Dream Smash Stage Competition: Best Idea

[Fryguy64]

There were 60 entries in the Dream Smash Stage competition, and so many good ideas I can't pick just one. So I'm going to post who I consider to be the Top 5 finalists in each category and draft your help to narrow them down to just one

If you're wondering how I picked these entries:
1. It had to be different from existing stages.
2. It had to work as a realistic Smash Bros. stage.
3. Any gimmicks had to be interesting without breaking the game.

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THE FINALISTS
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VENUS LIGHTHOUSE
Series: Golden Sun
Submitted by TV Eye

Music:
- Venus Lighthouse (Golden Sun)
- Enemy Battle (Golden Sun)
- Sol Sanctum

Based on top of the Venus Lighthouse that appears at the end of Golden Sun and the beginning of Golden Sun: The Lost Age. The stage breaks apart when the lighthouse is lit. The Fusion Dragon appears in the background.

Fry's Comments:
As soon as I read this idea, my mind was working overtime trying to figure out the platform layouts and how the gimmicks would work. With one large central column, two narrow side columns with elevators that move around, and tiny platforms floating between them. On top of this, when the lighthouse is lit, the stage splits in two. TV Eye also thought the whole lighthouse could crumble and then the continent breaks away - although I personally feel this is overkill when the basic stage idea is so sound.

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CHAOTIC SEAS
Series: Advance Wars
Submitted by American Kirby

Music:
- We Will Prevail (Advance Wars: Days of Ruin)
- Proud Soldier (Advance Wars: Days of Ruin)
- Sami's Theme (Advance Wars)
- Andy's Theme (Advance Wars)
- Power Up (Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising)

The stage starts on an Orange Star aircraft carrier on the sea. Jets, bombers and dusters take off and the stage becomes a fast-scrolling, rapidly changing stage as the planes change course or get intercepted in battle. If all of the planes are shot down, you land back on an aircraft carrier.

Fry's Comments:
This stage is inspired. It may not have been the intention of its creator, but this stage provides a huge opportunity to allude to the strategy of the original games. Planes can be shot down, but perhaps it should be a face-off, where you have to jump on Orange Star or Blue Moon planes depending on who has the most powerful plane. On top of that, the way the stage works reminds me of Big Blue, which is no bad thing.

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MARIO TOY COMPANY
Series: Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Submitted by Johans Nidorino

Music:
- Mario Toy Company Medley 1 2 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)
- Let's-a-Go, Little Guys! (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)
- Bonus Round (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)
- Menu (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)
- Big City 2 (Donkey Kong 94)
- Button Barrel Blast (Donkey Kong Land)

Take place in a construction lot in front of the Mario Toy Company. The stage is made of three levels of non-solid platforms and two conveyor belts linking the top and bottom levels of platforms. Bricks and rubble fall onto the top platforms. Three Shy Guys in the background control switches that change the layout of the stage to "block" KOs from taking place on certain sides of the screen.

Fry's Comments:
A stage with many platforms that shift around, preventing certain kinds of KO - tying this very simple but original idea in with the platform switches in Mario vs. Donkey Kong is fantastic, and gives an opportunity to revere a underrated game.

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HYRULE CASTLE / GOLDEN PYRAMID
Series: The Legend of Zelda (A Link to the Past)
Submitted by Captain Walrus

Music (Hyrule Castle):
- The Legend of Zelda Main Theme
- North Hyrule (Zelda II: Adventure of Link)
- Hyrule Castle (A Link to the Past)
- Castle Courtyard / Hyrule Field Medley (Ocarina of Time)
- Hyrule Field (Twilight Princess)
Music (Golden Pyramid):
- Dungeon 9 (The Legend of Zelda)
- Palace Guardian (Zelda II: The Adventure of Link)
- Dark World Dungeon (A Link to the Past)
- Dark Mountain & Forest (A Link to the Past)
- Dark World (A Link to the Past)

The stage begins on top of Hyrule Castle. Patrolling castle guards appear as stage hazards. Occasionally the stage will morph into the peak of the Golden Pyramid in the Dark World, changing the layout of the stage (and the music). The lower level of the Pyramid has no equivalent in the Light World, so when the stage transforms back, you have to jump up to the higher platforms or fall off.

Fry's Comments:
Two stages in one - Hyrule Castle transforms into the Golden Pyramid and back, changing the layout of the platforms substantially - and changing the music as well. Not only is this idea a fantastic way to have a transforming stage (I can already hear the Magic Mirror sound effect), it's one of the most iconic locations and moments in the entire Zelda series.

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MACBETH
Series: Star Fox
Submitted by Da Robot

Music:
- Macbeth (Star Fox 64)
- Aquas (Star Fox 64)
- Katina (Star Fox 64)
- Ending & Credits (Star Fox 64)
- Thorntail Hollow (Star Fox Adventures)
- Ice Mountain (Star Fox Adventures)
- Dark Ice Mines (Star Fox Adventures)

This stage takes place in the Macbeth landmaster stage in Star Fox 64, on the back of the weapon cargo train. When the Landmaster approaches the back of the train, you can use it as a platform. The Landmaster will also blow up carriages, forcing players to move along. When all of the carriages have gone, the final train engine will release the Macbeth kite boss, which can also be used as a platform.

Fry's Comments:
A constantly changing stage, where platforms explode, appear, move around and keep everyone on their toes. It is difficult to come up with a Star Fox stage that isn't just another fight on a space ship... but this idea is perfect Smash Bros. stage fodder, and an excellent way to recreate of one of the most memorable stages in the Star Fox series.

[Johans Nidorino]

I'm glad I submitted one of these!

I wanted Mario vs. Donkey Kong in the last Smash because it's the successor of Donkey Kong '94, which is itself a successor of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. The Mario Toy Company is the most memorable setting in the game because the Mini-Marios are built there. Even though I didn't love the Lemmings-like mechanics in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, I'd probably play a new chapter in the series.

A retro Donkey Kong stage was good because it was the first Nintendo arcade game with characters. But there are other forms of retro, and Donkey Kong arcade can remain in the form of music IMO.

Puzzle is an important element of this game series. Puzzles is what make these games challenging (and sharable in the case of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis), and that's why I thought those colored switches that make blocks appear and disappear should be part of a SSB stage as well.

Here's again the list of songs I suggested.

• Mario Toy Company Medley 1 2
  
• Let's-a-Go, Little Guys!
  
• Bonus Round (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)
  
• Menu (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)
  
• Big City 2 (Game Boy Donkey Kong)
  
• Button Barrel Blast (Donkey Kong Land)

[Fryguy64]

Please, this topic is open for voting and ongoing discussion. The stage creators can also use it to expand on their ideas to try and convince the studio audience! ;D

[Captain Walrus]

The Legend of Zelda isn't my favorite Nintendo franchise, but it has a ton of my favorite video game music. The Dark World theme (the remix in Brawl doesn't capture the feel of the song) was the inspiration for my stage. I've had this idea for some time, and I posted it here a long time ago. It actually kinda frustrates me that I can't play on this stage!

My favorite stage (that's not my own) of the other nominees is Chaotic Seas. I agree with Fry, in that the stage is inspired. I've tried to come up with some Wars stage concepts, that would both be memorable locations from the Wars franchise as well as a fun, unique stage, but I came up empty.

[Snuka7]

I would have to pick Ganon's pyramid/Hyrule Castle as I like the concept of how the stage has two parts. It would be kind of like Frigate Orphan when changing as you would have to jump. And I like the idea of how the music would change also, I can imagine how it would be. But, what I don't get! Is how will the stage change? Like, there won't be a siren going off like Frigate Orphan, but what would happen?

[Fryguy64]

Oct 7, 2008 5:08:02 GMT -5 Snuka7 said:

But, what I don't get! Is how will the stage change? Like, there won't be a siren going off like Frigate Orphan, but what would happen?

Well, there's nothing stopping an exclamation mark appearing and a sound effect from the Zelda series. I'm also imagining the transition will be fairly slow, while the Magic Mirror sound effect fades one background into the other.

[Captain Walrus]

I imagine it playing the Magic Mirror sound effect and the screen would "wobble" like it does in A Link to the Past.

EDIT: And I'm not against an exclamation point either.

[TV Eye]

I voted for...Venus Lighthouse, not just because it's mine, but because I like what Fry had in mind with it. Splitting in two is an excellent idea, and perhaps Fusion Dragon could attack you like Ultimate Chimera!

[Fryguy64]

Oct 7, 2008 8:13:48 GMT -5 TV Eye said:

I voted for...Venus Lighthouse, not just because it's mine, but because I like what Fry had in mind with it. Splitting in two is an excellent idea, and perhaps Fusion Dragon could attack you like Ultimate Chimera!

I envisioned him/her unleashing attacks from the background, much like Dialga and Palkia. Perhaps including the Outer Space attack, forcing everyone onto the moving platforms at the side of the stage ;D

I had lots of ideas for all of the entries. I still want to draw them all... maybe I can mock up a stage select screen as well ;D

[Smashchu]

I must say it's hard to vote. I'd rather not just vote for mine becuase it's mine, but the bias makes it harder to vote for anyone else.

Decisions Decisions. I must say there are some really good ideas here.

[Flint]

I voted Chaotic Seas, represents the neglected War series pretty well, but Venus Lighthouse its also a great idea and pretty solid, must have been in Brawl.

[BeamClaws]

Man could you please stop spoiling a game I never beat? I knew the tower breaks when lit and the continent breaks apart but I never knew there was a fusion dragon nor do I know what an outer space attack is.

[TV Eye]

Oct 7, 2008 15:46:39 GMT -5 BeamClaws said:

Man could you please stop spoiling a game I never beat? I knew the tower breaks when lit and the continent breaks apart but I never knew there was a fusion dragon nor do I know what an outer space attack is.

Well, the game came out about 7 years ago

[BeamClaws]

And I just started again because I didn't know what to do back then and lost my save file.

[Da Robot]

I also like the sound of the Chaotic Seas stage as well. It's very original. Just one question though, which AW game is it set in? It has "Duster" planes in it which only appeared in AW:DoR/DC or is it just a combernation of all the AW games?

My final comment on the CS stage.

It's just plane brilliant. ;D



I don't want to have to vote for my own stage (Macbeth) but like Fry says it a Starfox stage not set on a spaceship. Also it will have the music from other Starfox stages that were never used in SSBB. Including the Macbeth/Titania theme.

Think about it, we had 3 characters with Landmaster tanks for FS in SSBB but there was no Landmaster music. I mean serisously what is up with that?

There will also be music from Aquas (the only Starfox level that has the Blue Marine) and from Katina and the Sf64 credits theme. Also there will be music from SfAdv such as Thorntail Hollow, Ice Mountain and Dark Ice Mines.

Also considering SSBB Starfox stage got the song from the game "X" I thought I should include a song not from Starfox, the Disaster: Day of Crisis Main Theme.