Super Smash Bros. U/3D

For character announcements, I think Athrun's idea of a Chrom/Lucina character is a good one, even though I have come to dislike Awakening.

As for myself I would really like to see Shulk from Xenoblade make the cut, easily makes one of my best Wii games. He would fit in Aesthetically and Monolith Soft, to my best knowledge, Is owned by Nintendo.

So, apparently Ubisoft were in talks with Nintendo to bring Rayman to Smash.

You can't just say that, Axis!  Link?  And, crucially, whether or not that rumour has been debunked?  Goodness knows he doesn't deserve to show up after the Legends fiasco.

Balladeer wrote:

Breaking the page is only allowed if Reggie is announced as playable.

I'm going to hold you to that.

Welp, U version is hindered from the off by releasing later, and also apparently by having less interesting stages (and multiplayer SSE!).  And playable Ridley just seemingly got nixed. 

For Glory mode looks a bit rubbish, but I like what they've done with the stages.  Glad they're setting up a Code of Conduct, too.

And no switiching? No Pokémon Trainer?  That's quite upsetting: another few spaces taken up with form changes, and one of the most diverse characters shelved. Still, Greninja is a fine palliative. Best new starter.

It's looking a bit special. Fair enough, it's from a director that looks to have largely got his way the last time round, but impressions so far indicate that it's got the potential to surpass Melee and Brawl. The 3DS Summer launch was a pleasant surprise too - Balladeer might be right in saying 'it's hindered from the off', but ultimately we're getting a new Smash Bros. much sooner than I think any of us expected. Well excited for both versions.

EDIT: Another thing: despite following Nintendo in various ways for the last twenty years, I got absolutely none of those trophy quiz answers. I think they just made them up on the spot. Anyone of them could have been Blenderbeer for all I knew.

No switching means the brilliant Zero Suit Samus doesn't suffer from grabbing a smash ball so I am very OK with that. The earlier 3DS release means I HAVE to get both versions now though...

That was my favourite Direct ever and had me grinning all the way through. Bring on summer!

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

The 3DS Summer launch was a pleasant surprise too - Balladeer might be right in saying 'it's hindered from the off', but ultimately we're getting a new Smash Bros. much sooner than I think any of us expected.

Yes, I shouldn't complain really.  More Smash sooner is a good thing, and Smash should do well enough across the board to render any slightly odd sales decisions moot.

And I've decided that actually, I can take the Trainer's absence, if this little fella is as brilliant as he (87.5% of the time) seems.

I had to look him up. I feared it might be something JRPG-ey at first (...which I guess it sort of us, but Pokémon gets a free pass as it's good).

A really fun watch. I'm sure there was a Sony-bashing glint inSakurai's eye when he said there's "nothing else like it". On hilarious form all the way through; the substitute, the Zero-suit trolling, the trophy quizzes. Who didn't get Fi though?

I didn't get the FE girl or the Metroid things. And I want that Substitute! Although it reminds me of a slightly wrong comic...

Thinking about it, spacing them a bit might be productive. Allows each copy to have its moment in the sun, so that's potentially two marketing drives (ha ha... as if), one version releasing just as people get over the other, and the Wii U version as a Christmas game. And Smash should sell by the bucketload anyway. Might not be so silly after all...

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

Anyone of them could have been Blenderbeer for all I knew.  

Balladeer wrote:

And playable Ridley just seemingly got nixed. 

We saw a shadow of what could very well be a Meta Ridley boss character. Normal Ridley is sill possible. Beleive.

Also, that Pseudo-Palutena trophy troll.

As for that new character. I haven't got the froggiest idea of who he is. It would have been much better keeping Squirtle.

I'm assuming they went with Charizard instead of Pokemon Trainer so he can Mega Evolve like Lucario and Greninja has the potential to be a very good character although I wasn't aware of it's popularity, also probably means the end of Jigglypuff.   I must admit I actually though Greninja was Ghirahim when I seen the shadow so I'm a little disappointed about the reveal only because of that. I really want Blenderbeer to be a character now too.

It's astonishing how many characters we have in the roster so far with so many notable names missing, either there'll be a few disappointed customers or just a huge roster.

All the modes look great, can't wait to see what exclusives the Wii U version will have to offer.

So, finally got to see the direct, to sum it up really quickly.  

What I liked.

.) Wii U version coming out later and therefore not being horribly rushed like I feared
.) Zero suit samus getting buffed
.) Pit getting buffed
.) Little mac in general
.) greninja, need I say more?
.) Pokemon trainer and his two useless pokemon getting the bump, no more annoying Ash when the character is clearly Red!

What I didn't like

.) Zero suit samus trolling, how could you be so cruel Sakurai!    
.) Palkia turning the stage upside down, loathed it in brawl and I'll loath it here
.) No info on this interesting sounding custom move mechanic
.) No fire emblem rep
.) No Shulk
.) No Ganondorf
.) How useless villager looked


That last one is more because I just want to be sure he won't be a awful clone again, but the attention being given to making everyone viable that this direct has shown gives me at least some faith he'll be actually usable now.  Overall however I'm very happy after that direct, the game seems to be coming along perfectly and I look forward to getting the Wii u version.

I'll do a what I liked/didn't like thing too.

Liked:

- A release in time for Xmas for the Wii U version will do wonders.

- The For Glory mode. Might seem boring to some, but I love the idea of a bit of hardcore Smashing - moves the game clearly into "proper fighter" territory.

- That Pong assist trophy. Amazing.

- Master Balls, cool idea!

- Playing online now with friends has proper options this time.

- Zero Suit Samus! One of my favourites in Brawl, and she's looking cracking here.

- Sheik's back!

- Kirby's new Final Smash is great.

- Little Mac looks like a lot of fun to play. Looking forward to that.

- As a Mega Man fan, seeing his moveset was a real treat.

- MEGA CHARIZARD

- Greninja seems fun to play as too.

Didn't like: - That Balloon Fight stage looks really annoying.

- Staryu's back, the git.

- Sakurai toying with my emotions with ZSS.

- Sheik now having Snake's grenades would suggest he's not going to appear.

- URGH PSEUDO-PALUTENA

- The Villager looks naff.

- Not sure about the custom move sets.

All in all, looks like it's going to be something special.

How exactly can Pit be getting buffed? I saw people abuse that spin technique so why does he need one?

YOSHI!   

The "For Fun" mode sounds perfect. All the real Smash players will be there, with the "competitive" people in the other boring mode.

News that you can alter all the rules in friend matches is great, though. Hopefully it has a proper invite system.

Cube wrote:

The "For Fun" mode sounds perfect. All the real Smash players will be there, with the "competitive" people in the other boring mode.

 

This has to be a troll post - if not, then I hope you understand the irony in being elitist towards people you consider to think themselves "elite".

I think both modes sound great, coincidentally, and I'm glad there's a chance to either play with all the madness and chaos of usual Smash as well as testing my knowledge of the actual mechanics of the game against like-minded people.

JayMoyles wrote:

This has to be a troll post - if not, then I hope you understand the irony in being elitist towards people you consider to think themselves "elite".

I'd say "joke" more than "troll". I don't like Smash without items and stuff, so it's good that it caters to both kind of players. To me, Smash is the chaos.

I'll definitely be dipping into both modes. I love getting the full smash experience but as Smash is a fighter I can actually play to a reasonable degree I like the chance to show off my skills in a proper battle.

Also was it just me or does Little Mac look like he might be a tad OP? He looked so fast and strong, plus he has that super move...

I think he'll be fine if he's as weak aerially as is being hinted.  From the way it sounds it sounds like he'll barely be able to do anything in the air at all, with his jumps probably being short and not having much range, and his attacks probably being so weak they barely scratch the opponent.  As long as he's that weak it'll probably be rather easy to phase him to death for characters with good jumping abilities or ranged options along with decent jumping options. Sonic from the way he looks now can probably run and jump circles around him.

Jay wrote:

Didn't like: - That Balloon Fight stage looks really annoying.

Cube wrote:

News that you can alter all the rules in friend matches is great, though. Hopefully it has a proper invite system.

Well, the invite system in brawl was fine so the one for this game should be fine.

Just pre-ordered the 3DS version in a desperate, last-minute attempt to prevent myself from exploding from over-hype. The split release is a really clever idea. People will now buy both- The 3DS version will see them through to the Wii U version, which'll be the big daddy version. The 3DS' larger user base means it will pull people in, then they'll be suitably excited to buy a Wii U and the game, seeing as modes will be missing from the 3DS version. It also, as Balladeer suggested, allows for two seperate marketing pushes, and hopefully one of them might be seen by multiple people. It's perhaps the sharpest marketing move by Nintendo in a long time.

The game also looks very, very good and I am very, very excited.

I'll do a "likes and dislikes" thing as well.

Likes:

• SSB3D in summer! I'm going on holiday with the family, and this sounds like the perfect distraction. SSBU in winter is still sooner than I was honestly expecting.
  
• Most of the 3DS stages. Reset Bomb Forest, Gerudo Valley with the witches, Tortimer Island, and Streepass Quest all look great.
  
• Palutena's Temple looks like it'll give the original Temple stage a run for its money, while the Yellow Devil will add a new level of tactics to Wily's Castle.
  
• The Blue Shell's an item! Heck yes.  
  
• For Fun and For Glory. I'll mostly be playing the former. That said, I love the different Final Destinations. All music!
  
• Monitoring bastards online, especially drop-outs. As an admin., I approve.
  
• My two favourite witchy characters as assist trophies. Midna was never going to be playable anyway...  
  
• Riding on a Gogoat!
  
• Sakurai trolololling. I liked playing as ZSS in Brawl, and she looks like she'll only be stronger this time.
  
• Burst Grenade looks more useful than the chain, and all but confirms Snake's absence!  "Bouncing Fish", though? Really?
  
• General additions and balancing. Kirby's hammer and sword, Olimar's winged 'Min, and Pit in general all look pretty nice. Not sure if propping Yoshi up will save him from rubbishness, but there you go.
  
• Little Mac in general. Agreed with Athrun that his aerial incompetence should help balance things, but the KO Uppercut does seem... a bit much.
  
• The remix of Kapp'n's boat theme.  
  
• Custom movesets! And not for online apart from with friends, removing the Mario Tennis Open problem.
  
• Smash Run being what SSE ought to have been with its enemy mix, only in multiplayer. About time Chandelure got an appearance.
  
• Greninja being brilliant in every way.
  
• Sakurai looks about 16. D'aww.

Dislikes:

• Only two songs on 3DS stages. I'm sure they needed the space, but I like my music, damn it!
  
• Connectivity confirmed... to be detailed later.  
  
• Does anyone actually like SSBM's Jungle Japes? Anyone at all?
  
• Mecha Ridley reducing his organic counterpart's chance of being in the game.
  
• For Glory could have included Battlefield as well, you know.
  
• Lucario still seems a bit boring apart from his Final Smash.
  
• Link still has his sodding boomerang.  
  
• Lack of one-player information.
  
• Lack of Ridley, Palutena, or Mii announcements.
  
• Cube's Greninja pun.  

TL;DR: It's looking good!

Oh I forgot to say, I think it has one too many Pokemon as fighters especially that greninja thing.

FIGHT ME!