Smash Bros. has been a marquee of Nintendo's games stable since the N64 era, and stands as one of the keys to drive hardware sales for the Wii U. With such a heavy responsibility, how do the developers cope with the pressure? Creative director Masahiro Sakurai recently opened up to Polygon in an interview and spoke about the roster selection process.
Sakurai explains that the decision to include or exclude certain characters hinges on several different factors, including "game balance, animation, graphics and sound." Only when this medley of components fits within the Smash Bros. universe does it make the cut.
"The amount of stress I feel, it's almost to the brink of death," he adds. "Whether it's a minor character or a character that is one of the most highly skilled and most played, if that character is removed from the game, the people who live for that character in Smash Bros. are going to have their feelings hurt. I think we really have to consider that, so I take a very serious, hard look at that and have empathy for the players who look for these type of characters when making these decisions."
The Smash Bros. community has cultivated a vibrant competitive tournament scene, and any shift in the balance of power between characters will be subject to thorough examination. Aside from the traditional stable of characters, the latest E3 trailer for the game confirmed the additions of Mega Man, the Wii Fit gymnast, and the Animal Crossing Villager to the roster.
Smash Bros. will launch in 2014 for both Wii U and 3DS.
Source: Polygon (via GameSpot)