Animal Crossing in Smash Brothers Brawl

Smash Bros. Dojo announced today that an Animal Crossing stage will be available for combatants in Smash Brothers Brawl due out for the Wii this December. The stage itself changes and tracks specific events utilizing the Wii's internal clock. Nothing has indicated whether or not these changes will be anything more than cosmetic, though concerts by Animal Crossing's resident canine guitarist, K.K. Slider, have been promised for every Saturday night.

The release of this stage makes it highly likely that an Animal Crossing character will also enter the fray as a Brawl combatant. Up to this point, there has never been a game themed stage in the Smash Brothers series which did not have a combatant from the game it represents in competition. Tom Nook, one of Animal Crossing's most recognized characters, seems the strongest candidate. The raccoon already served as a trophy in Smash Brothers Melee demonstrating that, at the very least, the developers are aware of him. The only indication otherwise is that it seems as if Nook can be seen as a prop in one of the screenshots of the stage. If Nook or another Animal Crossing resident will be in the game, however, don't expect to hear an announcement about it any time soon. My bet is that Animal Crossing's competitor will be a secret unlockable character.

Smash Brothers Brawl Release Date

For all you fans of Nintendo's popular Smash Brothers franchise, a North American release date has finally been set for the series next outing: Smash Brothers Brawl. According to the Smash Bros. Dojo, Brawl's official website, the game will be on North American shelves by December 3, 2007. This comes as a pleasant surprise amidst some speculation that the game might not be released until sometime early next year.

For those unfamiliar with the series, the Smash Brothers games allow players to duke it out with one another using a large stable of popular Nintendo characters. The game, however, isn't a simple slug-fest, the purpose being knocking your opponent out of the battle arena rather than simply beating him/her to a pulp (though the later does help with the former). Smash Brothers Brawl will bring the series which has already made showings on the Game Cube and Nintendo 64 to the Wii.

If you are looking forward to Brawl, be sure to check the Smash Bros. Dojo often as the website has promised daily updates through the release of the game. So far, the information has always been of at least some substance and is definitely worth checking out. As a proud Wii owner and a big fan of the first two Smash Brothers, I know that I personally will be lining up for this title.