I hope that all you fans of the Super Smash Bros. series have at least heard of yesterday's SSB Direct. If not, you should be ashamed of yourself. There was a huge amount of information released about the next game in the series. Here is the video (it's 40 minutes long, but it's worth it. Watch until the very very end). They talked about a lot of things, but here are the main things (in my opinion):

Release dates. The 3DS version is scheduled for this summer, while the Wii U port is scheduled for this winter.

Stages. The Wii U version and the 3DS version are going to have a different set of stages. For those more professional players out there, they've added a "Final Destination Mode" for every stage. That means that each stage has a mode where it's more flat and has no obstacles/platforms (so it's basically Final Destination but with different visuals).

Online play. They mentioned that Brawl's online gameplay was a bit... crappy. Supposedly the online play is going to be a lot less slow this time, but there still might be some connection troubles. They are also now going to moderate the WFC games. Yes, you're being watched by Nintendo staff when you play this online. They will watch out for players that frequently disconnect, players that cheat, players that are "annoying" in various ways, etc. But there's something that I'm really hyped up about... There are two modes: For Fun and For Glory. For Fun has items and you could randomly play on any stage. So it's just like normal online play. It also only records your kill count but not your death count. For Glory only has Final Destination-type levels and (I believe) no items. Your deaths, SDs, and KOs are recorded in yet another feature. This feature is the "Global Power Ranking" system or something like that. This shows where you rank among the millions that will play the game online. You are given a number based on how good you've done in For Glory. No, this number is not your exact rank (so if you number is 1, it doesn't mean you're the #1 player). The number is how many you've passed. For example, if you have a higher killcount/lower deathcount than 300,888 players, then your GPR will be 300,888. They also said that there will be ways to connect your 3DS to the Wii U, but they haven't said much.

The Smash Run. This will be featured only in the 3DS version (because most wouldn't buy the 3DS version if they could get the Wii U version). This is multiplayer. You get 5 minutes to explore a vast battlefield. Each enemy you destroy there (similar to the enemies in the SSE, but these are from actual game series) will explode and drop powerups. There is a powerup for launch power, speed, jumping, launch resistance, aaaaand something I can't remember. The more you collect (you'll collect a few hundred I think?), the more boosts you get. After the 5 minutes are up, you'll fight the other players in a special match where your powerups are in effect. I can't wait for this because, well, I've always wanted to be a character like Ganondorf but be extra fast.

Information on new character movesets. AND. Custom movesets (which I am MEGA MEGA HYPED ABOUT). They basically just said the movesets for the new characters. But they also talked about a new feature that lets you customize movesets. They've only shown two customizations available. The first is for Mario's fireball. It turns it into a slow but massive fireball that deals lots of damage (but has short range). The second is Donkey Kong's headbutt move. You can apparently charge it up. I'm not sure, but I'm assuming that it keeps them stuck in the ground longer.

And the moment you've all been waiting for... Characters! Before I talk about the characters announced, I need to tell you that characters that change to another character mid-battle no longer do that. This means that transformation characters will now be fully playable.

1. Zero Suit Samus. Like I said, you do not change into ZSS mid-battle. She is a full character. Full moveset. As no one knows her moveset in Brawl, they've given her a new, better moveset. She uses Jet Boots (or something like that), so she pretty much kicks everyone. Cool, eh?

2. Sheik. They've given Sheik two new moves (as she no longer transforms into Zelda). One of them is a bomb and the other is... an aerial move I think?

3. Yoshi. No new information has been given... if I remember right. But still, Yoshi confirmed!

4. Charizard. No new information has been given either. Man, I'm gonna miss Ivysaur... but at least no more Squirtle, right?

5. THE FULL NEWCOMER: Greninja. Greninja, a water pokemon that is, yes, a ninja. They didn't show too much, but Greninja appears to be a very fast character with nice strength.


Well then. Yep, that's basically what happened. Why did you even read that if you watched the video? You were supposed to watch the video...

So, everyone, what do you think about this new information? Do you like the new concepts they have announced? Do you think that Greninja was a good choice! Share your opinion right here in this thread!

TheFadedWarrior : Now I really wish that I had not traded in my 3DS, I would have loved to play it on a handheld for the first time. I am really excited for the game, but it's going to take a while to get a Wii U.

I really liked the unveiling of Charizard as its own character, and I liked Greninja in Pokémon X and Y. I also was giddy about how they are separating Zero Suit Samus from Samus, and Shiek from Zelda, so I never have to use Zero Suit Samus or Zelda ever again. I was also happy with the different themed Final Destination areas because I did not like the bland purple and black color that it was in Super Smash Brothers Brawl. I also liked that they are releasing the 3DS version first because I have only a 3DS, and not a Wii U, so I can get this game still, but also earlier than other gamers that only use the very expensive Wii U. I also like how they are making Lucario and Charizard's Final Smashes their respective Mega Evolutions from Pokémon X and Y, but I hope Charizard only gets Mega Charizard X, and it is not random between Mega Charizard X or Mega Charizard Y. I also like the For Fun, and the For Glory differences because I will play on For Fun until I get like a 20-0 win streak, then I would move on to For Glory, but I will probably get my butt handed to me on a golden platter with my character's trophy next to it. I also like how they are going to moderate the games so no hackers or people who use bad language can play the game against fair and honest opponents who are nice to each other. Oh yeah, Yoshi confirmed, I really did not give a dang about that because Yoshi was never a character I used in and Super Smash Brothers game, and it will most likely stay that way. I will love the For Fun only recording your wins because I will probably lose a lot, and it will be less than a 50 percent chance that I actually win a match in the game, and way less than that in For Glory. I also liked the sneak peak for Greninja's Final Smash, because it looks kind of powerful and sort of like a 1 hit knock out move, which I love those smashes.

I am very excited to be able to play as Charizard and Greninja because they are my favorite Pokemon designs ever. I also really like how they are separating Samus and Zelda from Zero Suit Samus and Sheik respectively. I hated using Zero Suit Samus after using Samus' over powered final smash. I also only use Sheik when I play as Zelda, so I won't have to transform every time I use her. I also can not wait to use Lucario's and Charizard's mega evolutions because they are very cool and I did not get the opportunity to play Pokemon X and Y.

Yeah I saw this, I am excited about greninja and also mega charizard. Although I never played wfc brawl matches online a whole lot, I am so glad matches will be monitored to keepmit fun and also take care of the hackers and move spammers that just suck the fun out of the game completely. I like that sheik and zero suit samus are separate though, I Personally don't play as them, but I am sure for characters that main them are glad they won't have to back and forth switch, so that's a nice plus.

I like the idea of charizard being separate, and who better than charizard out of the 3? Sure Ivysaur was pretty good with that vine wip move, but mega lucario and greninja will really make up for it in my opinion.

I am going to get thus game for my 3ds come this summer, I don't have a wii U unfortunately, but it looks awesome in hd from what I've seen. I am super hyped for this game's release! Thanks for sharing this information with us!

TheFadedWarrior : I really liked the information they shared on this direct. though I didn't like the Final Destination mode. I think that greninja was a 'not bad' choice in my opinion. but it could have been better if calem or serena sends out greninja in the ssb4. my favorite character that they gave in the newly ssb4 is Sheik. why is charizard separated from red WHY?

I'm excited even more now! Charizard is going to be a individual character, with a mega evolution! And Yoshi is back, and stronger! I love playing as Yoshi. lol

It will be weird to have Zelda and Sheik, or Samus and Zero-Suit Samus being on the same battle would work out. You're literally fighting yourself. xD

Smash Run looks like it will be a nice little addition. I hope the WiiU has something similar, where you can fight baddies from other games.

tyranit : 1. The final destination you mention is melee's not brawl's...
             2. Greninja's, charizard's and lucario's final smashes have not been revealed. The two mega evos could be transformations like zelda/shiek,

        
Hopefully they make yoshi more like the smash 64 yoshi as he is my best character in that game and i find he sucks in the other 2.
Also, please make Dr.mario and alt. costume for mario. He was my favourite character in melee.