New special ability in SSB4?

[LazerRage]

Every sequel to Smash Bros. has added a new special move to the fighters' move sets-- first in Melee there was the addition of the side-special attacks, then in Brawl the Final Smash was introduced. What will it be this time around?

A 5th special move?
Maybe splitting the side special into forwards and backwards? Why they should: lots of potential for fun new moves and more uniqueness in the roster overall. Why they should NOT: Might overly complicate the move sets, and add even more chaos to the already hectic gameplay.

Adding more "passive" special abilities?
Basically just adding another unique feature to each character besides a new special move- one example of what I mean by "passive ability" is Lucario's aura system. More examples:

• Pikachu could have his static ability, where if opponents make contact with Pikachu there's a small chance they'll get a tiny zap that breaks combos or stuns enemies.
• PokeTrainer's three fighters could have their respective weaknesses/strengths when battling: Grass-type attacks, including Olimar's pikmin, would be less effective against fire-type Charizard, while water-type Squirtle would take a lot more damage from a pikmin attack since grass is super effective against water, etc.
• Jigglypuff's cute charm ability, where an opponent has a chance of becoming infatuated with Jiggs if they make contact with her, doing less damage to her during the time of infatuation
• Mario could get a 1-UP if he manages to knock out 100 coins using his up-special jump-punch on opponents enough times.
• Wii Fit Trainer could use the idea of gaining strength from doing repetitions by increasing the power of certain exercise-based moves the more often she successfully performs them.
• Link could shoot a weak beam from his sword when he has 0% damage, like he does in many of the original top-down Zelda games once you find the Master Sword

Other "passive abilities" could be things already seen in Project M such as using taunts to make Samus switch missile types, plus letting Link switch arrows, Pit to switch orbitars, etc. They could also move transformations to the taunts, and give Zelda/Sheik and PokeTrainer more useful down-specials.


Character-Specific Assist Trophies/ Summons?
Assist Trophies that only certain characters can call.
How this could work: they'd look the same as every other AT at first, except it's sparkling/ flashing/ shining golden, etc. When used, the fighter calls a rep from their own history that ONLY THEY can summon. Maybe they perform a special attack together, even?

• Bowser could get a special assist from the Koopalings or Kamek, Mario could get a ride on a red Yoshi for a bit, Peach could call for Toadsworth, Luigi might ask Professor E. Gadd. for help, etc.
• Olimar could team up with Louie
• DK could charge in on his Rhino friend, Diddy could call in Funky Kong
• Ganondorf could call in Dark Link, Zelda could summon any of the sages, Link could utilize a fairy-companion somehow.

No shortage of characters for this so it could be a decent idea.


Levels of Final Smash?
Like many of the "____ vs. Capcom" games, or that Playstation All-Star Battle Royale nonsense, Smash Bros. could have a new 3-tier Final Smash system. Fighters can break up to 3 smash balls to gain levels, with the 3rd level being a super-strong move likely to wipe out most opponents on the screen if used correctly. It could basically go in two ways: having three separate, tiered attacks, OR having one Final Smash that gets significantly stronger as it levels up. They could also incorporate the idea above by making level-2 a special summon move for everyone.


Anyone else have ideas? What do you want to see added in as a new special mechanic?

 

[Amical]

Although I like most of these ideas, I think that stuff like this would make the game too complicated for casual players. Or, perhaps, just too complicated in general. I feel like there might be one more slight addition in this game, but nothing as drastic as these changes.
That's just my viewpoint, though~

 

[Luigi#1]

I like the passive one the most.

 

[mimgrim]

Backwards Special? Yes.

Everything else? No. Also Pikmin have their own element.....................

Well I actually don't care about the character specific summons.

 

[D-idara]

I'd love backward specials, tilts and smashes. And leveled Final Smashes.

 

[PixelPasta]

A fifth special move is an interesting idea, however I would not want it to be forward/backward. It would be too big of a change for the character to be unable to do their regular side special while facing the opposite direction.
That said.. the only other way I can see a fifth special move being incorporated is with a new type of button input.

Also, I am fond of the idea of having more 'passive' abilities. I liked your Wii Fit Trainer idea.
One concept I like is for Link - at 0%, his sword moves could fire a short range sword-beam!

Finally, as for character specific summons: I do like this idea. I honestly didn't care for assist trophies in Brawl, as they just seemed like a Pokeball rehash - but that mechanic would change things up. Some of my ideas:

Spoiler

LUIGI: Professor E. Gadd, Nabbit
PEACH: Toadsworth
BOWSER: Bowser Jr, Koopalings
YOSHI: Baby Mario, Poochy
WARIO: Waluigi, Kat & Ana, Ashley
LINK: Tingle, Midna, Fi
SAMUS: Anthony Higgs, Adam Jensen
FOX: Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare
WOLF: Leon Powalski, Panther Caroso
KIRBY: Gooey, Rick
KING DEDEDE: Bandanna Dee
PIT: Palutena, if she isn't playable
OLIMAR: Louie
NESS: Paula, Poo, Jeff
LUCAS: Boney, Claus
SONIC: Tails, Knuckles
VILLAGER: Tom Nook, Mr. Resetti
MEGA MAN: Roll, Protoman

 

[Morbi]

Yes, anything to diversify the game and ensure that it isn't an equivalent experience to Brawl. I actually really like the idea of passive abilities though, that would make the cast perfect, that is literally one of the best ideas I have ever had the pleasure of reading (in regards to Smash, that is).

I don't agree with posts that allude to some of these implements complicating the game, I don't see anything here drastically altering the meta-game aside from the passive abilities, which I find entirely necessary.

 

[LazerRage]

....

Also, I am fond of the idea of having more 'passive' abilities. I liked your Wii Fit Trainer idea.
One concept I like is for Link - at 0%, his sword moves could fire a short range sword-beam!

Finally, as for character specific summons: I do like this idea. I honestly didn't care for assist trophies in Brawl, as they just seemed like a Pokeball rehash - but that mechanic would change things up. Some of my ideas:
....

YES!! I can't believe I forgot the Master Sword's full-health beam! Yeah baby! As a huge Zelda fan I would love to see Link get some kind of interesting new mechanic and that would be perfect! Plus that would represent both the old Zelda games as well as the newest, since it's in A Link Between Worlds, and Skyward Sword has a skyward strike so it could definitely work as far as fan-service. I'm adding it to my original post!

 

[andalsoandy]

A fifth special move is an interesting idea, however I would not want it to be forward/backward. It would be too big of a change for the character to be unable to do their regular side special while facing the opposite direction.
That said.. the only other way I can see a fifth special move being incorporated is with a new type of button input.

Also, I am fond of the idea of having more 'passive' abilities. I liked your Wii Fit Trainer idea.
One concept I like is for Link - at 0%, his sword moves could fire a short range sword-beam!

Finally, as for character specific summons: I do like this idea. I honestly didn't care for assist trophies in Brawl, as they just seemed like a Pokeball rehash - but that mechanic would change things up. Some of my ideas:

Spoiler

LUIGI: Professor E. Gadd, Nabbit
PEACH: Toadsworth
BOWSER: Bowser Jr, Koopalings
YOSHI: Baby Mario, Poochy
WARIO: Waluigi, Kat & Ana, Ashley
LINK: Tingle, Midna, Fi
SAMUS: Anthony Higgs, Adam Jensen
FOX: Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare
WOLF: Leon Powalski, Panther Caroso
KIRBY: Gooey, Rick
KING DEDEDE: Bandanna Dee
PIT: Palutena, if she isn't playable
OLIMAR: Louie
NESS: Paula, Poo, Jeff
LUCAS: Boney, Claus
SONIC: Tails, Knuckles
VILLAGER: Tom Nook, Mr. Resetti
MEGA MAN: Roll, Protoman

Jiggs could summon multiple Igglybuffs, or Wigglytuff.

That sounds so adorable.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

 

[Overtaken]

I think most of the cast already has unique properties to them, like lucario doing more damage as he takes damage, IC and Rosaluma getting two fighters on the field, several can interact with items in unique ways. But of course, many characters don't have such properties and they could definitely strive to add more.

Back specials, I support it, but won't feel cheated if they don't, 4 specials work and I'd be more excited to see them 'luigify' or eliminate clones instead.

Doing special things with final smashes and trophies would be neat for a while but most of us don't play with those turned on, in the long run.

 

[D-idara]

I think most of the cast already has unique properties to them, like lucario doing more damage as he takes damage, IC and Rosaluma getting two fighters on the field, several can interact with items in unique ways. But of course, many characters don't have such properties and they could definitely strive to add more.

Back specials, I support it, but won't feel cheated if they don't, 4 specials work and I'd be more excited to see them 'luigify' or eliminate clones instead.

Doing special things with final smashes and trophies would be neat for a while but most of us don't play with those turned on, in the long run.

But there's a good number of us that do love Final Smashes and think fighting games are bland and boring without flashy supermoves.

 

[Souless_shadow]

I really like the specific character summons and I think some if these would work.
Ike = Micaiah
Chrom = Frederick
Lucas = Boney or Kumatora
Pit = Dark Pit
Palutena = Centurion Strongarm
Zelda = Impa
Rosalina = Lubba
Mega Man = Zero or Tron Bonne

 

[pitthekit]

I love the passive idea and the backwards special. I feel that as long as the game explains the passive effects to the player beforehand that players would not mind this addition.

 

[kikaru]

Personally I feel character specific Assist Trophies/Summons encroach too much on the already present mechanics of Assist Trophies to stand out unless you are thinking of summons in the way that Jump Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars use them, then that would be an entirely new mechanic all around.

A fifth move might over-complicate the game as well as potentially disrupt already existing side-specials and adding passives needs to be done correctly otherwise it begins to encroach on other abilities in game and/or become too gimmicky.

If we take Cute Charm for example should it only affect members of the opposite gender and how will this effect Ice Climbers or ROB? And adding a random chance to infatuate/stun opponents with passives like Cute Charm and Static will negatively effect gameplay as badly as random tripping.

Adding passives should allow the player to participate and utilize it actively instead of reactively, this is why passives like Lucario's (Albeit still needed some improvements) and Lucas' worked (Project: M) while the stamina bar for Pokemon Trainer flopped. Taunting to transform as you mentioned would be a fantastic idea for characters like Zelda/Sheik and Pokemon Trainer as it frees up another special attack slot while allowing a player to play actively.

Passives, should more be added, need to be done carefully without disrupting gameplay balance/ becoming too broken.

 

[LancerStaff]

I vote for shield specials. Moving counters and reflectors to R+B makes them safer and much more usable. Honestly, who's ever seen Marth's counter in a serious match?

 

[KoRLumen]

I vote for shield specials. Moving counters and reflectors to R+B makes them safer and much more usable. Honestly, who's ever seen Marth's counter in a serious match?

Well, it's not as uncommon as you think. I've definitely seen a few matches where a FE character used their counter to great effect.

 

[josh bones]

I vote for shield specials. Moving counters and reflectors to R+B makes them safer and much more usable. Honestly, who's ever seen Marth's counter in a serious match?

How does the button make it safer?

 

[DakotaBonez]

Ledge Special.

 

[LancerStaff]

How does the button make it safer?

You can shield and then use it without a shield drop animation, and it'd take less effort to mentally change from shield to counter.

 

[Morbi]

How does the button make it safer?

You can use it while blocking, thus making it safe. It isn't about the button, it is about the practical application of the move. You could counter while being pressured as opposed to trying to counter based on a read.

 

[pitthekit]

Counter is actually a great move on people who Abuse the f*** of aerials. Lol in brawl if I see a meta knight u air camp I will run up with marth and counter. Free kill.

 

[ryuu seika]

-Back Special: Lol no! For any inexperienced player, that would be a nightmare. Trying to get newbies into Smash is hard enough as is.

-More Passives: Elemental alignment and spam encouragement are not good ideas. In most cases, this would do more harm than good.

-Character Specific Assists: Would lessen the number of regular assists, giving each more chance of appearing. It would also give hardcore nintendo fans more reason to play every character and add more interest to a crappy item. Total win IMO.

-Multi-Tier FSs: Could only be good for balance but might detract from the gimmicky unique supermove feel FSs were meant to have.

 

[RSF-Blue bomber]

I really like the passive abilities! but what would be megamans

 

[josh bones]

I really like the passive abilities! but what would be megamans

He dies instantly when a spike touches him.

 

[LazerRage]

I figured it should have been obvious that ANY mechanic they add, it needs to be balanced if its a new feature. The argument "They shouldn't add feature X because it would make the roster imbalanced," is almost NEVER valid. Only if we are breaking down a specific character's moves, maybe, but even then there are always going to be checks and balances throughout the roster, so it still pretty much goes without saying.

I think most of the cast already has unique properties to them, like lucario doing more damage as he takes damage, IC and Rosaluma getting two fighters on the field, several can interact with items in unique ways. But of course, many characters don't have such properties and they could definitely strive to add more.

Back specials, I support it, but won't feel cheated if they don't, 4 specials work and I'd be more excited to see them 'luigify' or eliminate clones instead.

Doing special things with final smashes and trophies would be neat for a while but most of us don't play with those turned on, in the long run.

I completely agree that many of them DO already feel as though they have a unique quality- these are the sorts of things I'm alluding to, and The Ice Climbers' dual-teaming, Lucario's aura, etc are examples.... maybe even Peach's float and Olimar's pikmin tactics could be seen as examples of this too, but I'm glad you're on the same page, that a few fighters could still use more...

*AHEM* Link-if we are counting his two-hit side-smash, then he needs something new and something actually from a game, not like his totally made-up Final Smash, yet another wasted opportunity.... cough cough Pikachu (generating electricity doesn't count). Definitely Mario (honestly, don't get me started. I'm still busy crying over FLUDD) and yes, DK too... what if he was made so strong that his ability is he can grab two opponents, one in each hand? o.O

Personally I feel character specific Assist Trophies/Summons encroach too much on the already present mechanics of Assist Trophies to stand out unless you are thinking of summons in the way that Jump Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars use them, then that would be an entirely new mechanic all around.

A fifth move might over-complicate the game as well as potentially disrupt already existing side-specials and adding passives needs to be done correctly otherwise it begins to encroach on other abilities in game and/or become too gimmicky.

If we take Cute Charm for example should it only affect members of the opposite gender and how will this effect Ice Climbers or ROB? And adding a random chance to infatuate/stun opponents with passives like Cute Charm and Static will negatively effect gameplay as badly as random tripping.

Adding passives should allow the player to participate and utilize it actively instead of reactively, this is why passives like Lucario's (Albeit still needed some improvements) and Lucas' worked (Project: M) while the stamina bar for Pokemon Trainer flopped. Taunting to transform as you mentioned would be a fantastic idea for characters like Zelda/Sheik and Pokemon Trainer as it frees up another special attack slot while allowing a player to play actively.

Passives, should more be added, need to be done carefully without disrupting gameplay balance/ becoming too broken.

For my original idea for Jiggly's cute charm, I just figured some liberty would have to be taken, and every character regardless of gender could become "infatuated." However, maybe it could be part of the checks and balances of the roster that Jigglypuff's cute charm is ineffective on females and ROB- hey, maybe ROB's special passive would be that he is unaffected by sleep-causing moves or infatuation, etc.

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

Pivot dash attack

 

[LazerRage]

Pivot dash attack

Ohhhh interesting twist to the back-special idea. Some characters might have opportunities for serious mind-gaming with this

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

Ohhhh interesting twist to the back-special idea. Some characters might have opportunities for serious mind-gaming with this

Yup. It could make reads on wake up very interesting, but also could be balanced so that if it is mistimed or the player read wrong he can either be punished or lose his pressure position on the opponent.

The only possible issue I can see input wise would be that if dash dancing returned so doing a regular dash attack out of a dance may be more difficult, but on the flipside you can do some crazy mix ups this way.

Maybe the input could be back+B or back+A+B to prevent confusion .

 

[Superyoshiom]

Although I like most of these ideas, I think that stuff like this would make the game too complicated for casual players. Or, perhaps, just too complicated in general. I feel like there might be one more slight addition in this game, but nothing as drastic as these changes.
That's just my viewpoint, though~

I share this sentiment completely.

 

[Ussi]

I'm up for unique traits ie: Link's shield blocking projectiles and Peach being able to float as examples. They can't be random though, thats just stupid.

 

[DaDavid]

Unique traits would be pretty cool, I could be all behind that.
Honestly I'd like Shield Specials as well, but the one thing I think would/could be pretty interesting would be air grabs.

 

[LancerStaff]

Unique traits would be pretty cool, I could be all behind that.
Honestly I'd like Shield Specials as well, but the one thing I think would/could be pretty interesting would be air grabs.

Eh, air grabs would become a tool to camp with once you get ahead a stock. It's the same situation with bubble camping.

 

[Forcerounds]

I kind of want each character to have a "Burst", but I only say that because I like them in traditional fighting games. For Smash Bros, they'd work differently than just pushing your opponents away from you when you are locked in a combo.

You get a limited amount per game. 1 or 2 at most. Once they are used, they won't come back. What all characters bursts will do is stop their momentum when launched in the air and reset their recovery. Because this ability gives characters a chance to save their life if they are unable to recover, there is a significant drawback for using a burst: Your shield will be in a near broken state and will recover back to full size slowly. One hit on your shield after just using a burst and you're stunned (dead if you are Jigglypuff, who shouldn't need to use bursts anyway).

Each character has a unique side effect of their burst. Some will deal a small amount of damage. Mario's will simply set things aflame in the small radius of his burst. Others create a stage hazard, like Bowser who will make small fireballs fall from the sky and land on the stage a la Super Mario World. And some will cause a status effect for anyone within radius. Luigi's Final Smash from Brawl would be used for his burst at a smaller scale, and will simply cause anyone within his circle to have a flower sprout from their head.

And of course, bursts can be turned off for those who don't like them.

 

[JOE!]

Back specials are a no-go due to how side specials work: they are intended to be able to use "behind you" in that they instantly turn your character around which can be invaluable.

Passive abilities / abilities in general like Link's Shield, Aura, Floating and such however are always great