Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros.

Easter Eggs & Secrets

Find hidden unlockable characters and stages in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 64. Learn all the genuine secrets and bonus content rewarding dedicated players.

Easter Eggs & Secrets

Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64, while the progenitor of the series, is a treasure trove of subtle nods and unlockable content that rewards dedicated players. Unlike its successors, the N64 version focuses more on unlockable characters, stages, and game modes rather than elaborate in-game Easter eggs. This section will guide you through all the genuine secrets and hidden gems present in the original Smash Bros.

Unlockable Characters

The core of Super Smash Bros. N64's secrets lies in its four hidden playable characters. Unlocking them is essential for experiencing the full roster and offers a significant gameplay reward. Each character has specific requirements, primarily tied to completing the 1-Player Game (Classic Mode) under certain conditions.

Luigi

Mario's taller, greener brother is the first character many players will unlock. He offers a slightly different playstyle with a higher jump and a powerful, albeit slower, Super Jump Punch.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game with all eight starting characters (Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu) without using a Continue.
  • Strategy Tip: Focus on learning each character's basic moves and recovery options. The "No Continue" requirement means you need to be careful, especially during the later stages and against Master Hand. Playing on a lower difficulty can make this process much easier.
  • Reward: Luigi becomes available on the character select screen.

Captain Falcon

The F-Zero racer brings incredible speed and powerful, high-risk, high-reward attacks to the arena. His Falcon Punch is one of the most iconic moves in the game.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game in under 20 minutes.
  • Strategy Tip: To achieve this, you'll need to be efficient. Choose a character you are comfortable with (Fox and Kirby are often good choices due to their speed and recovery). Focus on quickly defeating opponents, ideally with powerful smash attacks or throws that lead to KOs. Skip the bonus stages if they take too long, or complete them quickly for extra lives.
  • Reward: Captain Falcon becomes available on the character select screen.

Jigglypuff

This adorable Pokémon is a surprisingly potent character, known for its unique aerial mobility and the devastating Rest attack. Jigglypuff requires a different approach due to its light weight and unique recovery.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game once, then complete the 1-Player Game a second time with any character.
  • Strategy Tip: This is arguably the easiest unlock condition, as it simply requires two playthroughs of the 1-Player Game. You don't need to worry about time limits or continues for this specific unlock.
  • Reward: Jigglypuff becomes available on the character select screen.

Ness

The psychic boy from EarthBound (Mother 2 in Japan) offers a unique projectile-based playstyle with his PK Fire and PK Thunder attacks. His recovery, using PK Thunder to propel himself, is one of the most distinctive in the game.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game on Normal difficulty or higher with three lives and without using any Continues.
  • Strategy Tip: This condition combines elements of previous unlocks. Choose a character you know well and can consistently clear the game with. Maintaining three lives throughout the entire playthrough on Normal difficulty requires careful play, especially against the Metal Mario and Master Hand fights. Practice makes perfect!
  • Reward: Ness becomes available on the character select screen.

Unlockable Stages

Beyond characters, Super Smash Bros. N64 also features one hidden stage that adds variety to the battlefield rotation.

Mushroom Kingdom

A classic Mario-themed stage featuring pipes, blocks, and the occasional Piranha Plant. This stage is a nostalgic trip for fans of the original Super Mario Bros.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game with all 12 characters (the original 8 plus the 4 unlockable characters).
  • Strategy Tip: This is a cumulative unlock. As you unlock and play through the 1-Player Game with each character, you'll eventually meet this requirement. There are no specific difficulty or continue restrictions for this particular unlock, just completion with each character.
  • Reward: The Mushroom Kingdom stage becomes available in Versus Mode.

Unlockable Game Modes & Features

Several additional features and modes can be unlocked to enhance your Smash Bros. experience.

Sound Test

The Sound Test allows you to listen to all the music and sound effects from the game at your leisure. It's a great way to appreciate the classic Nintendo tunes.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game with all 12 characters (the original 8 plus the 4 unlockable characters).
  • Strategy Tip: This condition is identical to unlocking the Mushroom Kingdom stage, so if you've unlocked the stage, you've also unlocked the Sound Test!
  • Reward: The "Sound Test" option appears on the main menu.

Item Switch

This incredibly useful feature allows players to customize which items appear during Versus Mode matches. Want to play without Bob-ombs? Or only with Beam Swords? Item Switch lets you do it!

  • Unlock Condition: Play 50 Versus Mode matches.
  • Strategy Tip: This is a straightforward cumulative unlock. Simply play 50 matches against friends or CPU opponents. You don't need to win, just complete the matches. You can even set short match durations to speed up the process.
  • Reward: The "Item Switch" option appears in the Versus Mode settings.

Bonus Practice

This mode allows you to replay the various bonus stages from the 1-Player Game (Target Test, Race to the Finish) to practice and improve your scores without having to play through the entire Classic Mode.

  • Unlock Condition: Complete the 1-Player Game with all 12 characters.
  • Strategy Tip: Another cumulative unlock tied to completing the game with the full roster.
  • Reward: The "Bonus Practice" option appears on the main menu.

Subtle Details & Easter Eggs

While the N64 version doesn't have the elaborate in-game character interactions of later titles, it does feature some charming subtle details that pay homage to Nintendo's history.

Character Color Swaps

While not "alternate costumes" in the modern sense, each character has four distinct color palettes. These often reference other characters or classic looks from their respective series. For example:

  • Mario: Default Red, Fire Mario (White), Wario (Yellow & Purple), Donkey Kong (Brown).
  • Link: Default Green, Dark Link (Black), Red Tunic (Red), Blue Tunic (Blue).
  • Pikachu: Default Yellow, Red (Ash's Hat), Blue (Squirtle), Green (Bulbasaur).

Experiment with different color selections to see these nostalgic nods.

Stage Background Details

Many stages feature background elements that are direct references to their original games:

  • Hyrule Castle: Look closely at the castle itself; it's a faithful recreation of the iconic structure from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
  • Saffron City: Various Pokémon can be seen in the background, sometimes interacting with the stage. Keep an eye out for Electrode, Porygon, and Chansey, among others.
  • Planet Zebes: The acid pool and rising/falling platforms are direct callbacks to the Metroid series.
  • Peach's Castle: The Bumper and Whomp that appear are classic elements from Super Mario 64. The Bumper can launch players, while the Whomp acts as a temporary platform.

Character Victory Poses & Taunts

Each character has unique victory poses and a single taunt that often reflects their personality or signature actions from their games. While there are no "hidden" taunts based on stage or opponent, these animations are full of character:

  • Fox: His "Come on!" taunt and confident victory pose are classic Star Fox.
  • Kirby: His adorable dance and "Poyo!" taunt are instantly recognizable.
  • Samus: Her stoic stance and arm cannon charge reflect her bounty hunter persona.

Opening Cinematic

The game's opening cinematic itself is a nostalgic journey, showcasing the Nintendo characters as toys coming to life. It sets the tone perfectly for the "dream match" concept of Super Smash Bros.

By exploring these unlockables and paying attention to the subtle details, You can truly appreciate the depth and love for Nintendo's history that was poured into the original Super Smash Bros. on the N64. Happy smashing!