Smash Bros. Director Justifies "Clone" Characters, Dismisses Complaints

[Oly J]

well, this can't be good for PR, "fans are complaining" "ah whatever they're mostly stupid kids and manchildren anyway who cares what they think they'll still buy the game"

I don't want to think this of Nintendo, (I know, they'd be as anti-consumer as the worst of them if they thought they could get away with it, but I think they know they can't) they really need to keep this guy on a leash, I have no issues with his reasons for not including certain characters and including clones, it makes sense, but he could be less of a dick about it.

 

[Fox12]

He could have handled this a lot better then to call his fans children, and telling them to just leave all the decision making up to him. That said, I largely agree with him. Getting new skins added to old characters is a nice treat in the game, and adds diversity. They don't have the resources to add 200+ unique new characters.

As long as Lucian is in the game, they can do whatever they want. Sorry link,there's competition now. You may not have my undivided attention anymore.

 

[BX3]

That whole "a lot of them are children, so it can't be helped" line was probably meant to be taken literally due to the handheld's large child base. But the small, assholish, trolling part of me that generally dislikes the gamer base wants that to have been a wicked burn.

Not saying it was... just that I would adore the man immensely if it was.

This is pretty tame for him. He's often telling fans to outright **** off right on his twitter. He is notoriously hostile, and many people have even given him the title of "Japanese Phil Fish".

You're thinking of Kamiya.
Sakurai does tend to criticize detractors, but he's generally more softspoken about it and usually explains his decision making in the process. Kamiya, on the other hand, is a ****.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Meh I'm not really too bother with the clone characters althought I really think Lucina should had her own moved sets. For some reason, I liked Dark Pit more than Pit himself.

 

[FYI I Am Some Guy]

Look at the outrage over Ridley not being a playable character (why the hell do people want Ridley anyways?), the idiotic hatred because the Ice Climbers isn't in, over every cut character like he somehow MUST do everything in the limited time frame. Most fighting game communities aren't this insane.

It's mostly just a stupid maymay at this point. Sakurai said he wasn't a playable character in Brawl for a seemingly silly reason, and nobody will shut up about it.

 

[MeatMachine]

I get what he's saying.

Rather than reskinning an existing character, he tweaked them a bit and gave them their own slot.

I think the biggest misunderstanding here is that by allowing clones to exist, the clones occupy a limited number of character slots that could've gone to entirely different new or returning characters.

Basically, we could have Smash 4 with Lucina, Dark Pit and Dr. Mario, or we could have Smash 4 without Lucina, Dark Pit and Dr. Mario.

I was a little miffed at first by their inclusion just like most people, but then I actually thought about WHY they're there, and now I feel embarrassed for having been upset in the first place.

Still, he sounds like a bit of a condescending prick in these interviews.

 

[Flammablezeus]

As much as I'd have liked to see some original characters return (well, Mewtwo really) there's really no justification to complain. Even if you got rid of the clone characters (which I recall being introduced in Melee, not this one) there are still more characters than any of the previous games. This really is the best value Smash Bros so far. Well, it will be when we get the Wii U version which I assume will have an adventure mode of some sort.

 

[Dark Knifer]

Though I will concede that Metroid could stand to include some more representation than Samus and...Samus.
But what characters to represent? (besides Ridley)
The isolating nature of the Metroid games kinda negates that sort of character design.
I guess they could pull from Metroid Prime: Hunters, but that'd be quite a stretch.

There's tons from the metroid prime series they could be, most notably dark samus who (unlike dark pit) is completely different to samus, with abilities like cloning herself, using tendral attacks and was far more agile then samus with her suit on due to her ability to fly. Least she was an assist trophy. There was also the 4 hunters from metroid prime 3 and maybe that soldiuer dude from metroid other m but that would be a disappointment. I agree, the series needs more representation.

OT: This is what I though clone characters were for, using every last resource you can. I don't mind clones too much as long as the unique roster is good and this one is pretty good. Hope they put in more characters as dlc.

 

[FalloutJack]

Hey look, it's a developer telling gamers how to feel about their gaming experience. That never goes wrong!

I don't even play Smash, but I know a bad pattern when I see it.

 

[weirdee]

The only clone I have a problem with is Dark Pit. He's an uninspiring side character from one game who's only in Smash because because Masahiro Sakurai worked on said game. I know technically DP doesn't take up a slot but I just feel the time spent on him could have been spent on creating another clone with a bit more personality such as Alph, Dark Samus (Samus), Ridley (Charizard), or bringing back Lucas or Wolf. Lets face it though if Sakurai hadn't been the one to create Dark Pit, then Dark Pit would not have been in.

I'm more disappointed with Dark Pit because he actually has a different fighting style in Uprising, but because they decided to not just make him an alternate skin yet barely do anything with his design because they allocated both too little time to work on it but more than was necessary for a skin, we got the worst of both worlds in that decision: a character that appears to occupy a character slot, but doesn't explore any of that design work that went into those encounters in Uprising, on top of the removal of Wolf, who actually was a character they built this way

even if they couldn't bring wolf back, i think they could have at least used that time to put the fan back in

Lucina's blade actually completely changes how she plays compared to Marth

wait, could you explain that

changing the damage range to an average doesn't actually make a huge difference when all of the moves are exactly the same

 

[major_chaos]

I don't think so. Nintendo has a long freaking way to go from heaven to hell

Then you haven't been paying much attention. Did you somehow miss their scared and confused reaction to the internet in general, going after LP-ers, trying to keep smash bros out of EVO, and refusing to put a story mode in the new game because of some absurd tantrum over people watching the cutscenes on Youtube? Or just how incredibly unprofessional and arogant the quote from the article sounds? Lets face it, you would be calling for blood if an exec from any other company said this but Sakurai gets away with it because Nintendo.

also what do you mean by shit? You can't possibly be saying that Brawl was shit.

It was borderline unplayable until Project M made it not awful.

snip

Yes, wanting more characters instead of less is insane. Somehow. Look, I barely give half a shit about Smash, but I am annoyed by devs and execs acting like condescending assholes. The sheer amount of noxious ego in his statement is something I normal expect from "auteur" indies not a AAA dev.

 

[KazeAizen]

Then you haven't been paying much attention. Did you somehow miss their scared and confused reaction to the internet in general, going after LP-ers, trying to keep smash bros out of EVO, and refusing to put a story mode in the new game because of some absurd tantrum over people watching the cutscenes on Youtube? Or just how incredibly unprofessional and arogant the quote from the article sounds? Lets face it, you would be calling for blood if an exec from any other company said this but Sakurai gets away with it because Nintendo.

You think I am not aware of that? Sure I'm not fan of their practices when it comes to Youtube videos but compared to most other publishers their practices are down right saintly. EA would be having DLC packs for the game and only 8 playable characters at launch.

It was borderline unplayable until Project M made it not awful.

Borderline unplayable? Brawl? What some kind of bootleg PC edition? What the heck was Project M?

 

[major_chaos]

EA would be having DLC packs for the game and only 8 playable characters at launch.

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

Borderline unplayable? Brawl? What some kind of bootleg PC edition?

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

 

[MrMan999]

To be honest, considering the attitude of people who wanted Mewtwo and Ridley in Smash, I kind of get where he is coming from. The amount of butthurt from those two not being included was astounding. That said Sakurai seriously needs a PR Guy. Or a break from developing games. He seems burnt out.

 

[KazeAizen]

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

I should've been more clear. EA would be doing terrible DLC where as Nintendo is starting and doing DLC the way its supposed to be done.

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

Oh boo hoo. A game is not competitive. Whatever will we do. So Project M is basically people throwing a hissy fit because it wasn't Melee. I mean fine sure whatever Modders can do what they want with the game but its not like Brawl had a million graphical settings locked, content cut, or absolutely unplayable controls. You know. Like other PC versions of games tend to have these days that people actually fix and its warranted. I mean good on you. You made it like Melee. Brawl is still a much more substantial game and overall better game than Melee is. Should every single fighting game be nerfed to the point of no fun for the sake of competition? I mean the rules for tournaments destroy the entire point of Brawl to begin with. They didn't kneecap the game.

 

[MrMan999]

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

I should've been more clear. EA would be doing terrible DLC where as Nintendo is starting and doing DLC the way its supposed to be done.

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

Oh boo hoo. A game is not competitive. Whatever will we do. So Project M is basically people throwing a hissy fit because it wasn't Melee. I mean fine sure whatever Modders can do what they want with the game but its not like Brawl had a million graphical settings locked, content cut, or absolutely unplayable controls. You know. Like other PC versions of games tend to have these days that people actually fix and its warranted. I mean good on you. You made it like Melee. Brawl is still a much more substantial game and overall better game than Melee is. Should every single fighting game be nerfed to the point of no fun for the sake of competition? I mean the rules for tournaments destroy the entire point of Brawl to begin with. They didn't kneecap the game.

Personally I never got the whole competitive Smash scene. I mean you take what is essentially a party game that is supposed to be random and chaotic and take everything charming or fun about it out.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

I should've been more clear. EA would be doing terrible DLC where as Nintendo is starting and doing DLC the way its supposed to be done.

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

Oh boo hoo. A game is not competitive. Whatever will we do. So Project M is basically people throwing a hissy fit because it wasn't Melee. I mean fine sure whatever Modders can do what they want with the game but its not like Brawl had a million graphical settings locked, content cut, or absolutely unplayable controls. You know. Like other PC versions of games tend to have these days that people actually fix and its warranted. I mean good on you. You made it like Melee. Brawl is still a much more substantial game and overall better game than Melee is. Should every single fighting game be nerfed to the point of no fun for the sake of competition? I mean the rules for tournaments destroy the entire point of Brawl to begin with. They didn't kneecap the game.

I feel this is going to get bloody between you two. You should both just cool down.

 

[KazeAizen]

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

I should've been more clear. EA would be doing terrible DLC where as Nintendo is starting and doing DLC the way its supposed to be done.

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

Oh boo hoo. A game is not competitive. Whatever will we do. So Project M is basically people throwing a hissy fit because it wasn't Melee. I mean fine sure whatever Modders can do what they want with the game but its not like Brawl had a million graphical settings locked, content cut, or absolutely unplayable controls. You know. Like other PC versions of games tend to have these days that people actually fix and its warranted. I mean good on you. You made it like Melee. Brawl is still a much more substantial game and overall better game than Melee is. Should every single fighting game be nerfed to the point of no fun for the sake of competition? I mean the rules for tournaments destroy the entire point of Brawl to begin with. They didn't kneecap the game.

I feel this is going to get bloody between you two. You should both just cool down.

Yeah. I'm cooling it now. People talking about serious competitive play on a game or system where to me it has no business being irks me to no end.

 

[KazeAizen]

Nintendo is starting to use DLC and the second part of your statement is meaningless.

I should've been more clear. EA would be doing terrible DLC where as Nintendo is starting and doing DLC the way its supposed to be done.

No the "we are going to kneecap the shit out of this to make sure its not competitive and also we can't balance for shit" edition.

What the heck was Project M?

They explain better than I can: http://projectmgame.com/en/about

Oh boo hoo. A game is not competitive. Whatever will we do. So Project M is basically people throwing a hissy fit because it wasn't Melee. I mean fine sure whatever Modders can do what they want with the game but its not like Brawl had a million graphical settings locked, content cut, or absolutely unplayable controls. You know. Like other PC versions of games tend to have these days that people actually fix and its warranted. I mean good on you. You made it like Melee. Brawl is still a much more substantial game and overall better game than Melee is. Should every single fighting game be nerfed to the point of no fun for the sake of competition? I mean the rules for tournaments destroy the entire point of Brawl to begin with. They didn't kneecap the game.

Personally I never got the whole competitive Smash scene. I mean you take what is essentially a party game that is supposed to be random and chaotic and take everything charming or fun about it out.

Point well taken. I want my smash balls. If I can't have my smash balls in Brawl what's the point? Or trophy assists with that stupid freaking Nintendog and raccoon thing from Animal Crossing.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Considering Nintendo's situation in a distant third they could be less arrogant and give fans what they want.

Considering the WiiU is currently the 2nd Place Home Console (Ahead of the XBone), you can't say they're in a Distant Third yet. Maybe in the future you can, but as of right now, your statement is incorrect.

OT: While I'm not a fan of Clone Characters, I am pleased with how many new characters there actually are in the game that fight completely different from one another. And in typical Smash Bros. Style, the Clones do have enough differences that some people can Justify their existance (Looking at you, Falco). Still, I wish he had said his statement more kindly, because his statement comes off as a bit... childish...