New Smash Bros Part 5 – Return Stages

Gavin Gronenthal ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff
So, now that most of the returning, ejected, and possible characters are all said and done, we can officially move onto the second most important part of the Super Smash Bros series: the stages.
This is actually much more difficult than even the characters, as I have to consider more aspects of the stages. First of all, unlike the characters, Sakurai has said on record that the stages will be different for the 3DS and Wii U versions, with the 3DS focusing on platform based games and the Wii U diving into consoles. A few stages have been revealed without officially being announced. For the 3DS, there appears to be a Nintendogs stage, a Super Mario 3D Land based stage, one based on Gerudo Valley from The Legend of Zelda, one on the train from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, and a stage based on Arena Ferox from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Meanwhile, the Wii U has an updated Smashville from Animal Crossing, Dr. Wily’s Castle from Mega Man, Skyloft from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, a new arena from the Smash Bros Universe, and the Gym from Wii Fit. Both games have a brand spanking new Battlefield as well, which means that there could even be crossover stages.
With all that info, I decided to focus first on stages that could come back, much like the ten Melee stages that appeared Brawl. So, I picked ten stages that couls appear in the Wii U version, the 3DS version, or even both. Now, keep in mind that most of them are Brawl stages, as Brawl had no stages from the original Super Smash Bros and only ones from Melee. So, let’s see where our fights begin! Or, you know, return.

Delfino Plaza

Delfino Plaza is taken directly from the Gamecube’s Super Mario Sunshine, which brought a ton of new characters and features into the world of Super Mario. The Smash Bros stage lets you travel around the different parts of the main port of Delfino Island through a floating platform that changes, while also dropping you off at different places in the Plaza, such as a small island off the coast and the top of the Shine Tower. It’s aesthetically very similar to what we’ve seen of the up coming Skyloft stage, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it made an appearance as a Wii U exclusive throwback.

Frigate Orpheon

A stage that features the first boss from Metriod Prime, this stage is another representative of a Gamecube classic that was later given an installment on the Wii. Famous for the alarm that lets you know the stage is turning, this has always been a minorly hazardous yet still fun stage to duke it out on. Although Metriod Prime Hunters was released for the original DS, the core of the Metriod Prime trilogy was on Nintendo’s consoles, and therefore this is probably another one you can lock in for a Wii U stage.

Halberd

Metaknight’s airship, the Halberd, was more of a backdrop for the Kirby themed stage in Brawl. Much like Delfino Plaza, a platform would take you around the huge aircraft and then drop you at the helm, where you would be plagued by giant lasers, cannon balls, and metal claws. After Kirby’s recent reappearance on the Wii with Return to Dreamland, and the fact that the stage once again resembles Skyloft, this is a good bet for a Wii U stage.

Skyworld

Pit’s stage from Brawl was a pretty standard one, with one simple exception: you could crack the platforms. This led to some interesting (albeit frustrating) matches, and would probably make a great reappearance for the classic stages. I see this one appearing on the 3DS, however, as Pit’s first game in over a decade was just released on it last year.

Wario Ware

The goofy micro game series Wario Ware became Wario’s most successful solo venture, as the series of handheld and console games were so peculiar that everyone enjoyed them. The stage Wario Ware in Brawl modeled itself after the micro games, requiring players to taunt, jump, dodge, and even stand perfectly still to gain different advantages in the match. It’s a great off-the-wall stage for the Smash Bros universe, and while it could end up on either system, I predict it’ll wind up on the 3DS to pay homage to Wario Ware’s portable roots.

75m

 An odd choice of a stage, 75m is modeled after the second level of the original Donkey Kong game from 1981. The stage has everything from the original: a parasol and a purse to pick up, moving platforms, and even an 8-bit DK tossings dangerous springs down at you. While the fights certainly were challenging, it was one of the more inventive stage ideas in Brawl. This one was a close one, but I for some reason see it as a more 3DS exclusive, as the 3DS levels seem to be more on the peculiar side (see: Mario 3D Land, Spirit Tracks), and will hopefully represent the classics.

Pokémon Stadium/Pokémon Stadium 2

One of the only Melee stages I included, Pokemon Stadium and its Brawl counterpart/sequel stage were both included in Brawl, which could mean that they both will return in the new Smash Bros. However, I feel like Nintendo will handle this slightly differently: Pokemon Stadium will probably make the jump to the 3DS due to it’s less intricate design, while Pokemon Stadium 2 will return for players to battle on the Wii U.

Castle Siege

The three-tiered Fire Emblem stage is a blast, taking you from a castle rooftop, to the interior, and to hell below.  It may not represent a specific game from the Fire Emblem series (unlike the new Arena Ferox from Awakening) but it was still tons of fun and a great representation of the strategy series. This one is another culprit that will probably end up on both systems, as both home and handheld consoles have had decent representation from the Fire Emblem series.

Yoshi’s Island

A pretty basic stage, to be sure, but the clever art style used to represent the Yoshi games has always made this stage stand out. While it may not be overly flashy, there’s enough going on from flying shy guys to a disappearing and reappearing platform. With Yoshi getting a new game on the 3DS (Yoshi’s New Island) and on the Wii U (Yarn Yoshi), this stage would make a lot of sense for a return trip to both versions of the game.

Hyrule Temple

Oh, Hyrule Temple. Probably one of the most popular stages in the entire series, this is my only solo Melee stage. It was difficult for me to put in another Melee stage, as Brawl had no stages from the original Super Smash Bros. However, I couldn’t see the New Smash Bros losing this enormous stage. With so much space to pummel your opponent, Hyrule Temple is famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) for its extremely long stock matches and shortcuts to the other side of the monumentally huge stage. This is also the only stage that I don’t know what system it’ll end up on. Regardless, whether it’s the Wii U, 3DS, or both, Hyrule Temple should definitely make a return appearance.
Stay tuned for part 6!