In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, fighters Zelda and Sheik were one character who could transform into each other. In the newest installment of the series for 3DS and Wii U, however, they have been given their own separate spots on the game’s roster. Now, director Masahiro Sakurai has explained why.
In an interview with Famitsu magazine, Sakurai had this to say about the two becoming separate characters, as well as Samus and Zero Suit Samus:
“It’s basically due to the 3DS’ limitations. 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.”
It seems that the 3DS’ Circle Pad Pro not being compatible with Super Smash Bros. was due to a similar issue. Limitations of the 3DS’ CPU did not allow the peripheral to work. The reason that the New 3DS’ C-Stick is compatible with the game is because of the new system’s higher capabilities.
This is not the first time that the 3DS’ limitations have caused restrictions in Super Smash Bros. Sakurai previously revealed that the Ice Climbers were not included in the game because the 3DS could not handle the characters in play (you can read about that here).
Super Smash Bros. is now available for the 3DS. The Wii U version has not been given a release date yet, though reports point towards a release in late November. You can check out the full roster here.
