Well here’s something I didn’t expect. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate recreating games and holidays isn’t rare by any stretch at this point, but usually it’s using existing game elements. For Japanese holiday Setsubun, though, not only were the usual sorts of screenshots present but a little something extra courtesy of the Stage Builder.
【きょうの一枚】
2月2日は節分の日。鬼は外、福は内。#スマブラSP #スマブラ画 #節分 pic.twitter.com/vVH0uFTHEc— 大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズ【スマブラ公式】 (@SmashBrosJP) February 1, 2021
For anyone unaware, Setsubun marks the divide between winter and spring in an old Japanese calendar. Traditionally, it’s celebrated by throwing roasted soybeans either out the front door or directly at someone wearing an oni mask. That’s best shown in the shot featuring Villager, Pac-Man, Kirby, and Bowser Jr.. It looks like Incineroar is a good stand in for those demons too… poor Lucas.
Still, that’s not what’s most interesting here. In keeping with the oni theme, Sakurai and his team used the Stage Builder to make one of the large oni shaped robots/platforms from Mega Man 2’s Air Man stage. That’s impressive enough, but to include a floating ladder to represent Mega Man’s health gauge? That’s dedication.
Written by Ricky Berg
When he isn’t writing for Nintendo Wire, Ricky’s anticipating the next Kirby, Fire Emblem, or if the stars ever align, Mother 3 to be released. Till then he’ll have the warm comfort of Super Smash Bros. to keep him going.
