One of the best secret touches to any Smash Bros. games are the secret conversations, also known as Smash Taunts. These have taken several forms over the years, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features all of them. Since “Everyone is Here” in Super Smash Ultimate, it means we get to enjoy the Star Fox cockpit chatter and Pit’s pep talks with Palutena. We also see the return of Snake’s codec conversations, where he gets help from his team identifying his fellow fighters. With the Smash Ultimate codec conversations, there’s a chance for revelations about the brand new challengers, but will the game deliver? Let’s call up Lei Ming and find out.
Smash Ultimate Codec Conversations – How Do I See Codecs?
Originating in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there are a few conditions you need to fill in order to see this Metal Gear Solid-inspired Easter egg. For one, you’ll need to be playing as Solid Snake and fighting on the Shadow Moses Island stage. Once there and fighting the right opponent, just tap the down taunt button for two frames or less. It has to be a very light touch, but you’ll know when you hit it. Snake will pause in place and a message screen will pop up, initiating a conversation with The Colonel, Otacon or others depending on who you’re fighting. If you’re KO’d as the conversation goes on, you’ll even get an additional Easter egg based on Metal Gear Solid‘s famous Game Over screens.
It should be noted that there are a few limitations beyond just this. Only one Smash Taunt can be attempted during a single match. If you’re knocked out of the conversation or otherwise interrupted, you have to wait until the next game to try again. Also, two players can’t perform Smash Taunts simultaneously. If two players try it at the same time, only one will activate, with the other player performing a normal taunt. Finally, you’ll need to be playing on the standard version of Shadow Moses Island, not the Battlefield or Final Destination form of the stage.
Smash Bros Ultimate Codec Conversations – Which Fighters Have Codecs?
Unfortunately, while Everyone Is Here, not Everyone has a codec conversation. The Smash Ultimate codec conversations cover anyone who was present in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where the Easter egg originated. If you’re fighting against the following fighters, you’ll see a hidden dialogue when performing the Smash Taunt.
- Mario
- Donkey Kong
- Link
- Samus
- Yoshi
- Kirby
- Fox
- Pikachu
- Luigi
- Ness
- Captain Falcon
- Jigglypuff
- Peach
- Bowser
- Ice Climbers
- Sheik
- Zelda
- Dr. Mario
- Pichu
- Falco
- Marth
- Young Link
- Ganondorf
- Mewtwo
- Roy
- Mr. Game & Watch
- Meta Knight
- Pit
- Zero Suit Samus
- Wario
- Snake
- Ike
- Pokemon Trainer
- Diddy Kong
- Lucas
- Sonic
- King Dedede
- Olimar
- Lucario
- R.O.B.
- Toon Link
- Wolf
Smash Ultimate Codec Differences – What’s Different From Brawl?
As you can see from the roster above, this Easter egg is pretty much ported directly from the Wii entry in the series. Anyone added since then does not have a codec conversation of their own, even if they do have Smash Taunts for Fox and Pit’s similar secrets. However, there are a few changes to account for the characters who have changed since Brawl.
In Smash Ultimate, Link wears his outfit from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This means that he has different tools than he did in his signature green tunic, and Otacon’s advice changes to match that. He no longer warns about the absent clawshot, as this version of Link no longer carries the weapon. Interestingly, he does still call the Master Sword the “Blade of Evil’s Bane, which is a reference to older games in the series.
In order to cement that these conversations are lifted from past games, both Jigglypuff and Sonic have messages that reference Super Smash Bros Brawl by name. The Colonel still says that it “Takes all kinds… here in Brawl“, referencing Jigglypuff’s tendency to fall asleep during battle. Meanwhile, Otacon states that everyone is excited to see Sonic the Hedgehog in Brawl, a reference to the fact that Sonic debuted as a new fighter in that entry.
Smash Bros Ultimate Codec Conversations – Why Aren’t There New Codecs?
As for exactly why this Easter egg wasn’t updated for Super Smash Bros Ultimate, we can only speculate. Still, there are more than a few reasons why adding new Smash taunts might have proved impossible for the development team.
For one, Takeshi Aono, the Japanese voice actor behind Metal Gear Solid‘s Colonel passed away in April of 2012. While it would be possible to recast the role, it’s unlikely that Konami would be interested in bringing in an actor simply for a small bonus in a game they’re not publishing. Plus, recasting would mean that every single Smash Ultimate codec would need to be rerecorded in the very least. That’s a time-consuming process for sure.
Another factor to consider is Konami’s general stance toward game development. While prospects look better than they have in the past, Konami is still much more active in the pachinko industry overseas. While this year’s Metal Gear Survive proves that they’re not done with Metal Gear, it’s unlikely that they’re going to produce a new mainline sequel continuing on from Kojima’s work. Therefore, bringing in old Metal Gear actors again seems like a lot to ask for a small part of a much larger game.
There’s also a matter of time. Smash Ultimate is a huge game, and there are cut corners in some areas in order to accommodate that. There was already the removal of trophies, a previous staple of the franchise that was deemed too labor intensive to continue. Writing new lines of dialogue for the thirty-two fighters in addition to updating the other two variants of Smash Taunts and all the other work being done could have been deemed similarly unnecessary. At least we have new iterations of Pit and Fox’s Smash Taunts to look forward to in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
