Send in the Clones! Sakurai on Clone Characters in Super Smash Bros.

By Jorge Ba-oh 21.11.2014 5

Send in the Clones! Sakurai on Clone Characters in Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

In an interview with Super Smash Bros. producer Masahiro Sakurai, he outlined reasons for including clones.

In the newest releases for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, despite having an expansive roster, there are characters in the game that have "clone" characteristics - Ganondorf, Lucina and Doctor Mario as prime examples. Some, however, received different costumes over a single character slot - like Bowser Jr and the Koopalings.

Sakurai noted how that "any character which gained some uniqueness through their balancing needed to be separated so their results and statistics could be counted properly," using Lucina as an example. In addition, "what was needed for each of these changes was to reduce the work required to balance the game," he admitted.

When it came to Marth and Lucina, these characters "would only be tested against each other, until they were roughly equal and in balance."

What do you think of Nintendo and Sakurai's approach to clone characters in Super Smash Bros.?

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The way I've chosen to see clones for a while is..

I'd rather have them than not have them. They're not harming any other aspect of the game, and in some ways they're fun if only for fanservice reasons. That's as good a reason as any to enjoy them.

Honestly, I wouldn't even be totally against a DLC pack including Pichu, Roy, Young Link, Lucas and Wolf! But... I'd rather have Ice Climbers first. Smilie

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

I agree, the more the merrier - though would have wished for slightly more move-set variations in some of these characters.

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer
smashfan (guest) 21.11.2014#3

No excuse for gannondorf playing the way he does, sheer laziness there. Also sheik and toon link really should have unique final smashes.

smashfan (guest) said:
No excuse for gannondorf playing the way he does, sheer laziness there. Also sheik and toon link really should have unique final smashes.

Apparently Ganondorf is kept the same because Sakurai doesn't want fans who are used to his old moveset to feel like their main has been removed.

It's a lame reason but it makes sense. I personally wish we'd have an alternate version of Ganon playable with a unique moveset.. we have two Links and two Zeldas, why not two Ganons?

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

If there's enough of a distinction for a casual gamer to easily tell the difference then I don't think there's a problem.
One or two a wee bit too similar for my taste though.

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