Celebrating 25 years since its debut, the Nintendo crossover fighting game, Super Smash Bros., finally has its official naming story, revealed by its creator, Masahiro Sakurai.
Masahiro Sakurai Unveils the "Smash Bros." Story
Former Nintendo President Satoru Iwata's Contribution to the Name
Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's iconic crossover fighting game, boasts a diverse cast of characters from across the company's vast library. However, despite the name, few characters are actually brothers. So, why "Super Smash Bros."? While previously unexplained, Sakurai recently offered the official explanation.In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai revealed the name originated from the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disputes." He credits the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, with a significant role in choosing the name.
Sakurai explained that various names were brainstormed, culminating in a meeting with Shigesato Itoi, creator of the Mother/Earthbound series. "Mr. Iwata selected the 'brothers' aspect," Sakurai stated. "His reasoning was that, while the characters weren't literally brothers, the term implied a friendly rivalry, suggesting they were settling disagreements rather than engaging in outright combat."
Beyond the naming, Sakurai shared personal anecdotes about his relationship with Iwata, including Iwata's direct involvement in programming the original Super Smash Bros. prototype, then titled "Dragon King: The Fighting Game," for the Nintendo 64.
