ssbb character guide

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:54 pm

Kirby
First Appearance Kirby's Dreamland
(GB, 1992)
Made Famous By Kirby's Dreamland
(GB, 1992)
Last Appearance* Kirby: S. Squad
(DS, 2006)

This adorable pink puff has been keeping King Dedede at bay ever since his first appearance in Kirby's Dreamland. Although he's most famous for his uncanny ability to inhale his foes and absorb their powers, Kirby didn't actually learn this ability until Kirby's Adventure in 1993. Nonetheless, Kirby can hold his own in a world of Nintendo characters must bigger than he is (and less cute, at that). Don't underestimate this little blob with arms and feet -- he's a bigger menace than he lets on.

Kirby has long been a mainstay in the Smash series, and his unique powers lend him a powerful move-set. Because of Kirby's lightweight body, he can float long distances by taking a deep breath and taking to the air, where he can then shape-shift into a heavy object, such as a weight or statue, and drop onto the heads of his opponents, sending them flying. Kirby's tiny stature shouldn't scare players away. In fact, his size, combined with his potent moveset, ability to fly, and quick movements should all be part of his allure.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:55 pm

Donkey Kong
First Appearance Donkey Kong
(ARC, 1981)
Made Famous By Donkey Kong
(ARC, 1981)
Last Appearance* DK: Jungle Climber
(DS, 2007)

If not for the Donkey Kong character, who knows where Nintendo would be now? Making his first appearance way back in 1981 in the game named after him, Donkey Kong is perhaps the second most recognizable character in Nintendo's arsenal. The success of Donkey Kong in the early-80s allowed Nintendo to further explore the American and worldwide markets alike, and by the mid-80s release of the Famicom/NES, Donkey Kong was just one of a small legion of characters that made, and continue to make, Nintendo what it is.

Sporting his red necktie since the early-90s, Donkey Kong has appeared in a plethora of Nintendo-branded games that are amongst the industry's classics. Donkey Kong Country's release on the SNES is considered the mark of DK's revival after a stint of NES-inspired obscurity. But the most interesting DK-related story of them all involves Universal's lawsuit against Nintendo in the 1980s, referencing the character's name and its obvious connection to their property, King Kong. This story, as well as many other Nintendo stories, are chronicled in the must-read book "Game Over" by David Sheff.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:56 pm

Lucas
First Appearance Mother 3
(GBA, 2006)
Made Famous By Mother 3
(GBA, 2006)
Last Appearance* Mother 3
(GBA, 2006)

If you can't quite remember who Lucas is, you're not alone. He has the dubious distinction of being the only newcomer in Brawl to have never starred in a game outside of Japan. His first and most recent appearance was in the Gameboy Advance title, Mother 3 -- a sequel to what us non-Japanese gamers know as Earthbound. Interestingly, although Lucas is undoubtedly the main protagonist of Mother 3, you actually don't play as him for the first half of the game, and assume control of his family members instead.

Like Ness before him, Lucas has strong psychic powers (know as PSI) that are ruthless against his opponents. Although his move-set is similar to Ness's, he has several key distinctions that make him unique. For instance, while he's slightly weaker overall, he's significantly quicker. Also, he uses PSI powers for his Smash Attacks as opposed to Ness's yo-yo. Finally, his final smash is less predictable than Ness's, making for a more effective means of dealing with your opponent.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:57 pm

Princess Zelda (& Sheik)
First Appearance Legend of Zelda
(NES, 1986)
Made Famous By Legend of Zelda
(NES, 1986)
Last Appearance* Zelda: TP
(Wii, 2006)

When a character has an entire series named after him or her -- one of the most famous, well-received series in gaming history -- you know that character is prolific. Princess Zelda, Hyrule royalty, is no exception to the rule. Making her debut in 1986's The Legend of Zelda, Zelda has been getting rescued by Link in most Legend of Zelda games ever since. Rescuing royalty has a special allure to Link, but it's Zelda's general damsel-in-distress mantra that gives many Zelda games their core storylines.

But Zelda isn't always helpless, and unlike Mario's Princess Peach, Zelda often takes an active role in her various dilemmas. This is especially true in the N64 smash hit The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, where Zelda is also Sheik, a mysterious Sheikah with powers that help Link advance throughout the game. Tetra, of Wind Waker fame, is also Zelda in disguise. To play into this Gemini Zelda trend, Brawl allows players to play as Princess Zelda (as she appeared in Twilight Princess) or as Sheik, in all of her Ocarina of Time glory.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:58 pm

Wolf
First Appearance Star Fox 64
(N64, 1997)
Made Famous By Star Fox 64
(N64, 1997)
Last Appearance* Star Fox Command
(DS, 2006)

Wolf O'Donnell is the leader of the mercenary group known collectively as Star Wolf. Their first appearance in 1996's Star Fox 64 saw them working for Andross, with their sole objective being the complete and utter destruction of team Star Fox. Since their failure, Wolf gained a new-found respect for Fox, even going so far as to help him in subsequent games. In a classic example of bad-turning-something else entirely, Wolf isn't so much a bad guy anymore as he is a neutral character in the realm of Star Fox games. He dislikes Fox and company... but he respects them enough that they have yet come to blows.

Wolf's play-style is very similar to Fox's, but he's slower and stronger. He also shares the same Final Smash, in which he commandeers a land master and rolls over his opponents. However, his dash attack now sees him taking to the air instead of sticking to the ground and his blaster fires energy balls instead of laser blasts. There are some "clone-like" features to Wolf, and other features more unique.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:59 pm

Diddy Kong
First Appearance DK Country
(SNES, 1994)
Made Famous By DK Country 2
(SNES, 1995)
Last Appearance* DK: Jungle Climber
(DS, 2007)

It's hard living in the gigantic shadow of Donkey Kong, yet Diddy Kong has managed to do so since he premiered in Donkey Kong Country almost fifteen years ago. Diddy Kong is the young nephew of Donkey Kong, and was a playable character in the game that introduced him, acting as a sort of counter to the bigger, bulkier DK. Because of this, he remains perhaps the second most important character in the world of DK (his uncle, of course, being the most important) and is a recognizable character on his own, right down to his trademark red hat emblazoned with none other than a Nintendo logo.

By the Nintendo64 generation, Diddy Kong was well-known enough to start staring in his own series, including the well-received Diddy Kong Racing (this was later re-released on the Nintendo DS, modified to a great degree). As the N64 generation lapsed into the GameCube generation, he appeared in even more games, from Mario Golf to Mario Kart. Funny how a peripheral character created in 1994 could become so well-known on his own only a decade later.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Bowser
First Appearance Super Mario Bros.
(NES, 1985)
Made Famous By Super Mario Bros.
(NES, 1985)
Last Appearance* Super Mario Galaxy
(Wii, 2007)

Mario's had one primary nemesis since the NES days, and that nemesis is none other than Bowser. Bowser is the King of the Koopas, a race of evil turtles (and other enemies) that depend on simple havoc-wreaking for their livelihood. This mostly involves numerous invasions of the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario, his brother Luigi, and his beloved Princess Peach dwell. Bowser almost always manages to capture Peach, forcing Mario (and sometimes Luigi) to come to her rescue. This has been the case since Super Mario Bros. was released on the NES in 1985, and with the exception of the Stateside Super Mario Bros. 2 (known as "Super Mario USA" in Japan), there are no notable exceptions where Bowser isn't the bad guy in a Mario game.

Bowser's evolution has been more subtle than many Nintendo characters. He appears much the same as did back in the mid-80's, with some minor modifications adding to his castle-dwelling original appearance. In Super Mario Bros. 3, he took to the air in a flotilla of airships, while in Super Mario World, he tried to do Mario in with nothing more than his airborne Koopa Clown Car. And yes, Bowser is a father. His six sons, daughter, and "junior" version of him are all Mario haters as well. Unfortunately for them, Bowser is the only Koopa representative in all of Brawl. But fear not -- he's a veteran at this point, first appearing in Super Smash Bros. Melee back in 2001.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:01 pm

Yoshi
First Appearance Super Mario World
(SNES, 1991)
Made Famous By Super Mario World
(SNES, 1991)
Last Appearance* Yoshi's Island DS
(DS, 2007)

Mario's best dinosaur pal made his grand appearance in 1991's Super Mario World. After being saved from his egg-cage, he vowed to help Mario on his adventure. Since then, he has had a prolific career starring in several puzzle games, as well as finally landing a game series of his own: Yoshi's Island. But throughout, Yoshi has remained loyal to Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom brethren, appearing in a plethora of Mario and Nintendo-branded games that have given Yoshi a fan following of his own.

Yoshi's another one of the 12 characters veteran of the Smash series. His large mouth houses a frog-like tongue that can snap onto enemies and pull them in, making for a nice Yoshi snack. He can then turn these foes into harmless eggs... for a few seconds anyway. Yoshi's flutter-jump is also one of the highest reaching in the game, though it comes at the expense of lacking a true recovery move -- something that can deeply hamper inexperienced players.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:03 pm

King Dedede
First Appearance Kirby's Dream Land
(GB, 1992)
Made Famous By Kirby's Adventure
(NES, 1993)
Last Appearance* Kirby: S. Squad
(DS, 2006)

King Dedede (pronounced "day-da-day" in Japan, "dee-da-dee" elsewhere) is the bad guy in just about every Kirby game since the first one premiered on the Game Boy in the early-90s. Dedede is an interesting character, however, because he's not necessarily evil… he just wants what he wants, and almost always, Kirby is standing in his way. Dressed in his Santa-like garb with an undeniably cute face, Dedede is more dangerous than his looks let on. Just ask the army of Waddle Dees and Waddle Doos he commands.

King Dedede is massively popular in the gaming world, especially in among Kirby fans. Otherwise, he's somewhat of an obscure character. But redemption can be found on the Wii, where Dedede joins Meta Knight as the two characters to compliment Kirby as mainstays in the series named after the latter. Wielding his massive hammer, Dedede is easily one of the strongest characters in all of Brawl, and his ability to fly (much like Kirby) makes him one of the most appealing new characters on the 35-character strong roster.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:04 pm

Ice Climbers
First Appearance Ice Climber
(NES, 1985)
Made Famous By Ice Climber
(NES, 1985)
Last Appearance* SSB: Melee
(GCN, 2001)

The Ice Climbers are among the more obscure characters appearing in any Smash Bros. game thusfar, and if you weren't a Nintendo fan back in the early NES days, you may have missed out completely. The Ice Climbers made their first and only primary appearance in a videogame back in 1985 in a game cleverly titled Ice Climber. As the name of the characters would suggest, there isn't only one Ice Climber, but two of them. The male, Popo, is dressed in blue, while the female, Nana, is dressed in pink. Both wield oversized mallets to smash through ice and snow as they scale mountains. The Ice Climbers hold the distinction of being the only "character" in the Smash Bros. franchise to, in fact, be two characters played simultaneously.

What have the Ice Climbers been up to since the mid-80s? Not a lot, to be frank. The game was released in the arcade, of course, as well as seeing later releases on the Game Boy Advance, and more recently on the Wii Virtual Console. But other than that, there have been no new games released for the famed Nintendo mountain scalers. They made their initial appearance in the series back in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and their return can certainly be interpreted as a good sign. Perhaps we'll see them in a game of their own again one day? Perhaps an Ice Climber-dedicated 3d platformer? Well, it's an idea, and only time will tell if the Ice Climber franchise is part of Nintendo's future plans.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:05 pm

Princess Peach
First Appearance Super Mario Bros.
(NES, 1985)
Made Famous By Super Mario Bros.
(NES, 1985)
Last Appearance* Super Mario Galaxy
(Wii, 2007)

Princess Peach is your quintessential damsel in distress. Oft-kidnapped by Bowser and his minions, Peach is almost always the victim in the Mario series, where it's Mario's job (and sometimes Luigi's) to come to her rescue. This isn't always the case, however. In the Stateside Super Mario Bros. 2 (known elsewhere as "Super Mario USA"), she's a playable character, capable of defeating Wart just as much as the next guy. But usually, unless we're talking about a Mario Kart/Tennis/Golf game (or the more recent Mario & Sonic at the Olympics), she's not a playable character. She's the victim.

Peach has evolved surprisingly little in the last twenty years, remaining true to form just like Mario, Luigi, Toad and the rest have. She gave up her white dress for her more well-known pink one early on, and her long, flowing blonde hair is one of her trademarks (along with the crown on top of her head). Peach is only one of two bona fide females in the game. The other, Princess Zelda, is also royalty, but is traditionally able to take much better care of herself than Peach in her respective series. But Peach is a potent fighter with plenty of potential in Brawl, nonetheless.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:07 pm

Jigglypuff
First Appearance Pokémon R/B
(GB, 1998)
Made Famous By Pokémon R/B
(GB, 1998)
Last Appearance* Pokémon D/P
(DS, 2007)

Along with Pikachu, Jigglypuff appears in each Smash Bros. game as a representative of the ever-thriving Pokémon franchise, one which Nintendo owes a great deal of its success over the last decade in gaming. Of course, getting him isn't as easy as just turning the game on, because he's one of the more difficult characters in Smash Bros. history to unlock. When you do unlock him, however, you uncover a potent fighter who forces many to their knees with his cute looks and ruthless tactics.

This Balloon-type Pokémon certainly is the perfect mixture of power and deceit, because many don't take him too seriously until it's too late. Veterans of the Pokémon series will know better, however, as this species of Pokémon has made a case for itself since Pokémon Blue and Red made their Japanese debuts in 1996. And if you're a Smasher from way-back-when, you'll no doubt remember what Jigglypuff is capable of. After all, he's one of only twelve characters to appear in all three Smash Bros. to this point.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:08 pm

Marth
First Appearance Fire Emblem
(FAM, 1990)
Made Famous By SSB: Melee
(GCN, 2001)
Last Appearance* SSB: Melee
(GCN, 2001)

Unless you're what some might term a "Fire Emblem dork", ignorance on just who Marth is supposed to be is to be expected. Marth was the main character in a couple of Fire Emblem games never released outside of Japan, and hasn't appeared in a game outside of the Smash Bros. series since 1994. He was included in Super Smash Bros. Melee because Fire Emblem is a popular hybrid-RPG series in Japan, but when he was shown to be in Melee, American fans were confused. Just who is this guy?

Well, that question has long since been answered. You can find Marth on the Famicom game Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Tsurugi, as well as on the Super Famicom game Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo. Apart from that, Smash Bros. is the home where he resides. Sure, American gamers didn't know who he was, but they've since learned, because he was one of the most powerful characters in Melee. And his popularity not only guaranteed his return in Brawl, but it finally got a slew of later Fire Emblem games released outside of Japan for the very first time, including titles on the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. Good job, Marth! We couldn't have done it without you.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:09 pm

Pikachu
First Appearance Pokémon R/B
(GB, 1998)
Made Famous By Pokémon R/B
(GB, 1998)
Last Appearance* Pokémon D/P
(DS, 2007)

Pikachu is undoubtedly the most famous of the Pokemon. Although he was nothing more than a standard Pokemon in Red and Blue, the Japanese public quickly latched onto the affectionate rat, making him the most recognizeable of all the Pokemon. His rise to stardom was made all the quicker by his front-runner staus in the long-running cartoon series, as Ash Ketchum's Pokemon of choice. As Pikachu's electric-bolt shaped tail hints at, he's an electric-type Pokemon, lending him a powerful arrawy of attacks that are difficult to dodge.

Pikachu's was one of only two Pokemon in the original Smash, although he's now one of six in Brawl. Despite this, his electric attacks still stand as being some of the most unique in the game. He can launch short busts of electricty which can bound around platforms, which are great for surprise attacks. But perhaps his most potent attack is the lightning bolt he can summon at will, which effectivley creates an impassable wall of electricity that will send opponents flying! This electric rat should not be taken lightly.

Movelist & Technique coming soon...

Subject: Re: ssbb character guide Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:09 pm

that completes ign's ssbb character guide