Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary

Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary is the main adventure mode of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It features Mario and various other Nintendo characters going on a journey to stop Tabuu and the Subspace Army from taking over the world.
==Overview==
On July 20th, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated with a collection of enigmatic images that depicted Mario and Kirby transforming from trophies into fighters (akin to the introduction of Super Smash Bros. Melee). After Kirby's apparent defeat at the hands of Mario, he is changed back into a trophy, but Mario reverses the transformation and Mario and Kirby shake hands. However, the sky darkens soon after, and s ship, the Halberd, flies over the stadium, soon followed by the appearance of a mysterious character. The screenshots were accompanied by this description:
In this world, trophies fight. They know nothing but fighting. Fighting is the sole reason for their existence. Being turned back into a trophy, being unable to fight, is much like death. Those are the rules of this world. But...When someone...or something...breaks those rules, the world will pay a terrible price...
The post was placed under a mode referred to as "???" until August 3rd when it was changed to "Adventure Mode". On August 3rd, Smash Bros. DOJO!! was updated again. This time, more information was given. The mode was dubbed "The Subspace Emissary", and a multitude of screenshots was shown, as well as a cutscene related to the "This World…" update. In the cutscene, Mario and Kirby were seen shaking hands, as depicted in the screenshots, and after waving to the crowd, the Halberd appeared as it did in "This World…". The mysterious character from before was shown to be one of apparently many odd, robot-like creatures formed from some sort of shadowy matter. Princess Peach and Princess Zelda were seen watching from the sidelines but rushed down to the middle of the stadium to assist Mario and Kirby in fighting the mysterious army. After Peach and Zelda reach the stage and help destroy the Primids, an entity from the sky called the Ancient Minister appears on the stage. The Ancient Minister drops a Subspace Bomb on the arena and then flies off. As Mario approaches the bomb, he is hit by a cannonball and is sent flying from the arena. Petey Piranha appears and captures Peach and Zelda in cages.
The various screenshots in the update depicted a multitude of new enemies, as well as a few familiar ones, such as a Hammer Bro, who was previously confirmed as an Assist Trophy, and Bullet Bills. There were also a new series of enemies that were introduced that are part of the Subspace army. Some enemies of the Subspace army appear to be helpful while others are dangerous.
==Gameplay==
The Subspace Emissary mode is a side-scrolling adventure in the style of a platformer, inspired by the Super Mario and Kirby games. However, it retains all basic mechanics of the Super Smash Bros. series, such as a damage meter, stocks, and Smash-style attacks. It can also be classified as a beat 'em up; often stages will pause at specific points and force the player to defeat a set of enemies, which prevents one from simply running through everything.
The mode features a world map where stages are selected; once a stage is selected, the difficulty can be chosen, and the character(s) will enter the stage. The selectable characters will change depending on the plot. Stages that have been completed already can be played again. However, some stages such as Midair Stadium will be engulfed by Subspace after they are cleared, locking them until the player beats the game.
The mode also has a two-player option. When using two players, the first player will have priority over the screen, making it possible for the second player to get run off the screen if the two players are not coordinated. However, the second player has the option to warp to the first player at any time (except in boss battles) by pressing the button that would normally pause the game. The first player must be present with stock left at all times; if the first player runs out of stock, the game will end and offer a continue, regardless of whether the second player still has stock left. If the second player runs out of stock, the first player can continue alone. In addition, only the first player can navigate through doors (though the second player can still utilize keys) and temporary switches. If the second player goes into a Barrel Cannon or minecart they will be teleported back to the player seconds later unless the first player goes in right after. The second player can also decide when barrel cannons shoot.
When playing a level for the first time, many cutscenes will pause just before gameplay begins, showing a view of all available characters. A message will display how many stocks the level allows, and a cursor will appear that allows choosing which characters to play. The order characters are chosen in is the order they will appear: they will cycle through in that order until all stock is depleted. Playing through a level again, there will be a screen before the level allowing choosing between any available characters instead of cutscenes during the level. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: there is a wider character variety to choose from, but one cannot (for example) choose only three characters for a four-stock stage. Additionally, no mid-level cutscenes will play, including ones that would normally allow a re-pick of characters that replenish stocks. While on many levels this makes little difference, it is very problematic on long stages like the Subspace Bomb Factory Part II, where a replay provides only a fraction of the stock originally given.
The physics of many (if not all) characters is also tweaked slightly. In general, characters run slower, fall faster, and jump better than in normal fights However, the mid-air jumps of a character that possesses more than one will be worse than normal. Move mechanics are not altered, although the differing jump heights, jump timing, and gravity will change how effective aerial attacks are. The most significant change is the removal of stamina from Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon, which allows one to use one Pokémon exclusively. Characters are also able to swim for significantly longer. Characters retain their standard physics in boss battles. Because Smash Bros. relies on KOs by being knocked off the stage, for the platforming nature to be retained, the camera's reaction time in following a character decreases in proportion to the player's damage.
Grabbing mechanics are also altered. Normal enemies cannot be held onto for any length of time; they will be thrown immediately after being grabbed, making it impossible to pummel them. This means that choosing which throw to use must be done with the Control Stick during the grab animation; inputting no direction will result in a forward throw (except Donkey Kong, who cannot carry enemies, and instead will use his up throw). Special moves that involve grabbing will fail to grab, like Yoshi and Kirby's standard special moves; such moves have extra Subspace Emissary-only hitboxes (for example, Egg Lay will deal 13% damage, while Pikmin will deal damage when thrown). Bosses and large enemies cannot be grabbed; however, Big Primids can be grabbed effectively. None of these changes applies when facing an opposing Smasher due to playing like an actual Brawl, though Kirby will be unable to copy their abilities.
==Difficulty levels==
Like most other single-player modes, one can select different difficulty levels to play The Subspace Emissary. At the creation of a new game file, the player may select a "default" difficulty from Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Intense. Stages normally use this default difficulty (which cannot be changed), although the difficulty of a stage can be altered before it is begun. The game keeps track of the hardest difficulty level at which each stage has been cleared, and when a stage is selected, it suggests a difficulty higher than the highest completion level.
As one selects higher difficulties, the game makes these adjustments:
* Enemy health goes up, sometimes considerably with bulky enemies like Greaps.
* Enemies move and attack faster; especially noticeable with the vulnerability period of large enemies and bosses.
* Enemies and obstacles do more damage and have more KO power.
* Enemies AI generally get smarter (such as attacking more often, or Bytans duplicating nonstop).
* More (and sometimes deadlier) enemies appear during locked battles.
* Less favourable items appear although an increased number of stronger healing items appear when enemies are defeated.
* Stock Balls may get rarer (or, in the case of Very Hard and Intense, not exist, being replaced by recovery items instead).
* Certain features travel faster, giving the player less reaction time.
** Auto-scrolling areas scroll faster.
** Moving walls, floors, and ceilings move faster, making characters more easily crushed.
** Platforms move or fall faster.
** Bomb block explosion chains move faster.
** The effects of temporary switches are shorter.
* Wind speeds increase (including the wind from a Borboras), sometimes to nonsensical levels.
* More, higher quality and rarer stickers appear.
* More collectables (CDs, trophies, stickers) appear.
* More trophy stands appear.
* More coins are given at the end of each level.
==Plot==
=== Prologue ===
The story begins with Tabuu. Tabuu is the embodiment of Subspace, a dark, empty void, and wants to consume the World of Trophies for himself. While he is unable to leave, he can influence the world itself and decides to prepare for an invasion. 
=== Mario's Role ===
In the beginning, trophies of Mario and Kirby are thrown into the Midair Stadium, where they come to life and have a friendly fight (a reference to the introduction in the first game of the series, where Mario and Kirby prepare to fight each other towards the end). The player chooses the one they want to play as, and the character not chosen is the opponent. After the battle between the two, the winner revives the loser, they shake hands, and wave to the crowd. Suddenly, ominous red clouds appear above the stadium, and the Halberd emerges from them. It releases Shadow Bugs which form into Primids. Peach and Zelda, who were watching the match, come to help, and after defeating all of the enemies, they are all confronted by the Ancient Minister. After seeing two R.O.B.s setting up a Subspace Bomb, Mario runs to try and stop it, only to be blasted out of the stadium and Star KO'd by a cannonball apparently fired by Petey Piranha. During his descent from Skyworld, Pit finds Mario's trophy and revives him. Once Mario recounts what happened, the two proceeded on their journey. When they reach the ground, they fight Primids across the Plain and attempt to stop the Ancient Minister from delivering another Subspace Bomb. Mario attempts to reach the Minister, but falls short; Pit also tries to get him by using a Footstool Jump on Mario, but he also fails. They then continue on their quest.
=== Luigi's Role ===
=== Peach's Role ===
=== Bowser's Role ===
Bowser is a member of the Subspace Emissary. He steals the Kongs’ banana stock and attempts to kidnap Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, but the former sacrifices himself for the latter. Bowser assaults Diddy and his new partner, Fox McCloud, to capture them. Diddy tries to fight him to avenge Donkey, but Fox runs away and takes Diddy with him, knowing Bower is too dangerous with his Dark Cannon. Later, Bowser captures the princess rescued by Kirby, invade the base of the King Dedede and steals the trophy of the other princess. Bowser then returns trying to abduct Diddy and Fox. He successfully transform the former into a trophy, but fails to transform the latter. The king of the Koopa uses Shadow Bugs to make a False clone of Diddy to ensure that Fox doesn’t run away. Right before Bowser could shoot Fox, an Arwing shoots Bowser and Falco Lombardi pulls out of it, ready to fight to rescue Fox. He destroys the weapon, forcing Bowser to flee, even though he has to spare Diddy, Fox and Falco. Bowser is later betrayed by Ganondorf and teams up with the heroes to save the world.
=== Yoshi's Role ===
=== Donkey Kong's Role ===
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong try to get their bananas back, but Bowser assaults them. Diddy is ready to fight him, but Donkey knows he’s too dangerous and sacrifices himself to save his nephew. Donkey is later rescued by Diddy, helped by Falco Lombardi, Captain Falcon and Olimar. Diddy waves goodbye to Falco, and the quartet meet and team up with Samus Aran and Pikachu. The group finds out the Ancient Minister is a R.O.B. and team up with him to defeat the Subspace Army. They run away in the Blue Falcon and defeat Meta Ridley. They later reunite with the other heroes and team up with them, but get defeated by Tabuu. Donkey is later rescued by Kirby, the King Dedede, Ness and Luigi.
=== Diddy Kong's Role ===
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong try to get their bananas back, but Bowser assaults them. Diddy is ready to fight him, but Donkey knows he’s too dangerous and sacrifices himself to save his nephew. He’s then captured by Rayquaza, but gets rescued and protected by Fox McCloud. He then forces him to help him rescue Donkey, and Fox accepts unwillingly. The duet is assaulted by Bowser, and Diddy tries to fight him, but Fox takes him in his arms and run away for their safety. Diddy and Fox continue to try to find Donkey, but gets assaulted once again by Bowser, who successfully captures Diddy and makes a False character to prevent Fox from running away. The duo is however rescued by Falco Lombardi, who destroys his dangerous weapon, forcing Bowser to flee. The clone grows and attacks them. Fox revives Diddy to defeat the False character. Diddy forces Falco to help him, and he ends up accepting unwillingly just like his leader earlier. Diddy, Fox and Falco see Donkey’s trophy being taken away, but Fox invokes the Great Fox and uses it to fight the Halberd while Falco pilots an Arwing to help Diddy rescue Donkey. With the help of Captain Falcon and Olimar, Diddy ends up rescuing his uncle. He waves goodbye to Falco, and the quartet meet and team up with Samus Aran and Pikachu. The group finds out the Ancient Minister is a R.O.B. and team up with him to defeat the Subspace Army. They run away in the Blue Falcon and defeat Meta Ridley. They later reunite with the other heroes and team up with them, but get defeated by Tabuu. Diddy is later rescued by Kirby, the King Dedede, Ness and Luigi.
=== Link's Role ===
=== Wario's Role ===
===Enemies===
Primids, humanoids with red eyes and (usually) green bodies, are the standard troops of the Subspace Army and are ubiquitous throughout the levels. They are formed from Shadow Bugs and have multiple variants that wield firearms, swords or boomerangs, are covered in heavy metal, breathe fire or are large in size.
R.O.B., in addition to being a playable character, is also a type of enemy. It has Sentry, Launcher and Blaster variants, which use hand-to-hand combat, homing missiles and eye beam fire respectively to attack. A Giant R.O.B. is seen in a cutscene killing dozens of Olimarbefore it is destroyed by Captain Falcon.
Several enemies from the Mario franchise, including Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Koopa Paratroopas, Hammer Bros., Bullet Bills and Giant Goombas are also encountered, and serve under Bowser as they do in their own series.
The remaining enemies, all of which are original to Brawl, are as follows:
*Spaak - a cloud-like enemy with a battery and Tesla coils on its back. It fires electric spheres and turns black as it is damaged, then fires lightning beams.
*Cymul - a spherical enemy with four reflectors around its circumference, which reflect most projectiles. It spins rapidly when approached.
*Glunder, Glire and Glice - spinning tire-like objects with an eye in their center. They roll along walls and ceilings and their exterior splits into three parts, unleashing electricity, fire or ice and damaging nearby fighters.
*Greap - an enemy resembling a pot on wheels with two large scythe-like arms that it attacks with. The scythes tend to get stuck in the ground.
*Roturret - a turret with a skull for a face that is stationed in midair. It is armed with two guns and the lower half of its body ends in a downward pointing arrow. Attacking a Roturret knocks its aim off course.
*Poppant - a black and white creature with enlarged, round red pants in which it carries food (which can heal fighters) or harmful objects. They run away when approached. They return in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, appearing in Smash Run, where they drop custom parts.
*Feyesh - a floating fish-like enemy with a single eye and five tentacles, which it uses to attack with electrical stings. They dash toward playable characters and die instantly if they come into contact with water, ironically.
*Mite - small creatures that resemble stick figures and are colored red, yellow or green. They are more dangerous in larger numbers and spawn from destructible Subspace Generators. Low attacks are best for destroying them. They resemble Mr. Game & Watch.
*Towtow - a powerful ram-like enemy with sharp teeth and an intense glare when provoked. They charge at and bite fighters while emitting electrical currents. If left alone, a Towtow will return to sleep.
*Ticken - a large chicken made of sturdy metal. Defeating it reveals that the chicken appearance was a suit for a much smaller yellow bird, which flies away.
*Borboras -a common enemy with a thin body and a trumpet-like head, with which it generates gusts of wind. They are more of a nuisance than a genuine threat since their wind can knock back fighters. Otherwise, it does not attack and skips around while singing.
*Auroros - a swan-like enemy with a large beak and rainbow-colored feathers. When approached, they dive from the sky and stab their beak into the ground, leaving them stuck. Fighters can pick them up to throw as an item, which kills them, unless the Auroros frees itself first.
*Bucculus - a parasitic plant with enlarged red lips and a poisonous purple, strawberry-like body. It burrows into the ground with its lips protruding; when approached, it surfaces and tries to latch onto the nearby fighter. Jumping over the lips can avoid the enemy, or it can be run over. Should it attempt to latch on and miss, it will bounce around for a few seconds before replanting itself. Fighters attacked by a Bucculus can button mash to shake them off. 
*Buckot - a floating robot enemy with a propeller on its head. It carries a bucket filled with red-hot bricks, which it dumps onto the fighter's head. It wears oven mittens to protect its hands from the heat. Aerial attacks can destroy them.
*Bytan - bouncing ball enemies with a single eye and sharp teeth that are always exposed in a smile. They come in multiple colors and are capable of reproducing rapidly. This necessitates quickly destroying them. Giant Bytans exist as well, but are less likely to multiply.
*Floow - a flat, humanoid shape divided into rectangles that emerges from a smoky cloud. When it attacks, two red eyes get brighter. The rectangles spread apart as the Floow takes damage.
*Roader - a one-wheeled red motorcycle with a spiky motocross helmet on its head. They are fast and can even outrun Sonic, the fastest playable character in Brawl. They ram at or slide toward fighters at top speed upon seeing them, and can jump over gaps. When defeated, their head explodes and their wheel flies away.
*Armight - a floating blue ammonite that wears a Trojan helmet, has two yellow facial appendages resembling a handlebar mustache, and two additional tentacle-like appendages, at the end of which they carry large javelins. Their primary method of attack is swinging or stabbing their swords, sometimes in a combo. It can also throw the swords for a ranged attack, drawing new swords immediately after. When an Armight enters the arena, it flies into the playable plane while emitting a mocking laugh. If they are not killed within a short amount of time, they will face the screen and fly offscreen. 
*Autolance - a powerful enemy that moves on treads and has a knight mask. It is armed with a large lance, hence its name. They are very resistant to attacks and deal heavy damage. Its weak spot is inside the helmet.
*Nagagog - a spherical enemy with two arms, wearing the logo of the Subspace Army on their front. They first appear blue and small; when attacked, they grow larger, turning yellow. Further attacks will increase its size to maximum and turn it red. It cannot return to previous forms and is invulnerable while changing. When large, it attacks like a sumo wrestler and deals more damage, but is slower.
*Shellpod - a common, large, stag beetle-like enemy that walks on all fours and tries to stab fighters with its front horn. Damaging it enough breaks its shell and reveals it to be a banana-shaped creature that makes a high-pitched sound. It is most vulnerable without its shell and can no longer attack, leaving them defenseless. There are two trophies for the Shellpod with and without its shell.
*Puppit - a hanging marionette puppet that floats around the arena while suspended from piano strings. It flashes fighters using its long claws, although these attacks are weak. When its eyes flash, it will fire a laser from them.
*Trowlon - a floating, elongated enemy that enters with a whooshing sound and attempts to scoop up the fighter before flying upwards, hoping to KO the character by taking them above the upper blast line. It has a beak, which it may use to force the fighter on top of it.
*Bombed - a humanoid creature with a red and black bomb as a head. After lighting the fuse, it throws the bomb at fighters before fleeing and growing a new head. The bomb can be detonated with fire-based attacks, or reflected.
*Shaydas - a large, black apparition of Shadow Bugs with two heads attached to a central red core, and two long blades attached to either arm. The core is their weak point. Shaydas always levitate.
*Gamyga - a carnival-esque creature with a mask and four bases. Attacking the bases destroys them one by one, or the mask itself can be destroyed, which will instantly kill the creature. Gamygas can only defend itself with a laser attack that homes in on the player's position the moment it is fired.
*Armank - a powerful enemy consisting of a large tank that can unleash a retractable arm with a claw at the end. Destroying the arm forces the tank open, revealing its driver to be a large, timid green blob that is defenseless. If the driver is not destroyed, the arm will be restored, forcing the fighter to try again.
*Mizzo - a round blue creature with arms and legs, attached to two blue tentacles. It is only seen on display in the Battleship Halberd Exterior, kept for decoration alongside other Subspace enemies. It cannot be killed or captured with a Trophy Stand; its trophy is spawned through common means. It may have been intended as an aquatic enemy before being cut for unknown reasons.
de:Subraum-Emissär
it:L'Emissario del Subspazio
Category:Modes
Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl