Sakurai On Wii Fit Trainer, Villager and The Order of Character Announcements

[TewnLeenk]

In an interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Super Smash Bros series director Mashahiro Sakurai spoke up about Animal Crossing's Villager and the surprising addition of the Wii Fit Trainer to the Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS roster. He also talked about deciding the order in which characters were announced.

Below is the quote from the interview translated by the good people at Nintendo Everything.

Wii Fit Trainer and Villager


NintendoDream: Not only guest characters were shocking, but Wii Fit Trainer as well. It was a character no one saw coming, right?

Sakurai: Yes, that’s right. Zero, none… (laughs)

(everyone laughs)

Sakuai: For Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it was discussed that non-combatant-like characters wouldn’t be added, but this time an important aspect of the concept was “if that character is included, could interesting things be done and could that fighter express individual traits?” When making this game, it was necessary to think very seriously “how to create new fun things”. I was able to think in my head the way how Wii Fit Trainer and Villager would operate so therefore they were included. Games must be completed properly, and in order to have fun gameplay for you and your opponent, each character has to have individuality. The present Smash Bros. was done by giving importance to that.

NintendoDream: By the way, did you realize Trainer as something to put into a Smash game at the time of the release of Wii Fit?

Sakurai: No, that’s not the case. I don’t think about new characters etc. if I don’t have to for making a new Smash Bros. game.

- - -​

NintendoDream also asked Sakurai if he was the one who chose the order in which characters were announced.

Sakurai: Yes. Although I received consultation on events and such, the schedule of what gets announced and when all was decided beforehand. That is so things like deadlines for the movies were arranged accordingly.

---​

Previously, Sakurai talked to NintendoDream about Bowser Jr almost being cut from the roster and the inclusion of Duck Hunt, Dr. Mario and the Mii Fighters.


TewnLeenk is a writer for Smashboards and plays a pretty mean Wii Fit Trainer. Follow and chat with him on Twitter @TewnLeenk.

 

[GreenChaChing]

So this is what it's like to be here early...

 

[WinterShorts]

I assume Smashboards is going to show news relating to ALL of the newcomers. That'd be nice.

 

[Vinylic.]

I would like it better if all these were in one article, not separate.

 

[The Derrit]

I would like it better if all these were in one article, not separate.

If we were to do that, it would be old news by the time the entire article were translated.

Can't please everyone.

 

[ミスティック Speed]

MOAR INFO!
...about Mewtwo, please.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Now let's see see if they'll go over his feelings regarding DLC.

 

[Djent]

"Games must be completed properly, and in order to have fun gameplay for you and your opponent, each character has to have individuality."

 

[DMurr]

Obviously a special case

 

[Sleeplost]

WOW 3 CLONES.
WHAT A JOKE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HIM.
HE RUINED SMASH BROTHERS.
GOD.
NOW PURPLE SPACE DRAGON CAN'T GET IN! DDD:

 

[C-SAF]

That pit is coloured black, that Mario is a doctor, and lucina is a girl.
Clearly they are nothing like any other characters in smash4.

 

[Unknownkid]

So how long until someone ask Sakurai about collecting custom moves and why they are such a pain in the rear to obtain?

 

[Djent]

WOW 3 CLONES.
WHAT A JOKE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HIM.
HE RUINED SMASH BROTHERS.
GOD.
NOW PURPLE SPACE DRAGON CAN'T GET IN! DDD:

No, he's just a hypocrite.

Also, is the true space dragon, you filthy heretic.

 

[Moon Monkey]

Wii Fit Trainer looks like a "You must be this tall to Smash sign" standing next to Villager.

 

[AppleCracker]

Interesting... But not as interesting as Dr. Mario and DuckHunt

 

[Amiibo Doctor]

It sounds like he's sick and tired of doing Smash Bros, from a lot of the articles I've read. He mentions he doesn't think up new Smash characters when he doesn't have to, but from personal experience with game developers I can say that we're always thinking up what to do with a game if we enjoy making it.

 

[Mythra]

Im still kinda surprised that he decided to put Villager in (when he said years ago that he was "too innocent" to be in the violent world of Smash), but Im glad he changed his mind; because Villager actually is the closest thing to Satan in the game.

How ironic.

 

[ShadyWolfe]

It sounds like he's sick and tired of doing Smash Bros, from a lot of the articles I've read. He mentions he doesn't think up new Smash characters when he doesn't have to, but from personal experience with game developers I can say that we're always thinking up what to do with a game if we enjoy making it.

He just doesn't like making sequels it is the reason he stopped making Kirby games after Kirby Air Ride and tries to make all the Smash games play differently.

 

[Prism]

It sounds like he's sick and tired of doing Smash Bros, from a lot of the articles I've read. He mentions he doesn't think up new Smash characters when he doesn't have to, but from personal experience with game developers I can say that we're always thinking up what to do with a game if we enjoy making it.

Agreed. I'm fine with Sakurai being done with Smash. Let people who actually want to make it make it.

 

[U-Throw]

Excuse me, but I'd give Dr. Mario a pass for being Pre-Brawl Mario. Plus, the Doc is awesome.
Lucina, in her defense, deals equal damage across the entire sword, essentially making her a better Marth.
Dark Pit... I got nothin'.

 

[Vaidya]

I don't get why certain characters shouldn't be in Smash. So what if they're cute? That's what brings novelty, seeing all sorts of Nintendo characters in one area. I mean Kirby made it in, look at him. Wii Fit Trainer, Ice Climbers, and Duck Hunt aren't technically fighting material either.

 

[Dark Emperor Hardin]

Excuse me, but I'd give Dr. Mario a pass for being Pre-Brawl Mario. Plus, the Doc is awesome.
Lucina, in her defense, deals equal damage across the entire sword, essentially making her a better Marth.
Dark Pit... I got nothin'.

I'll have to disagree on "better Marth" since Marth can potentially deal more damage and kill exactly 40% faster with a tipper uncharged forward smash. And based on the shortness of his sword in this iteration, tipping is really easy.

 

[_Ganondorf_]

- Don't forget this guy who is still just a slower and stronger Captain Falcon for 14 years. Not much individuality there either
- and this guy that can a have many different items from the games this design in them WW, ST etc. And just over all have some different attack animations from Adult Link. Like in PM they gave him new Fsmash, A combo that represents WW a lot better.

Besides obvious clones, these 2 stick out the most in the "why aren't they more unique / have more individuality" department...

 

[ChikoLad]

Still holding out hope for him bringing up Rosalina and talking about her inclusion a bit.

 

[Snagrio]

I saw Villager and WFT and automatically thought it would be news on amiibos shipments...

 

[Warlockkobra]

at least they aren't clones...
love to play trolley with them

 

[MarioMeteor]

I wonder what made him consider Rosalina, aside from the fact that she's one of the only main Mario characters who's not a cardboard box.

 

[SchAlternate]

Maybe he can go over some of the characters that were considered but never implemented? Or perhaps those that were highly requested, but were not added as playable?

Maybe he can just talk about Mewtwo?

 

[mario123007]

If there isn't the Gematsu leak. The expection of Wii Fit trainer is really zero....

Still holding out hope for him bringing up Rosalina and talking about her inclusion a bit.

I don't know what kind of issue will they talk about Rosalina. I'm curious to know if Sakurai nearly cut Bowser jr is it because that Rosalina is a Mario Smash newcomer and he realized that Mario series has too much characters?
Or did he prefer Rosalina in Smash than Bowser jr first?

 

[smashboy12]

I wanna know why Wolf and Lucas were cut

 

[PokÉmblem]

I'm waiting for the question "Why was dark pit chosen?" just to see if Sakurai becomes speechless. Lol

 

[The Slayer]

- Don't forget this guy who is still just a slower and stronger Captain Falcon for 14 years. Not much individuality there either
- and this guy that can a have many different items from the games this design in them WW, ST etc. And just over all have some different attack animations from Adult Link. Like in PM they gave him new Fsmash, A combo that represents WW a lot better.

Besides obvious clones, these 2 stick out the most in the "why aren't they more unique / have more individuality" department...

That's pretty much my thoughts as well. Sometimes, I really wonder if he secretly dislike or is quite lazy in thought with the Zelda series.

 

[Yuritails]

No, he's just a hypocrite.

Also, is the true space dragon, you filthy heretic.

But he's not purple.

 

[Gidy]

I don't understand why Sakurai thought it was a good idea to release the Bowser Jr and Duck Hunt trailer after the 3DS version was released.

 

[kmpyj]

So basically Sakurai pulled a Death Battle analysis on characters that didn't visually seem to fit as a fighter. Makes sense TBH.

 

[the101]

I'm waiting for the question "Why was dark pit chosen?" just to see if Sakurai becomes speechless. Lol

Sakurai already talked about Dark Pit when inquired about Dr. Mario. They were originally envisioned to be "variations" of already existing characters (think of the Koopalings or Alph), but decided to tweak them slightly as a service to the fans who would associate with these characters differently than who they were slapped on to as palette swaps (,,). Sakurai has shared that the initial roster for the game was finalized in May of 2012, long ago. Doc wasn't on it. Dark Pit wasn't on it. Lucina was not on it. But you know what? Neither was Chrom or Ridley or Dixie or whomever, and no amount of clones will ever change that. As I have argued for a long time, their presence on the roster is an extra gift, and it did not take any other character's development time for them to be included.

 

[Seal]

Sakurai has shared that the initial roster for the game was finalized in May of 2012, long ago. Doc wasn't on it. Dark Pit wasn't on it. Lucina was not on it. But you know what? Neither was Chrom or Ridley or Dixie or whomever, and no amount of clones will ever change that. As I have argued for a long time, their presence on the roster is an extra gift, and it did not take any other character's development time for them to be included.

So true. Better clones than nothing at all.

 

[PokÉmblem]

[/quote][="the101 post: 18310838, member: 255439IA"]Sakurai already talked about Dark Pit when inquired about Dr. Mario. They were originally envisioned to be "variations" of already existing characters (think of the Koopalings or Alph), but decided to tweak them slightly as a service to the fans who would associate with these characters differently than who they were slapped on to as palette swaps (,,). Sakurai has shared that the initial roster for the game was finalized in May of 2012, long ago. Doc wasn't on it. Dark Pit wasn't on it. Lucina was not on it. But you know what? Neither was Chrom or Ridley or Dixie or whomever, and no amount of clones will ever change that. As I have argued for a long time, their presence on the roster is an extra gift, and it did not take any other character's development time for them to be included.[/quote]
Beileve It or not I like clones especially since it's an extra but I just mentioned it since I didn't know what he would say about him specifically. I even main

(I have no clue why this post looks so bad lol)

 

[pupNapoleon]

It's really a shame we almost never get information about what didnt make it in, at least not until the game it finally does make it in. He could actually see what generates lots of fan demand.... not that it means a modicum of a deal to him.

Even if we don't get it, I'd like to know what he had planned.

 

[Ragna22]

That's pretty much my thoughts as well. Sometimes, I really wonder if he secretly dislike or is quite lazy in thought with the Zelda series.

He definitely loves the Zelda series considering the Kirby games have references to the series, not just the green hat on Sword Kirby either, Kirby Superstar added the sword laser from Zelda, it even works the same way only available when you're at full health. Meta Knight has that too in the DS remake.