Character Rosters

Character Rosters

Welcome, aspiring Smash Master! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the iconic cast of characters available in the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64. Understanding each fighter's unique abilities and, crucially, how to unlock the hidden combatants, is essential for truly mastering the game.

Unlike its modern successors, the N64 version of Super Smash Bros. features a concise yet perfectly balanced roster. You begin with eight legendary Nintendo heroes, with four additional secret fighters waiting to be discovered through specific in-game challenges.

Initial Roster: The Eight Veterans

Upon starting a new game, these eight beloved characters are immediately available for play. Each brings a distinct fighting style and set of special moves to the arena.

• Mario: The quintessential all-rounder. Mario boasts balanced stats, a reliable fireball projectile, and a powerful Super Jump Punch for recovery and KOs. He's an excellent choice for beginners and veterans alike.
• Donkey Kong: A powerful heavyweight. DK excels at close-range combat with strong punches and throws. His Giant Punch charges for devastating damage, and his Spinning Kong offers decent recovery.
• Link: The Hyrulian hero. Link uses several weapons, including his Boomerang for zoning, Bombs for explosive damage, and a Spin Attack for multi-hit KOs. His Up+B, the Spin Attack, is also his primary recovery.
• Samus: The bounty hunter from Metroid. Samus is a versatile fighter with excellent projectiles like the Charge Shot and Missiles. Her Screw Attack provides both an offensive option and a recovery move.
• Yoshi: Mario's loyal dinosaur companion. Yoshi is known for his unique double jump, powerful headbutt, and the ability to swallow opponents with his Egg Lay. His recovery is somewhat predictable but effective.
• Kirby: The pink puffball from Dream Land. Kirby's signature ability is to inhale opponents and copy their special moves. He also has multiple jumps and a Stone attack that offers invincibility.
• Fox: The ace pilot of Star Fox. Fox is a fast, agile fighter with quick attacks and excellent aerial mobility. His Blaster provides rapid-fire projectiles, and his Fox Illusion and Fire Fox offer quick movement and recovery.
• Pikachu: Ash's electric companion. Pikachu is a small, speedy character with quick attacks and powerful electric specials like Thunder Jolt and Skull Bash. His Quick Attack provides exceptional recovery and evasive maneuvers.

Unlocking New Fighters: The Secret Four

The true challenge and reward in Super Smash Bros. N64 lies in unlocking its four hidden characters. Each requires completing specific conditions, primarily within the 1P Game (Classic Mode). Unlike later Smash titles, there are no "Challenger's Approach" retries; if you fail to defeat an unlockable character, you'll need to meet the conditions again to challenge them.

The unlock order for these characters is generally fixed, meaning you'll typically encounter Jigglypuff first, followed by Captain Falcon, then Ness, and finally Luigi, provided you meet their respective requirements.

Unlock Method Overview

The primary method for unlocking all secret characters is by playing through the 1P Game (also known as Classic Mode). This mode consists of 12 stages, culminating in a battle against Master Hand. Each character has a specific set of requirements tied to this mode.

General Strategy for Unlocks:

1. Choose a character you are comfortable with. Mario, Link, and Kirby are often good choices due to their balanced stats or recovery options.
2. Play through the 1P Game on any difficulty. While higher difficulties offer more challenge, they are not required for unlocks.
3. Focus on completing the specific conditions for each character (e.g., clearing the game within a certain time or with a limited number of lives).
4. Upon meeting the conditions, the challenger will appear immediately after your final battle with Master Hand (or after a specific stage for some characters).
5. Defeat the challenger! If you lose, you must meet the unlock conditions again to re-challenge them. There is no "rematch" option.

Detailed Unlock Walkthroughs

1. Jigglypuff

The adorable Balloon Pokémon is often the first secret character players encounter. Jigglypuff is a lightweight, aerial specialist with unique sleep-inducing attacks.

• Unlock Condition: Complete the 1P Game (Classic Mode) with any character on any difficulty.
• Specifics: There are no additional time or life stock requirements. Simply finish the game.
• Challenger Appearance: After defeating Master Hand, Jigglypuff will appear on the Final Destination stage.
• Strategy for Defeating Jigglypuff:
  • Jigglypuff is very light, making her easy to launch and KO.
  • Be wary of her "Rest" attack (Down+B). If she lands it while you're directly above her, it's an instant, powerful KO move, but if she misses, she falls asleep and is vulnerable.
  • use strong smash attacks and aerials to quickly rack up damage and send her flying off the stage.
  • Her aerial mobility can make her tricky to hit; try to anticipate her movements.

2. Captain Falcon

The legendary F-Zero racer brings incredible speed and powerful, flashy attacks to the roster. Captain Falcon is a rushdown character, excelling at close-quarters combat.

• Unlock Condition: Complete the 1P Game (Classic Mode) with any character in under 20 minutes.
• Specifics: The game timer runs during stages, character selection, and between rounds. To ensure you meet the time limit, try to:
  • Avoid losing lives, as this adds to your overall time.
  • Defeat opponents quickly in each stage.
  • Skip the "Bonus Stages" (Break the Targets, Board the Platforms) if you're struggling with time, as they are optional for this unlock.
  • Play on a lower difficulty (e.g., Easy) to make battles quicker.
  • Choose a character with good KO power, like Donkey Kong or Link.
• Challenger Appearance: After defeating Master Hand, Captain Falcon will appear on the Sector Z stage.
• Strategy for Defeating Captain Falcon:
  • Captain Falcon is very fast and hits hard. His Falcon Punch (Neutral+B) is slow but devastating if it connects.
  • His Falcon Kick (Side+B) is a quick, powerful horizontal attack.
  • He has strong aerials and a powerful knee attack (Forward Air).
  • Try to keep your distance and punish his recovery, which can be somewhat predictable.
  • use projectiles or quick, disjointed hitboxes to counter his aggressive style.

3. Ness

The psychic boy from EarthBound (Mother 2) is a unique fighter who uses PSI powers and a baseball bat. Ness is a technical character with powerful, unconventional projectiles and a tricky recovery.

• Unlock Condition: Complete the 1P Game (Classic Mode) with any character on Normal difficulty or higher, without continuing.
• Specifics:
  • You must select "Normal" difficulty or above at the start of the 1P Game.
  • "Without continuing" means you cannot run out of lives and use a "Continue" option. If you lose all your lives, it counts as a game over, and you'll need to restart the 1P Game from the beginning.
  • Focus on survival and consistent play.
• Challenger Appearance: After defeating Master Hand, Ness will appear on the Onett stage (though the stage is simply called "Ness's Stage" in the N64 version).
• Strategy for Defeating Ness:
  • Ness's PK Fire (Side+B) is a dangerous projectile that traps opponents in a pillar of flame. Avoid it or shield it.
  • His PK Flash (Up+B) is a slow, chargeable projectile that explodes. It's also his recovery, so try to intercept him if he uses it off-stage.
  • His baseball bat (Forward Smash) is incredibly powerful. Avoid being hit by it at high percentages.
  • Ness's recovery (PK Flash) is unique; he controls a spark that must hit him to propel him. If you can intercept the spark, he will fall.
  • He is relatively lightweight, making him susceptible to KOs.

4. Luigi

Mario's taller, greener brother is the final secret character. Luigi shares some similarities with Mario but has distinct differences in his special moves and movement, making him a "slippery" and powerful fighter in his own right.

• Unlock Condition: Complete the "Break the Targets" Bonus Stage with all 8 initial characters.
• Specifics:
  • This is arguably the most challenging unlock. You must successfully clear the Break the Targets stage with Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu.
  • The time it takes to complete each character's target stage does not matter for the unlock, only that you complete it.
  • You can access "Break the Targets" from the "Bonus Games" menu.
  • Each character has a unique Break the Targets stage designed around their specific movement and abilities. Mastering each one is key.
• Challenger Appearance: After completing the final required "Break the Targets" stage, Luigi will appear on the Peach's Castle stage.
• Strategy for Defeating Luigi:
  • Luigi's Fireball (Neutral+B) travels horizontally and is green, unlike Mario's.
  • His Super Jump Punch (Up+B) is a powerful vertical KO move, especially if you hit the sweet spot at the start of the jump.
  • Be extremely wary of his Luigi Cyclone (Down+B). It can be used for recovery, but if you're caught in it on the ground, it can rack up damage and launch you.
  • His Green Missile (Side+B) is a chargeable headbutt that can misfire, making him fly further and hit harder, but also making him more vulnerable.
  • Luigi is known for being "slippery" on the ground, meaning he has less friction and slides further after moving. Use this to your advantage or be aware of it when fighting him.

Complete Character Roster (N64)

Once all secret fighters are unlocked, your character selection screen will be complete, featuring a total of 12 distinct and memorable Nintendo characters.

Mastering Your Fighters

Each character in Super Smash Bros. N64 offers a distinct playstyle. While the roster is smaller than in later iterations, the depth of gameplay for each fighter is immense. Experiment with different characters, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and discover which ones best suit your personal fighting style.

• Practice in Training Mode: Use this mode to get a feel for each character's moves, practice combos, and understand their recovery options.
• Understand Hitboxes and Frame Data: While not as extensively documented as in modern games, understanding which attacks come out fast or have good range is crucial.
• Recovery is Key: In the N64 version, off-stage play and recovery are incredibly important. Master your character's Up+B and other aerial options to avoid early KOs.
• Edge Guarding: Preventing opponents from recovering is a powerful strategy. Learn to time your attacks to intercept them as they try to return to the stage.

With this guide, you are now equipped to unlock and master every fighter in the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64. Happy smashing!