Wii U, 3DS Smash Bros. still 'years' away - Report
By
Tom Magrino
Project Sora head Masahiro Sakurai says all his studio's resources are devoted to Kid Icarus completion.
Nintendo launched the 3DS in March, and one of the biggest criticisms leveled at the device was the absence of big-name first-party franchises available for the new device. With many of those franchises--including Mario Kart, Star Fox, Super Mario, and Kid Icarus--confirmed for release this year, the publisher said at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo that the Smash Bros. franchise is also en route for the 3DS and newly unveiled Wii U console.
Unfortunately, it appears as if gamers won't be seeing those new installments in the crossover 2D fighter franchise anytime soon. As part of a weekly column in Famitsu magazine (translated by 1Up), Project Sora director of software development Masahiro Sakurai confirmed that the two Smash Bros. games are still several years off.
"Right now, we're devoting all our manpower to working on Kid Icarus," Sakurai wrote. "We've got no plans whatsoever--we've got two new games out in the open when there's no extra time to work with them at all. It makes me cringe, and I'm not sure it's the smartest thing to make gamers wait for several years, but the early announcement was made chiefly in order to attract new team members."
Sakurai went on to note that while his studio was prepared to bring the Smash Bros. franchise to the 3DS, plans for the Wii U installment were a bit more impromptu.
"Project Sora had intended to make a 3DS Smash Bros. once it had finished up a game on the system and had gotten used to the hardware's feature set," he wrote. "With the advent of the Wii U, though, we had a choice to make. Iwata asked us if we wanted to make the next Smash Bros. on the Wii U or 3DS, and my thought was that we had to go on both platforms."
As for why the game will be arriving on both the 3DS and Wii U, Sakurai said that it was the best way to grow the franchise.
"If we went solely for the Wii U, the HD graphics would really bump up the visual effects, but then we'd be stuck in another arms race," he said. "If we made this game another extension over previous one, we'd have to cut out the new things we could possibly do on the 3DS hardware and compete with ourselves again over the size of the character roster and the amount of gameplay we can put it."
"It wouldn't be a fruitful competition, but doing something completely new would be difficult for many reasons, not least of which that the gamers may not be satisfied with it," he continued. "That's why we decided to think about ways to link the personal connection one has with his portable system to the gather-around-and-play aspect of console systems."
Nintendo currently expects to launch the Wii U sometime between April 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012. For more on the system, check out GameSpot's Nintendo Wii U: Inside and Out feature.
By
Tom Magrino
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
233 comments
They should put in benders from Avatar The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra series.
Nintendo = eternal sadness. Still a few thousands kms far from X360 and Play3. I'd never buy the Wii U, even if they pointed a gun at my temple.
WHY are there votes and ratings for the game already? We literally know NOTHING! Also, Animal Crossing + Brawl = bad idea. Also: I see lot's of comments saying Tails (from sonic) should be playable character. Horrible idea. don't do it.( but Chrono would be nice)
one character needs to be pelly from animal crossing. The series is not represented at all and pelly would be a perfect new addition
Hopefully after Kid Icarus (and Mario party 9 (for wii) comes out in march, they'll start making SSB 3ds. let's hear something about it in 2012, NINTENDO!
Please start it already!!! I'm a huge fan of SSB!! And I told my friends that it was starting to developed...
Why would you make Kid Icarus over Super Smash Bros 3DS. I mean how can you justify that? Scumbag nintendo Promises Super Smash 3DS Makes game about fairy child first
@otanikum exaCTLY,WHY BOTHER EVEN TELLING US IF ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST WAIT FOR 4 YEARS. I did not mean to type in caps by the way but im not changing it now. I just think nintendo really needs to get there heads on strait and focus on more important things. Their releasing a new console thats as goos as the 360 and ps3.... ABOUT TIME!! what about the the next gen console,if it took em' this longt to come out with something on par with everyone else, how long will take them to release the next one?!
Several years? Then why bother announcing it at all? Sure it gives us something to look forward to, but when you use the term "several years" that makes me think that it'll be release some 4 or 5 years away or maybe 3-4 years and by that time it could be cancelled and instead released on the Wii U. Seriously Nintendo, what the crap? First you release a handheld that had the worst launch titles ever besides SF4, you announce games that weren't even close to seeing an actual release the same year it's released, and now we're talking extreme delays on the 3DS version of SSB? Not cool Nintendo, considering how long you're making us wait, it better damn well be worth it.
I hope it has the speed of melee and everything eles from brawl (except tripping) if its good it is worth the wait
Honestly I don't give a flying flip about Kid Icarus. Just start working on the portable Smash Bros already. @dragonrider0703 I would prefer Zant.
1. why does the man in this video sound so uninterested. 2. Why did I just get told how to play a game I kick tail at?
Almost no one brought Animal Crossing into the discussion. We can see how Nintendo tried to put animal crossing into SSB Brawl. Resetti as an hilarious assist trophy, Smashville and a complete AC themed trophy collection. Smashville was a really interactive stage (daytime-night time switch with the internal WII clock, K.K. visitting us once a week...). They put a lot of effort into it. But still they couldn't risk to put an AC character. What proves that they are ready is that they put Olimar is SSBB, which wasn't easy at all to do. Now, since we only saw Tom Nook in his store and sometimes walking in the town, he is not a complete character. The staff can't create a character in Super Smash. However, I think they could put Player (the main character in AC) in the next game. And Ridley is too big to be in the game. SSB cant create new characters... even though I wish they put another Metroid Character... A Prime Hunter maybe?
Can't wait, but if it's anything like Brawl I can almost guarentee adding 6+ months to the orignal announced date. But either way, I hope they do it justice by bring it to portable gaming.
I like all the remake classics that are coming out for the 3DS. (like Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 64, and Super Smash Bros.)
@Wyckid I also think Brawl was the best so far, but "diversity of characters" is not the reason. Seriously, do you have any idea how many clones and near clones there are in that game? Fox, Falco, Wolf to a lesser degree, Ness, Lucas, Ganondorf, Captain Falcon, you could even argue Mario and Luigi, though they are notably different from one another. There are many reasons Brawl is superior to Melee, but that is definitely not one of them.
Crap. This was the only game i liked for the Wii and now i sold it. I still have the 3DS and i can't wait!
@Yuusha09 Or atleast have Zero Suit Samus selectable at the beginning, like Zelda/Sheik (and changeable at will, while it would still be cool if Smash Ball attacks force a change)
Smash bros.Brawl was an awesome improvement to Melee, They put more better physics like the weight to keep balance,HUGE Sountrack and more other stuff. This new one will no doubt be awesome
As much as I want this; I can wait. I'm still waiting to get my hands on Final Fantasy Versus XIII. I've learned to be patient.
Keep shoveling the recycled N64 games. That's really "catering to the core." We can play the same games forever! Yay! Activision is looking positively innovative at this point.
The "Casual ****" as you guys put it, is a matter of opinion. I enjoy Brawl a lot more than Melee due to the further diversity of characters. Sure, you can play with your glitches/physics exploits and your clones in Melee, by all means. But Brawl is a superior game.
King K. Rool, Little Mac, Animal Crossing Boy or Tom Nook, Lucario replaced with Zoroark, Sumurai Goroh, Issac, Ridley, Lyn, and Megaman are the characters I really can see happening, and I think deserve it (especially Ridley).
@renji4eva oooooommmmggggggg just the idea of it leaves me breathless!! Imagine his smashball move: SHIIIINKKKKKUUUUU HAAAADOOOOUUUKEEEEEEN!!!! SBAMSBAMSBAM 3 kills. 8D UAAAH!
Call me papa Me be who So it wasn't me I flee from tsunami Call me papa He he ho You leak red hair And you eat a spoon fair. My love was whinnie poo I'm only 5 million see 4 people He Forman There are 4 people speeding Omelet Prevail. Oh scum bucket net nail. You scared me Watching he slippery meat We are relieved We forget We won't rest without Little Tom Flup All burned up For respect but for bread SHEEEP!!!!
Let Ganondorf use his sword instead of being a worse Captain Falcon. Also, King K. Rool would be a perfect addition since almost every other hero / villain pair is there besides DK. Also, way too many Fox clones. Oh, and Zero Suit Samus should be it's own character.
Years! Smash Bros should be first priority. Not these new gen Kid Icarus games. Oh well, it's worth the wait.
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