Super Smash Bros. Brawl#Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary

{{See also|Super Smash Bros.#Gameplay|l1=Gameplay of the Super Smash Bros. series}}

File:SSBB Gameplay.jpg, Kirby, Bowser and King Dedede. The damage meter now displays the name of the character as well as an image of their official artwork.]]

Following its predecessors, Brawl is a platform fighter that uses a battle system unlike that of typical fighting games. Players can choose from a large selection of characters, each attempting to knock their opponents off the screen as they fight on various stages. The characters in Brawl include most of the same ones as the predecessors, such as Mario and Pikachu. Instead of using traditional health bars that start at a maximum value and lose value, Brawl characters start the game with 0%; the value rises as they take damage, to a maximum of 999%.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Super-Smash-Bros-Brawl-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B000FQ9R4E |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Video Games |publisher=Amazon |access-date=July 15, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828054943/http://www.amazon.com/Super-Smash-Bros-Brawl-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B000FQ9R4E |archive-date=August 28, 2008}} As a character's percentage increases, the character flies further back when hit. When a character is knocked beyond a stage's boundary and disappears from the screen, the character loses either a life, a point, or coins, depending on the mode of play.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/howto/basic/basic01.html |title=The Basic Rules |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=August 11, 2007 |date=May 22, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703054337/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/howto/basic/basic01.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013}} Brawl includes a function which allows players to create profiles with personalized button configurations for each control method along with their chosen username.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various02.html |title=Names |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=August 11, 2007 |date=June 28, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091511/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various02.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

The characters in Brawl fight using a variety of attacks, that give the player a wider selection than the predecessors. Players execute each move by pressing a button in conjunction with a tilt of the control stick or a press of the D-pad, depending on the mode of control. In addition to basic attacks, characters have access to more powerful moves, known as smash attacks. Each character has four unique moves, which often cause effects besides damage to an opponent. Brawl introduces character-specific super attacks, referred to as "Final Smashes". Significantly more powerful than regular attacks, these moves have a wide variety of effects that range from nearly unavoidable blasts to temporary transformations. Final Smash moves can be performed by destroying a Smash Ball: a colorful floating orb bearing the Smash Bros. logo.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/howto/basic/basic02.html |title=What is a Final Smash? |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=June 21, 2007 |date=May 29, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703054544/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/howto/basic/basic02.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013}}

Characters can use items ranging from projectiles to melee weapons; each has a different effect on the characters around it. Although many items have returned from previous Super Smash Bros. games, new ones have been introduced as well. Some returning items have changed appearance and function.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/item11.html |title=Items from previous installments |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=November 6, 2007 |date=November 6, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211211038/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/item11.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}} Two varieties of items, Assist Trophies{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist01.html |title=What are Assist Trophies? |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=July 2, 2007 |date=August 13, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019164520/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist01.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} and Poké Balls,{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/mball/mball01.html |title=What are Poké Balls? |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=June 5, 2007 |date=August 13, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019164418/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/mball/mball01.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} temporarily summon guest characters and Pokémon, respectively, that generally aid the summoner. They cannot be controlled by players and are usually invincible.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist02.html |title=Samurai Goroh |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=July 2, 2007 |date=August 13, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |quote=By the way, the majority of Assist Trophies are invincible. Trying to fight back is useless, so just run away. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703043608/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist02.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013}}

Brawl{{'}}s stages are generally based on plot devices from the various game series of Super Smash Bros. Stages range from floating platforms to moving areas where the characters must stay within the field of play. Each stage has a boundary that cannot be passed, or the character will be "KO'd", thus losing a life or "point", depending on the mode of play.

Brawl contains 41 selectable stages, 29 of which are initially available. Many stages undergo elaborate changes while battles take place, such as a cycling day-to-night system{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage01.html |title=Battlefield |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=June 21, 2007 |date=May 22, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |quote=On Battlefield, the main platform will not change... But then evening comes... And then comes night. You can brawl til dawn! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211225257/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage01.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}} or changing seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage03.html |title=Yoshi's Island |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=June 21, 2007 |date=June 12, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |quote=The highlight of this stage is its seasonal changes, as it goes from spring to summer to fall and then winter. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211225302/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage03.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}} A stage, based on the Animal Crossing series, features a live events system in which special events may occur depending on the date and time.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage06.html |title=Smashville |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 22, 2007 |date=July 13, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213074202/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage06.html |archive-date=December 13, 2013}} Environmental gameplay mechanics are featured in this installment, such as destructible terrain and the ability to float. Unlike its predecessors, Brawl includes stages based on third-party games such as the Metal Gear Solid-inspired Shadow Moses Island.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage13.html |title=Shadow Moses Island |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 22, 2007 |date=October 2, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211225805/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage13.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}} The game also includes 10 stages taken from its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Melee.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage18.html |title=Melee Stages |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 16, 2007 |date=November 30, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211225536/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage18.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}}

Brawl allows players to create their own stages in a mode called Stage Builder, the first in the series to implement this mode. Players can save their stages to an SD card or to the internal memory of the Wii console. Through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players can submit their creations to their friends, or to Nintendo to receive a daily stage from the service.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various10.html |title=Stage Builder |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 29, 2007 |date=October 29, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085447/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various10.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

In addition to the standard multiplayer mode, Brawl features other multiplayer modes and options in Group mode. Special Melee, from the previous game, returns as Special Brawl. In this mode, players are able to battle in matches using special rules for a greater level of customization. Whereas previously standard options such as "Giant Melee" or "Invisible Melee" were limited to one feature per match, players may now select multiple options for a single match.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various04.html |title=Special Brawl |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=September 13, 2007 |date=September 13, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085925/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various04.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} Another returning game type, Tourney mode (formerly Tournament mode), enables players to create an elimination-based tournament, where up to 32 players can play,{{cite book |editor=Sora Ltd. |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl instruction manual |publisher=Nintendo |page=17 |date=March 9, 2008}} with a large number of game-controlled or human-controlled opponents.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various06.html |title=Tourney Mode |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=September 28, 2007 |date=September 28, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091516/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various06.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} A "Rotation" feature has been introduced in Brawl, which allows up to sixteen players to compete in sequence by switching out winners or losers after each round.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various17.html |title=Rotation |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 11, 2007 |date=December 11, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091914/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various17.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

Like its predecessors, Super Smash Bros. Brawl includes various modes of play from the previous game designed for a single player. In Classic Mode, players fight individual characters in a selected order. Each match features an arena or opponent from a particular series, such as The Legend of Zelda or Pokémon. Several matches have a unique battle condition, such as a metal opponent, large opponent, or a two-on-two team battle.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various11.html |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |title=Classic |access-date=October 17, 2007 |date=October 30, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707170451/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various11.html |archive-date=July 7, 2013}} Similar to Classic mode are All Star Mode and Boss Battles, where the player has only one life to defeat all of the playable characters and bosses respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various33.html |title=All-Star Mode |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |access-date=April 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805035757/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various33.html |archive-date=August 5, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various31.html |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |title=Boss Battles |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |access-date=April 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817052924/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various31.html |archive-date=August 17, 2014}}

Brawl features Events, matches with predetermined battle conditions such as defeating opponents within a time limit or reaching a specific goal. New to single-player mode, each of the 41 Events has three difficulty levels, with a distinct high score recorded for each.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various16.html |title=Events |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=November 29, 2007 |date=November 29, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705092758/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various16.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} In addition to the normal set of 41 Events played with a single player, a smaller set of 21 two-player Events is included.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various19.html |title=Co-op Events |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 17, 2007 |date=December 17, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091522/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various19.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

Stadium mode is a collection of objective-oriented minigames. Returning from the two previous games is the "Target Smash!" minigame, in which the player must break ten targets as quickly as possible. In the Home-Run Contest, the player must beat Sandbag to inflict as much damage as possible in 10 seconds, then strike it with a Home-Run Bat. Updated from Melee, all Stadium mode minigames feature cooperative or competitive multiplayer.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various08.html |title=Stadium: Home-Run Contest |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 17, 2007 |date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705092741/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various08.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

File:Ancient Minister SSBB.jpg]]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl features a new Adventure mode titled "The Subspace Emissary", abbreviated to "SSE". This mode features a unique storyline and numerous side-scrolling levels and bosses, as well as cutscenes explaining the plot. The mode introduces a group of antagonists called the Subspace Army, led by the Ancient Minister. Some of these enemies appeared in previous Nintendo video games, such as Petey Piranha from the Mario franchise and a squadron of R.O.B.s based on classic Nintendo hardware. The Subspace Army boasts a number of original enemies, such as the Roader, a robotic unicycle; the Bytan, a one-eyed spherical creature which can replicate itself if left alone; and the Primid, enemies that fight with a variety of weapons.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea06.html |title=The Enemies From Subspace |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=September 19, 2007 |date=September 19, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019081357/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea06.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} Though the game is primarily played as a single-player mode, cooperative multiplayer is available. The SSE features a mechanism which strengthens a character's abilities in the form of collectible stickers which can be applied to the player's Trophies.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea12.html |title=Sticker Power-ups |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=January 18, 2008 |date=January 18, 2008 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019080803/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea12.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}

Unlike other game modes, the SSE has a team system for the characters, with a limited choice of characters at the beginning of the mode. Others join the team as the game progresses, while some characters may leave the team temporarily.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea04.html |title=Petey Piranha |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 8, 2007 |date=August 24, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019080703/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea04.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} Most characters start off with their own teams, but the teams merge occasionally until they become a unified team by the end of the game. In cooperative multiplayer, once one player loses a life, an ally can take his or her place until the number of lives run out. If there are no lives left and player one is defeated, the game is interrupted, with the choice of quitting or starting again from the previous "door" the player passed through.

During the development of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sakurai said that this mode would be more "fleshed out" than the single-player modes in previous Smash Bros. titles.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea02.html |title=What is the Subspace Emissary? |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=August 11, 2007 |date=August 3, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402085928/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea02.html |archive-date=April 2, 2014}} Shigeru Miyamoto has explained that Sakurai always wanted to have a deep single-player game, but he wanted Sakurai to focus more on the multiplayer aspects in the previous titles since there were already many single-player games of this kind. Both were possible with the development time allotted for Brawl.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_miyamotosakurai?page=2 |title=Miyamoto and Sakurai on Nintendo Wii |access-date=August 11, 2007 |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=May 11, 2005 |publisher=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220064341/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_miyamotosakurai?page=2 |archive-date=December 20, 2008}} Sakurai selected Kazushige Nojima, a scenario writer known for his work on the Final Fantasy series, to construct a plotline for the mode in cooperation with him.{{cite interview |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |interviewer=Satoru Iwata |title=Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |url=http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol4_page2.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105142115/http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol4_page2.jsp |archive-date=January 5, 2009 |type=Interview: Transcript |work=Wii.com |access-date=April 11, 2008}}

Brawl allows players to play against distant opponents via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.{{cite web |url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2007/10/10/nintendo-conference-2007-fall |title=Nintendo Conference 2007 Fall |access-date=October 10, 2007 |date=October 9, 2007 |first=Anoop |last=Gantayat |publisher=IGN |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629114541/http://au.ign.com/articles/2007/10/10/nintendo-conference-2007-fall |url-status=live }} Online multiplayer games can be played either with registered friends or with randomly selected participants.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi01.html |title=Wi-Fi Play |access-date=September 18, 2007 |date=September 18, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811141727/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi01.html |archive-date=August 11, 2013}} Additionally, players can converse with up to four phrases that are preset by the player, which appear as speech bubbles when activated. These names and phrases are not displayed in random-player matches. The Spectator mode allows players to watch matches being played between other players, and bet on the outcome using coins earned within the game. The winner of the match earns a jackpot of coins.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi02.html |title=Spectator |access-date=November 16, 2007 |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |date=November 16, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019161221/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/wi-fi/wi-fi02.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}

Snapshots may be taken during battles or in certain other modes, which can later be sent to friends or submitted to Nintendo.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various07.html |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 12, 2007 |title=Taking Snapshots |date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705093010/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various07.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} Video replay footage can be captured in specific game modes, including Brawl and Target Smash! modes, and sent to friends in the same manner.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various09.html |title=Stadium: Target Smash! |access-date=October 24, 2007 |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |date=October 24, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085936/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various09.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} Snapshots, custom stages and replays can be submitted to Nintendo's "Smash Service" for a chance to get the content featured and updated on all Smash Service-enabled Wii consoles. Since Brawl{{'}}s launch, the Smash Service has updated the game's Vault with one user submitted snapshot, custom stage and replay data chosen by Nintendo every day; each new update overwrites the previous. The user can choose to not receive updates from the service through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection options menu. After June 30, 2009, the Smash Service stopped accepting content from its users.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/index.html |title=Smash Bros. DOJO!! |date=June 8, 2009 |publisher=Nintendo/HAL Laboratory |access-date=December 18, 2011 |archive-date=June 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623171437/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/index.html |url-status=live }} After May 20, 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi service for Brawl was discontinued.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-killing-online-support-for-mario-kart-wii-super-smash-bros-brawl-in-may/1100-6417983/ |title=Nintendo killing online support for Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl in May |date=February 27, 2014 |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124181916/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-killing-online-support-for-mario-kart-wii-super-smash-bros-brawl-in-may/1100-6417983/ |url-status=live }}

Returning from Melee are trophies, statues of video game characters and objects that give brief histories or descriptions of their subjects, such as Mario and Link, or other characters and items that appear in their respective series.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various05.html |title=Trophies |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 24, 2007 |date=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085440/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various05.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} A minigame, the Coin Launcher, replaces the lottery machine from Melee as the primary method of obtaining trophies. The Coin Launcher is a machine that uses coins as projectiles to shoot trophies and counter incoming dangers.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various20.html |title=Coin Launcher |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 27, 2007 |date=December 27, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |archive-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091454/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various20.html |url-status=live }} Coins can also be used to bet on the victor of online battles via Spectator mode. Trophies unavailable in Coin Launcher mode are obtained by using an item called the Trophy Stand on weakened enemy characters and bosses within The Subspace Emissary. Trophies obtained in this manner may contain information on the backstory of the Subspace Emissary.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea11.html |title=Trophy Stands |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=December 30, 2007 |date=December 26, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019161104/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea11.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}}

In addition to trophies, players can now collect stickers of video game artwork.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various03.html |title=Stickers |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 24, 2007 |date=August 15, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703054141/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various03.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013}} Players can place stickers and trophies onto virtual backgrounds and take snapshots, which can be sent to other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Stickers can be applied to characters to power up their abilities in the Subspace Emissary.

Other stickers or trophies which cannot be collected through the Coin Launcher minigame, Subspace Emissary, or Vs. matches can be unlocked from the Challenges menu, an interactive display which catalogs unlocked features and items in gridded windows. Once a window has been broken and its contents are unlocked, horizontally adjacent windows display the conditions necessary to unlock them.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various22.html |title=Challenges |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=January 19, 2008 |date=January 14, 2008 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705091527/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various22.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

Brawl contains demo versions of several Nintendo games, named "Masterpieces", which were originally released for older consoles and feature characters playable in Brawl. These games use Virtual Console technology to emulate older hardware and have time constraints ranging from thirty seconds to five minutes. Some use save data to allow the player to play a certain scenario or level.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various23.html |title=Masterpieces |access-date=January 25, 2008 |first=Masahiro |last=Sakurai |date=January 25, 2008 |work=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403061927/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various23.html |archive-date=April 3, 2015}} Along with Masterpieces comes the inclusion of the Chronicles section, a library of previous Nintendo games which lists games either previously made or published by Nintendo on all of its consoles. New games appear when certain characters, trophies or stickers related to the game are unlocked.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various24.html |title=Vault |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |date=January 28, 2008 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705092806/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various24.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}}

In the Adventure mode titled "The Subspace Emissary", Mario and Kirby face each other on a stadium located in the Super Smash Bros. universe. In this world, when a fighter is defeated, they become an inanimate trophy-like object, but they can be returned to their animate forms when the object's stand is touched by an active fighter. Suddenly, the Halberd appears, releasing a stream of purple snowflake-like particles known as Shadow Bugs that form the soldiers of an evil force known as the Subspace Army. The Ancient Minister, the army's cloaked general, arrives and detonates a Subspace Bomb, which can only be activated by the sacrifice of a pair of R.O.B. units, and transports the stadium into Subspace, an alternate dimension where the Subspace Army resides. The army's advance prompts the fighters to join forces and attempt to repel the threat, while its pawns, villain fighters Bowser and Wario, attempt to deter the allied fighters by using powerful raygun-like weapons that instantly reduce them to their trophy forms, with the former using the Shadow Bugs on some of them to create evil doppelgängers. King Dedede begins independently gathering some fallen fighters, placing golden brooches on them.

The Ancient Minister is revealed as a subordinate of Ganondorf, who is under orders from Master Hand to draw the world into Subspace, but is secretly plotting a coup d'état against him for command over the Subspace Army. Wario, who had kidnapped Ness, is defeated by Lucas, aided by the Pokémon Trainer, and his trophy form is later helplessly sucked into a Subspace Bomb's detonation. Meanwhile, Meta Knight leaves his group to reclaim the Halberd as he allies with Lucario and Snake and neutralizes the source of the Shadow Bugs – Mr. Game & Watch.

The Ancient Minister's true identity is revealed to be that of the leading R.O.B. unit, who rebels against Ganondorf to join the fighters when the latter detonates several bombs on its home, the Isle of the Ancients, to create a rift into Subspace large enough to summon the Subspace Army's ultimate weapon – an enormous warship. The three major groups converge and use the reclaimed Halberd to combat the ship. Although the Halberd is destroyed, the fighters escape unscathed and Ganondorf and Bowser retreat after Kirby destroys the ship with his Dragoon. After betraying Bowser and preparing to put his coup in motion, Ganondorf discovers that Master Hand was being controlled by the embodiment of Subspace and the mastermind behind the Subspace Army, Tabuu, who defeats Ganondorf and the freed Master Hand.

The fighters confront Tabuu, but the latter annihilates them all with a cataclysmic attack known as "Off Waves" and scatters their trophy forms all throughout his dimension. Dedede's brooches are soon revealed to be a fail-safe against Tabuu and independently revive Luigi, Ness and later Kirby, who, with the former two reviving Dedede in return, rescue the fighters and navigate a gargantuan maze-like amalgamation of the areas that were transported into Subspace where Tabuu is located. When Tabuu attempts to dispose of the fighters once and for all, he is attacked by Sonic, who negates his Off Waves; the fighters then defeat Tabuu, restoring all the areas consumed by Subspace.

In an epilogue, the fighters look at a great luminous cross on the horizon where the Isle of the Ancients once resided, now erased due to the excessive amount of the Subspace Bombs that had been detonated there.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea17.html |title=Mysteries of the Subspace Emissary |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=April 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805035749/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/modea/modea17.html |archive-date=August 5, 2013}}

{{See also|Characters in the Super Smash Bros. series}}

Brawl allows the player to select from 39 playable characters,{{cite web |title=Characters |url=https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/index.html |website=Smash Bros. DOJO!! |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=20 October 2023 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817174926/https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/index.html |url-status=live }} 25 of which are initially available from the start. Some are new, but others return from Melee—in some cases updated or refined, either in appearance, fighting capabilities, or both. For example, Link and Fox have adopted designs from more recent titles at the time, while Samus has gained the ability to change into Zero Suit Samus.{{cite web |title=Samus: Final Smash |url=https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/samus.html |website=Smash Bros. DOJO!! |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=20 October 2023 |date=18 July 2007 |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029201034/https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/samus.html |url-status=live }} Dr. Mario, Roy, Young Link, Mewtwo and Pichu are the first five characters to not return from a previous game.

Some previously represented series have had more characters added to Brawl. Diddy Kong from the Donkey Kong series,{{Cite web |date=2016-07-15 |title=Diddy Kong joins Smash Bros. Brawl roster |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-08-22-diddy-kong-joins-smash-bros-brawl-roster.html |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Engadget |language=en-US |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714025455/https://www.engadget.com/2007-08-22-diddy-kong-joins-smash-bros-brawl-roster.html |url-status=live }} Ike from the Fire Emblem series,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Carly |date=2014-05-23 |title=Newest Super Smash Bros Fighter is Fire Emblem's Ike |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/newest-super-smash-bros-fighter-is-fire-emblems-ike/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107073419/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/newest-super-smash-bros-fighter-is-fire-emblems-ike/ |url-status=live }} and Lucas from Mother 3 make their first appearance in the Smash Bros. series.{{Cite web |title=Lucas From Mother 3 Added to Smash Bros. Brawl - News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/14506/lucas-from-mother-3-added-to-smash-bros-brawl |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908085552/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/14506/lucas-from-mother-3-added-to-smash-bros-brawl |url-status=live }} Other newcomers are the first to represent their series. These include characters such as Pit, representing the Kid Icarus series for the first time since the 1991 Game Boy game Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Olimar of the Pikmin series, and Wario, as he appears in Nintendo's WarioWare. Solid Snake, the protagonist of Konami's Metal Gear franchise, and Sonic the Hedgehog from Nintendo's former rival Sega are the first third-party characters to appear in a Super Smash Bros. game.

At a pre-E3 2005 press conference on May 17, 2005, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that the next installment of Super Smash Bros. was soon to be in development for its next console and would be a launch title with Wi-Fi compatibility for online play.{{cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=May 17, 2005 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/17/e3-2005-smash-bros-for-revolution |title=E3 2005: Smash Bros. For Revolution |publisher=IGN |access-date=May 3, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073355/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/17/e3-2005-smash-bros-for-revolution |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} The announcement was a surprise to Sakurai, who left HAL Laboratory in 2003. He was not informed of Nintendo's intent to release another Smash Bros. game, despite the fact that Iwata told Sakurai shortly after his resignation from HAL that if a new Smash game were developed, he would want Sakurai to again serve as director. It was not until the day after the conference that Iwata requested that Sakurai hold a private meeting with him, where he was asked to be involved as Brawl{{'}}s director.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/16/smash-bros-revolution-director-revealed |title=Smash Bros. Revolution Director Revealed |author=IGN Staff |access-date=June 21, 2007 |date=November 16, 2005 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503122014/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/16/smash-bros-revolution-director-revealed |archive-date=May 3, 2013}} Sakurai agreed to become director, and development of the game began in October 2005,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116161044/http://www.smashbros.com/en/main.html |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |url=http://www.smashbros.com/en/main.html |title=Foreword |access-date=November 11, 2007 |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!!}} when Nintendo opened a new office in Tokyo just for its production.{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717230329/http://www.smashbros.com/en/story/index.html |archive-date=July 17, 2006 |url=http://www.smashbros.com/en/story/index.html |title=Masahiro Sakurai's Thoughts About Games |access-date=December 21, 2009 |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |author-link=Masahiro Sakurai |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Smashbros.com |page=4}} Help from a variety of studios such as original series developer HAL Laboratory, Monolith Soft and Paon was enlisted,{{cite video game |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl |developer=Sora Ltd. |developer2=Game Arts |publisher=Nintendo of America |date=March 9, 2008 |scene=Staff credits}} with Game Arts as the main team in the preliminary development stages. In addition, several Smash Bros. staff members that resided in the area of the new office joined the project.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/02/sakurai-elaborates-on-smash-bros-revolution |title=Sakurai Elaborates on Smash Bros. Revolution |access-date=June 21, 2007 |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=December 5, 2005 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219171229/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/02/sakurai-elaborates-on-smash-bros-revolution |url-status=live }} Altogether, roughly 100 individuals worked on the project full-time,{{cite interview |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |interviewer-first=Satoru |interviewer-last=Iwata |title=Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |url=http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707023837/http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp |archive-date=July 7, 2009 |type=Interview: transcript |page=Searching for Office and Staff |work=Wii.com |access-date=December 21, 2009}} and were given access to all the original material and tools from the development of Melee, courtesy of HAL Laboratory.

The game was absent from Nintendo's Wii showing at its pre-E3 2006 press conference. Nintendo officially revealed the game under the name of Super Smash Bros. Brawl the next day, May 10, 2006, along with the game's first official trailer during the E3 After-Hours Press Conference. In an interview with IGN, Sakurai said the Wii's motion sensing features might not be included because "[his team] found that trying to implement too much motion-sensory functionality can get in the way of the game".{{cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |author2=Schneider, Peer |date=May 10, 2006 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-super-smash-bros-brawl |title=E3 2006: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |publisher=IGN |access-date=August 1, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109072712/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-super-smash-bros-brawl |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} As far as Wi-Fi play is concerned, Sakurai stated his plan was to include Wi-Fi connection compatibility from the start. He goes on to say, "One of the primary reasons Super Smash Bros. Brawl was created was that Nintendo, when taking Wii online, wanted to have Smash Bros. to do that." However, Sakurai stated on the Japanese version of the Smash Bros. website that there were "hurdles of all sorts that [made] it very difficult" to implement online battles.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/jp/toukou/bn/no12.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329052540/http://www.smashbros.com/jp/toukou/bn/no12.html |archive-date=March 29, 2007 |title=Fire off a comment! |access-date=July 8, 2008 |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date=May 26, 2006 |publisher=Nintendo |language=ja |quote=『スマブラ』をネット対戦させるには、いろいろとハードルが高い困難なことがあります。}}

Furthermore, he said that an online ranking system is unlikely to be implemented.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/21/gdc-2008-sakurai-on-super-smash-bros-brawl?page=2 |title=Sakurai on Super Smash Bros. Brawl |author=Casamassina, Matt |publisher=IGN |date=February 20, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505180934/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/21/gdc-2008-sakurai-on-super-smash-bros-brawl?page=2 |archive-date=May 5, 2014}} During a test play between Sakurai and Hideo Kojima, Kojima stated that the game felt complete and that Nintendo "could put it out now and it would sell millions of copies".{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/kojima-played-super-smash-bros |title=Kojima's Played Super Smash Bros. Brawl |access-date=June 21, 2007 |last=Dormer |first=Dan |date=April 27, 2007 |publisher=1UP.com |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604000223/http://www.1up.com/news/kojima-played-super-smash-bros |url-status=live }} Starting May 22, 2007 and ending April 14, 2008, the game's official site had daily weekday updates, revealing characters, stages, items, music and more.{{Cite web |title=Smash Bros. Dojo Updates Come to a Close - News |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/15804/smash-bros-dojo-updates-come-to-a-close |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817174930/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/15804/smash-bros-dojo-updates-come-to-a-close |url-status=live }}

At the Nintendo Media Conference at E3 2007, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé announced that Super Smash Bros. Brawl would be released on December 3, 2007, in the Americas.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/11/e3-2007-nintendo-e3-media-briefing-live-blog |title=Nintendo E3 2007 Press Conference |access-date=July 11, 2007 |publisher=IGN |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073403/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/11/e3-2007-nintendo-e3-media-briefing-live-blog |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} However, just two months before its anticipated December release, the development team asked for more time to work on the game. During the Nintendo Conference on October 10, 2007, President Iwata announced the delay,

{{Blockquote

| text = In order to fine-tune Smash Bros., with this unprecedented game depth, we have decided that we have to take a little more time to complete the game than we announced before. We are sorry for the fans that are already anxiously waiting for the launch, but we would like to launch this game on January 24, 2008 in Japan. As for the North American launch, we will review that too, and our local subsidiaries will make their own announcements.{{cite web |url=http://www.irwebcasting.com/071010/53/f078bbc3f8/main/index_hi.htm |title=Nintendo Conference Fall 2007 |access-date=October 11, 2007 |date=October 10, 2007 |format=mpg |publisher=E-news.co.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011231602/http://www.irwebcasting.com/071010/53/f078bbc3f8/main/index_hi.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

}}

On October 11, 2007, George Harrison of Nintendo of America stated that Super Smash Bros. Brawl would be released on February 10, 2008, in North America.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/11/smash-release-date-confirmed |title=Smash Release Date Confirmed |first=Mark |last=Bozon |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=October 14, 2007 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073313/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/11/smash-release-date-confirmed |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} On January 15, 2008, the game's release was delayed one week in Japan to January 31 and nearly a month in the Americas to March 9.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/15/breaking-smash-bros-delayed |title=Breaking: Smash Bros. Delayed |access-date=January 20, 2008 |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=January 14, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073415/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/15/breaking-smash-bros-delayed |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} On April 24, 2008, Nintendo of Europe confirmed that Brawl would be released in Europe on June 27.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2008/Nintendo-announces-Q2-release-schedule-250625.html |title=Nintendo announces Q2 release schedule |access-date=April 24, 2008 |date=April 24, 2008 |publisher=Nintendo}} Similarly, Nintendo Australia announced on May 15, 2008, that the game would be released in that region on June 26, 2008.{{cite web |url=http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=1143 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl at Nintendo Australia |access-date=May 14, 2008 |date=May 14, 2008 |publisher=Nintendo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408070619/http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=1143 |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

Super Smash Bros. Brawl uses a dual-layer disc due to the size of the game data. Nintendo of America has stated that some Wii consoles may have difficulty reading the high-density software due to a contaminated laser lens. Nintendo offered a free repair for owners who experienced this issue.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_form_us_ssbb.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223052430/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_form_us_ssbb.jsp |archive-date=December 23, 2008 |title=Repair Form for U.S. Residents |access-date=April 9, 2013 |author=Nintendo of America |publisher=Nintendo of America}}

Sakurai revealed a list of 36 musicians providing musical arrangements for the game on May 22, 2007. He asked composers such as Koji Kondo, Yasunori Mitsuda, Yoko Shimomura, and Yuzo Koshiro, amongst many others, to listen to a selection of Nintendo and other game music and arrange their favorites.{{cite web |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date=April 27, 2007 |title=The Musicians |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706222000/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music01.html |archive-date=July 6, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!!}} The game's various stages have multiple musical tracks which players can listen to using the new "My Music" feature, including some pieces taken directly from other games without any modification or special arrangements. This feature allows the player to select how often a piece gets played during a stage. Some of the pieces need to be unlocked by collecting CDs which are awarded via the game's Challenges Mode, or by spawning randomly while playing.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music08.html |title=My Music |author=Sakurai, Masahiro |access-date=October 28, 2007 |date=September 7, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705092814/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music08.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} The game's original music was composed by Takahiro Nishi, Shogo Sakai, Masaaki Iwasaki, Yutaka Iraha, Keigo Ozaki, and Kentaro Ishizaka, while the main theme was composed by former Final Fantasy series composer, Nobuo Uematsu, and arranged by Sakai.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-uematsu-scores-smash-bros |title=E3 2006: Uematsu Scores Smash Bros. |author=Schneider, Peer |access-date=May 10, 2006 |date=May 10, 2006 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219113740/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-uematsu-scores-smash-bros |archive-date=December 19, 2013}} The main theme has Latin lyrics that allude to various key aspects of the game, including fighting for glory, rivals becoming companions, and the fame of the characters.{{Cite book|last=Summers|first=Tim|title=Understanding Video Game Music|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2016|isbn=9781108107761|location=|pages=17}}

Sakurai originally stated that he did not want to emphasize Japan-only characters. However, reflecting upon Marth and Roy's inclusion in Melee, which led to the international release of the Fire Emblem series,{{cite news |title=Fire Emblem Series |url=http://www.nindb.net/series/fire-emblem/index.html |access-date=July 7, 2007 |work=NinDB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413213956/http://www.nindb.net/series/fire-emblem/index.html |archive-date=April 13, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} he became more interested in characters exclusive to Japan-only releases.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/super-smash-bros-brawl-details |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Details |access-date=September 13, 2007 |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=June 5, 2006 |publisher=1UP.com |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604002748/http://www.1up.com/news/super-smash-bros-brawl-details |url-status=live }} Sakurai said that third-party characters would amount to two at the most, aside from Snake. The inclusion of Konami-created character Solid Snake may seem to conflict with the Super Smash Bros. paradigm—to only include characters from games made by Nintendo and its second parties—but Sakurai said that the creator of Metal Gear Hideo Kojima "practically begged" him to include Solid Snake in Melee, which was not feasible as development was too far in for the game.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-super-smash-bros-brawl |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Preview |author1=Schneider, Peer |author2=Casamassina, Matt |publisher=IGN |date=May 10, 2006 |access-date=July 1, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109072712/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-super-smash-bros-brawl |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} This in turn led to his appearance in the following game instead.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/173071/e306-super-smash-bros-brawl-qa?tag=gamingnintendo |title=E306: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Q&A |access-date=September 18, 2007 |last=Mcwhertor |first=Michael |date=May 11, 2006 |publisher=Kotaku |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324141438/http://kotaku.com/173071/e306-super-smash-bros-brawl-qa?tag=gamingnintendo |archive-date=March 24, 2012}} Additionally, Lucas from Mother 3 was supposed to be added in Melee, but was excluded due to the constant delay and ultimate cancellation of Mother 3 of the Nintendo 64.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0717/index.html |title=速報スマブラ拳: Ness |access-date=October 21, 2007 |publisher=Nintendo |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818021911/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0717/index.html |archive-date=August 18, 2014}}

Japanese fans were asked to submit their desired characters and musical themes via a forum on the game's official Japanese site for possible inclusion.{{cite web |author=IGN Staff |date=May 11, 2006 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-fans-asked-to-fill-smash-bros-roster |title=E3 2006: Fans Asked to Fill Smash Bros. Roster |publisher=IGN |access-date=May 11, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111749/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/11/e3-2006-fans-asked-to-fill-smash-bros-roster |archive-date=November 3, 2013}} The most requested third-party character, Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog, was announced to be in Brawl on October 10, 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/sonic.html |title=Sonic |access-date=October 10, 2007 |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date=October 10, 2007 |publisher=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705015400/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/sonic.html |archive-date=July 5, 2013}} Sonic series co-creator Yuji Naka asked for Sonic to be included in Melee, but Sonic could not be implemented because of time constraints.{{cite AV media|title=SXSW Gaming: March 17 - 19, 2016 in Austin, Texas|url=https://www.twitch.tv/videos/55380496|quote=Yuji Naka (translated): During the GameCube development for Smash Bros., I really wanted to get Sonic into that game, but it was just too late in the development process and couldn't get it in for GameCube, but they did move forward and put Sonic in for the Wii version.|people=SXSWGaming|date=March 19, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109062257/https://www.twitch.tv/videos/55380496|url-status=live}} Event occurs at 03:47:57.

During Brawl's development, Sakurai revealed that he initially considered adding Miis as playable fighters. However, due to concerns that the Miis would not be interesting enough characters and that they could be used for online bullying, Sakurai had to decide against it. Miis would later be integrated into the series as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.{{cite web |last=Corriea |first=Alexa Ray |date=June 19, 2014 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/19/5824064/mii-fighters-super-smash-bros-brawl-sakurai |title=Mii Fighters were added to Super Smash Bros due to growing presence and fan requests |publisher=Polygon |access-date=June 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621012729/http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/19/5824064/mii-fighters-super-smash-bros-brawl-sakurai |archive-date=June 21, 2014}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 93/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-smash-bros-brawl/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Metacritic: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=May 8, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819074907/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/super-smash-bros-brawl |archive-date=August 19, 2010}}

| 1UP = A{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |date=March 7, 2008 |first=James |last=Mielke |access-date=May 16, 2008 |publisher=1UP.com |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523224845/http://www.1up.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl |url-status=live }}

| Edge = 9/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/super-smash-brothers-brawl-review/ |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |author=Edge staff |date=April 2008 |magazine=Edge |issue=187 |pages=84–85 |access-date=April 9, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404122650/http://www.edge-online.com/review/super-smash-brothers-brawl-review/ |url-status=live }}

| EuroG = 9/10

| Fam = 40/40

| GSpot = 9.5/10

| GT = 9.4/10

| IGN = 9.5/10

| NP = 10/10

| NLife = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web |url= http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2008/03/super_smash_bros_brawl_wii |title= Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |publisher= Nintendo Life |access-date= February 20, 2011 |date= March 12, 2008 |archive-date= March 2, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090302030730/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2008/03/super_smash_bros_brawl_wii |url-status= live }}

| NWR = 9.5/10{{cite web |url= http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/15519/super-smash-bros-brawl-wii |title= SSBB Review |publisher= Nintendo World Report |access-date= February 13, 2011 |archive-date= May 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140513023953/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/15519/super-smash-bros-brawl-wii |url-status= live }}

| Destruct = 9.5/10{{cite web |url= https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-super-smash-bros-brawl-74217.phtml |title= Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |date= March 8, 2008 |publisher= Destructoid |access-date= January 29, 2011 |archive-date= July 29, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100729164156/http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-super-smash-bros-brawl-74217.phtml |url-status= live }}

| GRadar = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url= http://www.gamesradar.com/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |title= Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |date= March 6, 2008 |publisher= GamesRadar |access-date= February 15, 2011 |archive-date= October 19, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121019000545/http://www.gamesradar.com/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |url-status= live }}

| GI = 9.5/10{{cite web |url= http://www.gameinformer.com/games/super_smash_bros_brawl/b/wii/archive/2009/09/25/review.aspx |title= SSBB Review |publisher= Game Informer |access-date= February 22, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100918103240/http://gameinformer.com/games/super_smash_bros_brawl/b/wii/archive/2009/09/25/review.aspx |archive-date= September 18, 2010 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}

| ONM = 95%{{cite web |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/4885/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |title=Wii Review: Super Smash Bros. |first=Martin |last=Mathers |date=June 26, 2008 |access-date=October 2, 2008 |publisher=Official Nintendo Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221141000/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/4885/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |archive-date=February 21, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}

| rev1 = NGamer

| rev1Score = 93%

| award1Pub = GameSpot

| award1 = Best Fighting Game

}}

Super Smash Bros. Brawl has received universal acclaim and has been commercially successful worldwide. In the United States, the game sold 874,000 units on launch day and 1.4 million units in its first week to become the fastest-selling Nintendo video game in America's history, according to Nintendo.{{cite press release |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/AU8xLess7wISKbSMpYCj_HThii8UiBzG |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Smashes Nintendo Sales Records |publisher=Nintendo |date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915093943/http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/AU8xLess7wISKbSMpYCj_HThii8UiBzG |archive-date=September 15, 2008}} According to the NPD Group, it was the best-selling game of March 2008 in Canada and the United States, selling 200,000 and 2.7 million units, respectively; it was the best-selling game of 2008 in Canada.{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=April 17, 2008 |title=NPD Reports Nintendo Finished March with Top Game, Top Hardware |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/04/17/npd-reports-nintendo-finished-march-with-top-game-top-hardware |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817174933/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/17/npd-reports-nintendo-finished-march-with-top-game-top-hardware |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |publisher=IGN}}{{cite press release |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/342273/npd-reports-nintendo-s-wii-tops-canadian-sales-charts |title=Wii surpasses all other next generation consoles in lifetime sales |access-date=April 24, 2008 |date=April 17, 2008 |publisher=Nintendo |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124170947/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/342273/npd-reports-nintendo-s-wii-tops-canadian-sales-charts |url-status=live }} The game generated $122 million in revenue in March 2008.{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Pham|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-17-fi-ct-game-sales17-story.html|title=Video game sales slide on shortage of hot new titles|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 17, 2009|access-date=November 6, 2021|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008161043/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-17-fi-ct-game-sales17-story.html|url-status=live}} Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst, Jesse Divnich, attributed the game's strong US sales to its fulfilling "the needs of the casual, social, and sub-13-year-old markets".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/analyst-march-a-perfect-sales-storm/1100-6189493/ |title=Analyst: March a perfect sales storm |author=Sinclair, Brendan |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121163449/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/analyst-march-a-perfect-sales-storm/1100-6189493/ |archive-date=January 21, 2016}} Upon release in PAL regions, Brawl reached number one on both European and Australian sales charts.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/super-smash-bros-brawl-takes-top-spot-in-europe |title=Super Smash Bros Brawl takes top spot in Europe |author=Lee, James |publisher=Game Industry |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713111803/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/super-smash-bros-brawl-takes-top-spot-in-europe |archive-date=July 13, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/aussie-game-charts-june-23-29/1100-6193329/ |title=Aussie game charts: June 23–29 |publisher=GameSpot |author=Chiappini, Dan |date=July 3, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121163449/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/aussie-game-charts-june-23-29/1100-6193329/ |archive-date=January 21, 2016}} According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, by August 2008, the game had sold 3.539 million units in the United States, 213,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.681 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 5.433 million units.{{cite press release |title=Leading Market Research Firms Join Forces to Provide First Multi-Continent View Of Video Game Software Sales |url=https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr_080821/ |date=August 21, 2008 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |publisher=NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, Enterbrain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016082712/https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr_080821/ |archive-date=October 16, 2012}} It ultimately received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515224703/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3944 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3944 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum |work=Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |url-status=dead }} indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK |author=Caoili, Eric |date=November 26, 2008 |work=Gamasutra |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }} It was also the fifth best-selling game of Japan in 2008, selling 1,747,113 copies.{{cite web |title=Japanese 2008 Market Report |date=January 9, 2009 |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/403/JAPANESE-2008-MARKET-REPORT |publisher=MCV |access-date=January 9, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122135649/http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/403/JAPANESE-2008-MARKET-REPORT |archive-date=January 22, 2009}} It was the fourth best-selling game of 2008 in the United States, selling over 4.17 million copies.{{cite web |title=NPD: Nintendo Drives '08 Industry Sales Past $21 Billion |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-nintendo-drives-08-industry-sales-past-21-billion-/?biz=1 |publisher=Game Daily |access-date=January 15, 2009 |date=January 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117013042/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-nintendo-drives-08-industry-sales-past-21-billion-/?biz=1 |archive-date=January 17, 2009}} By March 31, 2020, the game had sold 13.32 million units worldwide, according to Nintendo.{{Cite web |title=IR Information : Financial Data - Top Selling Title Sales Units - Wii Software |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wii.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219181140/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wii.html |archive-date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=November 2, 2017}}

The editors of Japanese game magazine Famitsu, who awarded it a perfect score, praised the variety and depth of the single-player content, the unpredictability of Final Smashes, and the dynamic fighting styles of the characters.{{cite news |url=http://www.1up.com/news/famitsu-smash-bros-brawl-perfect |title=Famitsu Gives Smash Bros. Brawl a Perfect Score |author=Gray, Brian |publisher=1up.com |date=January 16, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623104915/http://www.1up.com/news/famitsu-smash-bros-brawl-perfect |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/16/perfect-score-for-smash-bros |title=Perfect Score for Smash Bros. |access-date=January 29, 2008 |date=January 16, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073433/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/16/perfect-score-for-smash-bros |archive-date=November 9, 2012}} Chris Slate of Nintendo Power awarded Brawl a perfect score in the March 2008 issue, calling it "one of the very best games that Nintendo has ever produced".{{Cite news |date=March 2008 |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Future US |volume=226 |title=Simply Smashing |last=Slate |first=Chris |pages=82–83 }} GameSpot editor Lark Anderson noted that Brawl{{'}}s "simple controls and gameplay make it remarkably accessible to beginners, yet still appealing to veterans", while GameTrailers mentioned the amount of content that gives the game "staying power that few other games possess".{{Cite web |last=Lark |first=Anderson |date=March 7, 2008 |title=GameSpot Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/1900-6187411/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203100954/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/1900-6187411/ |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=GameSpot}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/4mnrdm/super-smash-bros--brawl-review |title=GameTrailers Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |access-date=March 9, 2008 |publisher=GameTrailers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014042013/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/4mnrdm/super-smash-bros--brawl-review |archive-date=October 14, 2012}} Eurogamer praised the game's ability to stay fun in both single-player and multiplayer modes, while "fulfilling its usual role of dominating a willing crowd's evening into the early hours, and now allowing you to sustain that after everyone's gone home".{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/super-smash-bros-brawl-review |title=Eurogamer Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |first=Tom |last=Bramwell |date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=March 27, 2008 |publisher=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224230142/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/super-smash-bros-brawl-review |archive-date=December 24, 2008}} Game Revolution hailed Brawl{{'}}s soundtrack as "spectacular ... spanning a generous swath of gaming history".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/super-smash-bros-brawl |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review at Game Revolution – Hit me with your best shot. |first=Chris |last=Hudak |access-date=April 21, 2008 |publisher=Game Revolution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616042305/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/super-smash-bros-brawl |archive-date=June 16, 2012}} Game Informer highlighted Brawl{{'}}s "finely tuned balance, core fighting mechanics, and local multiplayer modes".{{cite web |url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/B18DF8E6-3CD5-4F43-84B0-A9BFFFC4A9AC.htm |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review: Smash It Up |author=Vore, Bryan |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414161620/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/B18DF8E6-3CD5-4F43-84B0-A9BFFFC4A9AC.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Edge concluded that, while the Smash Bros. games have often been "derided as button-mashing", Brawl features "one of the most enduringly innovative and deep systems of any fighter".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-smash-bros-brawl/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl (wii: 2008): Reviews |access-date=April 23, 2008 |publisher=Metacritic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819074907/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/super-smash-bros-brawl |archive-date=August 19, 2010}}

IGN editor Matt Casamassina, however, noted that, although Brawl is "completely engrossing and wholly entertaining", it suffers from "long loading times" and "uninspired enemies and locales" in the Subspace Emissary adventure mode. He also described the graphics as "an enhanced version of Melee", with backgrounds that lack detail in areas.{{cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=March 4, 2008 |title=IGN Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/04/super-smash-bros-brawl-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128020428/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/04/super-smash-bros-brawl-review |archive-date=November 28, 2012 |access-date=March 4, 2008 |publisher=IGN}} GameSpy echoed this by equating the quality of the graphics to that of the GameCube.{{Cite web |last=Villoria |first=Gerald |date=March 7, 2008 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl review at GameSpy |url=http://uk.wii.gamespy.com/wii/super-smash-bros-wii/857904p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312161848/http://uk.wii.gamespy.com/wii/super-smash-bros-wii/857904p1.html |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=March 8, 2008 |publisher=GameSpy}} Mitchell Saltzman of Gameworld Network expressed disappointment at the lack of "stat tracking, voice chat, and a mostly lag free environment" in the online mode.{{cite web |url=http://www.gwn.com/reviews/gamereview.php/id/1397/p/5/title/Super_Smash_Bros_Brawl.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313153231/http://www.gwn.com/reviews/gamereview.php/id/1397/p/5/title/Super_Smash_Bros_Brawl.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review |publisher=Gameworld Network |first=Mitchell |last=Saltzman |access-date=April 23, 2008 }} NGamer{{'}}s Matthew Castle points to the franchise's lack of innovation with the verdict, "Smash Bros risks growing too familiar. It never breeds contempt, but it doesn't quite muster that Galaxy magic."{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/183358/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |title=Ngamer — Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl |access-date=February 26, 2008 |first=Matthew |last=Castle |work=NGamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811022014/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/183358/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/ |archive-date=August 11, 2011}} Jeff Gerstmann rated the game 4 out of 5 stars on Giant Bomb, saying that players who are not into Nintendo's history or multiplayer "probably won't understand what all the fuss is about in the first place".{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/1900-10/ |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl – Review |author=Gerstmann, Jeff |date=March 13, 2008 |publisher=Giant Bomb |access-date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728082025/http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl-review/1900-10/ |archive-date=July 28, 2013}} 1UP.com, however, suggested that Brawl is not directed exclusively towards serious gamers, as it offers "a curious diversion for uninterested gamers" as well.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl – Review |author=Mielke, James |publisher=1UP.com |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=April 20, 2008 |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523224845/http://www.1up.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-brawl |url-status=live }}

Super Smash Bros. Brawl won multiple Wii-specific awards in IGN{{'}}s 2008 video game awards, including "Best Fighting Game",{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Fighting Game 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/2.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092744/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/2.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} "Best Local Multiplayer Game"{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Local Multiplayer Game 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/18.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092729/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/18.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} and "Best Original Score".{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Original Score 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/13.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092654/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/13.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} It was also nominated by them for several other Wii-specific awards, including "Best Graphics Technology",{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Graphics Technology 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/11.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092643/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/11.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} "Best Use of Sound",{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Use of Sound 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/14.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092704/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/14.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} "Best Online Multiplayer Game"{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Online Multiplayer Game 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/19.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092739/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/19.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} and "Game of the Year".{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Game of the Year 2008 |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/25.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222092824/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/25.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} The game also won "Best Fighting Game" in GameSpot{{'}}s Game of the Year awards 2008.{{cite web |url=http://au.gamespot.com/best-of/genre-awards/index.html?page=4 |title=Gamespot: Best Fighting Game of the Year |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=February 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230225326/http://au.gamespot.com/best-of/genre-awards/index.html?page=4 |archive-date=December 30, 2008}} During the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Super Smash Bros. Brawl with "Fighting Game of the Year".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2009&idGame=991 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Super Smash Bros. Brawl |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115174337/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2009&idGame=991 |url-status=live }} The game placed 15th in Official Nintendo Magazine's 100 greatest Nintendo games of all time.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7297/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-five/ |title=20–11 Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Official Nintendo Magazine |access-date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629084830/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7297/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-five/ |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}

Brawl was ranked by Nintendo Power as the fifth best game of the 2000s released on a Nintendo system.{{cite magazine |title=The Best of the Decade |magazine=Nintendo Power |issue=252 |date=March 2010}}

{{Clear}}

Brawl is unusually moddable for a console game, due to the "Smash Stack" exploit found within the game's built-in stage builder when loading stages from an SD card. Rather than stage data, a specialized program can be inserted onto the SD card that renders the builder unusable while present, but allows loading of fan-made patches from the card on top of the game's on-disc data. These patches range from simple character skins and balance adjustments to more complex modifications such as whole additional characters and extra stages more complex than the internal stage builder allows.{{cite magazine |title=The Best Super Smash Bros. Isn't Made by Nintendo |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/12/project-m-super-smash-bros-mod/ |magazine=Wired |last=Rigney |first=Ryan |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121022331/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/12/project-m-super-smash-bros-mod |archive-date=January 21, 2014}}

In 2011, a team of competitive Super Smash Bros. players, known collectively as the Project M Back Room (PMBR), began development on a mod of Brawl titled Project M.{{cite web |title=Rebuilding Super Smash Bros. |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/04/20/rebuilding-super-smash-bros |work=IGN |last=George |first=Richard |date=April 19, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063443/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/04/20/rebuilding-super-smash-bros |archive-date=February 23, 2014}} The project was designed to retool Brawl to play more like its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. Melee, in response to complaints about Brawl{{'}}s physics, slower-paced gameplay, use of chance elements, and mechanics of certain attacks compared to Melee.{{cite web |title=Fans Take Up Arms and Fix Nintendo's Fighter Themselves |url=http://www.1up.com/news/smash-bros-projectm-fighter |publisher=1UP.com |last=Todd |first=Nick |date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511161658/http://www.1up.com/news/smash-bros-projectm-fighter |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |df=mdy-all}} The mod rebalances each of Brawl{{'}}s playable characters, adds new character costumes and gameplay modes, and adds the characters Mewtwo and Roy, who were present in Melee but omitted from Brawl{{'}}s roster.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/be-inspired-these-ambitious-video-game-fan-projects/ |publisher=GamesRadar |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |title=Be Inspired by These Ambitious Video Game Fan Projects |last=Betka |first=Zach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220013813/http://www.gamesradar.com/be-inspired-these-ambitious-video-game-fan-projects/ |archive-date=February 20, 2014}} The mod received praise from many reviewers and fans, and the "Version 3.0" demo had received over 300,000 downloads by February 2014.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/how-to-play-project-m-the-best-smash-bros-mod-around-1480425952 |publisher=Kotaku |title=How To Play Project M, The Best Smash Bros. Mod Around |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=December 10, 2013 |access-date=February 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130103930/http://kotaku.com/how-to-play-project-m-the-best-smash-bros-mod-around-1480425952 |archive-date=January 30, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/smash-bros-mod-project-m-3-0-gets-one-heck-of-a-trailer-266001.phtml |publisher=Destructoid |date=November 19, 2013 |last=Devore |first=Jordan |title=Smash Bros. mod Project M 3.0 gets one heck of a trailer |access-date=February 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224012659/http://www.destructoid.com/smash-bros-mod-project-m-3-0-gets-one-heck-of-a-trailer-266001.phtml |archive-date=February 24, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ProjectMGame/statuses/438099143488073728 |title=Tweet by @ProjectMGame |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2014 |quote=We recently broke the 300,000 download threshold via the website. That's more than triple 2.5/2.6 got in their year or so. Thank you!! |work=Twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329075920/https://twitter.com/ProjectMGame/statuses/438099143488073728 |archive-date=March 29, 2014}} The project ceased development on December 1, 2015.{{Cite magazine |last=Muncy |first=Julie |date=December 2, 2015 |title=This Super-Popular Smash Bros. Mod Just Shut Down For Good |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/project-m-closed-super-smash-bros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029203334/https://www.wired.com/2015/12/project-m-closed-super-smash-bros/ |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |magazine=Wired}}

In 2019, a new team of developers created Project+, described as a "spiritual successor" to Project M.{{cite web |last1=Collette |first1=Daniel |title=Project+: The fan-made Smash game that refuses to die |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/15748/project-plus-the-fan-made-smash-game-that-refuses-to-die |website=InvenGlobal |access-date=24 October 2023 |language=en |date=21 November 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817174937/https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/15748/project-plus-the-fan-made-smash-game-that-refuses-to-die |url-status=live }}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url=https://www.smashbros.com/wii/|title=Official website|publisher=Nintendo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416231402/https://www.smashbros.com/wii/|archive-date=April 16, 2023|url-status=dead|access-date=May 14, 2023}}

{{Super Smash Bros. series}}

{{Masahiro Sakurai}}

{{Portal bar|Video games|2000s}}

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Category:2008 video games

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Category:Video games scored by Shogo Sakai

Category:Video games scored by Takahiro Nishi

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