Smash Bros Brawl How To Unlock Characters
Ah, Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The game that probably introduced more people to the magical world of Nintendo crossovers than any other. Remember the sheer excitement of seeing your favorite pixelated heroes and villains duking it out on a stage that looked like it was ripped from a fever dream? It was pure, unadulterated chaos, and we loved every second of it. But let’s be honest, while smashing everyone into oblivion was fun, the real quest for many of us was unlocking that elusive roster of characters. It felt like a secret society, a hidden treasure hunt, and today, we’re going to relive that thrill and break down exactly how to get your hands on every single fighter in Brawl.
Think of it as your ultimate cheat sheet, your friendly guide to expanding your brawling party. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran who’s been playing since the N64 days or a newcomer just diving into the world of Smash, this is for you. We’ll be keeping it nice and breezy, just like a lazy Sunday afternoon spent perfecting your Falcon Punch. So, grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let’s get unlocking!
The Early Birds: Your Starter Pack
When you first boot up Brawl, you’re not exactly swimming in a sea of characters. You get your core group, the heavy hitters, the ones you’ve likely already mashed buttons with before the game even properly started. This initial lineup is pretty solid, featuring the likes of Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, and a few others. These are your bread and butter, your reliable friends who are always there for you.
But the game’s designed to tease you, to make you want more. And that’s where the real fun begins. The majority of the characters are locked away, waiting for you to prove your mettle. It’s like the ultimate potluck – everyone’s invited, but you have to bring something to the table to get in. And that ‘something’ is usually a good old-fashioned victory.
The Classic Crowd: Victory is Sweet
Most of the characters in Brawl are unlocked by simply playing the game in Classic Mode. It sounds simple, right? And it is! This is where the game rewards your dedication. You’ll battle through a series of themed stages, culminating in a boss fight. Upon defeating the final boss, there’s a high chance you’ll unlock a new challenger.
Here’s the neat part: each character you beat in Classic Mode will then appear as a “New Challenger Approaching!” on your main menu screen shortly after. You’ll have a one-on-one showdown to officially add them to your roster. Don’t fret if you lose this initial battle, though! These challengers will reappear later, either through other modes or after completing specific objectives. Think of it as a second chance, or maybe a third, or a fourth – the game’s pretty forgiving when it comes to giving you a shot at your favorites.
A Little Classic Mode Strategy
For those looking to speed things up, here’s a pro-tip: play on Easy difficulty in Classic Mode. You’ll still get the unlocks, but the fights will be a breeze. This is perfect if you’re just trying to collect everyone. Alternatively, if you’re looking to hone your skills and get a satisfying challenge, crank up the difficulty. Either way, the rewards are the same!
Don’t forget about the character-specific unlocks! Certain characters will appear after you’ve played a specific number of stock matches with particular characters. For instance, if you’ve been maining Mario a lot, you might see a certain plumber’s rival pop up as a new challenger sooner rather than later. It’s all about putting in the playtime.
Subspace Emissary: The Grand Adventure
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the sprawling, story-driven adventure that is The Subspace Emissary. This mode is a massive undertaking, a sort of love letter to all things Nintendo, filled with unique cutscenes and a sprawling map. And guess what? It’s also a goldmine for unlocking characters!
As you progress through this epic tale, you’ll encounter characters who are initially trapped or under some sort of mind control. Rescuing them is your primary objective, and once you do, they join your playable roster. This mode is like the ultimate character buffet, offering a more organic way to discover and unlock new fighters.
The beauty of Subspace Emissary is that it introduces characters in a narrative context. You're not just beating them in a random match; you're saving them from the clutches of the nefarious Tabuu. This adds a layer of satisfaction that’s hard to beat. You feel like you’ve earned them, like you’ve played a part in their heroic journey.
Navigating the Subspace Sea
When you enter a new area in Subspace Emissary, you’ll often see icons representing characters that can be unlocked. Keep an eye out for these! Sometimes they’re hidden behind breakable objects, and other times they’re part of the main path. It pays to explore every nook and cranny.
A neat little fact about Subspace Emissary is that the order in which you rescue characters can sometimes influence when other characters become available. So, if you’re gunning for a specific fighter, it might be worth looking up a guide to see the most efficient unlocking path. But then again, where’s the adventure in that?
The Timed Unlockables: Patience is a Virtue
This is where things get a little more… quirky. Some characters in Brawl are unlocked based on time played. Yes, you read that right. The game tracks how long you’ve had it running and can trigger character unlocks simply by reaching certain playtime milestones.
It’s a bit of a throwback to older Nintendo games, where sometimes the unlockables felt almost like happy accidents. If you’ve left your Wii on for extended periods (perhaps while you were out grabbing some pizza or catching up on your favorite sitcom), you might have found yourself pleasantly surprised by a new challenger appearing.
This method is often the last resort for many players, but it’s important to remember that it’s there. If you’ve exhausted all other avenues and are still missing a fighter, just keep playing. The game will eventually reward your dedication, even if it’s through the sheer passage of time.
The Waiting Game
It’s worth noting that these time-based unlocks aren’t instantaneous. The game doesn’t clock your playtime and immediately present the character. It usually happens after you’ve completed a match or returned to the main menu. So, don’t expect to turn on your game after an hour and have everyone unlocked. It requires a bit more… chilling.
This is also a good reminder that sometimes, the best things in life come to those who wait. Much like waiting for that perfect song to come on the radio, or waiting for that limited-edition collectible to drop, the patience required for these unlocks can be its own reward. It builds anticipation, making the eventual victory all the sweeter.
The Master Hand and Crazy Hand Challenge
For the truly dedicated, there’s the ultimate challenge: defeating Master Hand and Crazy Hand in the Event Matches. These are often the last few characters to be unlocked, and they require you to have progressed significantly through the game.
These event matches are designed to be difficult, testing your mastery of the game’s mechanics and your ability to adapt to different scenarios. Facing off against these powerful entities feels like the final boss rush of the entire game, and the reward for conquering them is, you guessed it, more characters!
Embracing the Challenge
Don’t be discouraged if you can’t beat these event matches right away. They are intended to be tough. Keep practicing, hone your skills, and come back when you feel more confident. The feeling of finally overcoming these iconic bosses and unlocking the characters they guard is incredibly satisfying. It’s like earning your black belt in Smash Bros.!
Sometimes, the most rewarding experiences come from overcoming the steepest challenges. It’s a sentiment that rings true in games and in life. Pushing past your perceived limits and achieving something difficult is where true growth happens.
The Full Roster: Who’s Who?
Let’s do a quick rundown of who you'll be unlocking and how you’ll generally get them:
- Captain Falcon: Classic Mode with Captain Falcon (or after unlocking Jigglypuff and a few others).
- Jigglypuff: Classic Mode with Pikachu (or after unlocking a few others).
- Luigi: Classic Mode with Mario (or after unlocking 2 other characters).
- Ness: Classic Mode with Link (or after unlocking 2 other characters).
- Peach: Classic Mode with Kirby (or after unlocking 2 other characters).
- Marth: Classic Mode with Marth (or after unlocking 2 other characters).
- Ice Climbers: Classic Mode with Nana and Popo (or after unlocking 2 other characters).
- Sheik: Classic Mode with Zelda (or after unlocking 5 other characters).
- Dr. Mario: Classic Mode with Mario (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Falco: Classic Mode with Fox (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Ganondorf: Classic Mode with Captain Falcon (or after unlocking 15 other characters).
- Mewtwo: Classic Mode with Mewtwo (or after unlocking 15 other characters).
- Mr. Game & Watch: Classic Mode with Mr. Game & Watch (or after unlocking 15 other characters).
- Meta Knight: Subspace Emissary.
- Pit: Subspace Emissary.
- Zero Suit Samus: Subspace Emissary (after Samus is unlocked).
- Wario: Subspace Emissary.
- Wolf: Classic Mode with Fox or Falco (or after unlocking 10 characters).
- Solid Snake: Subspace Emissary.
- Sonic: Subspace Emissary.
- Ike: Classic Mode with Ike (or after unlocking 5 other characters).
- R.O.B.: Subspace Emissary.
- King Dedede: Subspace Emissary.
- Lucario: Classic Mode with Lucario (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Diddy Kong: Subspace Emissary.
- Lucas: Subspace Emissary.
- Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard): Classic Mode with Pokémon Trainer (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Toon Link: Classic Mode with Toon Link (or after unlocking 20 other characters).
- Princess Zelda: Classic Mode with Zelda (or after unlocking 5 other characters).
- Wolf: Classic Mode with Fox or Falco (or after unlocking 10 characters).
- Meta Knight: Subspace Emissary.
- Pit: Subspace Emissary.
- Zero Suit Samus: Subspace Emissary (after Samus is unlocked).
- Wario: Subspace Emissary.
- Wolf: Classic Mode with Fox or Falco (or after unlocking 10 characters).
- Solid Snake: Subspace Emissary.
- Sonic: Subspace Emissary.
- Ike: Classic Mode with Ike (or after unlocking 5 other characters).
- R.O.B.: Subspace Emissary.
- King Dedede: Subspace Emissary.
- Lucario: Classic Mode with Lucario (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Diddy Kong: Subspace Emissary.
- Lucas: Subspace Emissary.
- Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard): Classic Mode with Pokémon Trainer (or after unlocking 10 other characters).
- Toon Link: Classic Mode with Toon Link (or after unlocking 20 other characters).
Note: The exact unlock order can vary slightly based on your playstyle and what you do first. This list provides general guidelines!
A Final Thought on the Journey
Unlocking characters in Smash Bros. Brawl is more than just adding fighters to a roster; it’s a journey. It’s about exploration, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. It mirrors how we approach life, doesn't it? We start with a basic set of skills and relationships, and as we navigate challenges and experiences, we gain new perspectives, new abilities, and new connections. Every new character unlocked is like a new friend made, a new skill learned, a new facet of ourselves discovered.
So, as you continue your quest to unlock everyone in Brawl, remember to enjoy the ride. The most satisfying victories aren't always the quickest; they’re the ones earned through effort, exploration, and a touch of delightful serendipity. And just like in the game, sometimes the most unexpected characters end up becoming your absolute favorites. Happy smashing!