Original Super Smash Bros. Nintendo 64 Storyboards Discovered via Internet Archive

A rare slice of Super Smash Bros.

history has surfaced, offering insight into the creative process behind the iconic Nintendo 64 fighting game.

Content creator and gaming researcher David V.

Kimball recently uncovered original storyboard artwork for the first Super Smash Bros., created by series mastermind Masahiro Sakurai.

The discovery was made while Kimball was delving into material for articles about Super Smash Bros.

Melee, the GameCube sequel to the legendary franchise’s debut installment. The storyboard images, which provide a behind-the-scenes look at the planning stages of the original Super Smash Bros.

for Nintendo 64, were located on the official HAL Laboratory website.

However, these rare assets weren’t part of the current website.

Instead, Kimball accessed them via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine—a digital time capsule enabling users to view archived versions of websites that may no longer exist in their previous form. “I accidentally found the original Smash 64 storyboard artwork created by Sakurai himself,” Kimball shared in a public post, noting that although some images were missing, the majority of the content had been preserved.

The discovery grants fans and game development historians a unique perspective on how Masahiro Sakurai, founder of the series and prominent Nintendo developer, visualized and conceptualized gameplay elements, character interactions, and story beats during the early development of Super Smash Bros.

for Nintendo 64. First released in 1999, Super Smash Bros.

for Nintendo 64 was developed by HAL Laboratory under the direction of Sakurai.

The game broke new ground by assembling Nintendo’s beloved characters—such as Mario, Pikachu, Link, and Donkey Kong—into a competitive platform fighting game, a genre-defining move that led to a global franchise celebrated for its innovative mechanics and all-star cast. HAL Laboratory, a long-standing Nintendo partner, has been instrumental in developing not only the Smash Bros.

series but also other major hits like the Kirby franchise.

The resurfacing of these storyboard images highlights the meticulous planning and visionary creativity invested in the game's design.

Although not all storyboard pieces could be recovered from the Internet Archive, the collection available offers meaningful insights into how the original Super Smash Bros.

materialized from concept sketches to a cultural phenomenon. For dedicated fans and scholars of Nintendo’s history, the storyboards provide a fascinating look at Masahiro Sakurai’s approach to character-driven action and game design.

This rare find underscores the importance of digital preservation efforts like the Wayback Machine, which continue to safeguard video game development history for future generations. Super Smash Bros.

has since spawned several sequels, including Super Smash Bros.

Melee for GameCube, Brawl for Wii, the 3DS/Wii U editions, and Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate for Nintendo Switch—each solidifying its place in gaming history.

The original storyboards now serve as both an archival treasure and a reminder of the creative legacy forged by Sakurai and HAL Laboratory in partnership with Nintendo.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Masahiro Sakurai Rare Smash Bros Nintendo 64 HAL Laboratory Sakurai Internet Archive