"Game Over" is a message used in video games when the player has run out of lives or chances, or when players complete a game. However, nonstandard Game Overs are sometimes used to punish specific mistakes. Game Over screens differ between appearances, but the text is usually set against a blank screen. After a Game Over, the player is typically given an option to restart the game from the last save point. However, many games from earlier hardware generations lack saving functionality, requiring the games to be restarted from the beginning. In the Super Smash Bros. (series), the Game Over screen displays when the player is defeated in the single-player modes, such as Classic Mode.
In Super Smash Bros.[]
In Super Smash Bros.
In Super Smash Bros., when the player is defeated in 1P Game, the player’s character doll falls, and the announcer asks the player if they want to continue or not. Unlike in future games, there are no payments for continuing; instead, the player's score is reduced in half, and one point is added, likely to indicate how many continues are used. If "YES" is selected, the doll regains life and gets back up, and the game continues; if "NO" is selected or the player does nothing for a few seconds, the screen fades out and the announcer says, "Game over." The Game Over sign is blue.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee[]
The Game Over screen in Super Smash Bros. Melee if "NO" is selected or if there are not enough coins
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the player’s character trophy falls into a dark screen, and depending on how many coins the player has, they are asked if they want to continue; otherwise, the game ends instantly with a Game Over, forcing the player to restart the mode if they do not have enough coins to continue. Even if the player gets a Game Over after using every starter character in any single-player mode, Marth is unlocked after the player defeats him.
Notably, if the player gets a Game Over by not having enough coins to continue, the "Continue" sign that regularly plays on the background is hidden while the "Yes" and "No" buttons are already hidden, the continue audio effects do not play, and right after the trophy lands, the Game Over sign plays before "Yes" and "No" appear. Automatic continuation (only when the following Action Replay codes are used) through the state only reduces the score.
| 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.02 | PAL |
|---|---|---|---|
0419EA24 4800001C 0019EA43 00000009 0419EA84 60000000 0219FC92 00000018 |
0419F124 4800001C 0019F143 00000009 0419F184 60000000 021A0392 00000018 |
0419F76C 4800001C 0019F78B 00000009 0419F7CC 60000000 021A09DA 00000018 |
041A02CC 4800001C 001A02EB 00000009 041A032C 60000000 021A153A 00000018 |
Additionally, the game checks for coins before the "Yes" button can be selected; if an Action Replay code is used to force the "Continue?" screen to appear while the player does not have enough coins, it plays an error sound when "Yes" is selected.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
The Game Over screen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, if the player chooses not to continue or does not have enough coins to do so or if they get defeated in "Boss Battle" mode
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when the player runs out of lives in Classic Mode and All-Star, the grid-like screen appears, and the player is asked to continue or not. If "YES" is selected, the game continues; if "NO" is selected or if the player does not have enough coins to pay, the player is given a Game Over and forced to restart the mode. The Game Over sign is red. When the player runs out of lives/other fighters in The Subspace Emissary, the characters' trophies are shown in a spotlight falling onto a floor with the Subspace Army insignia on it, and the player is given the options "Get Up," "Back to Map," and "Quit." Selecting "Get Up" allows the player to continue from the stage's last checkpoint, at the cost of all collectibles they collect being halved. Selecting "Back to Map" takes away any collectibles gained in the level and sends the player back to the mode's world map. If "Quit" is selected, the camera pans to a view above the trophies, the spotlight goes out, and the announcer says, "Game over," followed by the game sending the player back to the Solo area of the main menu. In the Boss Battles mode, the player is not given the choice to continue, likely because it is a Stadium game; it automatically cuts to the Game Over screen and shows the number of bosses the player has defeated. Either way, if a continuation is used in this mode, the player is sent back to the character-selection menu.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[]
Game Over screen in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Game Over sign appears briefly before the "Continue?" screen, using a blue color. However, unlike in the previous three games, the announcer no longer says, "Game over," during the screen, nor does the jingle from Melee and Brawl play; instead, the "Continue?" screen jingle plays consistently. In Classic Mode, failure causes some of the player's rewards, including gold, to be lost, and by continuing, the intensity lowers by .5, unless the intensity level is set at 2.0 or below. Additionally, continues are no longer possible in the All-Star mode; the game cuts directly to the results screen and takes the player back to the character-selection screen.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, no Game Over sign appears; only the "Continue?" screen does. No cutscene happens, either. In Classic Mode, using a continue no longer causes the current match the player is in to restart; instead, the match begins right where it left off, but the player starts with 0%. Additionally, the Continue system appears to be a mixture of those from Brawl and for 3DS / Wii U; the player can spend their Gold to lower the intensity or use a Classic Ticket without lowering the intensity. If the player chooses not to continue or if they do not have enough coins to pay, the player is given a Game Over and forced to restart the mode; if that happens from Stage 3 onward, the Final Results screen is shown as well. In Adventure Mode: World of Light, however, there are no penalties to continue.
There are also additional failures if the player is unable to complete certain challenges, such as Target Smash!! or an Event Match. While not a Game Over by name, the failures act much like one, as the player has to restart the challenge should they choose to retry it.