Smash Bros Countdown - Intro

Oct. 3, 2014 marks the release date of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS. Now, I've been excited for this game. So excited that I had no idea how I was gonna last for another 10 days. Until recently Smash Bros 3DS has been almost mythological. I've always known it's a real thing, but lately it feels more like an idea rather than a game I'll be able to physically hold and see.

Every day the director of the Smash Bros series, Masahiro Sakurai, would post a new image of the game as it was being developed on his Miiverse, which is essentially Nintendo's answer to social media. Sometimes it was boring information, like something obvious like the fact one could jump or a picture of a menu.

Pictured: Disappointment

But what kept us coming back were the sneak peaks into the selection of stages, the choice of music, or, most importantly, the roster of characters.

That sound you hear is nerds moaning.

The thing you should realize about Smash Bros. is that it's not just a terrific video game, but a celebration of Nintendo and their multiple franchises. Before that we had to guess who would win in a fight between Mario and Link, but with Smash, we could actually make that fight happen. We were given 12 characters from 10 different franchises and were tasked with making them duke it out in locations from their respective games.

It was also the first game that Kirby was portrayed as an octagon.

As the series evolved, Sakurai only added more nostalgia and history into this digital tapestry. The second game in the series, Super Smash Bros. Melee, not only doubled the roster, but also added the ability to play an alternate musical track on certain stages, giving more, less memorable franchises a chance to be represented. The game also added collectable trophies, 3D models of classic Nintendo characters that served no other purpose but to make one nostalgic.

The Love Giant trophy, however, only made people uncomfortable.

When the third game in the series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, was released it continued the trend of making fans' nostalgia wieners remain erect in the form of stickers, another visual collectable for fans to reminisce with, and one of the most insane game soundtracks ever put together. 38 composers got together and rearranged hundreds of classic Nintendo tunes to be heard on the stages within the game. You can listen to the whole thing on YouTube provided you have 445 minutes to spare.

The game has so many references in not only the music, trophies, stickers, stages, and characters, but also in how the characters move and fight. Every character's move set is reminiscent of games past. Mario throws fireballs, Link uses his bow and arrow, and Pikachu uses lightning attacks. 

While Dr. Mario sits back and enjoys his giant pills.

Every aspect of these games have clearly been handled with care to ensure maximum nostalgiability. Throw that on top of easy to understand, difficult to master gameplay, and it's no wonder you've got yourself a great game.

So now the fourth one is on it's way and Sakurai has been building this hype for over a year. Not only with the aforementioned pictures, but with trailers for each character new to the Smash Bros. series.

   

This shit got me so jacked I kicked my ceiling.

With the newest game comes new stages, new music, new items, new trophies, and as mentioned, new character. Basically it's more nostalgia filled goodness for your headspace to enjoy. I'm sure lots of people are excited specifically for the gameplay and getting better at it for competing purposes, and that's great. Heck, Smash Bros. Melee recently became an official game that's played in Major League Gaming. As in professionally. As in for money. 

Not pictured: the sticks used to fight off ladies.

While that's fine and dandy, I'm mostly looking forward to the nostalgia. I love Nintendo and all of the memories they've given me. I'm looking forward to reminiscing with my 3DS about things I loved as a kid and still love now. That's what these posts will be about. The nostalgia I have for the original 10 franchises in the original game. Each day I'll look back at one of the series and talk about how it affected me and what's great about it. So hopefully this intro did it's job and you'll check back tomorrow when I begin the countdown with the first series.