Celebrating 25 years of Nintendo's iconic crossover fighting game, we finally have the official story behind the name "Super Smash Bros," directly from its creator, Masahiro Sakurai.
Masahiro Sakurai Reveals the "Smash Bros." Naming Story
Satoru Iwata's Crucial Role in Naming Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's celebrated crossover fighting game, features a diverse cast of characters from across the company's vast library. Interestingly, the name "brothers" is somewhat misleading, as few characters are actually brothers, and some aren't even male. So, why "Super Smash Bros?" Until recently, Nintendo hadn't offered an official explanation. Now, Sakurai provides the answer!In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai explained that the name reflects the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disagreements." He credits the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, with a significant contribution to the name.
Sakurai recounted brainstorming sessions with various team members, proposing numerous names and words. A meeting with Shigesato Itoi (creator of the Mother/Earthbound series) helped finalize the title. Sakurai revealed that Iwata selected the "brothers" element, explaining that while the characters weren't literally brothers, the term implied a friendly rivalry, suggesting a playful dispute rather than outright conflict.
Beyond the naming, Sakurai shared heartwarming anecdotes about his relationship with Iwata, including Iwata's direct involvement in programming the original Super Smash Bros. prototype, then known as "Dragon King: The Fighting Game," for the Nintendo 64.
