Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS is enjoying a run of critical success just before it launches this Friday, but more negative stories have emerged as to how this handheld version might have held back the highly anticipated Wii U version. We've already heard how the Nintendo 3DS' limited powers forced the Ice Climbers to be cut, but Director Masahiro Sakurai has also confirmed that it is the reason why no characters can transform into others.
The two main victims of this situation are Zelda and Samus as neither of them will be able to transform into their alter egos, Sheik and Samus Zero Suit, in mid battle anymore. Not wanting to offend fans of these alternate characters, the decision was made to simply create them as standalone characters, a more than fair alternative if you ask me.
"It's basically due to the 3DS' limitations," Sakurai chimed in with Famitsu. "It was impossible to have both characters exist together [as one] on 3DS."
"However, reaching that limit can sometimes lead in good directions. Transforming characters had the drawback of ambiguous tactics and such, and I believe that they have become more fresh now."
I agree. The transformations were a decent idea back in the days of Melee, but I would much rather have two powerful separate characters to choose from. Learning two movesets to master a single character is more work than I am willing to put into a fighting game.
However, this is also sure to irk the people who are disappointed that the Nintendo 3DS has been holding back the version everybody really wants, the full-blown HD console one. There is no doubt that the transformations would have been possible on the Wii U, but Nintendo's dedication to making the two versions nearly identical in content superseded that fact.
Like I said, Sakurai found the best way to appease everyone in this situation, but there are bound to be detractors. Will this upset you in any way towards the Nintendo 3DS version? It really shouldn't, because it is drop dead fun!
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