Character customization, officially character creation (キャラ作り, character creation), referred to as Custom Move Sets (カスタマイズ必殺ワザ, Customize Special Techniques) in the Smash Direct, is a feature in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. 4. It appears to allow players to alter several fundamental properties of characters' special moves. All characters have 12 different variations of moves to choose from, with the exception of Palutena and the Mii Fighters, who instead have a selection of completely different specials.
Before the Super Smash Bros. Direct where the feature was officially announced, in June 2013, Masahiro Sakurai had stated that players will be able to customize characters in the 3DS game and transfer those customizations to the Wii U game. He had also stated that the customizations will not be alternate costumes (though this was proven false as one can see in some of the Mii Fighters' screenshots), and that they would not have to be unlocked through repeated tasks.[1] It was later confirmed that they will be transferable between different copies of the game through amiibo figures.[2]
Character customization will be available when playing locally or when playing online with friends, but not when playing online with strangers.
The options for customizing movesets appear in the form of "Custom parts", which come in multiple types:
- Customize special attacks: Lets players change the special attacks of various characters.
- Equippable items: Collected through the games' numerous game modes, these items can be equipped to characters as to boost three potential stats: speed, attack, and defense. Some of these items may be identical in appearance, but offer different stat boosts. Currently, only a few of which are known.
- Max-Power Gloves: Boost attack power, and according to the name, are assumed to be the most powerful power-increasing item.
- High-Power Gloves: Boost attack power by a lot, but still lose to the above item.
- High-Speed Dash Shoes: Boost walking/running speed.
- Ultra-Lightweight Shoes: Same as above, but difference in stat boost is currently unknown.
- Easy Split-Second Shield Overalls: Increases defense, making characters who equip it harder to launch and lowers the damage they take.
- Type 3: (Name Unofficial): Can be used to customize the outfits and accessories of Mii Fighters.
Confirmed variations of special moves:
- Mario's Fire Orb is one of the variations of Fireball which is large with a swirly appearance. It moves significantly slower and hits multiple times.
- Mario's Fast Fireball is the second variation of Fireball which travels fast and straight. When demonstrated it was also shown to flinch but cause no knockback.
- Mario's Super Jump Punch can be turned into Explosive Punch, which produces fire and explosive damage.
- Mario's Super Jump is the second variation of Super Jump Punch. Nothing was confirmed about how it works yet.
- Mario has a move called Gust Cape that can replace Cape. No information, however, has been given about this.
- Mario has a move called Shocking Cape that can replace Cape. Nothing is known yet about this move yet.
- Mario's F.L.U.D.D. has two variations known as Scalding F.L.U.D.D. and High-Pressure F.L.U.D.D. that were briefly shown in the 2014 E3 Press Conference for Super Smash Bros for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Nothing is known about how they operate though.
- Donkey Kong's Giant Punch has a variation called Storm Punch, which creates a large gust of wind.
- Donkey Kong's Headbutt can be given knockback resistance and significantly slowed down.
- Kirby's Inhale can be turned into an ice breath attack, presumably disabling Kirby's ability to copy opponents.
- Marth's Shield Breaker can be altered to propel him forwards a significant distance on use.
- Pit's Palutena's Arrow shots can be changed to move slower and with more control.
- Bowser's Fire Breath can be turned into a large fireball with start up lag. It also seems to go through enemies.