Smash 4's roster is drastically larger than Brawl's. Perhaps their choices to add were lackluster, but you can't say that there wasn't much roster evolution, because most fighting games keep approximately the same size roster and just swap out characters. I much prefer Smash 4's method.

You can reproduce Wolf and Lucas in Smash 4's character customization, almost exactly. Change Fox or Ness's movement speeds and power levels, then alter their special moves to fit Wolf or Lucas (all the moves ARE there - you just have to unlock them), and finally, use the appropriate alternate costume. Almost every character that's been removed can be recreated this way (except Snake, Ivysaur, Squirtle, and Ice Climbers, since there are no similar replacements/substitutes). Removing Ice Climbers was regrettable, but they may still show up in DLC.

I do agree that the stage builder was weak. I think I've used it once and haven't touched it again.

The number of stages, however, is again, tremendous compared to other fighting games (and there are significantly more than Brawl). I think my only real complaint is the organization of them. There are 75 total between both versions of Smash 4, 47 total in Wii U and 34 on 3DS. There are only 41 on Brawl, 29 on Melee, and 9 on Smash. Again, maybe you don't like the options, but seriously. The numbers add up pretty dang well.

Every other complaint is entirely opinion and I have no qualms with them.

this is my opinion but this is thread is really really wrong, you just seem like a smash 4 hater just because its new and people are more hyped about it, i guess hating on it , is cool.

Smash 4 is amazing. Period.

I really liked it I guess, To each their own.

Earthbound is a very very niche game, as is kid icuras, you're massivly overrating it's popularity.

Google trends has Fire emblem down as many many times more popular than Earthbound. And at no point, even during the small spike of interest during Eathbounds vc release, does Earthbound come anywhere close to completing with Fire Emblem in terms of search results.

You are comparing a game that just had a reboot and one that has consistently made games on almost all Nintendo consoles for the pass 30 years, to a game that hasn't been update in about 13 years, and more than 20 in america.  How is that fair comparison? 

So much content?  Brawl literally had way more content.  And Brawl was on a 7 GB Wii CD from 7 years ago.   So by adding very few characters, removing quite a few and filling the rest of the roster with clones and removing story mode it has a lot of content? 

Sakurai is very lazy if you ask me. 

Yeah, making TWO Smash games, making hundreds of trophies, programming 51 characters, making tonnes of maps, all those new boss fights, pushing the Wii U to do 1080p 60fps, putting so much detail in his game, adding two characters into a game even if it is a huge task and putting tonnes of items in the game is definitely lazy.

Lol at thinking its hard to make a fighting game with recycled mechanics from a old game and adding in Miis and some new characters.   Many of the trophies and maps are recycled, or ripped directly from their games, and 1080p 60fps isn't hard to do considering how graphically simple the game is.  Smash was likely just rushed, which is why its lacking in so many regards.  I think they will eventually fix the game with patches, DLC, and new stages, but at launch the game is severally lacking and not as interesting as brawl was

I do not think you know how Smash or any game is developed.

You have to keep in mind that Smash 4 used completely new textures, which was not recycled from previous Smash games, It also used a comepletely different game speed, and the moves were adjusted, which accounted for loads of programming. He also had to work on the hitboxes. You do know that Smash 4 has way more trophies than Brawl, some of which used original textures, and came its its own little explanation. You do know that It Smash is not a simple game, all models are 3D, and some of the matches get insanely hectic, it would still be impressive If he managed to do 1080p 60fps on the PS4, but he managed to do that with the Wii U. Smash was NOT rushed, It was announced in 2011, so I highly doubt they had to squeeze anything in. The game is in no need to be patched, as unlike other games it is entirelly bug-free and It is filled with content, and even then Sakurai is still offering to create more characters and more stages.

All of this doesn't sound very easy to me, and by the sounds of it you are making it sound like an easy task. In fact, go see how Sakurai felt while making Smash 4, at the very least it was quite draining for him.

( Smash Announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi4Gro4dZZU )