Nintendo confirmed three more playable characters for inclusion in Smash Bros. today.  Fire Emblem fans will be ecstatic as two more of their favourite characters have been added: Lucina and Robin. I know literally nothing about Fire Emblem so I can’t attest to how good this news is. For the rest of us, Captain Falcon is confirmed to return and FALCON PAWNCH everyone into submission.

What’s more, this instantly un-confirms the most famous list of leaked Smash Bros. characters as Chrom, that it had purportedly confirmed, as been confirmed as non-playable in this new trailer. So, there’s hope for a genuine surprise or two left in the Smash Bros. roster and excited speculation can once again resume regarding what treats Sakurai has left for us in his magical bag.

You can check out the artwork for the individual characters and see a bunch more screenshots of them in action here.

Nintendo is going to announce a new Smash Bros. character today at 8:00 am. Not to take the magic out of it, but if the very reliable character list leak that has been 100% accurate thus far remains to be true we can expect this to be Shulk, Chrom, or Rhythm Heaven’s Chorus Kids — none of which I’m terribly excited about. With Mega Man and Pac-Man already included, I’m pretty much satisfied with the roster (even though I’ve been rooting for Bomberman’s inclusion since the Melee days). If the rumours are true, not being a fan of Fire Emblem, Xenoblade Chronicles, and Rhythm Heaven will put fans at an excitement disadvantage for the remaining character reveals. Nintendo could still surprise us all and pull out someone mind-blowing like King K. Rool, Geno, Bayonetta, Chibi-Robo, Wonder Red, Viewtiful Joe, Shadow the Hedgehog, Isaac from Golden Sun, or the much-requested return of Mewtwo (unlikely with Lucario’s unfortunate return) — but these characters seem increasingly unlikely as more and more of the original leaked list is confirmed.

Whoever it is, we’ll have the new screenshots up for you as soon as we get them, so stay tuned for some exciting Smash Bros. news either way.

Nintendo unleashed a storm of new Smash Bros. information today and there’s lots to be excited about (we’ve bolded the cooler stuff):

• Launch windows: The Nintendo 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch this summer. The Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch in winter 2014.
• Silky-smooth 3D: Most game-play elements of the Nintendo 3DS version of the game will run at 60 frames per second, all in stereoscopic 3D.
• ?Smash Run?: Exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version of the game is a new mode called ?Smash Run.? In this mode, four players have five minutes to enter a dungeon and explore the surroundings, fight enemies and obtain power-ups to enhance their fighters. Once the five minutes are up, all four fighters enter a battle arena using their newly equipped items and power-ups. Enemies encountered in the Smash Run mode are from a wide range of game series. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems and games are required for multiplayer modes.
• New challenger!: Greninja, the awesome final evolution of Froakie from Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, joins the roster as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

• Oldies but goodies: Many of the classic characters from past Super Smash Bros. games that are returning in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have new powers and abilities. Four characters that have appeared in previous games, but had yet to be announced before this Nintendo Direct, include:

• Zero Suit Samus: That?s right, Zero Suit Samus is back, but this time she is her own fully playable character, separate from suited Samus. In the new game, she is given jet boots to make her even more powerful.
• Sheik: As with Zero Suit Samus, Sheik is another character that appeared in previous Super Smash Bros. games, but will be a unique playable character for the first time in the new Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games. Sheik has new moves like Burst Grenade and Bouncing Fish.
• Yoshi: In previous games, Yoshi stood on two legs and hunched over, as if Mario were going to jump on top of him at any moment. This new version of Yoshi stands completely upright, making him an even stronger fighter.
• Charizard: After appearing from a Poké Ball in Super Smash Bros. Melee and becoming playable by using Pokémon Trainer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, this fire-breathing Pokémon is now a selectable character.

• Online play: Both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros. will offer online multiplayer game play with other players on the same platform. Players with broadband Internet access can battle it out with anyone else who is online and also has the game.
• When playing with random players online, two modes are available: ?For Fun? and ?For Glory.? In ?For Glory,? only Final Destination stage variations are available. There are no platforms, elevated areas or items in this mode. It is a nice, clean battle between characters. In ?For Fun,? all stages are picked randomly and all items and power-ups are available.
• When playing with friends, full customization is available ? players can set the rules, stages and items however they want.
• Variety of stages: While the cast of playable characters is the same in both versions of the new games, the stages where the battles take place are vastly different, depending on which system a player chooses. The Wii U stages are primarily based on past home console games, while the Nintendo 3DS stages draw from hand-held games for inspiration.
• Boss characters, such as the Yellow Devil in Dr. Wily?s Base, will make appearances in some stages. When bosses appear, fighters will have to battle the boss, as well as one another. The boss can even be used in strategic ways to damage other fighters.
• Almost all the stages in both versions of the game will have a ?Final Destination form,? an alternate form of each stage that is inspired by the relatively simple layout of the much-loved Final Destination stage.
• Items, trophies and Pokémon: Items, assist trophies and Poké Balls all return in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. New to the games are Master Balls, special Poké Balls that contain Legendary Pokémon like Arceus and Xerneas.
• Get connected: There will be elements in Super Smash Bros. that link both versions of the games. More details about this will be revealed at a later date.
• Custom moves: In a series first, players can now customize move sets when playing locally or online with friends. More information about this feature will be announced in the future.

I have a feeling there aren’t too many new characters left to announce now unfortunately.  I hope to see at least one new Nintendo and one new 3rd party character announced before we have the full roster, though.