Super Smash Bros.

List of regional version differences (SSB)

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There are many differences between all releases of Super Smash Bros., which are listed on this page. The North American version in particular received a large number of changes compared to the initial Japanese version, both in terms of aesthetics and gameplay. The regional differences are much more significant than in Melee or Brawl, often resulting in considerable differences in matchups between characters.

NTSC-J to NTSC-U changes

Names

  • "Dummy Corps" changed from "Fighting Polygon Team".
  • Vs. Match changed from "Battle Royal" to "Free-for-all".
  • The "New Comers" option in the Backup Clear section of the Option menu was changed to "Newcomers".
  • Some terms in the VS Mode player settings, Item Switch menu, and Training Mode are different:
Japan International
MAN HMN
COM CPU
NOT N/A
Slow Speed
Nothing None
Escape Evade
HomerunBat HomeRunBat
Harisen Fan
LayGun RayGun
BombTrooper Bob-omb
MonsterBall PokéBall
Near Close-up
  • English translations of the original names of the stages can be seen on the stage select screen in the Japanese version, though some stages gain additional subtitles or have a different translation than those used in international versions:
Japanese Translation Stage
IN THE SKY OF
CASTLE PEACH
Peach's Castle
SECTOR Z
ABORD A GREAT FOX
Sector Z
CLASSIC MUSHROOM
KINGDOM
Mushroom Kingdom
CASTLE OF HYRULE
Hyrule Castle

As a programming oversight, the first line in Peach's Castle Japanese translation is not centered.

Menus

  • The "Characters" section of the Data menu mentioned the year and month a game was released in the "Works" section, like in future games, but this was removed; also, the last bracket after the name of a game was thinner in some biographies than it was in others, though they are always thin internationally.
    • Additionally, Luigi's biography mentioned Super Mario USA in that section, but this was changed to Mario Kart 64.
    • Mario's biography mentioned Super Mario 64, but this was also changed to Mario Kart 64.
  • The Nintendo 64 controller shown in the screen which appears when the game starts without any controller connected is slightly darker in the Japanese version. It also uses a pink tone in shaded areas, such as the circle around the D-Pad, that was changed to gray. A small pink circle on top of the A button was removed.
  • The Training Mode menu does not have spacing between the letters in the meaning of the options, and the options themselves are closer to their meanings; the red arrows between the option have much less spacing. Translations of both the highlighted meaning and selected option are shown below the EXIT option.

How to Play

In the Japanese version, the on-screen movements for the "How to Play" tutorial video are less refined than in international versions and are often performed slightly out of sync with the controls shown directly below. International versions made the gameplay sync up more smoothly with the instructions as a result.

Some of the differences in the "How to Play" tutorial video include:

  • Luigi does not fast-fall after jumping in the Japanese version.
  • Luigi fights back more in the Japanese version.
  • Luigi does not taunt after Mario grabs the ledge in the Japanese version.
  • The Fire Flower does not fall off in the Japanese version.
  • Luigi hits Mario by throwing the Fire Flower when they are showing off how to use items in the Japanese version.
  • Mario and Luigi do not face each other when they are showing off how to jump in the Japanese version.
  • Mario and Luigi dash sooner when they are showing off how to move in the Japanese version.
  • Luigi techs while Mario is showing off the power moves in the Japanese version.
  • Luigi does not duck before jumping in the Japanese version.

Saffron City

  • In the Japanese version, the banner in the stage background which says "Got a Catch 'em All!" is missing the second T and has a space there instead, which was fixed in the international versions. The font also appears to have been rewritten to accommodate this.
  • "Silf" on the main building was changed to "Silph".

Bonus stages (Break the targets)

  • At the very top of Link's Break the Targets stage, the platform that Link can stand on with the 3 targets above were placed to be lower in the NTSC release, possibly due to Link's jump height and his up-b height being changed

Character sizes

  • Mario and Luigi were made a little bigger in the international versions, though Metal Mario remained the same height.
  • Kirby is a little smaller in the international versions.

1P Game

  • In the Japanese version for Stage 1, on any difficulty settings except for Hard, Link would stand and not attack for a few seconds (excluding floor attacks) if his damage was below 21%. This was changed so that he moves and attacks immediately after the match has started.
  • The Japanese version does not have the congratulatory screens shown after completing the mode.

Point yield

The point yield for most of the bonuses were altered between the Japanese and international versions.

Bonus Japanese International
Normal bonuses
(Time remaining bonus
[excludes bonus stages])
(100 per second) (50 per second)
Booby Trap 8,000 12,000
Bumper Clear 3,000 11,000
Comet Mystic 7,000 10,000
Hawk 10,000 18,000
Heartthrob 8,000 17,000
Heavy Damage 10,000 28,000
Item Strike 10,000 20,000
Item Throw 10,000 16,000
Jackpot 5,000 3,330
Judo Warrior 4,000 5,000
Last Second 10,000 8,000
Lucky 3 8,000 9,990
Mew Catch 8,000 15,000
Mystic 6,000 7,000
No Damage 10,000 15,000
No Item 5,000 1,000
No Miss 1,500 5,000
Pacifist 30,000 60,000
Pokémon Finish 8,000 11,000
Shield Breaker 5,000 8,000
Shooter 5,000 12,000
Smash Mania 3,000 3,500
Smash-less 3,000 5,000
Speedster 8,000 10,000
Star Clear 8,000 12,000
Star Finish 2,000 10,000
Trickster 8,000 11,000
Vegetarian 5,000 9,000
Stage-specific bonuses
Yoshi Rainbow 15,000 50,000
ARWING Clear 3,000 4,000
Bros. Calamity 12,000 25,000
Good Friend 5,000 8,000
True Friend 30,000 25,000
DK Defender 7,000 10,000
Kirby Ranks 12,000 25,000
Acid Clear 1,000 1,500
No Damage 10,000 15,000
Perfect 10,000 30,000
Completion bonuses
No Damage Clear 300,000 400,000
No Miss Clear 40,000 70,000
Speed Demon 60,000 80,000
Speed King 20,000 40,000
Very Easy Clear 40,000 70,000
Easy Clear 80,000 140,000
Normal Clear 120,000 210,000
Hard Clear 160,000 280,000
Very Hard Clear 200,000 350,000

Gameplay

Universal mechanics

  • The distance traveled by Smash DI is 40% longer, allowing the defender to get out of combos much easier and making it so multi-hitting attacks are less reliable.
  • All attacks have 1 extra frame of hitlag. The exact formula was changed from ⌊⌊⌊d/3 + 4⌋ * e⌋ * c⌋ to ⌊⌊⌊d/3 + 5⌋ * e⌋ * c⌋
  • The shieldstun formula has changed from d * 1.75 + 3 (rounded up) to d * 1.62 + 4 (rounded down). This essentially means that most attacks have slightly reduced shieldstun unless they deal 1%, 2%, 4% or 5%.
  • The momentum slide has been removed for all characters.

Aesthetics

  • Beam Sword given an altered sound to sound less like a lightsaber, presumably to prevent copyright infringement.
  • Title screen changed from 'Dairantou Smash Brothers' to "Super Smash Bros." and has a brighter logo.
  • The punch and kick sound effects are completely different. The Japanese version has more violent hitting sounds, while the US/PAL versions have Bowling ball-like hitting sounds. Other hit sounds effects such as the "Slash" and Ping sound effects remain unchanged, although some moves had their hit sound effects changed.
    • The narrator has a few re-recorded lines in the Western version; samples such as "Fox", "Board The Platforms", and "Break the Targets" are spoken bolder and clearer. The re-recorded samples have a slightly different echo effect than the Japanese originals.
  • Stage Select screen has a rough English translation for stage names placed over the series icon in the Japanese version, this was removed in the US version.
  • The sign on the side of the Silph Co. headquarters building in Saffron City reads "Silph" in the US version as opposed to the Japanese version's "Silf"; in addition, the banner on the background building to the left, which contained the typo "Got a Catch 'em All!", was corrected to "Gotta Catch 'em All!".

Captain Falcon

  • Buff Captain Falcon runs faster (70 → 75).
  • Nerf Captain Falcon keeps less horizontal momentum from a grounded jump (0.35 → 0.31).
  • Nerf Captain Falcon has reduced jump power (grounded: 25 → 24; midair: 0.95 → 0.9).
  • Change Captain Falcon's falling speed was increased (60 → 66), improving his endurance but making him more susceptible to combos.
  • Nerf Falcon Dive covers less distance.

Donkey Kong

  • Change Donkey Kong is slightly heavier (0.84 → 0.83).
    • In Later Smash games' terms: 138 → 141
  • Buff Clean back aerial has increased base knockback (0 → 10).
  • Buff Down aerial deals more knockback (10 (base), 80 (scaling) → 15/90).
  • Nerf Opponents require six less button inputs to escape from forward throw.
  • Buff Spinning Kong has more vertical lift (676.32 → 809.72).

Fox

  • Buff Down tilt deals 2% more damage (10% → 12%) and has increased base knockback (0 → 25).
  • Change Down smash has a horizontal knockback angle instead of a vertical knockback angle (70° → 25°), making it worse for combos but better at edge guarding.
  • Nerf Down smash deals less knockback (30 (base), 100 (scaling) → 35/80).
  • Buff Blaster deals more damage (5% → 6%).
  • Change Blaster's angle has been altered (361° → 10°).
  • Nerf Blaster has decreased set knockback (5 → 1).
  • Buff Fire Fox deals 3% more damage (13% → 16%) and has increased knockback (65 (base), 50 (scaling) → 60/60).
  • Change Fire Fox now launches opponents vertically (361° → 80°).
  • Nerf Fire Fox no longer has invincibility frames.
  • Buff Reflector has an increased reflection multiplier (1.5x → 1.8x).

Jigglypuff

  • Change Jigglypuff has all new voice clips due to its name change from "Purin" to "Jigglypuff".
  • Change Jigglypuff has a different blinking pattern while taunting.
  • Buff Taunt has less ending lag (FAF 67 → 61).
  • Buff Down smash has more range on both sides as its foot hitboxes have been repositioned to cover the space past Jigglypuff's feet rather than its legs (x offset: 100 → 200).
  • Buff Rest deals more damage (14% → 20%) and knockback (20 (base), 140 (scaling) → 60/120), significantly improving its KO potential.
  • Change Rest now makes the ping sound effect when it connects rather than a heavy kick sound.

Kirby

  • Change Kirby is about 3% smaller (0.94 → 0.91) This gives his attacks less range but also makes him harder to hit (granted he has not performed the bigger Kirby glitch).
  • Nerf Rolls are shorter (without the bigger Kirby glitch) due to Kirby's smaller size.
  • Change Neutral attack's second hit now uses a weak punch sound instead of a medium punch sound.
  • Change Neutral attack's loop hits launch opponents at a slightly lower angle (70° → 65°).
  • Nerf Neutral attack's loop hits have smaller hitboxes (90u → 50u) and the far hitbox has been moved closer to Kirby (x offset: 200 → 165).
  • Nerf Up and down smash both deal 2% less damage (18% (up)/20% (down) → 16%/18%) and have decreased base knockback (24 (up)/40 (down) → 20/30).
  • Nerf Up aerial deals less damage on the clean and mid hits (12% (clean)/9% (mid) → 10%/8%).
  • Nerf Up aerial has a smaller hitbox (150u → 105u).
  • Change Forward throw sends at a higher, more diagonal angle (45° → 70°), granting it vertical KO ability but hindering its horizontal KO potential and hindering its ability to set up edgeguards.
  • Buff Forward throw has increased base knockback (80 → 100).
  • Buff Forward throw has gained a collateral hit when Kirby lands.
  • Buff Kirby releases opponents from forward throw later (frame 56 → 58), decreasing its ending lag.
  • Nerf Final Cutter covers less distance when used on the ground (without the bigger Kirby glitch) due to Kirby's smaller size.
  • Nerf Stone deals 2% less damage (22% → 20%) and has decreased knockback scaling (78 → 70).

Link

  • Nerf Link walks slightly slower (0.4 → 0.37).
  • Nerf Link's gravity is higher (3.2 → 3.4). While this does improve his vertical endurance and his ability to land, it also makes him more susceptible to combos and more notably, it reduces the height of his jumps and his Spin Attack, hindering his recovery.
  • Buff Link's shield size is slightly larger (260 → 280).
  • Nerf Up tilt deals 5% less damage (15% → 10%), hindering its KO potential and significantly reducing its shieldstun, making it much less safe when shielded. It also sends opponents at a more horizontal angle (90° → 79°), removing its ability to combo into itself at low percents for easy combos.
    • Buff However, this improves its combo potential at higher percents.
  • Nerf Up tilt has smaller hitboxes (120u/90u → 100u/80u) and the far hitbox has been moved closer to Link (z offset: 260 → 240).
  • Nerf Up smash's first two hits deal 1% damage (8% (hit 1)/4% (hit 2) → 7%/3%) making it deal 2% less damage overall (24% → 22%).
  • Nerf Down aerial deals 2% less damage (18% → 16%), and has lower base knockback (30 → 25), hindering its KO potential and reducing its shieldstun.
  • Nerf Down aerial's tip has a smaller hitbox (180u → 150u).
  • Nerf Spin Attack grants less height due to Link's higher gravity.
  • Nerf Bombs deal less damage when they explode (8% → 5%).
  • Buff Bombs deal more damage when thrown (4% → 5%).
  • Buff Bombs deal more knockback when they explode, improving their combo potential.

Luigi

  • Change Luigi is bigger (1.0x → 1.12x). This improves his range but makes him easier to hit.
  • Buff Luigi's head hurtbox dimensions are marginally smaller ({155,200,150} → {155,160,150}).
  • Nerf Air Speed is reduced (26.0 → 22.5).
  • Buff Rolls travel farther due to Luigi's larger size.
  • Buff Forward Throw does more damage (12% → 16%), making it much stronger despite its reduced base knockback (80 → 70).
  • Nerf Back Throw does less damage (16% → 12%), hindering its KO potential despite its increased base knockback (70 → 80).
  • Nerf Fireballs deal less knockback (22 (base), 50 (scaling) → 10/25) and have a shorter duration (frames 16-104 → 16-94).
  • Nerf Fire Jump Punch's grounded sweetspot deals less knockback (100 (base), 78 (scaling) → 90/80), hindering its KO potential despite its altered angle (80° → 90°).
  • Buff Aerial Fire Jump Punch's sweetspot deals more damage (24% → 25%) and has more knockback scaling (78 → 80).
  • Nerf Aerial Fire Jump Punch's sourspot deals less damage (2% → 1%).
  • Buff Super Jump Punch covers more distance due to Luigi's larger size.

Mario

  • Change Mario is bigger (1.0x → 1.12x). This improves his range but makes him easier to hit.
  • Buff Mario's head hurtbox dimensions are marginally smaller ({148,160,138} → {148,140,138}).
  • Buff Rolls travel farther.
  • Buff Fireballs deal more damage (6% → 7%).
  • Buff Fireballs travel a longer distance.
  • Nerf Fireballs deal less knockback (22 (base), 50 (scaling) → 10/25).
  • Buff Super Jump Punch covers more distance due to Mario's larger size.

Ness

  • Nerf Up tilt deals less damage (8% → 7%) and has increased base knockback (70 → 80), hindering its combo potential when stale.
  • Buff Up tilt's angle has been altered (96° → 100°) improving its combo potential.
  • Nerf Forward smash deals less damage (20% → 18%) and has decreased knockback scaling (67 → 65).
  • Buff Forward smash has an increased reflection multiplier (1.5x → 1.8x).
  • Nerf Up smash's clean hit deals less damage (19% → 17%) and sends opponents at a less favorable angle (105° → 110°) hindering its KO potential despite its increased base knockback (0 → 20).
    • Buff However, these changes improve its combo potential.
  • Nerf Mid and late up smash deal less damage (17% (mid)/14% (late) → 15%/13%) with the mid hit also sending opponents at a less favorable angle (90° → 78°).
  • Nerf Down smash deals less damage (21% → 19%).
  • Nerf Up aerial deals 2% less damage (17% → 15%) and has decreased knockback scaling (120 → 110), hindering its KO and shield pressuring potential.
    • Buff However, these changes improve its combo potential.
  • Nerf Up aerial has a smaller hitbox (190u → 175u).
  • Buff PK Fire deals more damage (2% (fire & pillar) → 7% (fire), 3% (pillar), 16% → 25% (total)).
  • Nerf PK Fire travels a shorter distance.
  • Nerf PK Thunder 2 deals less damage (35% → 30%) and knockback (50 (base), 100 (scaling) → 40/84).
  • Nerf PK Thunder 2 has a smaller hitbox (200u → 150u).
  • Nerf PK Thunder 2 has a shorter duration (frames 1-28 → 1-18), less invincibility (frames 1-17 → 1-9), and more landing lag (30 frames → 42).

Pikachu

  • Change Neutral attack has decreased base knockback (8 → 4).
  • Buff Up angled forward tilt deals more damage (9% → 11%).
  • Nerf Down angled forward tilt deals less damage (10% → 9%).
  • Buff Dash attack has higher base knockback (20 → 40).
  • Buff Forward smash's late hit's hitboxes have been repositioned and it has gained a third hitbox which reaches further out, increasing its range.
  • Buff Clean Thunder Jolt deals more damage (8% → 10%).
  • Buff Thunder Jolt has a longer duration (98/99 frames → 118/119).
  • Nerf Thunder Jolt deals less knockback (30 (base), 50 (scaling) → 50/30 (clean), 20/50 → 10/20 (late)).

Samus

  • Change The second hit of neutral attack now has a medium punch sound instead of a heavy punch.
  • Buff Up smash has increased base knockback (10 → 22).
  • Buff Up smash's near hitbox is larger (185u → 200u), allowing it to hit grounded opponents more reliably.
  • Buff Up smash's hitboxes have a longer duration, except for the last hitbox (2 frames → 3).
    • Buff Altogether, these changes make up smash connect more reliably, especially at lower percents.
  • Nerf Grounded Screw Attack has fewer invincibility frames on startup (frames 1-11 → 1-5 frames).
  • Change Screw Attack's loop hits now have a weak kick sound instead of a medium kick.

Yoshi

  • Buff Yoshi's double-jump has increased armor (110 → 140).
  • Buff Yoshi's double-jump has increased horizontal velocity (0.35 → 0.4).
  • Buff Yoshi has increased air speed (40 → 44).
  • Change Yoshi has increased falling speed (55 → 58).
  • Change Yoshi has increased gravity (2.7 → 2.8).
  • Change Up tilt and down tilt now have a medium kick sound rather than a heavy kick.
  • Buff Down smash deals 1% more damage (13% → 14%) and launches opponents at a lower angle (35° → 30°), improving its KO and edgeguarding potential.

NTSC-U to PAL (AUS) changes

Aesthetics

  • Kirby's Fun Pak referred to as Kirby's FAN PAK ('FAN' being a typo); Kirby's Fun Pak was the official PAL region title for Kirby Super Star
  • Star Fox referred to as STARWING; Starwing was the game's official PAL region title
  • Star Fox 64 referred to as LYLATWARS; Lylat Wars was the game's official PAL region title

Gameplay

Link

  • Nerf Link's air speed has been reduced (31 → 27).
  • Nerf Link's Midair Jump Multiplier was given a very slight decrease (0.9 → 0.85).
  • Nerf Link's starting horizontal air velocity multiplier for his midair jump was also given a slight decrease (0.35 → 0.34).
  • Buff Link's fast falling speed was significantly increased (102 → 110).

Samus

  • Nerf Samus' air speed has been reduced (28 → 26).
  • Nerf Back aerial has reduced knockback scaling (145 → 130).
  • Nerf Down aerial has smaller hitboxes (125u/140u → 110u/125u).

Fox

  • Nerf Forward tilt has smaller hitboxes (100u/100u → 80u/80u).
  • Nerf Forward tilt's foot hitbox has been repositioned closer to Fox's foot (x offset: 140 → 120), giving it less range.

Pikachu

  • Buff Up tilt has increased base knockback (10 → 15).
  • Buff Late forward smash deals more damage (18% → 20%).
  • Buff Down aerial deals more damage (13% → 14%).
  • Buff Thunder deals more damage (12% (thunderbolt)/16% (shockwave) → 14%/18%).

Jigglypuff

  • Nerf Down aerial has smaller hitboxes (180u/180u → 170u/170u).
  • Nerf Down aerial auto-cancels later (frame 33 → 40).
  • Nerf Rest has a much smaller hitbox (130u → 60u).

PAL (AUS) to PAL (EUR) changes

General

  • The language can be set to English, French, or German. When set to French or German, the announcer is replaced with a French/German announcer.
  • When the language is set to German, the German announcer does not have separate voice clips for "Captain Falcon", "Computer Player" or "Team Battle". Instead, the English announcer voice clips “Captain Falcon”, “Computer Player” and “Team Battle” are used.

Gameplay

Link

  • Buff Link's air speed was significantly increased (27 → 37).
  • Buff Link's air acceleration is higher (0.04 → 0.05).
  • Buff Link's Midair Jump Multiplier was given a very slight increase (0.85 → 0.88).
  • Buff Link is significantly heavier (0.96 → 0.9).
    • In Later Smash games' terms: 108 → 122
  • Buff Forward smash deals more damage (20% (clean)/12% (late) → 24%/14%), improving its KO potential and increasing its shieldstun.

Jigglypuff

  • Change Jigglypuff has all new voice clips when the game is set to French or German due to its name change from "Jigglypuff" to "Rondoudou" and "Pummeluff" respectively.

Stage names

English French German Chinese (Simplified)
Peach's Castle Château de Peach Toadstools Schloß 桃花城堡, Taohua Chengbao (lit. Peach Blossom Castle)
Congo Jungle Jungle du Congo Tiefster Kongo 刚果丛林, Gangguo Conglin (lit. Congolese)
Hyrule Castle Château d'Hyrule Schloß Hyrule 海拉鲁城堡, Hailalu Chengbao (lit. Hailaru Castle)
Planet Zebes Planète Zebes Planet Zebes 泽贝斯行星, Zebesi Xingxing (lit. Zebes Planet)
Yoshi's Island Île Yoshi Yoshi-Insel 耀西岛, Yaoxi Dao (lit. Yoshi Island)
Dream Land Pays des Rêves Dream Land 梦幻国, Menghuan Guo (lit. Dreamland)
Sector Z Secteur Z Sektor Z Z地区, Z Diqu (lit. Z Area)
Saffron City Safrania Saffronia City 金黄市, Jinhuang Shi (lit. Golden City)
Mushroom Kingdom Royaume Champignon Donut-Ebene 古代王国, Gudai Wangguo (lit. Ancient Kingdom)

See also

References