Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Classic Mode

Classic Mode returns in the fourth generation of Smash Bros., but this familiar arcade-style mode now comes with a few new changes. As always, Classic Mode is a one player mode in which the player must fight through a series of levels, mostly stock matches, to face a boss at the end. However, the classic formula for this classic mode has been altered a bit. No only is there no more static difficulty levels or stocks that carry over between stages, this installment of the series also introduces a risk-and-reward aspect that makes Classic Mode a worthwhile game mode for obtaining collectables.

In both versions, clearing Classic Mode will unlock the trophy of the character used to play through the mode. Additionally, some challenges and unlockables in either version also involve clearing Classic Mode at certain intensities or with certain characters. As a single-player mode, individual character scores and your total score will get a Global Smash Power rating once you've connected online with the game.

Fiend's Scale

In past games, players could choose from 5 difficulty levels as well as the number of stocks they'll use to take on Classic Mode. Now, the difficulty is measured along a sliding scale from 0.0 to 9.0, and you always get 2 stocks for every stage. This scale is known as the Fiend's Scale, which determines the quality of rewards you get depending on the difficulty level. The default difficulty, 2.0, costs no gold to play and doesn't provide any rewards. Beginning from 2.1 up to 9.0, players must wager a set amount of coins. The greater the difficulty, the more coins must be wagered, but the prices obtained from clearing stages are better as well. You can wager more coins than you currently have, but you will end up with no coins if you fail to get any rewards after doing so. You also have to pay coins to access levels 1.9 and below, letting you breeze through classic mode for a price.

Reward Roulette

Before a Classic Mode match begins, there will be a roulette on the bottom screen in the 3DS version, or at the top of the screen in the Wii U version. The roulette displays a set of rewards, and the type and number of rewards on the face of the roulette when it stops is the one you will get after clearing the stage. There are three categories of rewards: up to 5 custom items, up to 5 trophies, or up to 250 gold. If you're unlucky, you may also get absolutely nothing by stopping the roulette over a greyed-out section.

On the 3DS version, you can pause the roulette by pressing the Home button and see the current rewards on the roulette. Tapping to return to the game won't stop the roulette, but holding lets you stop the roulette at that exact instance. As long as the reward you want is visible on the upper half of the roulette when its paused, you are certain to get it when you return to the game. This trick is especially useful when farming for trophies or custom items.

Path selection (3DS version)

Unlike past games, you can choose between multiple matches for each stage. Between stages, you will be dropped at an overworld map with up to three branching paths. The color of the path indicates its difficulty, with blue being the easiest, green being medium and red being the hardest choice. Like with the Fiend's Scale, picking a harder path has a better potential of getting good rewards. You can also see the series emblem that hints toward the characters you may fight by going down the path, as well as coins and trophies that you will pick up by going down the path they are on. At the end of the path, you will see a trophy or a set of trophies that indicate the character(s) you will be fighting.

At the penultimate stage, you will only get the choice of two paths. At the final stage, you will usually have a blue path leading to Master Hand, from difficulty 3.0 onward, there will also be a black path leading to a fight between both Master Hand and Crazy Hand. From difficulty 5.1, the secret boss Master Core can be fought after fighting both hands for a bit. On difficulty 8.0 and above, the black path is the only option, meaning the double Hand fight, as well as the battle against Master Core, is mandatory.

Match selection (Wii U version)

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Game Over and Continuing

Whenever you lose all of your stocks in a match, you will get a Game Over, losing some points, money and rewards you've already earned, as well as moving to a lower difficulty on the Fiend's Scale. You can choose to quit and take whatever is left, or continue to try and get more prizes and points.