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Project M v3.5 Blogpost #4: Debug Mode Revealed!

The Derrit

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Today's blog post from the Project M Dev Team is showing off a brand-new Debug Mode! Unlike the Debug Mode found in Smash Bros. Melee, this has been built from the ground up, with usability in mind. The Dev Team has devised colors for every hitbubble type, making it easier than ever to understand where a character is really hitting.


Red is for hitboxes, green is for respawn invincibility and blue is for pure invincibility!
The blog post goes into detail about how to activate this new mode, and what it can be used for.

This mode is very feature-rich; while it may not have EVERY feature that its predecessor does, it introduces a few new touches that Melee's didn't that we're sure you're going to love... This new Debug Mode has an unusual input combination, R + L + Dpad Down, to avoid accidental toggling during regular gameplay. Of course, Debug Mode comes stocked with a fully functional Frame Advance mode in order to gather frame data, test punishes, and find new combos to make use of. Press Start with Debug Mode activated to freeze gameplay and then advance frames with your Z button (normal start function is performed with X + Dpad Up). Input buttons by holding them before pressing Z.

And if none of that made sense, worry not:

If you're new to the series' inner workings and don't understand everything immediately, don't worry. All will be clear when the mode gets released.

This is not the only functionality this mode has. by pressing R + D-Pad Right, hitbubbles appear. When pressed twice, interpolation is shown. In layman's terms, it shows the area covered in hitbubbles for that frame AND the frame prior, which is the total area an attack is fully active. This can be used to better understand move's minute details, such as how long hitboxes stay out for and what area they cover.


Shiek with no hitbubbles, standard hitbubbles, and hitbubbles with interpolation
Read the full blogpost here.
Debug mode is a fairly technical tool, but when used properly it can help players learn a lot about their characters' moves, and those of their opponents as well! There is a second blogpost on the new Debug Mode incoming tomorrow, so keep it locked to Smashboards to hear more when it happens.

Will you use this new debug mode? Or is it all Greek to you? Make your voice heard in the comments below!

The Derrit is pumped to have an easy way to use Debug Mode - now he can see exactly how far those Ivysaur vines reach. Chat with him about Smash on Twitter at @TheDerrit.
 

Phan7om

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YAAASSSS!!!
Do you know how great this update is!?!?!!? OMG, this is the first thing I could've wished for. Thank's PMDT, ima go dance and cry now.
 
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D

Deleted member

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This is wonderful for people who need to learn matchups and hitboxes better. Need to know where exactly the spike is on Falco's Dair? Go to debug mode. Need to know how to space Marth's Fair? Go to debug mode. The best part is that the hitbubbles are very noticeable and you can see where each individual one is.
 

Xermo

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Based PMDT delivers
 
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Rᴏb

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This is seriously the best feature so far. Props.
 

Daftatt

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Of all the changes in 3.5, I better not see anyone complaining about this one. It's so... beautiful.
 

Drexel

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I could surely use this to figure out proper positioning and spacing for attacking more efficiently. Great job PMDT!
 
D

Deleted member

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wow, never expected this to actually get added. Magus must have put a huge amount of work into this.
 

Pokefan203

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So that's how marth's tip of the sword being stronger works. Debug mode training could actually improve competitive play.
 

D-idara

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Really good :D First good 3.5 change aside from costumes.
So that's how marth's tip of the sword being stronger works. Debug mode training could actually improve competitive play.
It can actually improve casual play, one of the main bad things about casual play is that you often miss or hit attacks because you haven't really studied their hitboxes, with this, hitbox studying becomes MUCH easier :D
 
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Spartiatis

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"Or is it all Greek to you?" loooool. I'm Greek and I find that funny.
 

KenboCalrissian

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I'm floored. Great job, PMBR! I can't wait to get a good look at Ivysaur and Mewtwo in this mode.
 

grandpappy

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I didn't even know I wanted this. The hype for this next update is UNREAL!
 

Hokori

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I wasn't expecting something like this AT ALL. I'm really understanding the jump from 3.02 to 3.5 now.
 

BobEugCox

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This is quite cool... I wonder if studying using this will help with gameplay for the upcoming Smash Bros games.
 

itsameluigi1290

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This is the greatest thing ever. I mean, being an aspiring game developer, debug is like, one of my favorite aspects! :D
 

Jbas234

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Not even kidding, I was about to post on here asking if hitbox data for Project M existed yet. This is amazing! Thanks, PMBR!
 

Time/SpaceMage

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Does frame advance work with replays? Can we all make TAS combos too now? :O

This is just the best day ever. How would you stop someone from turning this on mid-tournament though? Will it be linked to Enable Pausing or something?
 

Saikyoshi

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Sweet. Now all we need is Playable Master Hand and that gigantic coffee shop stage and the Action Replay Melee recreation will be complete.

Joking aside, I already have the gigantic coffee shop stage. Using this mode there will be awesome.
 
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4nace

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Looks great guys. Way better than what I have for my own game at the moment. Particularly the armor stuffs. Really cool.
 

Gene

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dat Sheik gif

 
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