Sometimes a week is stacked full of celebrations, and other times it’s just a few high profile ones. But what’s it look like when you have a week that’s overflowing with video game anniversaries that you’ve just gotta recreate in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
A lot like last week, apparently.
Masahiro Sakurai must’ve been busy putting this latest batch together, with a whole bunch of games and even whole franchises celebrated. Let’s have a look at what graced the man’s timeline the last handful of days, shall we?
1986年のきょう『ドラゴンクエスト』(Dragon Quest / Dragon Warrior)発売!!
容量64キロバイトに収められた冒険は､ゲームのみならず､その後さまざまな作品に多大な影響を及ぼすことになります。
当時､勇者はずっと正面を向いていました｡#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/U8PeBuQ20L— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 27, 2021
When it comes to longevity, impact, and milestone occasions there’s just no beating Dragon Quest’s birthday. A whole livestream was dedicated to what effectively birthed the JRPG genre, and remains an absolute icon in its home country. This date refers specifically to the first game, though Sakurai pointed out he’d be holding back from honoring each game in the series – after all, all their leads do show up in Hero’s Final Smash & alt costumes.
2015年のきょう『スプラトゥーン』(Splatoon)発売!!
比較的歴史は浅いけれど､すっかり任天堂を代表するタイトルのひとつになりました｡『3』も楽しみですね!!
スマブラ版も､地に落ちたインクにも微妙な盛り上がり表現があるなど、頑張っています｡#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/U36eBPQxdU— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 28, 2021
Going from an old legend to a fresh face, it was Splatoon’s 6th anniversary last week today! These squidkids are growing up so fast, and still stand as arguably the most notable anything to come from the Wii U days. Keep inking things up on Switch as you wait for Splatoon 3, which we’ll hopefully get an update on during the upcoming digital E3.
2010年のきょう『スーパーマリオギャラクシー2』(Super Mario Galaxy 2)発売!!
ご紹介はスマブラと関連するタイトルに絞っていますが､『2』で登場した星船マリオが背景に登場するなどの関連があります｡
ゲームでは見られない､星船の上部も写しておきますね｡ここまで作る?#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/qOPfb7v43z— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 27, 2021
Well, at least someone didn’t leave it out…
Super Mario Galaxy 2 has garnered a lot of attention from its lack of 3D All-Star status during the Mario series’ 35th anniversary celebration. Which is a shame, because it should be focused on for being a damn good game across the board. Building from Galaxy’s own foundation, it may’ve lost the slightly more plot and hub layout of its predecessor but it gained a tighter focus on platforming stages that definitely influenced future titles.
2014年のきょう『マリオカート8』(Mario Kart 8)発売!!
WiiUから移植されたSwitch版は､いまも人を選ばず売れ続ける怪物ソフト｡
スマブラには同作の反重力を取り入れたステージがあります｡ステージの制作もややこしい……｡
この写真､ワリオだけが正しい重力の向きになっています。#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/v5H5c7mBmT— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 29, 2021
Remember when I said Splatoon was the most notable anything from the Wii U? Well, here’s the game that turns that from “certainly” to “arguably”. Mario Kart 8 is the best selling game on two back to back Nintendo consoles. Think about that for a second.
Though the two have differences in content, if you combine the two skus they’re nearing 44 million copies sold. There’s no sign of that number slowing down on Switch, with only Animal Crossing: New Horizons coming close – and it’s still in second place by around 3 million.
1994年のきょう『ソニック･ザ･ヘッジホッグ3』(Sonic The Hedgehog 3)発売!!
これは､ナックルズ・ザ・エキドゥナの初登場作品｡
スマブラにおいては､Miiファイターとアシストフィギュア､ステージ背景に登場しています｡
なお、エキドゥナというのはハリモグラのことです。#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/0VWZRxa1ag— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 27, 2021
Sonic 3 represents half of what I’d call the best 2D Sonic the Hedgehog title ever made. Yes, Sonic 2 is more popular and Sonic Mania is no slouch, but Sonic 3 & Knuckles still outruns the two in my eyes. As Sakurai notes, it was the game that introduced Knuckles the Echidna to the series and the world, who we’ll be seeing on the big screen in less than a year.
It’s also worth noting that this Tweet was Sakurai’s first “mistake” in sharing these tributes. No doubt drawn into the Sonic series’ 30th anniversary (as celebrated in Sonic Central), he briefly shared an image for the original Sonic the Hedgehog game instead before taking it down. Look forward to seeing that one in June!
2005年のきょう『メトロイドプライム2 ダークエコーズ』(Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)日本で発売!!
海外は半年ほど前｡
ダークサムスが現在の姿で初登場した作品｡Echoはサムスとダークサムスの関係を比喩してますね｡
なおスマブラのダッシュファイターは､海外ではEcho Fighterと言います｡#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/MVF45i2r3T— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 26, 2021
2004年のきょう『メトロイド ゼロミッション』(Metroid: Zero Mission)発売!!
一作目のリメイク作品ですが､ゼロスーツサムスが現在の形で初登場します｡
その呼び名は『スマブラX』登場時に決まりました｡本来ゼロスーツサムスは強いものではなく､逃げたり隠れたりするのが主体｡#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/QRbN8BezB3— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) May 27, 2021
1977年のきょう､カラーテレビゲーム6発売!!
カラーテレビゲーム15は少し後｡スマブラに出る作品としては最古のものでしょうか｡
パドルが可変抵抗ではなく､マイクロスイッチだったので､スマブラでも等速直線移動します｡
……なんのこっちゃですよね｡当時触ったからこそ判るハナシ｡#スマブラSP pic.twitter.com/1NUsPZUrAP— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) June 1, 2021
Behold, the oldest game in all of Smash! Though the Assist Trophy is officially based on the Color TV Game 15, Sakurai saw fit to shout out its predecessor as well. Simple as it is, there’s no denying how iconic the idea of proto-video game table tennis is. After all, we’ve all accepted it without batting an eye.
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.
