During the E3 Nintendo Direct is was announced that the Villager from Animal Crossing and Mega Man would be joining the roster for the next Super Smash Bros. game. Many were disappointed that Bayonetta was not included, but in an interview with Polygon, series director Masahiro Sakurai has revealed that the most grueling part of developing a Smash Bros. game is designing the game’s roster.
“The amount of stress I feel, it’s almost to the brink of death. Because it’s not just a matter of me personally thinking this character or that character is going to be in the game; it’s that we also have the game balance, animation, graphics and sound to think about in order to make that character fully fleshed out in that universe. I have to think about all of that when I go through this decision-making process.
Sakurai says he takes his job very seriously, as he knows long-time series fans will be disappointed if even one character is removed from the roster without a valid reason. For fans who think it is as simple as copying animations from the character’s games, as well as their movesets, Sakurai goes a bit further into detail on the incorporation of characters and what makes Super Smash Bros. so great because of its roster.
I always feel a bit bad for Sakurai any time he gives an interview, as he seems over-worked and under a lot of stress, especially with such a high profile title that could literally make or break Nintendo’s new console. The new Super Smash Bros. will be released on 3DS and Wii U in 2014.
