Super Smash Bros. Genesis Inspired by Amicable Beef Resolution

Celebrating 25 years of Nintendo's iconic crossover fighting game, we finally have the definitive story behind the "Super Smash Bros." name, straight from creator Masahiro Sakurai.

Sakurai Reveals the "Smash Bros." Story

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Satoru Iwata's Crucial Role in Naming Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's celebrated crossover fighting game, boasts a diverse roster of characters from across the company's vast library. However, the name is a bit of a misnomer, 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 has provided the answer!

In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai explained that the name originated from the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disagreements." He credits the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, with a significant contribution to the naming process.

Sakurai recounted that numerous name suggestions were brainstormed, culminating in a meeting with Shigesato Itoi (creator of the Mother/EarthBound series) to finalize the title. "Mr. Iwata chose the 'brothers' aspect," Sakurai revealed. "His reasoning was that, despite the characters not being brothers, the term conveyed a nuance of friendly conflict—a playful squabble among friends, rather than outright fighting."

Beyond the name's origin, Sakurai shared anecdotes about his relationship with Iwata, including Iwata's personal involvement in programming the original Super Smash Bros. prototype, then titled Dragon King: The Fighting Game, for the Nintendo 64.