Week in Review Issue #33

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

The Week in Review Edition #33
8/25- 8/29

Banner by @ Venus of the Desert Bloom

Staff
Writers:
@ Venus of the Desert Bloom
@ TumblrFamous
@---
@Opossum
@Mario_and_Sonic_Guy
@Frostwraith
@ Pazzo.
@BigAxle
@Vegito2727

Editor:
@Aerodrome


I would like to say a big and huge thank you to:

@BigAxle and @ TumblrFamous for writing articles for the PotD
@ TumblrFamous for writing the Shulk article

Previous Issues
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Issue #13 Direct
Issue #14
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E3 in Review
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Want to help or contribute?
[collapse=Rules and Other Infos]This is the first edition of "The Week in Review". The Week in Review will be a series of articles I have made throughout the week concerning the Pic of Day through using posts, threads, and MiiVerse to pool information and opinions about Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS . However, the articles are not only limited to my own observation but to those of the larger Smash 4 community. Users are encouraged to submit articles and observations as well as opinions concerning the pictures that were updated throughout the week. I will explain how you can contribute later.

So what can you expect from this thread? On Friday, I will update the thread with a new article which will contain the Pic of the Day, other relevant images, information, I will also be pulling out interesting and thought provoking posts that have popped up throughout the week on the various threads such as the Wii U Discussion thread, 3DS Discussion Thread, MiiVerse Photo Thread, Roster Discussion Thread, character support threads as well as the Super Smash Bros, Wii U/3DS Backroom thus linking them altogether. In addition, I will also be adding up any information that Sakurai has revealed outside of the website/MiiVerse such as interviews and news articles.

I will open the thread on the weekend for people to talk about how the week went and comment on the articles. However, I will be closing the thread on Monday in order to prevent premature discussion about the weeks updates. I will be operating on Japanese Standard Time since both myself and Sakurai (OMG both of us in the same sentence?!?!?!) live on JST. View the JST Page in order to fully understand how time works.

Additionally, while this thread will focus on solely the Pic of the Day, I will sometimes allow pieces to be written about Smashboards, the Smash Community, MiiVerse, or Sakurai information. Additionally, once we have more information regarding the nature of the character, I will allow a user to write up an in-depth analysis of a character, veteran or newcomer. So come show your stuff!

Why is this thread needed?

We do have various discussion threads pertaining to various aspects of Smash. However, this is less of a discussion thread and more like a newsletter. I intend to present the facts and portray an unbiased review of the week. It will also serve as a hub to collect information, pictures, and articles that have been released in a weekly format thus allowing users to review the past weeks for better understanding how to predict future updates or to comb through information in an effective manner. It will also serve as a place to users to present their information, opinions, and observations in a semi-academical format. More information is listed below. If you see an interesting, funny, thought-provoking, or ridiculous post either on the SWF or on MiiVerse, PM me about it and I will include it! If you want me to remove you from a certain Tag, PM me and I will take you off.

Also, I wanted to use this space to allow users to be creative and constructive in speculating Smash in a more journalistic manner. I will not edit any posts except if they are inappropriate, bypass the censor, hateful in nature, or irrelevant.

How can I help?

You can contribute to this thread in many ways.
1) You can serve as a guest writer. This is done by contacting me via PM and apply to be a guest writer for the current week. I am able to allow or refuse the guest writer based on past credentials and reputation within the Smash 4 community so please keep that in mind.

After approval, I can either give you a piece to write OR you can choose one yourself. It should be focused on a particular Pic of the Day. Please promptly let me know which one you intend to. If I do not hear from you within a day, I will not accept an article. The article itself should be professionally written with little to no grammar or spelling mistakes. Any sources should be cited with a link to direct readers. While I understand some updates may be hard to write for, please write at least two paragraphs for each update. Unless it is an update of Luigi's nose but I am sure someone can find some Freudian psycho-analysis about that update. Please refer to the first edition post about how to write an article (though I am pretty sure many journalist/lit majors can do a much better job than I can lol).

2) You can help me gather posts that are excellent or at least interesting in nature. PM me any posts concerning a particular update and I will then add it to the articles. I frequent the above mentioned threads on a daily basis but I obviously miss things so I am heavily dependent on everyone getting me those great and thought-provoking posts. I want this thread to showcase what the brilliant minds in the Smash 4 community can do!

3) While you can discuss past and future weeks, please refrain from dissecting or analyzing the previous/future weeks and save that for the current week.

4) Could someone be a dear and make a banner for this thread. It's not urgent but a banner would be grand.[/collapse]

Table of Contents

Spoiler

1.1 Day #1: Money Makes the Smash Go Round
2.1 Day #1: The Leak Video
2.1 Day #2: Smash Made Gambling Smashing!
3.1 Day #3: No-so-Challenging Challenges of Challenge
4.1 Day #4: The Power of Customization
5.1 Day #5: Attack of the Miis
5.2 Day #5: Japanese 3DS Direct - Smash Bros. 3DS
6.1 Week Overview
7.1 Shulk Newcomer Article
8.1 Sakurai's Diary
9.1 Editorial of the Week
10.1 We Want YOU to Vote! Results
11.1 Help Wanted

Money Makes the Smash Go Round
8.25.14
Day #1: Monday
Writer:@Venus of the Bloom

​

With the Smash 3DS due it less than three weeks in Japan, it is understandable that the 3DS will be getting a lot of attention and, in particular, it's modes. Smash Run has received a lot of attention in the PotD updates with Sakurai showing information about customization and how it fits into Smash Run. However, something else was shown on Monday's PotD:

"Pic of the day. In Classic mode, you challenge multiple stages en route to a climactic final battle. The more gold you put onto the Fiend's Scale, the harder the battles will be. In return, your rewards will get better and more abundant. The best way to earn gold fast is to win Classic battles on higher intensity."

According to the quote, players can choose where to go during the Classic Mode instead of the more traditional more direct approach. In previous Smash Bros. games, the player followed a direct linear path from one battle to the next. This allows for a little more freedom and decision making in how players pick their battles. Then prior to the game, players can add more gold to the Fiend Scale which increases the difficulty of the game which, again, allows for more freedom in how to do battle. This also indicates that there will not be a Difficulty setting prior to the starting the classic mode as how it was in previous games. This information though was revealed on the main Smash Bros. site:

Before starting a game, you can use gold to adjust the intensity level. The higher the intensity, the stronger opponents will be, and the greater a player's rewards will be when victorious.

It is good to get a little more info on it though and is a welcome addition. It is unknown if this type of Classic Mode will appear on the Wii U. In addition, a second picture and comment was put on MiiVerse by Sakurai:

​

"In Classic mode, you can choose your next challenge on the route map. Looks like Master Hand is waiting at the end, but perhaps something might change if you raise the intensity…?!"

As mentioned above, players can choose their battles and allows for more decision making. For example, you see a fork in the road and one character is someone who you have a good matchup with and another not so good. You can go the easy route and take the easy matchup or challenge yourself and take on the harder opponent. This also allows for some strategy such as putting on tons of gold in the beginning to make it harder and then fighting all characters who feel you can beats easily. However, it appears that rather than knowing who you are fighting, that you have an idea based on the franchise icon. For franchises like Wii Fit, F-Zero, and Mega Man that only rep, that is easy but for series like Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Mario, and Fire Emblem; it is more of a risk of which character you will fight. If you are strong against characters like Mario and Charizard but weak against Bowser and Greninja; you may be taking a risk going that route instead of a single character you know for a fact that you will be fighting him or her.

Also teased is Master Hand who was unveiled at the end of the E3 2014 3DS trailer. However, Sakurai also teased that Master Hand may not be the only end boss as he stated something may change if you raise the intensity. While he did not say outright who other bosses might be, traditionally, it was usually Crazy Hand who would appear on higher difficulties.

Master Hand on the left and Crazy Hand on the right
​

However, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS borrows a lot from Subspace Emissary: especially in Smash Run. The magical floating doors, sounds, textures, and even enemies. Some even find Smash Run to to be the spiritual successor of Subspace Emissary:

While obviously not the same, they carry similar principals and can be compared to each other. Therefore, it wouldn't be unlikely if Sakurai decided to carry over certain attributes of Subspace Emissary over to the Classic Mode; especially with bosses. What I am driving at is this, depending on the intensity, we could see these characters as potential bosses:

Galleom

Duon

However, I think a more fitting boss that trumps Master and Crazy Hand would be the end boss of Subspace Emissary...

Tabuu​

Seeing as how he was the main boss from Subspace Emissary, he could be carried over to the Classic Mode as a reward to playing it on the highest difficult.

It also begs the question who exactly is the purple character in the PotD as well as the website picture. It could just be a general shadow of a non-descript character; a graphic if you will to characterize the intensity or a potential end villain for the Classic Mode or...dare I say, a playable character? It's appearance becomes more dramatic and monstrous the higher the difficulty.

Here are what people are having to say about this PotD:

Character unlock at the end instead of master hand would be cool

@Ruben

I like how Mario gets more upset the higher the intensity. Kind if wish it would change based on what character you're playing as though.

@Ovyngm

aybe Crazy Hand will appear at a higher difficulty. Or maybe Tabuu will appear as the one who controlls the Master Hand and you have to fight them at the same time.

@Turmalinium

Hopefully if there is a new final boss it isn't stupid like Giga Bowser or a naked butterfly man ._.

@Reila

Hmm, that last sentence got me intrigued... Is it Crazy Hand, Giga Bowser or something completely different? Only time will tell, but I hope it is something we haven't seen before to keep the surprise factor alive...

@Firelucario

Has nobody even thought for a second that it might be the fiend itself? It seems unlikely but I'm surprised nobody thought of it.

@TheLegendOfVenusaur

Considering this is the man that made Kid Icarus and Kirby Air Ride, I'd not be surprised if on higher difficulties, the computer gets knockback and armor compensation in lieu of improved AI. Because handicaps always feel like a fair challenge -- Just look at how everyone loves the Civ AI.

Also, losing on any difficulty simultaneously hits your treasury and adds insult to injury by lowering the difficulty so you have to start over again to move it back up to what you set it to to begin with.

@Kink-Link5

I hope the intensity means higher computer level rather than just more health for bosses and stuff.

As far as we know, the levels range from 1 to 10, where the scale goes from 0 to 9. It could match up (0=lv 1, etc), but I feel it's a bit unlikely.

Also, I like the idea of the demon being the intense boss.

@bkslider​

Things Confirmed for Monday:
1. Increasing the gold on the Fiend Scale determines the difficulty of your Classic Mode playthrough.
2. Higher difficulties yields more treasure and prizes.
3. Master Hand will be an end boss but can change depending on the difficulty ranking.

The Video Leak
8.25.14
Day #1: Monday
Writer: @ Venus of the Desert Bloom

​

Back last week, there was a series of leaks which showed that the following characters would be playable:

• Bowser Jr.
• Shulk
• Duck Hunt Dog
• Dark Pit

In addition, it also showed the following veterans as returning:

• Wario
• Mr. Game and Watch
• Ganondorf
• Falco
• Jigglypuff
• R.O.B.
• Ness
• Dr. Mario

A compilation of pictures taken from the leak (disregard the bottom left one. That was confirmed fake)
​

The leak was widely disputed due to several inconsistencies of the graphics, alleged un-alignment of the roster screen, the fact Lucina/Dark Pit/Dr. Mario are separate from their franchises, and that Shulks face is similar in relation to Little Mac. In fact, it would be safe to say there were many things stacked up against the leak. Well, on Monday videos on Youtube began to emerge showing the screen caps found on the far right that, if true, confirms as Ganondorf as returning and Shulk and Bowser Jr. as newcomers in Smash 4.

Smash 4 artwork for Bowser Jr.​

The video first showcases Bowser Jr. who is depicted in fighting in the Junior Clown Car. It shows Bowser Jr. fighting against his father, Bowser, Pikachu, and Kirby. It is notable because it not only showcases several of his moves but his game play as well as his screen splat animation. He seems to be a light weight and highly mobile thanks to the vehicle he drives. His move set is largely unknown but according to the SSBwiki....

He fights in the Junior Clown Car, using missiles, cannonballs, boxing gloves, and Mecha-Koopas. His up special consists of jumping out of his Junior Clown Car while it disappears. After landing, he regains another vehicle.

http://www.ssbwiki.com/Bowser_Jr._(SSB4)

The second and third characters shown on the video is Shulk and Ganondorf...

Smash 4 artwork for Shulk​

Shulk is the second newcomer showcased in the video. Shulk hails from the universe of Xenoblade and was considered the most likeliness newcomer after E3 2014 with Palutena, Mii, and Pac Man being revealed. According to the video, he seems to have a unique moveset that involves him activating powers to boost his stats while wielding his energy sword. According to the SSBwiki...

His moveset is unknown but he has been seen to use the Monado as his main weapon, using its various arts (which display Kanji letters behind him when in use) to fight.

http://www.ssbwiki.com/Shulk_(SSB4)

Shulk at one points activates a power that causes his feet to shine with a blue mysterious light. It is unknown to what this means but some felt that this increases Shulk's overall speed but reduces traction but that is all speculation.

Smash 4 artwork for Ganondorf​

Ganondorf was widely speculated to return to Smash Bros. considering he is apart of the Triforce Trio. Deconfirmation of Ghirahim further advanced his inclusion. Ganondorf is one of the more discussed veterans as he his carried over his Captain Ganondorf move set (that is to say his move set is akin to Captain Falcon's). Many have called for Ganondorf to have a more canon move set incorporated both brawling, swords, and magic. However, the video further confirmed that he retains his lugified clone moveset. According to SSBwiki...

Confirmed information

• Ganondorf's neutral attack appears to have greater range, as well as significantly increased speed.
• Ganondorf's forward tilt and up smash both have significantly decreased ending lag.
• Ganondorf's neutral aerial is a much faster move overall.
• Ganondorf appears to dash notably faster.
• Dark Dive appears to deal much less knockback.
• The following moves are visually unchanged:
  • Down smash
  • Down taunt

• http://www.ssbwiki.com/Ganondorf_(SSB4)

However, this does not rule out that he could have more canon moves for his custom moves so I wouldn't rule out this quite yet.

And finally we were able to see Charizard in battle after a long time of waiting but sadly there wasn't much information that could be found but he seems relatively unchanged from Brawl. His Up Special wasn't featured in the video in part because it was a computer player.

Also, if the video is real, it also confirms Yoshi's Island as a returning Brawl stage for the 3DS.

Yoshi's Island in Brawl
​

While textual leaks are probably the easiest to disprove while pictures are a bit harder though with Photoshop, anything is possible. However, video leaks are widely considered to be proof that it is real and many have taken these videos as the proof they need to believe in the leaks. However, considering there wasn't a video of the character select screen; Duck Hunt Dog, Dr. Mario, and Dark Pit as well as the returning veterans are still on the fence. It is possible that the character select screen was faked using graphical footage of Bowser Jr., Shulk, and Ganondorf in the video leak and incorporating it into Photoshop. That could explain why Ganondorf is so dark in that picture.

Regardless though, Bowser Jr., Ganondorf, and Shulk plus Yoshi's Island are all being considered as real by many major outlets. However, as with any leak, it is best to take it with a big helping of salt and skepticism.

Smash made Gambling Smashing!
8.26.14
Day #2: Tuesday
Writer: @ Venus of the Desert Bloom

​

Money matches involve people putting money into a pool and then receiving it after winning a tournament. It is one way that people earn money playing Smash at tournaments. However, Tuesday's PotD just upped everything...using in-game money of course. Confirmed to appear on Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is the ability to go all stalker like and watch people's battles through the Spectator Mode and make bets using in-game coins. You can even view stats and rankings real time!

"Pic of the day. Spectator Mode is available even on the compact 3DS version!! In this mode, you can watch players all around the world fight and make bets with in-game gold. Wager wisely by checking out the player names, rules, win rates, odds, fighters, and stage!!"

In the above quote and picture, spectators can view stats and rankings such as the Global Smash Power which is indicated by the crown though the arrows that are pointing up are unknown. Three of them are blue and pointing up while Yoshi is green and pointing to the up-right corner though this is all speculative. It also potentially shows the win rates by predicting the right player though this is also unconfirmed. It also shows if the match is For Fun or For Glory and what stage it is. The Ω (omega) symbol seems to indicate that it is a Final Destination version.

Sakurai also uploaded another picture and comment:

"Being able to cheer someone on is what really makes spectating matches fun. This time, 1st and 2nd place will get prizes in four-player matches, and spectators can bet the gold they win on Bonus Chances."

This makes Smash Bros. also a spectator sport in that spectators can earn more gold to use in the game by guessing the correct winners. In 4 player matches, 1st and 2nd places will get prizes in 4 player matches with 1st player obviously getting prizes in 3 and 2 player matches. I think this applies to both those that played and those who had bet coins on the outcome of the match. It also appears that Smash Bros. is also a currency-driven game due to how many uses there are to utilize and gain coins. Not only Classic Mode but Smash Run, Target Smash, and the Trophy Store. The first comment also indicates that this will be available on the Wii U version.

It is great to be able to see the displays for the character modes as well the the ability to spectate on matches and actually place bets on them.

Here are what fans are saying:

Which character could be unlocked by a certain number of correct bets?

Wario could be money
Is anyone related to gambling?

@DukeNapoleon

Hehe, kinda expecting how Smashboards will be the big mafia of Smash Gambling...

"Let's make a tournament, build hype in X player but the Y player will beat him and we will be millionaires! (in smash coins)"

Jokes aside, nice feature and hoping to watch great matches often

@JUr

I never thought spectating was fun. Id rather play myself

@LoneWolfRanger

Literally stole my name, my name, my hair color, my shirt color, my favorite color, and my girlfriend's name right next to it, lol!!![

@Johnknight1

Watching matches and the combos that result from experienced players will prove to be helpful on the 3DS due to what I assume will be a change in some familiar controls. This'll be fun to use just as much as it was in Brawl.

@Demie Duken

This game is going to pervade every corner of our lives.

Bored at home? Smash U.
Gotta go? Smash 3DS.
Passed some guy on the street? Street Pass Challenge.
Not feeling too serious? Smash Run.
Bed time? Too tired to play, I'll just watch some matches.

@KenboCalrissian

So if we have been paying attention, this has been shown since at least June 11th on this video at about the 51 second mark. The only new thing seems to be the omega form. Which is interesting, because the video I linked is also a for glory fight and it doesn't have that. Maybe it got added in later

@Stalwartguardian

Things Confirmed for Tuesday:

1. Spectator Mode returns to Smash 3DS.
2. Players will get in-game monetary prizes for winning 1st and 2nd place
3. Spectators can bet in-game money on matches based on a number of variables.​

Not-So-Challenging Challenges of Challenge
8.27.14
Day #3: Wednesday
Writer: @BigAxle

Today's POTD showed a fightened Villager next to the worst thing imaginable: A giant bomb ready to explode! Lucky for him, however, this isn't an actual match, but instead an image! Today's POTD details it as...

Pic of the day. A panel in the Challenges area will unlock everytime you clear a challenge. When you unlock a panel, you'll see hints for unlocking panels directly adjacent to it on all sides. And this time, each panel will unlock pictures related to the challenge. This is tougher than it looks, you know? The challenges in the 3DS version are a little on the easy side, but the Wii U version challenges might be a bit trickier.

The mode that is in nearly every Sakurai game nowadays, Challenge Mode, makes it's return! Games like KI:U, Kirby: Air Ride, Brawl and now Smash 3DS and Wii U will have this mode. Like games of Sakurai's past, clearing a panel shows you how to unlock adjacent ones. Here, we see only one panel of 35 images. Perhaps this is the only one? Is Sakurai going easy on us completionists?! We'll see in the future, but for now, let's look upon some other details.

The Golden Hammer appears to be one of the rewards for some puzzles again. In Brawl, you obtained up to 5 gold hammers to unlock some of the challenges without doing them (but this wasn't usable in every single case). In Smash 3DS, it appears that we'll get at least 4 of them. In addition, if we get multiple panels, it's safe to assume that the hammers will be usable only on one board. True completionists will have to resist the urge to use them for a real victory... but Sakurai appears to have done something in adjustment.

Sakurai remarks about how the 3DS challenges are apparantly easier than Brawl's (which ranged for a joke to being stuff like having your system on for extended periods of time, to playing modes on Intense, to getting all of some item,etc). From what we see, a Xerneas trophy is unlocked by playing Target Blast once. This means that the image you obtain for the challenge is likely relevant, but the rewards will not. That alone is a much easier challenge compared to something along the lines of playing Target Smash with every character.

The other images seem to include a Home Run Contest Panel, meaning one will likely be getting 300 Meters in one game. Another appears to be Smash Run related, and the last one appears to have Toon Link and Link.

Here's a sample what you guys had to say regarding Challenges being a bit soft:

I really don't see a point in making the 3DS challenges easier :/

It's cool that we get funny little pictures for each challenge tho ^_^

@Critzilean

Challenge Accepted

@Xykness

I hope the challenges are random specific things like in Kirby Air Ride or Uprising, instead of the general "clear target test" or "play as Sonic 10 times".

@bkslider

Never did beat all of Brawl's challenges. Couldn't beat Boss Battle Mode on Insane difficulty or whatever it's called--it won't let me use a golden hammer on it! Jerks!

@Wazygoose
Things Confirmed for Wednesday:
1. Challenge Mode returns as a mode.
2. There will be at least 35 challenges.
3. Completing a challenge gives you a picture that is relevant to the challenge and a reward for doing so.
4. Golden Hammers return as a way to unlock panels that you may struggle with completing.

The Power of Customization
8.28.14​

Day #5: Thursday​

Writer: @ Venus of the Desert Bloom

On Thursday Sakurai shed some light concerning the customization features before playing Smash Run. Sakurai had this to say about the PotD:

"Pic of the day. Customize your characters in the Custom section. It sounded better to customize "characters" instead of "fighters," so that's what we went with. There are various ways to customize, but make sure you remember to set up the powers you're bringing with you before playing a round of Smash Run."

There are two screens present: one top and one bottom. I would like to focus on the top first and then the bottom one afterward:

Prior to playing Smash Run, players can take time to adjust the customization features such as stats, moves, appearances, and powers. This is also most likely the customization menu players can access separate from Smash Run. The top menu obviously showcases which areas you can select. These include:

• Equipment (held items)
  
• Specials (special moves)
• Headgear (hats, masks, helmets, etc)
• Outfits (set pieces of individual articles of clothing)
• Powers (additional powers found in Smash Run)

It also appears the player can rotate the character by pressing Y + turn the control stick. It also appears that players can test out the created character as indicated by the "Test (R)" space next to the name, While this does not confirm it, it is possible that players can test their created creations in a training mode of sorts...probably including Sandbag.

Random, which is located under the character model, may just randomized the cutomizable features and then go straight to "OK" which starts the match.

The bottom screen will showcase the character's customizable features and may allow the player to drag and drop stuff in order to make full use of the touch screen. This screen displays the following:

• Stats (Attack, Defense, Speed)
• Specials (Neutral, Up, Side, Down)
• Powers (6 powers the player can move around)
• * (notes)

It is interesting to mention that the * shows special notes about the character. This could be due to the specials and the powers or possible outfits and headgear though this isn't known for sure. The notes for Sophia are:

• No respawn invincibility
  
• Improved attack in a crisis

This has been the subject of much debate on what this actually means and if it only correlates to Smash Run.

You can remove respawn invincibility!?

@Shun_one

Interesting. The "no invinciblity on respawn" bit is almost exactly like the negative modifiers from Kid Icarus. Looks like there's only +1s too.

No noobs running around with random +1s, I guess.

@LancerStaff

Dangit :/ I was hoping against logic that the custom moves would be part of the Character Select Screen...even if it's just more convenient UI, it could've really helped to encourage the viability of custom moves in tournament play; given the time it takes to customize stuff if it's in a diff mode/menu like Brawl, it probably won't have much of a chance of being used to help CP MUs and whatnot :/

@JaiCho

While others had other things to say about the PotD...

Just look at that outfit! Paul from Tekken and Ken from Street Fighter confirmed.

@KatKit

Don't people remember that certain armor has different effects, such as the "Easy Split-Second Shield Overalls" It grants faster shields. So a piece of the Mii's armor must have a disadvantage. So it is not hard to say that armor could have either a Buff or Nurf.

@Master Shuckle

Things Confirmed for Thursday

1. The customization menu

Attack of the Miis
8.29.14
Day #5: Friday
Writer: @ TumblrFamous

Pic of the day. The mysterious fighting teams that appear in the Smash Bros. series come in many shapes and sizes, but this time even we don't know what all of them will look like! It's said that they copy faces from Mii characters saved on your system and attack in a large throng…!! But wait, they all have big smiles on their faces. Looks like they're having a good time, so show no mercy and launch them all away!!

-Masahiro Sakurai

To be honest, we knew this was a thing ever since the E3 Smash Bros Trailer last June. But now we get an official confirmation! Yep, the Miis will be our new "mysterious fighting team" in the upcoming games!

In previous Smash games, we have gotten Polygons and Wire Frames and Alloys, but now we have something new to beat the crap out of! It is stated by Sakurai that the Miis will copy faces from specific Miis saved onto your system, so that's good to hear! Many people expected that!

The three previous Fighting Teams!

Well, to be honest, there's not much more to this update. Miis are part of the line of Fighting Teams. It was a rather lukewarm week. But then, we got it. The Big Announcement. Something so great I couldn't contain myself. Well, it's exciting. So we should dive into it, shall we?​

Things Confirmed for Friday
1. Miis are the new Fighting Team.
2. Miis will take the face of the Miis that are saved onto your system.
3. This picture was a placeholder for the bestest reveal yet (in my opinion).

Japanese Nintendo 3DS Direct - Smash Bros. 3DS
8.29.14
Day #3: Friday
Writer: @ Venus of the Desert Bloom

​

On Friday, we had two glorious pieces of information in the Japanese Nintendo 3DS Direct. The first portion information was the introduction of a new character!

Shulk enters into Smash​

Shulk makes his grand entrance into Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. He wields the godly sword, the Monado in his quest to rid the world of Mechons and evil. He has the power to forsee the future and to execute powerful attacks using the energy from the sword. He appears ot be largely a stance fighter and can change his attacks and stats depending on the stance taken. For more information on Shulk, please visit the Shulk Newcomer article down below!

The Direct also showcased some information albeit in Japanese and some footage about characters that we really have yet to see in action. Here is a list of information shown in the Direct:

Ganondorf in the character display section

At around time stamp :57, it shows various individual game play videos of characters. In the Pikachu video, something is there that probably wasn't meant to be there (or maybe it was?)

What's that blip on the right of Pikachu? Let's zoom in!

Hmmm...let's zoom in more!

Much better but it is still hard to make out what this is...

It looks very similar to a certain....King of Evil...

And there we are....Ganondorf
​

Ganondorf was previously leaked in a gameplay video a week and half ago along with Shulk. He was confirmed to have his Falcondorf moveset rather one inspired by his canon appearance in Legend of Zelda.

Final Destination Stages

We saw Final Destination stages for the following:

• Tortimer Island
• 3D Land
  
• Paper Mario
• Corneria
• Rainbow Road
• Living Room

Information on Items, Pokemon and Assist Trophies

We now know the purpose of certain items such as Super Leaf, Daybreaker, and Giratina that we didn't know previously before.

Nintendo 3DS Modes

We were treated to footage on various new modes on the Nintendo 3DS version usch as:

• Home-Run Contest
• Target Blast
• Multi-Man Mode which involves the Mii Fighters
• Single player mode (and collecting trophies)

New Trophies

The Direct also showed some new trophies and the Trophy Shop. These include:

• Meloetta (Pokemon)
  
• Steel Diver Submarines (Steel Diver)
  
• Dr. Shrunk (Animal Crossing)
  
• Arwing (StarFox)

Smash Run Footage

​

The Smash Run showed us the various powers attributed Smash Run and that you are able to carry these over into Smash Run matches. There are other various modes that occur throughout the Smash Run mini-games such as:

• Multi-Man Melee (identified as "Kumite" or "paired karate")
  
• Race to the Finish
• Climbing
• Enemy Army Group battle (probably occurs on a stage that is affiliated with that franchise enemies i.e. Kid Icarus enemies on Reset Bomb Forest stage.

Fighter Customization

You can pick between the Miis or Character. Choosing Character allows the player to add additional items or power ups with the Equipment or to change the moves in the Moves section. Kirby is capable of having 3 customizable attacks for each special move. He was the only one featured in the Direct:

Neutral B: Swallow
Custom 1: Freeze Breathe
Custom 2: Jumping Swallow

Up B: Final Cutter
Custom 1: Earth Wave
Custom 2: Rising Cutter

Side B: Hammer
Custom 1: Hammer Bash
Custom 2: Launching Hammer

Down B: Stone
Custom 1: Bury Stone
Custom 3: Meteor Stone

http://www.ssbwiki.com/Kirby_(SSB4)

With items and power ups, you can compare between the ones you have equipped and ones you don't have equipped.

Mii Fighter Customization

You are able to mix and match the Mii Fighters clothes and exchange sets of clothing. This includes putting Mario's hat on a costume of dragon-looking armor thus allowing for more freedom instead of particular sets.

It showcased tons of new and old footage and gave us a glimpse of what is to come for Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and appears to be just the surface of what is in the game.

Overview:
Monday gave us more details on Classic Mode's challenge mode. Like with Kid Icarus: Uprising, the higher the intensity, the higher the rewards and the higher the entry fee. Tuesday revealed Spectator Mode is coming onto the 3DS version. You can get rewards for predicting second place now, not just first! Wednesday revealed Challenges will return in both games, but it appears to be a bit easier on the 3DS Version, and will now include comical pictures in addition to rewards like trophies and Golden Hammers. Thursday showed off the customization aspect of Smash 3DS (titled Custom) and notes that Sakurai wanted to call them characters instead of fighters as it sounds nicer. You can customize Mii Fighters with Equipment, Headgear, Outfits, Specials and Powers. Friday gave us two major updates. The Multi-Man Smash team was unveiled to be the Mii Fighters (as teased earlier this year). They will copy faces from your system, be it 3DS or Wii U and use them as fighters. Then, on the Nintendo Direct, Sakurai revealed the motherload of all big reveals. Despite many leaks, teasers and footage leaks, it was still a very nice surprise to see Shulk (At least for the Overview's writer, whose most wanted was Shulk, that is)! Shulk appears to utilize a special moveset based on buffs and debuffs, like Xenoblade. For more details, check out this week's Shulk Analysis.

THANKS FOR READING!!!​

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

WARNING!! CHALLENGER APPROACHING!!
Writer: @ TumblrFamous

I'm so sorry. I'm much too giddy from excitement. It's time to celebrate, Smashers! One of our popular requests is in the game! Hailing from the land of Bionis, the dreamy protagonist of the critically acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles, Shulk joins the battle!!

Wait. Who's Shulk?

In case you are one of the few people that have been living under a rock for the past year of Smash speculation, Shulk is the hero from the successful game Xenoblade Chronicles. A skilled swordsman, and a bit of a nerd, 18-year old Shulk is one of the few to wield the power of the Monado, a mythical sword with an energy blade. This sword was used by Bionis, a mechanical god where the story takes place, against the rival Mechonis. After his Colony is attacked by the antagonistic Mechon, Shulk swears revenge on them, and travels across the land of Bionis to seek vengeance.

Shulk uses the Monado quite well. In the game, he's a bit of a glass cannon: phenomenal strength and agility, but only mediocre HP, making him quite fragile. Wielding the Monado, Shulk has the ability to use Arts, skills unique to the Monado itself. These give him various abilities, such as evasion, boosted attack, or blocking talent Arts. Playing as Shulk, the tip is to use these arts effectively, as strategy in timing and moves is crucial in Xenoblade Chronicles.

If you want to learn more about him, check out the Xenoblade Chronicles website or wiki!


Aesthetic

Hubba hubba.

Shulk's appearance looks incredible in the game. Character graphics in Xenoblade were decent, but you can easily see the lack of detail and fine tuning in them. Shulk's transfer to HD makes him, just like all the other realistic-looking characters, appealing in terms of overall aesthetic.

As most of you know, in Xenoblade Chronicles, you're allowed to customize your character's outfits in order to gain boosts in defenses, power, etc. The character art is obviously just his original design. However, we already have an alternate costume for him! Swimsuit Model Shulk!

....Deep breaths. Control yourself.

Of course Sakurai has to add another half-naked character. We need the sex appeal for both men and women! ...Sakurai, why do you do this to me? He's so gorgeous it hurts. Those legs...


Playstyle

Okay, so now that we've gone over how hot he is his appearance, let's go into Shulk's style of play.

Sakurai posted three images after Shulk's reveal. All three reveal something interesting about how Shulk plays in the game. So I'll just go down each one, and then recap on each one.

Pic of the day. From Xenoblade Chronicles, Shulk joins the battle!! He's not the type of character that would usually appear in the Smash Bros. series, but we worked really hard to make it happen. We're very happy with how he turned out. This stage is Gaur Plain.

-Masahiro Sakurai

It's clear that Sakurai knew Shulk was a heavily requested character. And he seems to be thrilled how they made Shulk. And I can honestly say I am too. Being my most wanted after Palutena, I'm thrilled he's in. I'm also thrilled that Gaur Plain is a mutually exclusive stage on both the 3DS and the Wii U. I won't go into detail about it, but it looks like a stage you can move around in. It also appears to change in time, so we get to see that beautiful night sky in the Gaur Plain!

Shulk's sword, the Monado, slashes enemies with a beam when activated, so it can strike from long range. What really makes this weapon unique is that when the Monado Arts are activated, it can change Shulk's features and abilities! Emerge victorious in battle by changing your abilities strategically!!

-Masahiro Sakurai

Shulk is a character focused on his sword, the Monado. This sword, however, actually has an energy beam that slashes opponents, making him a long-range swordfighter. So it's nice to see he won't have to always be so up close and personal. Now what Sakurai says about his Arts is what's really unique. The Monado has many Arts that can help Shulk in battle, both in Xenoblade and Smash! So, it appears Shulk will be a technical character, just like newcomers before him. Speaking of Arts...

[List of Monado Arts]
翔 (Jump): higher jumps, lower defense.
疾 (Speed): faster movement, weaker attacks.
盾(Shield): higher defense, slower movement.
斬(Buster): stronger attacks, weaker launch ability.
撃(Smash): Stronger launch ability, weaker attacks, lower defense against launching.

-Masahiro Sakurai

Of the five Arts Shulk has accessible in this game, three are from the original game: Speed, Shield, and Buster. So let's see what we have. Monado Jump gives Shulk higher jumping capabilities but lower defense. Monado Speed makes him faster, but weaker in attack power. Monado Shield makes him slower, but gives him higher defense. Monado Buster gives Shulk stronger attacks but weaker launch ability (combos?). Finally, Monado Smash gives Shulk the ability to have strong launch power. However, his attacks are weaker and he is more susceptible to launching.

He appears to be technical, and just like in his game, you have to use strategy and know when to attack, when to defend, and when to go in for the kill. For example, resist heavy attacks with Shield, rack up damage with Buster, and attack opponents with Smash. There are so many possibilities, so use his Arts to your advantage!


Moveset

We saw a variety of moves in the trailer. So let's break them down. Before I start, I want to give special thanks to the folks at Shulk's Moveset Thread for making these amazing gifs. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!

Jab Combo

Shulk punches forward, kicks, and then swipes upward with the Monado.

Up Tilt

Shulk does a long-range sweep with his sword above him.

Side Smash

Shulk jabs forward with the Monado. Long range.

Up Smash

Shulk points the Monado upward, and blasts an energy beam up.

Down Smash

Shulk spins around, swiping the ground with the Monado. Think of it as a long range Peach Down Smash.

Back Air

Shulk lunges the Monado behind him.

Neutral B-Monado Jump

Shulk gains enhanced jumping abilities but weaker defenses.

Neutral B-Monado Speed

Shulk becomes faster at the cost of weaker attacks.

Neutral B-Monado Shield

Shulk gains an increase in defense but a decrease in speed.

Neutral B-Monado Buster/Down Tilt/Forward Air

Shulk gets stronger attacks but weak launch power/Shulk swipes the ground below/Shulk slashes with the Monado.

Neutral B-Monado Smash

Shulk gets an increase in launch power, but has weaker attacks and weaker launch defense.

Side B-Back Slash

Shulk lunges forward at the enemy. Likely that if hit from behind, causes severe knockback and damage.

Up B-Air Slash

Shulk launches up with a strike from the Monado. Can connect again with another strike.

Down B-Vision

Shulk sees into the future and counters the opponent's attack.

Final Smash-Chain Attack

Shulk calls the help of Riki and Dunban. They trap opponents, continuously attack them, and Shulk launches them with a final strike.


Leak?!?!

...This may be a confirmation.

I know what you're all thinking. The leak! Is it the same character model? Is it real? As most of you know, recently we received leaked screenshots of the Character Selection Screen. Shulk was part of it. There was speculation whether it was real: many people said it wasn't as you can easily photoshop a picture of Little Mac and make it look like Shulk. Then we got video of Shulk fighting Charizard and Ganondorf with Lucina. It looked pretty legit, but there was still some doubt in people's minds.

That doubt should be gone now. The character model is identical, and the gameplay video shows off identical moves, so, yeah. The leaked videos are most definitely real. Which means we should be seeing Bowser Jr. very soon.


Legendary Heropon!!!

Apart from being part of Shulk's Final Smash, Riki joins the battle!!... as an Assist Trophy? Well, it looks like it, as I don't think Shulk can "use" him in battle. Plus, it looks like Riki is doing something to heal Shulk. Maybe he's using Happy Happy? You Can Do It? Hopefully we'll get more info on Riki as time goes on.

What is interesting though is the interesting choice of an Assist. I would have thought we'd get a different Assist. Of a certain person that we all know and love...Reyn. But maybe Sakurai will pull a Kid Icarus and give us two Assists for the franchise!


Possible Stage Boss?

At the end of the trailer, we see a shadow of a Mechon mocking Shulk. This is obviously Metal Face, a major antagonist in Xenoblade Chronicles. So maybe this is hinting towards a Metal Face stage boss? It seems very likely! It would make perfect sense to have Metal Face as a stage boss.

Reception

Shulk was a heavily requested character. His game captivated the hearts of many, and has become a cult classic. Shulk is now an insanely popular character, and a character wanted for Smash. Since then, fans all around the world wanted him in. Now that they've got him, there's a lot of people thrilled with his inclusion.

MONADO MORNING IS HAPPENING

@Neo Zero

shulk confirmed! Subforum! Riki assist! Chain Attack FS! Mist Oil alt! Metal Face boss!

@KingofZeroX

Mighty big congrats for your confirmation, Shulk crew. You did it!

@FalKoopa

That's so Shulk and RIki Baxter!
I'm so hype like I never expected this!

@Hokori

"Now it's Shulk time"
And that Guar Plains remix was fabulous.
XENOBLADE 3DS!!!!! Please tell me we won't have to Operation Rainfall this one.

@ThatWasPeachy


Shulk Additional Pictures

[collapse=Shulk Pictures]

[/collapse]


In Conclusion

Shulk was an incredibly popular character. His game was popular around the world, and his unique style was long wanted in Smash. And fans got him. Looking incredible in HD, having a technical playstyle, and being overall well-received, Shulk earns his spot on the roster. I hope you are all happy with his inclusion!

If you'd like to celebrate the introduction of the Heir to the Monado, visit Shulk's Character Forum!​

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

While working late into the night, a mysterious manuscript turned up on my desk just labeled...

"*laughs*"

Digging through its contents, I was amazed at the treasure trophy I have stumbled upon. I quickly translated a random entry into English and held onto it until today. Thus, I present to you, Smashboardians.....

Sakurai's Diary

What a week! Menus from the 3DS version galore! I'm so excited that half of my work will finally be done... in fact, all I have left is a few polishing touches... such as removing Ridley, Mewtwo and Mach Rider in punishment for that darned leak!

It's bad enough that Sal Romano came close.. but leaked photos are unforgivible. That's why I asked Iwata if the Shulk trailer could be played during the Japanese Nintendo Direct. The Americans deserved it.

I've taken much pleasure from creating Miis of my co-workers.. they deserve a roster spot for working so hard on the game. And besides, if they mess up in the future, I'll just make them self-destruct over and over again.

While the Super Smash Bros. for 3DS may be great, I'm just sad that I couldn't get more Kid Icarus characters in. Oh well, there's always DLC, right?

The translating process takes around one week, as Sakurai apparently writes in a coded Swahili, which has to be translated to Japanese, then English. Until next time readers!

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

Attack of the Clones
@ Venus of the Desert Bloom ​

Since Super Smash Bros. Melee, clones have become a highly talked about topic that is usually seen in a negative light. According to the SSBWiki, "A clone is a character with a moveset and physics that are considerably similar to another character's" (http://www.ssbwiki.com/clone) For most people, clones are there to fluff the roster, take away roster spaces from more deserving characters, and generally seen as being uncreative and unintuitive. There are various levels of clones that I will get into later but here are the general accepted list of clones per Super Smash Bros. installment:

Super Smash Bros.

• Mario > Luigi (some differences in terms of attacks especially with specials)

Super Smash Bros. Melee

• Mario > Luigi (same as SSB with a little more differences including specials)
• Mario > Dr. Mario (similar physics but not exact. Dr. Mario also shoots out pills instead of fireballs)
• Link > Young Link (Young Link being a shorter and faster Link with slightly different prperties. Young Link also uses Fire Arrows)
• Fox > Falco (Very similar in almost every way except for differing knockback properties and running/jumping speeds)
• Pikachu > Pichu (somewhat different attacks and properties. Pichu is much faster and had an added gimmick.)
• Captain Falco > Ganondorf (similar attack animations, Ganondorf is much slower and more powerful. Only clones that do not come fromt he same universe.)
• Marth > Roy (Very similar though differences in sweetspots in the blade. Roy uses fire.)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• Mario > Luigi (they have become even more separated from each other. Different animations.)
• Link > Toon Link (much different compared to Link and Young Link. Different properties and attacking animations but very similar to almost exact specials and Final Smashes.)
• Fox > Falco (More separated than in Melee. Different but semi-related physics and animations.)
• Fox > Wolf (More different compared to Fox and Falco. Easily the least clone-y in the roster though they have the same Final Smash.)
• Captain Falcon > Ganondorf (further separated but maintain similar animations. Has newer animations for attacks and general movements but retains his old animations for others.)
• Ness > Lucas (Similar attacks with obviously different properties and physics. Same Final Smash)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS

• Mario > Luigi (while the final build isn't available, they remain almost the same in Brawl with a few differences with Luigi's animations and attacks thus widening the clone gap.)
• Link > Toon Link (new attacks and animations for Toon Link but still retains his move set which is similar to Link.)
• Captain Falco > Ganondorf (Ganondorf seems similar to his Brawl build which is influenced by Falcon. Still has his down Smash and Dark Dive.)
• Marth > Lucina (Same moves with slightly different physics. Lucina uses her entire blade for damage instead of Marth.)

This usually attributes to what a clone is and what factors decides this category. However, to what extent is Luigi > Marth different from, say, Marth > Lucina?

The Clone Chart

While clones are a blanket title, they can be broken up into several categories:

• Clone: A clone is a character who is generally the same as the original character minus a few minute differences. They have the same or very similar attacks and specials, animations, and game play. A few attacks may be a bit different in animations but they are similar. Some examples includes Marth > Roy, Marth > Lucina, Mario > Dr. Mario, Captain Falcon > Ganondorf (Melee), Fox > Falco (Melee)and Mario > Luigi (SSB).
• Semi-Clones: A character with enough differences that, while a clone, contain their own unique styles. This includes different moves and attributes, different animations and physics, knock back properties, and further game play features. Many of the clones that were introduced in SSBM graduated to semi-clone or Luigified Clone in Brawl. Fox and Falco remained this way in SSBB.
  
• Luigified Clone: Using Luigi as a reference, a character that has been given the Luigi treatment. Meaning that the character stays true to the original but enough change in his or her moveset that the different are apparent. This not only includes different specials but also different animations for general movements such as falling and walking. Another character that got this treatment was Ganondorf in Brawl.
• Faux-Clone: A character may seem like a clone at first glance but, upon further investigation, is not an actual clone but retains a vast amount of differences. Those who are unaware of this category may assume wrong about a character. Prime examples include, Kirby > Jigglypuff, Fox > Lucas, and Lucario > Mewtwo.

But Why Clones?!

Clones are usually seem with contempt with many thinking clones are a negative force on the roster. While they may like the characters, some thinks it is a disservice to the character. While some clones make sense such as Mario > Luigi and Marth > Lucina, others do not such as Captain Falcon > Ganondorf and Link > Toon Link as many cite there is enough material in their home games to make an interesting move set that is not like the original. Many support threads, such as my Dark Samus support thread, try to prove why the supported character wouldn't be a clone of a original character. However, cutting a clone from the roster is never a good idea as there are those that love that character. I highly doubt Pichu, Dr. Mario, and Roy were cut solely because they were clones but due to other factors such as development time, Sakurai's personal views, or in favor of a more important character or a mixture of reason. That is why I am against saying "Cut XXXX characters because they are a clones." It isn't a valid argument and really makes people look stupid.

But why do people hate clones so much?

I suspect that many people don't like clones because of:

A. The character has enough source material to not be a clone therefore in an insult to that character.
B. Takes away a roster spot from a more deserving character
C. Clones are uninteresting and uncreative.

Certainly those are good reasons as to hate a clone however, a clone is not necessarily a bad thing. Clones do fairly well in the meta game and have a wide variety of fans that support and love them. According to tier lists, there are several clones that do well for themselves:

SSBM

• Falco: 2nd
• Dr. Mario: 9th
• Ganondorf: 12th
• Luigi: 13th

SSBB

• Falco: 7th
• Toon Link : 13th
• Wolf: 14th
• Luigi: 28th

However, looking at these results, it is interesting that many of the cloned characters who were reworked in Brawl dropped significantly when attempted to be de-cloned. Falco lost is 2nd place spot to 7th and Ganondorf dropped down to dead last at 38th. This has led a call from fans for Sakurai to stop trying to de-cloned characters or to put them from the ground up though this would lead to cuts as the development period would be too short to build these characters entirely from the ground one.

And the question needs to be asked: should it happen? Ganondorf does well for himself despite his lower standings with many Ganondorf mains preferring his move set and play style compared to an entirely new one. Luigi makes sense considering he is the brother of Mario as does Doctor Mario. The various versions of Link's also make sense to fans as they are basically one of the same. Marth and Lucina makes perfect sense as Lucina masqueraded as Marth in her game. Judging from the above mentioned Tier Lists, the cloned characters who tampered with from SSB/Melee all received a significant drop in Brawl and this is a trend that could continue. Yet, people call for de-cloning characters yet this does seem to hurt the character overall.

The Ideal Clone

Therefore, I suggest that cloned move sets and play styles should be given to characters where it actually makes sense. Captain Falcondorf did not make sense considering the two character are wholly different but, yet, that's what happened and now it has become Smash "canon". Falco and Fox does sort of make sense considering they are similar characters in their home universe and, much like the Fire Emblem character, their move sets would be different but probably have the same gist behind it. There are of course ways to make character different from each other but there is a pattern in Super Smash Bros. where similar characters have similar attacks. For example, Marth and Ike having Counter for a Down B. Ike could have had a Down B that involves a shock-wave attack but that didn't happen. It is much easier for the design team to give similar characters semi-similar moves. I think this is the way Sakurai is going by trying to make character be less like clones and having characters, like Lucina and Dark Pit become clones becomes it makes sense.

I do not think clones are inherently a bad thing because they are well-loved by their fans and, in my opinion, any character who has a spot on the roster earned that spot 100%. While it may generate salt when a cloned character gets in over a heavily-requested character, it is the direction Sakurai wishes to take and there always a chance that the character may appear in the next installment. Yes, it does suck but I feel it is unfair to hold a character/fan base in contempt because that character got in over your heavily requested character.

Cloned characters are a really a product of the fanbase. The fanbase asks for roster expansion they also complain and rage about delays or long production times; something Super Smash Bros. is well known for. Fans want an expansive yet diverse roster devoid of clones yet, in order to achieve that, the studio that is developing the game would need a lot of time and man power in order to achieve that and time and man power can be a strain on the budget - something that is always a factor in gaming development. Sakurai brought in the Namco-Bandai team because of the sheer amount of work involved yet, even then, we supposedly have 3 cloned characters (Lucina, Dark Pit, and Dr. Mario). It is something that is very hard to balance and I believe itt involves forces that we are not aware of it right now. There are many factors that are involved with implementing characters and it could be something that we are unaware of and something that cannot be changed.

However, trying to de-clone and set apart these "cloned" character in Brawl was a step in the right direction. In addition, including Custom Moves is a way for set apart these cloned characters even further by having the custom moves per character slightly different. There is even speculation about characters like Toon Link and Ganondorf having entirely different special moves from their originals ala Palutena and Mii Fighters. It is a possibility but unlikely.

In Conclusion....

I propose that Sakurai keep the cloned characters just as they are from Brawl but with some tweaks and buffs that will help the characters climb the Tier List. These movesets work for the fans and there isn't really a need to fix something that isn't broken. Sakurai should make a character a clone only when it is necessary and makes sense. Utilize the customization features to further separate the move sets of alleged cloned character. In this way, people are kept happy by having an expansive roster and offering different choices to further differentiate the characters.

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

We Want YOU to Vote! Results
@ Venus of the Desert Bloom

Do you think the CSS (character select screen) is fake or real?​

Last week, the Week in Review polled readers whether they think the character select screen roster leak is fake or real. It has been a real debating point for many threads and has caused a lot of uproar in the Smash community. It was a big struggle between #TeamFake and #TeamReal and for those who didn't really care either way. Here are how the votes turned out:

Is the recent CSS (character select screen) leak real or fake?

1. It is fake
   16 vote(s)
   34.0%
2. It is real
   18 vote(s)
   38.3%
3. I am not sure
   13 vote(s)
   27.7%

It was quite interesting in that the "It is fake" was leading the poll until mid-last week around Wednesday when the "It is real" began to gain speed. At one point, it was 6 to 0 votes in favor of it being fake. However, with Shulk's reveal and his inclusion of his roster artwork, the "It is real" option shot up to the top. Likewise, those who voted for "I am not sure" are obviously wary of the leak and know that at least Shulk is confirmed playable. Regardless, this has been a huge credibility boost for the leak and a major victory for #TeamReal though #TeamFake asserts that the leaker received Shulk's and Gaur Plains artwork beforehand and inserted it into the roster/stage select screen. The issue is still in debate and both sides have become entrenched in believing it is real or not. Revealing Dr. Mario, Duck Hunt Dog, Dark Pit, or any number of the characters on the roster will surely confirm its legitimacy though their absence can kill the leak where it stands. Time will tell.

We Want YOU to Vote!

Do You have a Japanese 3DS and will you be purchasing Super Smash Bros. for 3DS?​

It is a fact that the Japanese version will come out earlier than the west. It is slated to be released on September 13th everywhere in Japan. This has led to many fans purchasing imported Japanese 3DS with plans to download the game via eShop. Are you one of these fans? Let us know!

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

Misc Information/Requests
The WiR is a huge commitment for me. I typically spend anywhere from an hour to 5 hours of my day making sure the WiR is as good as it can be. But I do have a job that I constantly have to prepare and study for as long as taking online classes myself and studying Japanese to further my career. Not to mention I have a social life, a wife, and commitments that conflicts with the WiR.

Therefore, I depend A LOT on outside help. If you would like to help write a WiR, please contact me via Private Message and we can work out the details. If you have any idea or would like to contribute something different, I am open to ideas. For example, the veteran analysis was entirely @APC99’s idea. I could also use some help in finding quotes, watching threads, and proofreading. If you see some interesting posts that you think may help me in writing the WiR, simply quote it in a Private Message or quote/tag me in your post on that thread. That way, I am sure to read it and within its context.

Secondly, I want to open to three Requests I have for people. If you are interested in helping out, please put "____________ Submission" so I know what you are applying for.


Little Mac Newcomer Analysis

Are you planning on maining Mac? Was he one of your most wanted characters? Or are you interested in writing about him? I am looking for a capable writer to help cover the Little Mac analysis.

If you want to write up a analysis on Little Mac, hit me up on PM.​

Greninja Character Analysis

Did you give Greninja a try at the demo? Are you planning on maining the ninja water-type frog? If so, how about write a newcomer analysis for the Week in Review? If you are interested, contact myself or another Week in Review staff member about writing one!

Potential Character Analysis: Duck Hunt Dog

Duck Hunt Dog was previously leaked a week and half ago on a potential roster leak. Many questioned why Duck Hunt Dog was included while supporters of the character partied. But how would this character exactly work? What could he do in Smash? What would his attacks, Final Smash, special movies, palette swaps, alt costumes, taunts, etc be? Are you a Duck Hunt Dog and want to show your support by writing a analysis? Contact myself and let me know!

Stage Analysis​

Are you interested in writing about stages? Feel free to contact me and apply to write about a Stage Analysis!

Here is a list that you can choose from!​

1. Balloon Fight

2. Find Mii

3. Pac Maze

4. Paper Mario

​

5. Garden of Hope

6. Palutena's Castle

7. Pac Land

8. Kalos League

​

Let me know if you are able to write an analysis for either one of these stages!​

 

[KaZe_DaRKWIND]

I think the most interesting part of the news was Shulk's Alt Costume

Not getting the Japanese version. If I could afford it, I'd be getting a New 3DS.

 

[Pazzo.]

I'll pass on the Japanese SSB4. I'm patient like that.

 

[Superyoshiom]

So hyped for Shulk. Made my week.

 

[mario123007]

If Ice Climbers got replaced by Duck Hunt Dog, I will hate this roster.

 

[TumblrFamous]

If they're out, it's because of technical problems. Duck Hunt Dog would have been in regardless.

 

[DakotaBonez]

Where was the image of shulk in his swimtrunks originally posted?
It looks like it came directly from the smash bros website