Erase Data

Erase Data is an option appearing in all four installments of the Super Smash Bros. series (up to Super Smash Bros. 4). It allows the player to erase (and lose) any specific data in the game, such as high scores, trophies, and more. In the first three installments of the series --Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl-- the option to erase only one category of data is available (including an "Erase All" function).

When all data is erased (by selecting "Erase All"), there is no way to recover it. If the player does erase all data, a copy of the data would be wise to create on a separate memory card. However, while that is possible in Melee, this is not possible in other installments. This is not possible in Smash 64 (either version including the actual Nintendo 64 game for the actual N64 and on VC for Wii),Brawl, Smash 4, or Smash Ultimate. In Smash 64, the game automatically saves through the Nintendo 64 game cartridge on the N64. In Brawl, the game data can not be copied and/or transferred from one Wii to another (nor to an SD Card). And in Smash 4, similarly in the Wii U version of Smash 4, the game data cannot be copied and/or transferred from one Wii U to another (nor to an SD card). As for Smash 64 on VC for Wii, the data can have data copied or transferred to an SD card. But it can't be played on another new Wii because VC games are specific to each system. So this does not work. The Wii U Transfer Tool (for both Brawl and Smash 64 on VC for Wii) can transfer Wii data from a Wii to a Wii U. But this cannot be done to another new Wii.

Trivia[]

Brawl is the first installment in the series which does not have the "Erase Hidden Characters" and "Erase Hidden Stages" options in the Erase Data menu.
- In Brawl, as a special stipulation, due to the way how unlockable characters appear in The Subspace Emissary, it is not possible to restart the unlockable characters and unlockable stages in the game.
In the first two installments --Smash 64 and Melee-- if the player chooses to erase all data --by selecting "Erase All"-- the game asks the player two times if they are sure they want to lose that data (giving them two prompts). Brawl and Smash 4 --unlike the previous two installments (Smash 64 and Melee)-- when "Erase All" is selected --if the player wants to lose that data-- the game asks the player and prompts them three times (three prompts). However, in Smash 4, this works with the A, B, X, and Y buttons on the 3DS for the 3DS version and the Wii U GamePad on the Wii U in the Wii U version. In Brawl, the first prompt plays a siren, the second one plays a sped up version of the siren, and the third and final plays an alarm similar to Melee's challenger approaching theme. Smash 4 presents three prompts (similar to Brawl for "Erase All"). However (out of the three prompts), the first one is silent, while the second and third play the siren and the sped up siren.
- In Smash 64, the two prompts are "Is it okay to erase that data?" and "Are you sure you want to lose this data? That means, no more saved game!". In Melee, the two prompts are, "Erase?" and "Are you sure you want to lose this data? That means no more saved game!". In Brawl, the three prompts are, "Are you sure you want to lose this data? That means no more saved game! Erased data cannot be recovered!", "Absolutely sure?! No erased data can be recovered!", and "REALLY?! YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE IT FOREVER!". And in Smash 4, the three prompts are, "Are you sure you want to lose this data? That means no more saved game!", "If you delete all your save data, you are going to lose all your game progress. Are you sure you want to lose it?", and "Are you sure you are sure? SAVE DATA DOESN'T GROW ON TREES, YOU KNOW!".