Character selection screen: Difference between revisions

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The '''character selection screen''' is where a player chooses their [[character]] to be used in a fight, and sometimes make changes to [[rules]]. The character selection screen is composed of boxed portraits of the heads or busts of playable fighters, with more character added once they are [[unlockable character|unlocked]]. It is utilized in each game and appears in both single player and multiplayer modes where the player is not required to use specific character(s). Character selection screens are almost always uniform across game modes for each game, with the exception of the character selection screen for [[Tournament Mode]] and the [[Subspace emissary]] single player mode in ''[[Brawl]]'' which uses a very featureless character selection screen for assembling a party of characters.
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==Character selection screen features==
The '''character selection screen''' is where a player chooses their [[character]], as well as other rules, to be used in the next fight. It appears in both single player and multiplayer modes where the player is required to choose their character during a fight.
Each player controls a small hand cursor which carries an emblem displaying their control [[port]] number and color. Selecting a character involves carrying the emblem over the character portrait and pressing a selection button. A box at the bottom of the screen will usually change to reflect the character choice; in ''Super Smash Bros.'', a full model of the character will appear and strike a pose while in ''[[Melee]]'' and ''Brawl'' only a larger area of the character's portrait is shown.
==Description==
 
In all three games, the character selection screen is composed of squares with images of the heads of playable fighters, with more character added once they are [[unlockable character|unlocked]]. In ''Super Smash Bros.'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'',  A [[Random]] icon is also available for selection in ''Melee'' and ''[[Brawl]]'', which randomly chooses the character used in the match. In ''Melee'', this icon appears once all characters are unlocked. The game mode can be changed to [[Team Battle]] by clicking on the mode name in the top left corner, and selecting the "Back" button causes the game to return to the previous menu. Each player has their own small hand icon that is used to control their actions on screen. Also at the top is a bar displaying the mode name and the amount of [[time]]/[[stock]]s used. These numbers can be adjusted by clicking on the left and right arrows. Clicking on the bar opens up the [[Rules]] menu. At the bottom of the screen are up to four squares used to display the character chosen by each player. A player can click on the icon that reads "N/A" ("NONE" in ''Brawl'') to change whether that controller port has a human player, a [[CPU]], or neither. If a character is chosen, its image and its name will appear in the square. In ''Super Smash Bros.'', a character will perform a unique pose and sound effects when chosen, and in ''Brawl'', when using a [[Wii Remote]], a unique sound effect for each character will also be played. In ''Melee'', a CPU's character is automatically randomly chosen. A player can change a character's [[palette swap]] or team color by clicking on a square, and in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', a [[name|player name]] can be added by clicking on the bar at the bottom of the square (the pencil icon in ''Brawl''). The AI level of a CPU can also be adjusted by dragging a button in ''Melee'' or clicking the number in the bottom right-hand corner in ''Brawl''. In addition, in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', [[KO Star]]s appear on the player squares, and in ''Brawl'', a controller icon appears to show what [[controller]] a player is using. The squares are colored based on the [[port]] used by each player, or based on the color of the team: Player 1 is red, Player 2 is blue, Player 3 is yellow, Player 4 is green, and CPUs are gray. Once every player has selected a character, a bar reading "Ready to fight!" will appear, and selecting it or pressing the [[Start/Pause button]] causes the game to proceed to the stage selection screen, where a stage is chosen, or in certain situations, such as a single player mode, proceed directly to the fight.
Player character portraits after character selection are usually interactive. In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' the color of the character's model will change in real time when cycling through [[palette swap]]s. The player can cycle through the palettes of each character in ''Brawl'' in an alternate way by pressing the selection button while hovering their hand cursor over the player character's portrait. Additionally in ''Brawl'', the player can select the default form or starter character where applicable by using the cursor to highlight the form or character in the portrait. The only character that has a transformation that cannot be chosen by means of a character portrait is [[Samus]]. A player may also choose a [[name]] from an expandable box in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl''.
 
Single player modes typically feature character selection screens with only one area for a player character portrait and a separate area where options for mode difficulty and/or a stock count until a [[continue]] is needed. There is typically an area that highlights [[highscores]] for that mode.
 
Multiplayer mode character select screens typically feature a way to change quickly between [[Free_for_all|free-for-all]] or [[Team_Battle|team battles]] and [[Coin_Battle|coin]], stock, or time battles, as well as a way to quickly change simple parameters like [[stock]] amount and the [[time]] limit. Attempting to change the battle mode in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'' accesses more advanced options by opening an option menu. Depending on the options and game mode set, additional parameters may be found in the character portrait, such as the sliding [[weight]] scale in ''Melee''. Ways to activate [[computer]] players and adjust their difficulty are also found in the character portrait.
 
A [[Random]] icon appears for selection in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', which randomly chooses a playable character. In ''Melee'', this icon only appears once all characters are unlocked. In ''Melee'''s Tournament Mode, the [[Pokémon_(universe)|Pokémon]] [[Ditto]], while not selectable by usual means, replaces this function.
 
Once character selection and mode option requirements have been met, the game will give some kind of indication such a "Ready to fight!" banner. The player can proceed by selecting the banner or pressing the [[Start/Pause button|start]] button.
 
==Trivia==
* In multiplayer modes in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', [[KO Star]]s appear in the player character portrait tallying the number of [[stock]]s taken off of other players.
* In ''Brawl'', a unique sound effect will play if the player is using a [[wiimote]] while selecting a character.
* ''Super Smash Bros.'' is the only game to feature all portrait boxes for characters that have not been unlocked.


In single player modes, only one player icon usually appears, but in ''Brawl'''s [[Co-op mode]], a second player can join by pressing the [[+ button]]. In place of the other player squares, depending on the mode, the adjustable difficulty level, number of stocks used in the match, and high scores.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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Revision as of 10:59, August 27, 2013

The character selection screen is where a player chooses their character to be used in a fight, and sometimes make changes to rules. The character selection screen is composed of boxed portraits of the heads or busts of playable fighters, with more character added once they are unlocked. It is utilized in each game and appears in both single player and multiplayer modes where the player is not required to use specific character(s). Character selection screens are almost always uniform across game modes for each game, with the exception of the character selection screen for Tournament Mode and the Subspace emissary single player mode in Brawl which uses a very featureless character selection screen for assembling a party of characters.

Character selection screen features

Each player controls a small hand cursor which carries an emblem displaying their control port number and color. Selecting a character involves carrying the emblem over the character portrait and pressing a selection button. A box at the bottom of the screen will usually change to reflect the character choice; in Super Smash Bros., a full model of the character will appear and strike a pose while in Melee and Brawl only a larger area of the character's portrait is shown.

Player character portraits after character selection are usually interactive. In Super Smash Bros. the color of the character's model will change in real time when cycling through palette swaps. The player can cycle through the palettes of each character in Brawl in an alternate way by pressing the selection button while hovering their hand cursor over the player character's portrait. Additionally in Brawl, the player can select the default form or starter character where applicable by using the cursor to highlight the form or character in the portrait. The only character that has a transformation that cannot be chosen by means of a character portrait is Samus. A player may also choose a name from an expandable box in Melee and Brawl.

Single player modes typically feature character selection screens with only one area for a player character portrait and a separate area where options for mode difficulty and/or a stock count until a continue is needed. There is typically an area that highlights highscores for that mode.

Multiplayer mode character select screens typically feature a way to change quickly between free-for-all or team battles and coin, stock, or time battles, as well as a way to quickly change simple parameters like stock amount and the time limit. Attempting to change the battle mode in Melee and Brawl accesses more advanced options by opening an option menu. Depending on the options and game mode set, additional parameters may be found in the character portrait, such as the sliding weight scale in Melee. Ways to activate computer players and adjust their difficulty are also found in the character portrait.

A Random icon appears for selection in Melee and Brawl, which randomly chooses a playable character. In Melee, this icon only appears once all characters are unlocked. In Melee's Tournament Mode, the Pokémon Ditto, while not selectable by usual means, replaces this function.

Once character selection and mode option requirements have been met, the game will give some kind of indication such a "Ready to fight!" banner. The player can proceed by selecting the banner or pressing the start button.

Trivia

  • In multiplayer modes in Melee and Brawl, KO Stars appear in the player character portrait tallying the number of stocks taken off of other players.
  • In Brawl, a unique sound effect will play if the player is using a wiimote while selecting a character.
  • Super Smash Bros. is the only game to feature all portrait boxes for characters that have not been unlocked.

Gallery