Pause

This article is about the feature. For the button itself, see Start/Pause Button

When a game is paused, all action on the screen stops, giving players the opportunity to take a break in the middle of a match. Pausing also allows for players to abandon the match by pressing a certain button combination which varies by game. It also allows for players to look around the screen by adjusting the camera angle and zoom. Pausing can be turned off if the players wish for it to be. In all Smash Bros. games, pausing is activated by pressing the Start/Pause Button.

Pausing the game for minor reasons is generally frowned upon as it can disrupt gameplay, though there are, of course, exceptions. Pausing can be disabled if the players so choose.

In Brawl, game elements (such as Final Smashes or the next character in line during a mid-match character swap) continue to load when the game is paused. This can be abused, such as making events like Co-Op Event 5: The Yoshi Team of 50 easier (by shortening loading time compared to time remaining).

When in the Subspace Emissary, player 2 can not pause the game. Instead, pressing the Start/Pause button causes the character to Space Jump.