The Little Things: Part 1

[kirbykid]

Smash rocks. The game not only works amazingly well, but it has withstood the test of time. We all know how varied the stages/characters/items are, but what makes Smash truly work are sometimes the small “invisible” touches. I call these “The Little Things.”

Have you ever noticed that when you’re hit by an enemy, your character automatically turns around to face them? Why didn’t Sakurai make it to where the characters don’t flip around automatically so we can punish opponents by repeatedly attacking their backs? It’s all about balance and flow. Smash has a variety of counter attack methods such as shield grabbing. However, you can only shield grab in the direction you’re facing. If an enemy hits you from behind with successive attacks, after the first, you’ll be flipped around to face your enemy and you might be able to slip in a shield grab.

Though I think this “auto turn” was necessary for Melee, I see it changing somewhat for Brawl. Maybe with the new “shields” things will be a little more intuitive this time around. Maybe consecutively attacking your opponents backs will be added to make it easier to keep opponents off their toes. If Sakurai takes out shields and replaces them with more “natural” shields and defensive stances, the whole game will be opened up in an unexpected way.

<!--more-->For example. Link’s Hylian Shield in Melee automatically blocks projectiles. This shield is only active when you’re on the ground and you’re not touching the control stick. Why did they make it only block projectiles? Would it be too good otherwise? Well, Link isn’t exactly high tier. Perhaps they changed what his shield could block during the balancing phase of development. However, if Brawl is doing away with shields, then maybe we’ll see a return and upgrade of this feature. In the pictures below, the shield on links back should protect him in this stance.
<p align="center"><a href="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/basic04_070705d-l.jpg" title="basic04_070705d-l.jpg"><img src="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/basic04_070705d-l.jpg" alt="basic04_070705d-l.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/super-smash-bros-brawl-20070809084919556.jpg" title="super-smash-bros-brawl-20070809084919556.jpg"><img src="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/super-smash-bros-brawl-20070809084919556.jpg" alt="super-smash-bros-brawl-20070809084919556.jpg" height="331" width="402" /></a></p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="left">What if when Link charged his forward smash and his sword would act like a small pointy shield? Doesn’t that only make sense? The sword is being held out in front of him is it not? Shouldn’t it be able to block something? If they add “little things” like this to Brawl, the game will be a lot more intuitive and interesting. This would give link’s forward smash a clear advantage over Marth’s. When Marth charges his sword, he doesn’t hold it in front of him defensively the same way link does.</p>
<p align="center"> <a href="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ike_070807e-l.jpg" title="ike_070807e-l.jpg"><img src="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ike_070807e-l.jpg" alt="ike_070807e-l.jpg" /> </a><a href="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/pit_070809d-l.jpg" title="pit_070809d-l.jpg"><img src="http://smashboards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/pit_070809d-l.jpg" alt="pit_070809d-l.jpg" /></a></p>
<p align="left"> Going with this new shield idea, Ike’s Eruption attack should act like a shield as he pulls it out of the ground. This would make his attack very dynamic as it switches between offense and defense. If you think I’m taking things too far, just think about some of the moves from the best Melee characters. Fox’s shine has a hit box and a reflecting box. The normal hit box comes out first followed a few frames later by the reflecting hit box. This makes Fox’s move dynamic and effective in a wide range of situations. Fox can use his reflector to stall in the air, attack, defend, reflect, and spike. HOW AWESOME! So, I believe that Sakurai should make all moves (all B moves especially) as dynamic as some of the high tier moves from Melee.</p>
<p align="left"> Changing everything a little…well…. changes everything. It’s that simple.</p>
<p align="left">&nbsp;</p>

 

[kirbykirbykirby]

Cool idea

 

[Brandenpunk1]

This is off topic but is there any way you guys can talk about what you think the roster will look like? It would be interesting to know what you pros would think lol.

 

[Rockin]

I dunno…that’s like saying if Link stabs forward hard infront of a huge fireball, it would split in two.

And of course, I noticed that when you’re hit, you’re automatically turned to face the enemy. It’s because that it’s common sense in real life. If a person slaps you on the head, you’d want to turn and face to see who done that to you.

Also, about Link’s shield, I also found it weird that they made the shield to block projectiles only, but i guess it’s better then him blocking every attack. If they made the sword to defend against physical attack, then the sword would be more disjointed then it already is.

 

[mcs]

i never thought about this..when you say more natural shields then im thinking that sword attacks could override melee attacks.and then projectiols override melee. also the top pics of link look like his smash+down. im gonna be waiting for part 2!

off topic: kirby might have more combo ability and be slightly heavier in brawl(i thought of this when I was playing melee yesterday). same for luigi.

 

[smashluigi]

i think the reason links sheild blocks projectiles is bc wen he stands still in ” the legend of zelda a link to the past” wen he stood still if an enemy shot something or fired an arrow or somthing it would block it but if the enemy punched or kicked him or hit him with a sword he would still get hurt….lol

 

[kirbykid]

Rockin:
Splitting a fireball in two sounds really cool. I’m sure you’ll agree. I think it’s kinda lame that how weak and un-dynamic some projectiles are. The difference between Mario’s Fire Balls and Falco’s laser are enormous. So MAYBE, if Mario’s fire balls didn’t die when you hit them with another attack, and they split into two (possibly weaker) fireballs, Mario won’t have such a wasted move.

It doesn’t make sense that you’re automatically turned around if you’re still stunned from an attack. Try this…. walk up to someone from behind and kick them hard in the back. I’m pretty sure they’ll fall over face first before they can even think about turning around.

First of all, if you’re going to make links sword have less range than Marth’s, have slower attacks than Marth, AND be weaker than Marths, you have to give link something. He’s not that good of a character right now.

Smashlugig:
This is true, and you have a good point. It works the same way in 4swords. But, when designing a character for smash, they might have reconsidered a few things. *shrugs*

 

[Rockin]

Kirby Kid - actually…splitting it in two does sound a bit cool XD

in the Melee game, that does actually happen. If you hit him with a really strong attack (like a smashed Melee), that opponent is gonna flip forward and land on his back or stomach (without tech). But, if you lightly hit them, they’ll get stunned and quickly turn around. Same way with real life.

True, I’ll admit that Link needs something (hell, he needs a lot to become a stronger character then he is now). I think he needs some defense hit boxes in his attacks, since he’s clearly a well balanced character (Marth is agressive). We just need to make sure the swords arn’t too powerful in attack and defense

 

[awesome ivan]

maby links B&gt; could be a protective move with one of his items from TP… what are they? (SPOILER ALERT!) well, first theres the wind boomerang, maby if it only went along the ground and came back if it hit a progectile and it could toss enemys up in the air like the whirlwinds in smash 64, cool idea, bow is there already and clawshot is his grab although it could be a weapon that deflected shots and could latch on and throw enemys without draging them in, cool, cool, cant see the spinner doing anything but it could be a rather neat item, hmm… i could see the link throwing out the ball and chain a short distance witch would reflect shots and do alot of damage, intresting what are the others? oh well.

 

[kirbykirbykirby]

Explosive arrowheads would be awsome.

The spinner could be used like Yoshi’s egg roll attack he’d ride back and forth hitting enemies; which I guess is more like Wario’s chopper.

Gale boomerang would be cool and isn’t that different then his normal boomerang so it would be easy to replace.

 

[kirbykirbykirby]

I donn’t think we’ll be seing the ball and chain though.

 

[kirbykirbykirby]

Possible moves if Link gets his attacks revamped:
B:Explosive Arrows-
Can do damage to an oppenent using a shield.
If Link holds it for to long it will explode on him.
B→:Spinner Strike-
A lot like Wario’s chopper attack.
B↑:Gale Boomerang-
Creates a whirlwind that sends Link upward(it can also reflect projectiles) Then he throws it (you can choose the dierection it is thrown).
B↓Clawshot Spin-
Pulls out two Clawshots and releases them both ways then spins around.(He can be hit while he is releasing them)

Of course theseare just ideas.

 

[homelessvagrant]

I got to wonder Kirbykid though, what about other characters with short range and don’t have weapons, pikachu comes to mind. In no rational way does this character defend in his attacks so if this occured he’d be even more disadvantaged. I think Sakurai should take more time weakening top tier characters and boosting low tier characters rather than boosting middle tier characters.

 

[peach-mexico]

the other day I was reading….about the ZELDA update, and everybody know about ZELDA is not a great character ( not like SHEIK), but we are waiting that in smash brawl they put a NEW ZELDA MOVES SET, because if smash characters are not in balance, a lot of people are dissapointed. but the new updates sugested a CHANGE in charactes like BOWSER, IKE,….so there is a HOPE that this smash brawl will be great for ALL!!
(excuse me but my english is not good jajaja)

 

[Animal 214]

i like zelda yo its fun beating people with her nd embarrasing her she has good arials great foward smash decent tilts decent dash her b move is a longer nd a bigger range of a shine nd her recoverys rediculous she has 2 knees basically 4 her bair nd fair

 

[nowhisle]

i never really thought about the blocking since its so like into the game because really that stupid shield is seen so much that u just see it as a part of ur player but if u take away the shield and leave the players to block with their own weapons that sounds very interesting an it should be something really good to add to brawl

 

[homelessvagrant]

I hope that instead of a shield, the character has block positions. (Example: R + ^ equals block up, R + &gt; equals block right. See what I mean, I builds the game for more stategy and relistic play. It might be a bad idea, but it’s an idea to consider.

 

[kirbykid]

homelessvagrant:
Characters like Pikachu wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. Have you ever watched the Pokemon TV show. They use their attacks defensively all the time. All it takes is a little creativity.

Also, directional shield are already in Melee. When your shield is weakened you have to hold L/R and then push it in different directions depending on where the attacks are coming from.

 

[Johnknight1]

I say keep the shield bubble, but this is a intresting idea, nonetheless.

 

[homelessvagrant]

No I stopped watching the cartoon a way while back. Plus Kirbykid I know that shields do that, i’m talking avout the characters just getting rid of the shields period and have defensive stances in the area they dodge. Say link R + ^’s, no shield would appear but rather he would lift his shield over his head as if to protect from arial attacks. That is not in melee, and I’m not saying they should but rather they could.

 

[Kinnikuman]

DOWN WITH BUBBLE SHIELDS!!!!!!!

 

[homelessvagrant]

Unless that’s squirtle shield lol.