The Basics
Welcome, aspiring brawlers, to the definitive guide for the original Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64! This foundational section will equip you with the essential knowledge of controls and mechanics needed to dominate the arena. Forget what you think you know from later iterations; the N64 version has its own unique charm and control scheme that we'll master together.
The Nintendo 64 Controller Layout
Before diving into techniques, let's familiarize ourselves with the iconic N64 controller and how its unique design translates to the game's controls.
- Analog Stick: Located in the center, this is your primary movement input.
- A Button (Green): Your main attack button for standard moves.
- B Button (Red): Used for special attacks.
- C-Buttons (Yellow): These four buttons (Up, Down, Left, Right) serve multiple crucial functions, particularly for aerial attacks and Smash Attacks.
- Z Button (Bottom): Located on the underside of the central handle, this is primarily for shielding and grabbing.
- L & R Buttons (Shoulder): These shoulder buttons are also used for shielding.
- Start Button: Pauses the game and accesses the menu.
Movement & Positioning
Mastering movement is fundamental to survival and offense in Super Smash Bros. on the N64. Your ability to navigate the stage, avoid attacks, and recover from being launched will define your success.
- Walking/Running: Gently tilt the Analog Stick to walk. A full tilt will make your character run. Running builds momentum, which can be used to carry into certain attacks or jumps.
- Jumping: To jump, you have two primary options:
- Press the Analog Stick Up quickly.
- Press the C-Up Button.
- Short Hop: A quick, light tap of the Analog Stick Up or the C-Up Button will execute a short hop. This lower jump is excellent for initiating fast aerial attacks or avoiding low-hitting projectiles without committing to a full jump.
- Fast Fall: While airborne, quickly press the Analog Stick Down to accelerate your descent. This technique is invaluable for landing quickly, avoiding prolonged aerial juggling by opponents, and mixing up your aerial movement to become less predictable.
- Dashing: Flick the Analog Stick left or right twice quickly to initiate a dash. While dashing, you can perform a unique dash attack by pressing the A Button.
Offensive Techniques
Landing hits and accumulating damage is how you'll send your opponents flying off the stage. Familiarize yourself with these core attack types specific to the N64 control scheme.
- Standard Attacks (A Button):
- Neutral Attack (Jab): Simply press the A Button while standing still for a quick, low-damage attack, often the start of a rapid combo.
- Tilts: Gently tilt the Analog Stick in a direction (Up, Side, Down) and simultaneously press the A Button. These directional attacks are generally faster than Smash Attacks and are excellent for spacing, setting up combos, or quick damage.
- Dash Attack: While running (after a quick double-flick of the Analog Stick), press the A Button to perform a unique attack that covers ground quickly.
- Smash Attacks (A Button + Analog Stick / C-Buttons): These are your powerful, chargeable attacks designed to launch opponents.
- Charging a Smash Attack: Hold down the A Button and simultaneously flick the Analog Stick in a direction (Up, Side, Down). The longer you hold A, the more powerful the attack.
- C-Button Smash Attacks: A unique feature of the N64 version is the ability to perform uncharged Smash Attacks instantly by flicking the Analog Stick in a direction and pressing the corresponding C-Button (e.g., Analog Stick Right + C-Right for a Forward Smash). This allows for quick, powerful attacks without the charge time.
- Aerial Attacks (A Button / C-Buttons while airborne): Aerial combat is crucial.
- Neutral Air (N-Air): Press the A Button while in the air without any directional input on the Analog Stick.
- Directional Aerials (F-Air, B-Air, U-Air, D-Air): While airborne, hold the Analog Stick in a direction (Forward, Back, Up, Down) and press the A Button. Alternatively, you can use the corresponding C-Buttons (e.g., C-Left for a Left Aerial, C-Right for a Right Aerial, C-Down for a Down Aerial). The C-Buttons offer a quick way to execute aerials without affecting your aerial momentum.
- Special Attacks (B Button): Each character possesses four unique special moves.
- Neutral Special: Press the B Button (e.g., Mario's Fireball).
- Side Special: Press the B Button while holding the Analog Stick left or right (e.g., Link's Boomerang).
- Up Special: Press the B Button while holding the Analog Stick Up (e.g., Fox's Fox Illusion). This move is often your primary recovery tool to get back to the stage.
- Down Special: Press the B Button while holding the Analog Stick Down (e.g., Samus's Charge Shot).
- Grabs & Throws (Z Button):
- Grab: Press the Z Button (located on the underside of the controller) to grab an opponent. You can also grab by pressing Shield + A Button simultaneously.
- Pummel: While holding an opponent, repeatedly press the A Button to deal small amounts of damage before throwing.
- Throws: While holding an opponent, tilt the Analog Stick in a direction (Forward, Back, Up, Down) to throw them. Throws are excellent for setting up combos, positioning opponents, or sending them off-stage.
Defensive Techniques
Defense is equally as vital as offense. Knowing how to protect yourself, avoid damage, and recover from being launched is paramount to surviving the brawl.
- Shielding (Z, L, or R Buttons): Hold the Z Button, L Button, or R Button to raise your shield. Your shield will block most incoming attacks, but it shrinks with sustained damage. If your shield breaks, you'll be left vulnerable and stunned for a short period.
- Rolls: While shielding, flick the Analog Stick left or right to perform a roll. Rolls provide temporary invincibility and are useful for dodging attacks or repositioning, but overuse can make you predictable and easily punished.
- Spot Dodge: While shielding, press the Analog Stick Down to perform a spot dodge. This allows you to avoid attacks while staying in place, useful for punishing opponents who commit to an attack directly in front of you.
- Air Dodge: While in the air, press the Z Button (or L/R) to perform an air dodge. This grants a brief moment of invincibility, allowing you to evade aerial attacks. Be mindful of the recovery frames after an air dodge, as you'll be vulnerable.
- Edge Grabbing: When launched off-stage, move your character towards the edge to automatically grab onto it. This is your primary method of recovery and gives you a chance to return to the fight.
- Ledge Options: Once hanging from the ledge, you have several strategic options:
- Ledge Get-Up: Press the Analog Stick Up to simply jump back onto the stage.
- Ledge Attack: Press the A Button to perform an attack as you get up, potentially hitting an opponent waiting at the edge.
- Ledge Roll: Press the Z Button (or L/R) to roll onto the stage, providing invincibility during the roll.
- Ledge Jump: Press the C-Up Button or flick the Analog Stick Up to jump directly from the ledge, allowing for aerial maneuvers.
- Tech (Ukemi): When you are hit at high speeds and are about to hit the ground or a wall, press the Z Button (or L/R) just before impact. This "tech" allows you to quickly recover from the impact, preventing further damage or being bounced around. You can tech in place, or roll left/right by holding the Analog Stick in the desired direction while pressing Z/L/R.
Understanding Damage & Knockback
Unlike traditional fighting games with health bars, Super Smash Bros. on the N64 utilizes a percentage-based damage system. The higher your character's damage percentage, the further they will be launched by subsequent attacks.
- Damage Percentage: This number, displayed next to your character's portrait, indicates how much damage your character has accumulated. It starts at 0% and increases with every hit taken.
- Knockback: This refers to the force with which your character is launched by an attack. Higher damage percentages directly correlate to greater knockback, making you more susceptible to being KO'd.
- KO (Knockout): When your character is launched beyond the boundaries of the stage (top, bottom, left, or right), you are KO'd and lose a stock (life). The goal is to increase your opponents' damage percentages to make them easier to KO, while minimizing your own.
By internalizing these fundamental controls and mechanics, you'll lay a strong foundation for becoming a formidable Super Smash Bros. player on the Nintendo 64. Head into Training Mode, experiment with different characters, and practice these techniques until they become second nature. The battlefield awaits!