Super Smash Bros. super media blowout, release dates, details

Okay Super Smash Bros. fans, last night was a huge information and media dump for the latest and greatest upcoming version of your favorite fighting franchise.

First of all, we got some release dates. Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS is now scheduled for a summer release, with the Wii U version currently slated for a staggered winter release. We’re not sure if this is just a tricky way to get players to buy both versions or what, but we assume that’s what will end up happening.

NIntendo also announced that Greninja from Pok?mon X and Pok?mon Y will be making an appearance in the game, along with favorites Charizard, Sheik, Zero Suit Samus and Yoshi. New info on stages, online play, items and trophies and whatnot were also released.

Check out a new set of screens and some action-packed footage below from the Nintendo Direct event last night.

Super Smash Bros. Direct 4.8.2014:
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Super Smash Bros. character screens:

Read on for Nintendo’s write-up.

A new Nintendo Direct video revealed numerous details about the upcoming Super Smash Bros. video games for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems. At the start of the video, series creator Masahiro Sakurai announced that the launch of the Nintendo 3DS version of the game is planned for this summer, with the Wii U version planned for winter 2014. Both games will be available in stores and in the Nintendo eShop for their respective platforms. Sakurai also detailed many of the stages and items in both versions, described the games? online functionality, revealed a new mode exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version and announced fan-favorite Greninja, a Pok?mon from the Pok?mon X and Pok?mon Ygames, as a new playable character.

?New Super Smash Bros. games are a major event for video game fans everywhere, and present an experience that only Nintendo can offer,? said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America?s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. ?Fans have two launches to look forward to this year, and they will want to get in plenty of practice with the Nintendo 3DS version so that they can be prepared for the launch of the Wii U game later in the year.?

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Today?s announcements included:

• Launch windows: The Nintendo 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch this summer. The Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch in winter 2014.
• Silky-smooth 3D: Most game-play elements of the Nintendo 3DS version of the game will run at 60 frames per second, all in stereoscopic 3D.
• ?Smash Run?: Exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version of the game is a new mode called ?Smash Run.? In this mode, four players have five minutes to enter a dungeon and explore the surroundings, fight enemies and obtain power-ups to enhance their fighters. Once the five minutes are up, all four fighters enter a battle arena using their newly equipped items and power-ups. Enemies encountered in the Smash Run mode are from a wide range of game series. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems and games are required for multiplayer modes.
• New challenger!: Greninja, the awesome final evolution of Froakie from Pok?mon X andPok?mon Y, joins the roster as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
• Oldies but goodies: Many of the classic characters from past Super Smash Bros. games that are returning in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have new powers and abilities. Four characters that have appeared in previous games, but had yet to be announced before this Nintendo Direct, include:
  • Zero Suit Samus: That?s right, Zero Suit Samus is back, but this time she is her own fully playable character, separate from suited Samus. In the new game, she is given jet boots to make her even more powerful.
  • Sheik: As with Zero Suit Samus, Sheik is another character that appeared in previousSuper Smash Bros. games, but will be a unique playable character for the first time in the new Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games. Sheik has new moves like Burst Grenade and Bouncing Fish.
  • Yoshi: In previous games, Yoshi stood on two legs and hunched over, as if Mario were going to jump on top of him at any moment. This new version of Yoshi stands completely upright, making him an even stronger fighter.
  • Charizard: After appearing from a Pok? Ball in Super Smash Bros. Melee and becoming playable by using Pok?mon Trainer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, this fire-breathing Pok?mon is now a selectable character.
• Online play: Both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros. will offer online multiplayer game play with other players on the same platform. Players with broadband Internet access can battle it out with anyone else who is online and also has the game.
  • When playing with random players online, two modes are available: ?For Fun? and ?For Glory.? In ?For Glory,? only Final Destination stage variations are available. There are no platforms, elevated areas or items in this mode. It is a nice, clean battle between characters. In ?For Fun,? all stages are picked randomly and all items and power-ups are available.
  • When playing with friends, full customization is available ? players can set the rules, stages and items however they want
• Variety of stages: While the cast of playable characters is the same in both versions of the new games, the stages where the battles take place are vastly different, depending on which system a player chooses. The Wii U stages are primarily based on past home console games, while the Nintendo 3DS stages draw from hand-held games for inspiration.Items, trophies and Pok?mon: Items, assist trophies and Pok? Balls all return in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. New to the games are Master Balls, special Pok? Balls that contain Legendary Pok?mon like Arceus and Xerneas.
  • Boss characters, such as the Yellow Devil in Dr. Wily?s Base, will make appearances in some stages. When bosses appear, fighters will have to battle the boss, as well as one another. The boss can even be used in strategic ways to damage other fighters.
  • Almost all the stages in both versions of the game will have a ?Final Destination form,? an alternate form of each stage that is inspired by the relatively simple layout of the much-loved Final Destination stage
• Get connected: There will be elements in Super Smash Bros. that link both versions of the games. More details about this will be revealed at a later date.
• Custom moves: In a series first, players can now customize move sets when playing locally or online with friends. More information about this feature will be announced in the future.

For even more new information about Super Smash Bros., visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct to view the Nintendo Direct, or http://www.smashbros.com/us/ and the new http://www.facebook.com/smashbros.