Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are both versions of the upcoming fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series being developed by Sora Ltd. and Namco Bandai Games. Each version will have different release dates. The 3DS version comes out in October 3, 2014 and the Wii U version comes out in North America on November 21, 2014.

Standalone Veteran Characters
These characters were in a previous game, but are now separate characters instead of being part of another.
 * Zero Suit Samus
 * Sheik
 * Charizard

Newcomers

 * Villager
 * Mega Man
 * Wii Fit Trainer
 * Rosalina & Luma
 * Little Mac
 * Greninja
 * Mii Fighter in 3 variants
 * Palutena
 * Pac-Man
 * Lucina
 * Robin
 * Shulk
 * Dark Pit
 * Bowser Jr./Koopalings
 * Duck Hunt (Duo)

White Board
On July 2, 2012, Masahiro Sakurai shared an image on his Twitter feed of a drawing the development staff had made on a white board that displayed many characters from previous Smash Bros. titles. While it does not confirm that they will in fact be featured in the game, it may be an indication that certain characters are returning. The characters in the drawing are:


 * Kirby
 * Marth
 * Pit
 * Fox
 * Donkey Kong
 * Mario
 * Zero Suit Samus
 * Mr. Game & Watch
 * Wario
 * Link
 * Pikachu
 * Luigi
 * Meta Knight

In addition to the fighters, the drawing also features:
 * A Pikmin
 * Sandbag
 * Mr. Saturn
 * Either a Heart Container or a Heart from the Kid Icarus series
 * Master Hand
 * Possibly Crazy Hand

Stages
The Wii U and 3DS versions have completely different stages. Furthermore, multiple stages have Final Destination versions (a flat stage without any hazards), in which those versions are available on For Glory mode.

Wii U
The Wii U version currently has 45 confirmed stages

3DS
The 3DS version currently has 34 stages.

Game Modes
This iteration of Super Smash Bros. has several new and returning game modes.

Classic Mode

 * Main Article:Classic Mode

Classic mode returns once again in this game. In the Nintendo 3DS version, players will get to choose a path to fight against characters.

In the Wii U version, the player will partake in a tournament and advance based on skill. This can also be done in co-op.

All Star Mode
Main Article:All-Star Mode

All-Star Mode returns as well, now unlocked from the start, and adds the new characters as the player unlocks them.

Online Play
Unlike Brawl, there are now two modes for playing with anyone: For Fun and For Glory. For Fun is items on, all stages except final destination, for 2 minutes. Only wins are counted in this mode. For Glory is a more competitive mode with no items, only Final Destination stages, 1-on-1 battles possible, and both wins and loses counted. No longer are players completely anonymous with the player's Nintendo Network ID appearing as the player's name. This enables reporting with Miiverse-style policies. In addition, matchmaking is based on skill rather than completely random, though there will not be rankings competitively.

Smash Run

 * Main article: Smash Run 

Smash Run is a new mode exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version. The mode starts with a five minute adventure course involving exploration and battling enemies from both Brawl's The Subspace Emissary and other game series. Through defeating these enemies, as well as opening chests, breaking targets similar to those found in Break the Targets, and other methods, power-up markers can be found and picked up and are used for increasing various stats for the player's character. Players will also have to be careful while adventuring, as there are enemies that can steal their power-ups, as well as the risk of getting power-ups knocked out of them by other players that they might meet up with, (though Sakurai himself recommends to refrain from going at each other during the five minutes). Prior to starting, players can equip themselves with special items that they can use during the match. Upon the expiration of the five minutes, any power-ups collected are added to the characters stats, and the players fight each other in a normal winner-takes-all battle.

Home Run Contest
Home Run Contest returns in this game. Like in the previous games, the player beats up Sandbag, and when the Sandbag is damaged enough, the player will finish off by hitting it with a Home Run bat to send it flying off to see how far does it go in a distance.

Target Blast
A new single player mode that combines Home Run Contest and Break the Targets. The player beats up a bomb counting down from ten and then knocks it into the target field breaking some targets. The targets and other stuff in the field break into shrapnel and can break other targets.

Multi Man Smash
Like Brawl and Melee before, Multi Man Melee returns, but now it is renamed as "Multi Man Smash". However, instead of Fighting Wire Frames and Fighting Alloys, the Mii Fighters act as your enemies. There are 6 modes in Multi Man Smash

Trophies

 * List of Trophies in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/ Wii U 

Trophies return in this game though each version has trophies exclusive to each game. They are now purchaseable through a shop directly instead of just gambling your coins in the hope that it appears. On the 3DS, they can also be bought for play Coins.

Challenges
There are in total 105 challenges in the 3DS version that involve a wide variety of tasks from playing as certain characters to collecting all the smash run powers.

In the Wii U version, there are 140 challenges, all on a single screen.

Development
An Iwata Asks interview released in June 2011 revealed a few early details about the game. Discussions between Iwata and Sakurai about creating a Super Smash Bros. title for the 3DS with the then newly formed Project Sora began shortly after the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 2008. It was decided however that Sakurai and his team would first tackle Kid Icarus: Uprising. As development of the Wii U began, it became clear to Sakurai that creating a game for both systems would be necessary. He began to think about the differences between the two platforms, and realized the personal nature of the handheld experience. This led him to consider the idea of customizing and leveling up characters with things like experience points, however he and Iwata expressed how this may limit the "pick-up-and-play" quality the series is known for. Ultimately, ''“What Sakurai hopes to do is have the 3DS version of Smash Bros. allow players to build up their character through battle and rewards, then take their custom character to the Wii U version to face off against everyone. He feels it could be nice if they can make the “personal” portable space and the stadium-like “public” console space mesh together.” Sakurai has acknowledged that the Wii U version could offer 60 frames per second visuals, high quality graphics, dynamic effects, and smooth character movements, while the 3DS version will likely offer players a slightly different Smash Bros.'' experience. Many members of the Kid Icarus: Uprising staff are likely to work on the project. Sakurai hopes to let his team handle the character balancing this time around, as opposed to him personally doing it as he did in the previous titles.

When asked about whether or not a Capcom character could make an appearance, Sakurai said “I can’t say that it’s entirely out of the realm of possibility that some Capcom character could appear in the next Smash Bros. The big problem, though, comes from the idea of trying to get characters from a completely different universe to fit with the style that has been dictated by Nintendo's characters in a fighting game.”

Early development on the game finally began in February 2012 after Project Sora had finished it’s work on Kid Icarus: Uprising. On April 25, 2012, Sakurai revealed some of his early thoughts on the games in an interview with IGN, explaining that the series needs to evolve. ''“There is a certain dead end we come to if we just expand the volume of the game. I intend to change direction a little as we go. The key to that’s going to be its dual support for 3DS/Wii U. I’m really just getting started on this so it’s going to take time, but I'll come up with something that uses that link as the game’s central axis, so I hope you're looking forward to it.”''

Sakurai has stated that he plans on reviving more old Nintendo characters in the game, much like he did with Ice Climbers and Pit in previous titles.

In an interview with Nintendo Power, Sakurai expressed that the wait for the game's release may be longer than many fans are expecting saying, ''“We've just taken what you could call the first step of the process. This is the first time I've ever had my next project announced before it’s even entered development, and because of that, I fear that players will be forced to wait even longer than they expect to. Please be patient.”''

On June 21, 2012 during a Nintendo Direct video stream, Nintendo announced that Namco Bandai would be developing the two games with Sakurai's Project Sora. A top tier group of developers from Namco have been assembled including Masaya Kobayashi (Ridge Racer series), Yoshito Higuchi (producer and director of the Tales series), Tetsuya Akatsuka (producer and director of Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.), the art director/sound director of the Soul Calibur series, as well as the main development team staff from the Tekken series.

In an interview with Nintendo Power, Sakurai discussed the amount of playable characters saying, ''“It isn’t a matter of ‘if the next game has 50 characters, that’ll be enough.’ There is a certain charm to games that have huge casts of playable characters, but they tend to have issues with game balance and it becomes very difficult to fine-tune each character and have them all feel distinctive…. In terms of quantity, we’ve probably already reached the limit of what’s feasible. I think a change of direction may be what’s needed.”''

When asked about the possibility of any Namco Bandai characters making an appearance in the game, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada said ''“We’re not really sure at this moment but when thinking of the playerbase who is playing Smash Bros, maybe Tekken characters is something they wouldn’t want, so I’ve been pulling back on that a bit. But I don’t know.”''

At the E3 2013, Villager, Mega Man, and Wii Fit Trainer were revealed to be playable characters in the game.

On July 12, 2013, Pikmin &amp; Olimar were announced on the official website.

During the Nintendo Direct on August 7, 2013, Luigi was announced for the game.

On September 12, 2013, Princess Peach was announced for the game.

On September 26, 2013, Toon Link was announced for the game.

During the Nintendo Direct on October 1, 2013, Sonic the Hedgehog was announced for the game as a returning third-party character.

On November 7, 2013, Marth was announced on the official website.

On December 18, 2013, Rosalina & Luma were announced as a newcomer to the Smash Bros series. This is the first newcomer announced since E3 2013.

On December 26, 2013, Princess Zelda was announced of the official website.

On January 10, 2014, King Dedede was confirmed to return via the official website.

On January 31, 2014, Lucario was confirmed to return via the official website.

On February 13, Little Mac was announced as the fifth newcomer in this iteration of the Smash Bros during a Nintendo Direct.

On February 20, Diddy Kong was confirmed to return via the official website.

On April 8, 2014, a Nintendo Direct showcasing the game occurred. Revealed the mechanics of online play, release windows, Zero Suit Samus, Sheik, Yoshi, Charizard and Greninja.

On May, 2014, Ike was confirmed to return via the official website. He takes on his Radiant Dawn appearance now.

On June 10, 2014, during the Nintendo Digital Event, there was 3 variants of the Mii Fighter introduced; The Mii Brawler, the Mii Swordfighter and the Mii Gunner. It also revealed NFC functionality. The 3DS release date was also revealed. In addition, Palutena was revealed with a trailer animated by Shaft at the end of the event.

Later that day, at the Smash roundtable, Sakurai revealed Pac-Man with a new trailer that also hinted Mr. Game and Watch could return.

On July 14, Sakurai revealed not one, but two newcomers: Lucina and Robin, with a trailer in a style of a cutscene from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Also, during a trailer, Captain Falcon was confirmed to return.

On August 13, Meta Knight was revealed to return. In addition, the site updated to explain the single player modes and revealed a limited edition 3DS XL that was due to release on October 3 in Europe.

On August 29, Shulk was revealed in a Japanese Nintendo Direct. In addition, Amiibo support for confirmed for the 3DS version.

On October 3, three of the secret characters, Ness, Falco, and Wario, were revealed to return.

On October 23, There was a Livestream revealing multiple things about the Wii U version like 8-Player Smash, Stage Builder, Master Orders and Crazy Orders, and Mewtwo added as DLC for those who buy and register both versions.

Reception
The 3DS version was received pretty well, receiving a 37(10/10/10/9) out of 40. It has a 85.44% on GameRankings and a 85 on Metacritic.

It sold over a million in its first weekend in Japan alone, with 944,644 at retail. Worldwide, by October 6, the game had sold over 2.8 million copies. As of the end of October, the game sold 3.22 million with about 1.5 million overseas.

The community has also received the game pretty well, finding it fairly suitable for competitive play.