Pikachu

A tiny electric mouse with a massive heart and even bigger voltage.

Pikachu is one of the eight initially playable characters in Super Smash Bros., the 1999 crossover fighting game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. As a representative of the Pokémon franchise, Pikachu appears alongside other Nintendo icons such as Mario, Link, and Samus. In the game, a Poké Ball symbol appears behind Pikachu's damage meter, corresponding to its series. Pikachu's recognizable moves are derived from its original series, and it is one of the eight characters available from the start, with four characters unlockable.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Pokémon
First appears: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Lore & Background

Within the context of the Super Smash Bros. universe, Pikachu acts as a bridge between the Pokémon world and the chaotic arena where champions clash. The game is a crossover among different Nintendo franchises, including Pokémon, and presents a cast of characters and locations from these franchises. Pikachu's design remains faithful to its original roots, featuring its signature yellow fur, red cheeks, and lightning-bolt tail, instantly recognizable to fans of all ages. The character art featured on the box art and instruction manual is in a realistic/3D-rendered style.

Franchise Crossover Origins

Super Smash Bros., released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, stands as a landmark crossover title developed by HAL Laboratory under Nintendo's publishing banner. Unlike traditional fighting games of its era, this project united iconic figures from diverse Nintendo universes, including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and Pokémon. Pikachu, representing the massive Pokémon franchise, joined an initial roster of eight characters alongside others like Link and Samus, with four more unlockable fighters available through specific in-game criteria. The game's premise was revolutionary: instead of depleting health bars, players aimed to knock opponents off dynamic stages with open boundaries. This unique mechanic allowed characters to utilize their signature moves from their original series to inflict damage, recover health, and ultimately achieve a knockout by sending foes flying into the void. The inclusion of Pikachu highlighted Nintendo's strategy of leveraging its most beloved mascots to create a shared competitive arena that celebrated the breadth of its library.

Gameplay Mechanics and Strategy

The gameplay experience in Super Smash Bros. diverged significantly from contemporaries like Street Fighter or Tekken by prioritizing aerial agility and platforming over complex button combinations. Every character, including Pikachu, utilized identical control schemes to access their full move set, emphasizing accessibility while maintaining depth through strategic positioning. Damage was measured as a percentage; as this number rose, characters were launched further with each hit, making recovery from the stage's edge a critical skill. Stages were not static arenas but dynamic environments featuring hazards and moving platforms drawn from franchises like Metroid and Star Fox. Items such as Poké Balls, hammers, and Koopa shells would randomly appear to alter battle dynamics, offering opportunities for health recovery or sudden damage spikes. With support for the Rumble Pak, players felt every impact physically, enhancing the immersion of these chaotic four-player brawls where grabbing, throwing, and dodging were essential survival tactics.

Commercial Success and Critical Reception

Upon its global launch between January and November 1999, Super Smash Bros. achieved immediate commercial triumph, selling over five million copies worldwide by 2001 alone. The title resonated deeply with audiences in both Japan and the United States, where it sold nearly three million units domestically, earning a prestigious Player's Choice designation from Nintendo. Critics lauded the game for its innovative approach to the fighting genre, with IGN awarding it an Editors' Choice for Best Fighting Game. This widespread acclaim solidified Pikachu's status not just as a Pokémon icon, but as a versatile competitor in a new gaming landscape. The success of this original entry directly catalyzed the creation of a long-running franchise, spawning sequels like Super Smash Bros. Melee on the GameCube and establishing a tradition of releasing a new installment for every subsequent Nintendo console generation.

Development Vision and Character Design

The concept for Super Smash Bros. originated from Masahiro Sakurai's desire to create an original four-player fighting game that could overcome the market saturation of traditional fighters. Initially titled Dragon King: The Fighting Game, the project evolved when Sakurai realized that featuring famous Nintendo characters would ensure its uniqueness and appeal. He pitched this vision to Satoru Iwata at HAL Laboratory, leading to a development process where placeholder models were eventually replaced by fully realized versions of icons like Pikachu. Early promotional materials depicted these characters as toy dolls brought to life in a comic book style, a distinct aesthetic choice that differed from later entries which utilized trophies and 3D models. This developmental journey transformed the game into a celebration of Nintendo's history, with each character bearing symbols behind their damage meters—such as a Poké Ball for Pikachu—to visually anchor them within their respective franchises while they battled in this unified arena.