Q: “Is this a Steel Diver?” A: “Yes, indeed, that is a Steel Diver.” The sub from Steel Diver is now a cute projectile weapon–it launches torpedoes that fly slowly at first.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miiverse, steel diver, Super Smash Bros., top

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshot (12/6/13) – Skull Kid assist trophy revealed

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Podcast Stories, Screenshots, Wii U | 12 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

Here’s a new Assist Trophy–the Skull Kid! I repeat, it’s an Assist Trophy, not a new fighter. The characters announced on the website are the fighters!

Thanks to wintereater for the tip.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miiverse, Super Smash Bros., top

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS screenshot (12/5/13)

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Screenshots | 6 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

The Villager’s special attack, the Lloid Rocket, is a projectile weapon like no other–you can either launch it or ride on it. When you fire it off, keep pressing the button to hop aboard–you can even control its speed. It’s more powerful when you’re riding it.

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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshot (12/4/13)

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Screenshots, Wii U | 2 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

Excuse me, sir–a little help with the ball? There was once a game called Mega Man Soccer, by the way.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miiverse, Super Smash Bros., top

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS screenshot (12/3/13) – Find Mii’s Dark Lord shown

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Screenshots | 13 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

Pop quiz! Who is this monster, and where is it from? The cage may serve as a hint.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miiverse, Super Smash Bros., top

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshot (12/2/13)

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Screenshots, Wii U | 1 Comment

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

Turnips are used in the Villager’s up-air and down-air attacks. Perhaps because the turnip prices fluctuate depending on the day’s market, the number of turnips that appear changes every time. How cute.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miiverse, Super Smash Bros., top

Masahiro Sakurai on his huge workload for Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS and more

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 5 Comments

The amount of work Masahiro Sakurai puts into the new Smash Bros. games is kind of unbelievable. One of his tasks has him inputting a ton of different parameters, which under normal circumstances, would be a job for multiple staffers – not just one employee.

Sakurai wrote in his weekly Famitsu column this week:

“With the previous Smash Bros. games, I would input all the fighter specs and attack hitboxes, and with the new games I’m doing something very similar. If I were to hand over the work to someone else, it would be a full-time, multi-person designated workload.”

Why would Sakurai take on such an involved task by himself? For one thing, he’s working with a new team. Collaborating with Namco Bandai does have its advantages though, as he says the company has created development tools that are more advanced and allow for more immediate trial and error.

Sakurai also says working alone is “faster and more accurate”.

More: Famitsu, interview, Masahiro Sakurai, Super Smash Bros., top

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshot (11/29/13)

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Screenshots, Wii U | 3 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

A red-black effect now appears when you’re hit by a strong blow. It’ll only appear when you have high damage, so when you see this you’re in trouble–and you’re probably about to get KO’d!