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3DS

Japan

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS eShop Demo Hands-on Preview

by Neal Ronaghan - September 9, 2014, 11:00 pm EDT
Total comments: 6

A Smash Bros. demo hit the Japanese eShop. How is it?

The new Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS demo that hit the Japanese eShop features five playable characters on Battlefield and can be played up to 30 times. The five characters are Mario, Link, Pikachu, Mega Man, and the Villager.

The demo is basic, but at this point, it's exactly the right tease for the full game. It's nice being able to spend ample time and just dig deep into playing different characters and messing around. The more time I spend with the Villager, the more I like him (or her, depending on the costume). It's just a fun character, with amusing attacks. I still adore doing the side B attack where the Villager just hops on a gyroid and goes until the gyroid runs out of gas or explodes into an enemy.

I still don't like Mega Man that much, though both his up and down smash attacks seem potentially devastating. Just the way he controls is very stiff. Some people likely will be masterful with the Blue Bomber, but for me, I don't think I'll spend too much time trying to figure him out. However, for the first time ever in my playtime with the new Smash Bros., I finally got to land his Final Smash, which is a glorious bit of fan service with multiple Mega Men blowing the hell out of people.

I never played Mario too much, but he seems a lot faster than before. If Dr. Mario is indeed in this game (which seems likely given the leaks), I'd expect the Doctor to be slower and likely a little more powerful. Link is another character I never played much in past games, but I like Link more than before. His sword attacks seem more nimble, but that could just be because I've never really played as Link in past Smash Bros. games. Pikachu, who was one of my personal favorite in Melee, seems to be more like the Brawl version of the fighter.

From poking around the demo, I could see some other stages listed (but not playable), including ones based off of Xenoblade Chronicles and Pictochat. One really awesome thing I noticed is that it seems to remember your costume choice for each character, even when you completely quit out of the demo.

Unfortunately, we have no idea when this demo will hit North America. It'd be very cool if hits other regions later this week, maybe alongside the Nintendo Treehouse stream on Friday, but in my eyes, the more likely situation is that this hits the week before Smash Bros. comes out in North America. Even still, that is less than a month away. We're almost there.

Talkback

AwesomeUnicornSeptember 10, 2014

I was really hoping that Sakurai had hidden a reveal in this demo, but I couldn't seem to find anything, beyond some stages that I'm not sure if I had heard of.  I am very curious what that button is on the main menu that links to the Wii U version.

I'm surprised they're releasing a demo for smash bros, frankly, but I'm really happy about it.  It sounds like the demo would be perfect to determine how we'll smash bros works on a handheld, which I'm worried about being uncomfortable and possibly damaging to the 3ds, which isn't the most durable handheld, anyway.

Any feedback on how well it plays to the console version, or if you feel like you're manhandling the system while you're playing?

azekeSeptember 10, 2014

Quote from: AwesomeUnicorn

I was really hoping that Sakurai had hidden a reveal in this demo, but I couldn't seem to find anything, beyond some stages that I'm not sure if I had heard of.  I am very curious what that button is on the main menu that links to the Wii U version.

It will probably sync your single player and trophy progress across both platforms.

I expect this demo launching after Treehouse event this Friday.

AdrockSeptember 10, 2014

Trophies are platform unique though perhaps not all of them. I'd imagine that menu option is for custom movesets, possibly Amiibo for non-New 3DS owners who don't buy the 3DS peripheral.

Yeah. custom movesets,  and equipment. he's heavily implied that Smash Run will be the best place to get equipment  and moves for custom movesets. I'm actually excited for the 3DS version coming out just so we can start getting screenshots to the other big pieces of the puzzle that the Wii U version will be able to offer the 3DS version in turn. we seriously know nothing about the Wii U version's modes other than the versus and the for fun/for glory online lobbies.

CericSeptember 10, 2014

Don't forget we already know about the leveling and moveset things you can do with your characters.

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3DS

Game Profile

Dairantou Smash Brothers for Nintendo 3DS Box Art

Genre Fighting
Developer Sora
Players1 - 4
Online1 - 4
Controllers & Accessories Amiibo

Worldwide Releases

na: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Release Oct 03, 2014
PublisherNintendo
RatingEveryone 10+
jpn: Dairantou Smash Brothers for Nintendo 3DS
Release Sep 13, 2014
PublisherNintendo
RatingAll Ages
eu: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Release Oct 03, 2014
PublisherNintendo
Rating12+
aus: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Release Oct 04, 2014
PublisherNintendo
RatingParental Guidance
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