Super Smash Bros. 4 News: Characters and Rumors Reviewed Before Release Date [Trailer]

Super Smash Bros. 4 is one of the most anticipated titles coming to gamers in 2014, even if it is appearing on the struggling Wii U and the handheld 3DS. Nintendo has released daily updates for the game for several months, and now we bring you a roundup of some of the most recent developments with the franchise. For more recent updates check out the game's official website.

One of the most interesting snapshots released by Nintendo shows Mario and Sonic locked in combat at one of the newest stages revealed in the game, the untitled Sonic stage. This stage appears to be in the Windy Hill Zone, and looks to be base on the most recent Sonic title release, Sonic Lost World. While the actual photo does not reveal much about the stage - it is zoomed in on a smaller platform - it does show the stage's colorful background. Plus, it shows Mario blocking a punch from Sonic, meaning players will be able to block and counter their foes in more interesting ways than using a simple block button.

Another revealing screenshot features two Pokémon. One is the playable character Pikachu, and the other is Xerneas. For those who have not played Pokémon X, Xerneas is the reindeer-like legendary Pokémon found in the game, and the creature will most likely be a Pokeball character rather than a full playable character. It will be interesting to see how the Pokémon will affect the matches in the game and how powerful a game changer Xerneas will be.

A screenshot of the Skyloft stage based on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was also released, providing a full view of what the stage will look like. This stage looks like it could be one of the bigger stages available on the Wii U version of the game, and it will have several background elements that could be worth watching.

Finally, one of the brand new stages for Super Smash Bros. 4, the Pilotwings stage, gets yet another preview. This time, it shows the combatants fighting it out on the familiar biplane, but instead of near the island or town they are in the open sky. The plane is diving into a colorful circle of dots, mimicking the original game of Pilotwings. The characters struggle against this banked turn, but most characters are tumbling towards the downhill slope of the plane. With all this focus on Pilotwings, perhaps a character from the game will appear in Super Smash Bros. 4.