing which throw to use must be done with the Control Stick during the grab animation; inputting no direction will result in a forward throw (with the exception of Donkey Kong, who cannot carry enemies, and instead will utilize his up-throw). Special moves that involve grabbing will fail to grab, like Yoshi and Kirby's standard special moves; such moves have extra Subspace Emissary-only hitboxes (for example, Egg Lay will deal 13% damage, while Pikmin will deal damage when thrown). Bosses and large enemies cannot be grabbed; however, Big Primids can be grabbed effectively. None of these changes apply when facing an opposing Smasher due to playing like an actual Brawl, though Kirby will be unable to copy their abilities.

Clear %[edit]

See also: Clear %

Difficulty Levels[edit]

Like most other single-player modes, one can select different difficulty levels to play The Subspace Emissary. At the creation of a new game file, the player may select a "default" difficulty from Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Intense. Stages normally use this default difficulty (which cannot be changed), although the difficulty of a stage can be altered before it is begun. The game keeps track of the hardest difficulty level at which each stage has been cleared, and when a stage is selected, it suggests a difficulty higher than the highest completion level.

As one selects higher difficulties, the game makes these adjustments:

  • Enemy health goes up, sometimes considerably with bulky enemies like Greaps.
  • Enemies move and attack faster; especially noticeable with the vulnerability period of large enemies and bosses.
  • Enemies and obstacles do more damage and have more KO power.
  • Enemies' AI generally get smarter (such as attacking more often, or Bytans duplicating nonstop).
  • More (and sometimes deadlier) enemies appear during locked battles.
  • Less favorable items appear, although an increased number of stronger healing items appear when enemies are defeated.
  • Stock Balls may get rarer (or, in the case of Very Hard and Intense, not exist, being replaced by recovery items instead).
  • Certain features travel faster, giving the player less reaction time.
    • Auto-scrolling areas scroll faster.
    • Moving walls, floors, and ceilings move faster, making characters more easily crushed.
    • Platforms move or fall faster.
    • Bomb block explosion chains move faster.
    • The effects of temporary switches are shorter.
  • Wind speeds increase (including the wind from a Borboras), sometimes to nonsensical levels.
  • More, higher quality, and rarer stickers appear.
  • More collectibles (CDs, trophies, stickers) appear.
  • More trophy stands appear.
  • More coins are given at the end of each level.

Plot[edit]

Stages[edit]

Every level numerically ordered:
1: Midair Stadium
2: Skyworld
3: Sea of Clouds
4: The Jungle
5: The Plain
6: The Lake
7: The Ruined Zoo
8: The Battlefield Fortress
9: The Forest
10: The Research Facility I
11: The Lake Shore
12: The Path to the Ruins
13: The Cave
14: The Ruins
15: The Wilds I
16: The Ruined Hall
17: The Wilds II
18: The Swamp
19: The Research Facility II
20: Outside the Ancient Ruins
21: The Glacial Peak
22: The Canyon
23: Battleship Halberd Interior
24: Battleship Halberd Exterior
25: Battleship Halberd Bridge
26: The Subspace Bomb Factory I
27: The Subspace Bomb Factory II
28: Entrance to Subspace
29: Subspace I
30: Subspace II
31: The Great Maze

The Subspace Emissary consists of thirty-one different stages. As some stages share the same name, the earlier stage is denoted with an I while the later-appearing stage is followed by a II.

Icon Stage Fighters available Unlocked fighters Lost fighters Recovered fighters Total fighters Teams
SSE-Midair Stadium.png Midair Stadium Mario (the battle with Kirby if he was chosen and the battle with the Subspace Army), Kirby (all phases, except the battle with Mario if he was not chosen), Peach and Zelda (both only in the battle with the Subspace Army) Kirby and Peach or Zelda (Mario is sent flying and Wario kidnaps either Zelda or Peach when the other princess is freed from Petey Pirahna) 2 1, new team: Kirby and Peach or Zelda
SSE-Skyworld.png Skyworld Pit (all phases) and Mario (the last side-scrolling section after Pit rescues him) Mario and Pit 4 2, new team: Mario and Pit
SSE-Sea of Clouds.png Sea of Clouds Kirby and Peach or Zelda 4 2
SSE-The Jungle.png The Jungle Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong Diddy Kong (Bowser captures Donkey Kong) 5 3, new team: Diddy Kong
SSE-The Plain.png The Plain Mario and Pit 5 3
SSE-The Lake.png The Lake Diddy Kong and Fox Fox 6 3, Fox joins Diddy Kong
SSE-The Ruined Zoo.png The Ruined Zoo Lucas (all phases), Ness (only the battle with Porky) and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle only) (only after defeating Porky) Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle) (Wario kidnaps Ness; Ness will not be unlocked in any mode) 8 4, new team: Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle)
SSE-The Battlefield Fortress.png The Battlefield Fortress Marth (all phases), Meta Knight (second and third phases) and Ike (third phase only) Marth, Meta Knight and Ike 11 5, new team: Marth, Ike, and Meta Knight
SSE-The Forest.png The Forest Link and Yoshi Link, Yoshi and Toon Link [3] 13 6, new team: Link and Yoshi
SSE-The Research Facility pt1.png The Research Facility I Zero Suit Samus (all phases) and Pikachu (all phases starting with the second) Zero Suit Samus and Pikachu 15 7, new team: Zero Suit Samus and Pikachu
SSE-The Lake Shore.png The Lake Shore Mario, Pit (entire level if Zelda was rescued, only the last section if Peach was rescued), Link, Yoshi (entire level if Peach was rescued, only the last section if Zelda was rescued) and Kirby (only the last section) Peach or Zelda (Bowser captures them) 14 5, Kirby joins Mario, Pit, Link and Yoshi.
SSE-The Path to the Ruins.png The Path to the Ruins Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle only) 14 5
SSE-The Cave.png The Cave Mario, Pit, Link, Yoshi and Kirby 14 5
SSE-The Ruins.png The Ruins Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (with Squirtle for all phases and Ivysaur after Pokémon Trainer finds it) Ivysaur, Charizard and Wolf[3] 14 5, Ivysaur and Charizard become part of Pokémon Trainer's party
SSE-The Wilds pt1.png The Wilds I Marth, Ike, and Meta Knight 14 5
SSE-The Ruined Hall.png The Ruined Hall Lucas and Pokémon Trainer 14 4, Lucas and Pokémon Trainer join Meta Knight, Marth, and Ike.
SSE-The Wilds pt2.png The Wilds II Mario, Pit, Link, Yoshi and Kirby 14 4
SSE-The Swamp.png The Swamp Diddy Kong, Fox (all phases) and Falco (all phases sans the first) Falco and Jigglypuff[3] 15 4, Falco joins Diddy Kong and Fox
SSE-The Research Facility pt2.png The Research Facility II Zero Suit Samus (all phases, transforming from Samus by taunting whenever possible), Pikachu (all phases) and Samus (after defeating the False Samuses) Samus Zero Suit Samus (Samus replaces her; playing as Zero Suit Samus is still possible by taunting or pressing C on the nunchuck) 15 4, Samus replaces Zero Suit Samus
SSE-Outside the Ancient Ruins.png Outside the Ancient Ruins Olimar, Captain Falcon (both all phases), Donkey Kong, and Diddy Kong (both only in the battle with the Subspace Army) Donkey Kong, Captain Falcon and Olimar Fox and Falco (they did not become trophies, but Diddy Kong leaves their group and they all go their separate ways) 16 4, Diddy Kong leaves Fox and Falco and joins Donkey Kong, Captain Falcon and Olimar
SSE-The Glacial Peak.png The Glacial Peak Ice Climbers (only the sidescrolling section), Meta Knight (the side-scrolling section and the battle with Lucario if the player chose him) and Lucario (only if the player chose it in the battle with Meta Knight) Ice Climbers and Lucario 18 5, new team: Meta Knight and Lucario. Ice Climbers take Meta Knight's place in this level's featured group
SSE-The Canyon.png The Canyon Mario, Pit, Link, Yoshi, Kirby 18 4, Mario, Pit, Link, Yoshi, Kirby, Ice Climbers, Marth, Ike, Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard) intertwine
SSE-Battleship Halberd Interior.png Battleship Halberd Interior Snake (all phases), Meta Knight and Lucario (after the latter two meet Snake) Snake 19 4, Snake joins Meta Knight and Lucario
SSE-Battleship Halberd Exterior.png Battleship Halberd Exterior Peach and Zelda/Sheik Zelda or Peach Fox and Peach or Zelda 22 5, new team: Fox, Peach and Zelda
SSE-Battleship Halberd Bridge.png Battleship Halberd Bridge Snake, Lucario, Fox, Falco, Peach and Zelda/Sheik Mr. Game & Watch Falco 24 4, Fox, Peach, Zelda, Meta Knight, Lucario and Snake intertwine, along with Falco and Mr. Game & Watch
SSE-The Subspace Bomb Factory pt2.png The Subspace Bomb Factory I Samus and Pikachu 24 4
SSE-The Subspace Bomb Factory pt1.png The Subspace Bomb Factory II Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon and Olimar (all phases); Samus, Zero Suit Samus (by taunting as Samus), Pikachu and R.O.B. (second section onwards) R.O.B. 25 1, all three teams intertwine
SSE-Entrance to Subspace.png Entrance to Subspace Captain Falcon, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Fox, Falco, Ice Climbers, Marth, Ike, Kirby, Link, Lucario, Lucas, Mario, Meta Knight, Mr. Game & Watch, Olimar, Peach, Pikachu, Pit, Pokémon Trainer, R.O.B., Samus, Snake, Yoshi and Zelda (only four chosen characters can be played as) All current fighters (Tabuu reduces them to their trophy forms) 0 0, all current fighters are reduced to their trophy forms
SSE-Subspace pt1.png Subspace I King Dedede (all phases), Ness and Luigi (only in the side-scrolling sections) Luigi, Ness, Bowser and King Dedede Mario, Donkey Kong Diddy Kong, Samus, Fox, Falco, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, Marth, Ike, Mr. Game & Watch, Pit, Olimar, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard) (only if rescued by the starting fighters; fighters not rescued can still be found when replaying the level) From 4 to 19 1, new team: King Dedede, Ness, Luigi, Bowser and any of the fighters rescued in this level
SSE-Subspace pt2.png Subspace II Kirby Ganondorf (if Kirby found Link and Zelda, who rescue him) and Wario (If found) Kirby (guaranteed), Link, Yoshi, Peach, Zelda, Ice Climbers, Meta Knight, Lucario, R.O.B. and Snake (only if rescued by Kirby; fighters not found can be rescued upon replaying the level) From 5 to 31 1, Kirby and any of the fighters rescued in this level, including Ganondorf, if Link and Zelda are found, and Wario, if he is found.
SSE-The Great Maze pt1.png
SSE-The Great Maze pt2.png
SSE-The Great Maze pt3.png
SSE-The Great Maze pt4.png
The Great Maze Bowser, King Dedede, Kirby, Luigi, Ness (guaranteed), Captain Falcon, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Falco, Fox, Ganondorf, Ice Climbers, Ike, Link, Lucario, Lucas, Mario, Marth, Meta Knight, Mr. Game & Watch, Olimar, Peach, Pikachu, Pit, Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard), R.O.B., Samus, Snake, Wario, Yoshi, Zelda (only if they were rescued in the previous two levels) and Sonic (only in the battle with Tabuu) Sonic From 6 to 32 1, Sonic joins

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ [https://www.eurogamer.net/i-miyamotosakurai?page=2 Miyamoto and Sakurai on Nintendo Wii E3: Smash Bros., Mario, more.]
  2. ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl [Game Concepts]
  3. ^ a b c Toon Link, Wolf and Jigglypuff appear after completing story mode and revisiting the stage to find a hidden door. Entering the door intiates a one stock match against the character. Win and the character joins the team.

When only one character is available in Co-op mode, P2 will control an alternate costume of that character. This happens in nine stages: Kirby (in the Midair Stadium vs Petey Piranha and the entirely of Subspace II), Pit (in The Skyworld, before having Mario join), Lucas (in The Ruined Zoo when he runs from the statue), Marth (in The Battlefield Fortress, before joining Meta Knight and Ike), Zero Suit Samus (in The Research Facility before she joined Pikachu), Meta Knight/Lucario (in The Glacial Peak, only in the battle against the character P1 didn't choose), Snake (in the Battleship Halberd Interior, before he joined Meta Knight and Lucario) and King Dedede (in the Subspace I, only in the battle against Bowser). A ninth battle is at the beginning of the game, where Mario and Kirby duel. This also applies to Diddy Kong when replaying any stage after completing the Jungle before completing the Lake.

Bosses[edit]

These battles are fought with the bosses having a specific amount of health; once their health runs out, they are defeated.

Boss Stage Fighters
PeteyRage.jpg
Petey Piranha
Midair Stadium Kirby
RayquazaRoar.jpg
Rayquaza
The Lake Fox and Diddy Kong
PorkyBot.jpg
Porky Minch
The Ruined Zoo Ness and Lucas
Galleomdesert.jpg
Galleom tank.jpg
Galleom
The Wilds I and The Ruined Hall Marth, Ike and Meta Knight (The Wilds I)
Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (The Ruined Hall)
RidleyWings.jpg
Ridley
The Research Facility II Samus and Pikachu
HalberdBridge.jpg
Duon
Battleship Halberd Bridge Fox, Falco, Lucario, Snake, Peach and Zelda/Sheik in a party of four
MetaRidleyFalconFlyerSwoop.jpg
Meta Ridley
The Subspace Bomb Factory II Samus, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, Olimar and R.O.B. in a party of four
Tabuu Fight.jpg
Tabuu
The Great Maze King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, Bowser, Kirby, Sonic and any fighters rescued in the previous two levels (besides Toon Link, Wolf and Jigglypuff) in a party of six

All the bosses return in The Great Maze.

Mini-Bosses[edit]

Due to these battles being against smashers or slightly modified versions of them, they are fought like regular brawls. Note that the player characters listed are only mandatory for the first playthrough and that other characters may be used if the level is replayed.

Opponent Stage Fighters
MarioVsKirby.png
Kirby or Mario
Midair Stadium Mario or Kirby, player fights the one they did not choose
Lakeshore Subspace Emissary.png
False Bowser
The Lake Diddy Kong and Fox
False Peach Brawl.png
False Zelda Brawl.png
False Peach or Zelda
The Lake Shore Link and Yoshi (if Peach was rescued) or Mario and Pit (if Zelda was rescued)
Mario and Pit or Link and Yoshi The Lake Shore Link and Yoshi (if Peach was rescued; after false Peach's battle) or Mario and Pit (if Zelda was rescued; after false Zelda's battle). Ally is CPU controlled unless playing in Co-op Mode.
Subspace wario.PNG
Wario
The Path to the Ruins Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle only)
Charizard Subspace Emissary.png Charizard The Ruins Lucas and Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle and Ivysaur only, Charizard is obtained after the battle)
FalseDiddy.png
False Diddy Kong
The Swamp Diddy Kong, Fox, and Falco
FalseSamus.png
Pair of False Samuses
The Research Facility II Zero Suit Samus and Pikachu
Lucario Meta Knight Standoff Subspace Emissary.png Lucario or Meta Knight The Glacial Peak Meta Knight or Lucario, player fights the one they did not choose
False Peach and Zelda Battleship Halberd Interior Meta Knight, Lucario and Snake
SubspaceIntro-Bowser.png
Bowser
Subspace I King Dedede
FalseDKfight.jpg
Newly-replicated versions of every fighter except Sonic, Jigglypuff, Toon Link and Wolf
The Great Maze King Dedede, Luigi, Ness, Bowser, Kirby and any characters rescued in the previous two levels in a party of four
Toon Link Subspace Brawl.png
Toon Link
Secret door in The Forest that teleports to the Pirate Ship Any character; optional post-game battle
Wolf Subspace.png
Wolf
Secret door in The Ruins that teleports to the Lylat Cruise
Jigglypuff Subspace Emissary Brawl.png
Jigglypuff
Secret door in The Swamp that teleports to the Pokémon Stadium 2

Note: When only one character is available to fight a boss or mini-boss in Co-op mode, the second player plays as a color change of that character. This is the only way to play as a character’s alternate costume outside of replaying a stage where a character is battled, selecting this character as any stock aside from the first and not losing enough stocks to spawn as the character before the player activates the battle, in which afterwards the player should lose enough stocks so that they spawn as this character. This only happens in four battles: Mario/Kirby vs the character not chosen by P1, Kirby against Petey Piranha, Meta Knight/Lucario against the character not chosen by P1, and King Dedede against Bowser.

Other special enemy battle[edit]

  • Porky Statue (The Ruined Zoo): it chases Lucas but it does not fight with him.

Battles with Subspace Armies[edit]

Some segments in levels, or all a level, has a battle with some enemies from Subspace. Unlike ambushes during sidescrolling segments, red dots on screen are used to indicate how many enemies are left to defeat.

Order Enemies to defeat Stage Fighters
First 30 Midair Stadium Mario, Peach, Zelda and Kirby (after the battle between Mario and Kirby and before Petey Piranha appears)
Second 30 The Battlefield Fortress Marth and Meta Knight (Ike joins later)
Third 40 Outside the Ancient Ruins Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon and Olimar
Fourth 50 The Canyon Mario, Pit, Kirby, Link and Yoshi in a party of four
Fifth 50 The Subspace Bomb Factory II Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Captain Falcon, Olimar, Samus, Pikachu and R.O.B. in a party of four

Similarities to the Kirby series[edit]

The Subspace Emissary contains gameplay elements similar to the sub-games of Kirby Super Star and other elements from Kirby games. This is likely intentional, given Masahiro Sakurai's work on both games.

  • The Halberd plays a very strong role in both games, and in both, it's destroyed and crashes in the ocean.
  • The beginning of The Ruined Zoo (more specifically the boss battle against the Pig King Statue and Porky Minch) is similar to the Heavy Lobster battle in Revenge of Meta Knight: The player is chased by the boss, who remains invincible for this duration and plows through anything in its path. Following the chase, the boss becomes vulnerable and attacks the player head-on.
  • Both feature minecarts and special devices that propel characters forwards. The latter's design and function comes directly from Kirby Super Star. Additionally, the slide launchers puts characters in a shield position, just like in Kirby Super Star. There are also bomb blocks which function identically to those from the Kirby series.
  • The Space Jump is just like how P2 from Kirby Super Star comes back to P1.
  • The final boss (Tabuu) teleports around the stage repeatedly (a common feature in most final bosses in Kirby games, such as Marx and Nightmare).
  • Bosses from the Kirby games, such as Dyna Blade and Marx, have similar moves to bosses in Brawl, such as Ridley and Tabuu.
  • Bosses do not flinch.
  • Enemies cannot survive underwater; they will be KO'd immediately upon touching it.
  • Roaders are similar to Kirby's Wheelies.
  • The Bucculus attacks in a similar way to Leap.
  • The planet Floria in Milky Way Wishes has a similar concept to the day-changing doors, except that it has four rooms and they are based on seasons instead of day and night.

Differences from other game modes[edit]

Gameplay[edit]

Despite characters using the same moves and using much of the same engine as in the other modes of Brawl, the gameplay of the Subspace Emissary differs from that of ordinary brawls:

  • The walking speed, running speed, and air speed of most characters has been normalized; slower characters move faster, while faster characters move slower. This is quite noticeable with Captain Falcon and Sonic's dashing.
  • Player 2 will receive a significant walking speed, running speed and jump height increase as their distance from player 1 increases. This is presumably to prevent them from falling behind too much, but happens regardless of whether they run ahead or fall behind.
  • All characters jump 2 frames faster, jump 18% higher, have slightly higher gravity, and have a 19% faster falling speed. As a result, vertical movement is in general faster, while some characters' recoveries (such as Jigglypuff and Pit) are indirectly nerfed by the heavier physics.
    • Peach's double jump has 40% more force; no other character has a change of more than 10%.
    • Snake's double jump has 12% less force.
    • Some special moves that grant temporary hovering, such as Diddy's Rocketbarrel Boost, can't keep up with the increased gravity and so are also indirectly nerfed.
  • During side-scrolling stages, the player cannot get Star KO'd - the player crashes into the top of the screen, leaving behind the colorful explosion. Players are only Star KO'd or Screen KO'd in ambushes, boss battles, and fights against Subspace clones.
  • All characters can swim considerably longer.
  • The Stamina mechanic of the Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon is removed.
  • Grab-only special moves such as Inhale and Egg Lay deal damage to enemies instead of grabbing.
  • In addition to blocking most attacks, Mirror Shield can also now do damage.

Dialogue[edit]

While various characters in the Smash series have one-liners through taunts, battle cries, and the like, the cutscenes of The Subspace Emissary have very little spoken dialogue. The vast majority of character interaction takes place through actions, gestures, and expressions, augmented by short grunts or exclamations. Some cutscenes feature moves that have battle cries where the character says the move's name, such as Ness and Lucas using their PK Thunder or Captain Falcon using his Falcon Punch. The only character who speaks in more than one scene is Pikachu, who only "speaks" via yelling its own name. In Jigglypuff's only scene, the crowd chants its name, making them the only non-playable character to say a line.

Only one character in all of The Subspace Emissary ever speaks in a full sentence; in Battleship Halberd Interior, Snake directly says to the player, "Kept you waiting, huh?" after revealing himself. This is a classic line from the Metal Gear series. In Brawl, it references the extensive voicework in the Metal Gear Solid games, the frequent breaking of the fourth wall in the series, and the fact that the player had seen a brief glimpse before already in a much earlier cutscene.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese 亜空の使者 Emissary of Subspace
UK English The Subspace Emissary
France French L'émissaire Subspatial The Subspatial Emissary
Germany German Der Subraum-Emissär The Emissary Subspace
Spain Spanish El Emisario Sub Espacial Subspace Emissary
Italy Italian L'emissario del Subspazio The Emissary from Subspace
South Korea Korean 아공의 사자 Emissary of Darkness

Trivia[edit]

Mario's trophy coming to life in Melee's opening, compared to in the Midair Stadium of the Subspace Emissary.
  • The Subspace Emissary's camera is programmed to only be able to move through certain area, and will lock if the player goes outside these areas. However, if the player goes a sufficiently large distance above or below the stage's vertical origin, this restriction will inexplicably be bypassed. It's possible that this was programmed in as a failsafe, but this is never possible in normal gameplay, due to the game using a local blast zone system based on the camera's location, and the different behaviour of the upper blast zone. Thus, this phenomenon can only occur if the local blast zones are modified to extend much further out.
  • While the mode effectively encourages players to use almost every character in the game, it is possible to complete The Subspace Emissary using as few as twelve characters, or barely one-third of the roster: Kirby, Pit, Lucas, Marth, Zero Suit Samus (transforming from Samus by taunting whenever Samus must be chosen), Snake, Meta Knight, King Dedede, Diddy Kong, either Link or Yoshi, either Olimar or Captain Falcon, and one of either Peach, Zelda or Sheik.
  • Assuming the player rescues no other characters in either Subspace I or Subspace II, it is possible to finish The Subspace Emissary with only 6 characters available in the player's roster: Luigi, Ness, King Dedede, and Bowser from Subspace I, Kirby from Subspace II, and Sonic, who appears at the end of the Great Maze.
  • Palutena is the only character in The Subspace Emissary who is neither a villain/enemy nor playable.
  • As far as playable characters go, Wario, R.O.B., and Sonic are the only universes that do not have a song played at any time.
    • In addition, Star Fox (excluding the hidden room in The Ruins) and the universes mentioned above are the only universes that do not have a song played in normal gameplay.
  • Outside of the boss characters, the Super Mario universe is the only represented franchise that uses some of its characters as regular enemies, those being Goomba, Koopa Troopa/Paratroopa, Bullet Bill, Hammer Bro, and Giant Goomba. All of the other enemies are original characters.
  • Mario and Kirby are playable in more levels than any other character, with a total of nine.
    • Pit is playable in eight levels; Link, Yoshi, and Diddy Kong are playable in seven; Peach or Zelda, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer, Meta Knight, and Samus and Pikachu are playable in six (if one count all Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon (Squirtle appears in all six levels, Ivysaur appears in four levels, and Charizard appears in three levels) and both of Samus' versions (Zero Suit Samus appears in the first two levels, and Samus in the last five levels)), Zelda or Peach, Donkey Kong, and Fox are playable in five; Lucario can be playable in four or five; Marth, Ike, Falco, Captain Falcon, Olimar, and Snake are playable in four; Ness, Ice Climbers, and R.O.B. are playable in three; Mr. Game & Watch, Luigi and King Dedede are playable in two; Bowser, Ganondorf, Wario, and Sonic are playable in one; and Jigglypuff, Toon Link, and Wolf are absent until after completing The Subspace Emissary.
  • The opening battle between Mario and Kirby in The Subspace Emissary may be a reference to the opening movie of Super Smash Bros., where the two face each other near the end of the movie.
    • In addition, Mario's trophy coming to life in the first cutscene could be a reference to the beginning of Melee's opening movie.
  • The Subspace Emissary is the only mode in the Smash Bros. series thus far that allows players to unlock characters without fighting and defeating them. Ultimate's World of Light bypasses the usual "Challenger Approaching" battle, but it still requires the player to fight the character that will be unlocked.
  • The Subspace Emissary is mentioned several times in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in Palutena's Guidance during the conversation of Mario and Mr. Game & Watch and the North American English boxing alias for R.O.B. Also, some enemies from The Subspace Emissary return in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS's Smash Run mode. The Subspace Emissary is also referenced in one of the riddles regarding Tabuu, located in the Mysterious Dimension sub-world of World of Light.
  • The health bars for enemies (not including bosses) are compressed at the left hand side, so a length of health bar represents more health at the left of the bar than the right. This makes attacks appear to deal less damage the closer an enemy is to dying.
  • While all characters use their in-game models during cutscenes, certain parts of characters such as loose clothing and hair have increased polygon counts in order for them to perform smoother. Examples of this are Marth's cape, Link's hair, and Lucas's shirt.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]