S2E3 - A Showdown of the Previous Generation

A Showdown of the Previous Generation is the third episode of the second season of Video Game All-Stars. The contestants find themselves dealing with a blast from the past for their next challenge.

Plot
Before the challenge, Monika talks to Reimu about the previous challenge. Monika says about how her leg is healing, but she feels like she disappointed the team, getting some pity from Reimu. Mario apologises for being rough, but Monika assures him it's fine, she says she understands him taking the opportunity. In confessional, she reveals it was all an act to get respect and sympathy from others, while learning the heights of Mario's power. Big Smoke is also around, knowing he's seen as dead weight, wanting to pick his game up, he stays up all night making a strategy for what he plans to do going forward. Later on, Wii Fit Trainer tries to raise spirits, asking who's ready for the challenge. Kirby responds by saying while he is ready, he's sad about there being a member missing, which prompts Shadow to see who it is, noticing Big Smoke isn't present, due to him crashing from his all-nighter.

The challenge is announced, and the contestants excluding Big Smoke gather. Shadow seems to note everyone being there, which Mario corrects him, Shadow replying that as far as he's concerned, Big Smoke is already off the team. Kirby is surprised, asking if people are being are being cancelled already. Monika watches them discuss, being disappointed in their lack of coordination. Marina explains that the challenge is in multiple parts, first being to climb a large tower they would have to climb up, avoiding being hit by the Kong. Mugman asks if it is Funky Kong, but Mario tells him it is Donkey Kong. Pearl adds that the entire team has to get to the top to get the point. The challenge begins, with everyone climbing the building, avoiding any barrels thrown at them.

King Dedede thinks to cheat by floating up the side instead of doing the challenge, but Marina informs him that it is cheating. He accuses her of rigging and cheating back, but that just gets him put back to the start by a hyperbomb. Things generally look bad for Triple Metal Dededes, as Reimu also gets hit in the head with a barrel. Mugman and Sven are behind, dodging fireballs as well as barrels, when Pearl drops in a hammer, which would allow whoever gets it to break barrels. Wii Fit Trainer gets the hammer, and Mario takes first. As he's happy with that, Shadow zooms past him, getting to the top first, doing a celebratory dab. Mugman decides it would be faster if he carried Sven, as Mario, Reimu, Monika, Link and Wii Fit Trainer also get to the top. Kirby gets to the top, waiting on Dedede, but Mugman gets up first, as he's still carrying Sven, Team Rainbow All-Star Meals and a Pole has all their members, scoring them the point. Monika is interested to see Mugman and Sven working well together, wondering how she can use it for her benefit.

The next part of the challenge takes place in Space Invaders, where each member would get a ship, having to shoot every member of the other team to score the point. A lot of the contestants have no experience in this, so they take a moment to get familiar. Dedede asks if he can keep the gun, which Marina declines, making him accuse her of rigging again. Kirby says he wants the team to work together to stay intact, but Shadow responds by saying he doesn't care, he wants to do his own thing. Reimu tests if her danmaku works with the ship, but is disappointed when it doesn't. Pearl wants to shoot the contestants as well, with Marina saying she can if it drags on for too long. With everyone ready to go, the challenge begins, everyone just shooting at each other.

Mario aims for Link first of all, which Sven notices, so he goes in to provide backup as well as a dog can, then Mugman decides to do what he did the last time he was in a ship - fly around in circles. Wii Fit Trainer also gets involved in shooting at Mario, which makes him retreat, trying to lay low. Kirby and Dedede work together to shoot at Monika. Seeing Mugman just flying in circles, Shadow just shoots at him, assisted by Reimu. Their combined efforts eliminate Mugman from the challenge, accusing him of attacking children. Shadow remarks how after fighting Sven in the other challenge, he really isn't making a good name for himself, but while he's distracted, Monika lands a lucky shot on him. At this point, asteroids start to enter the arena, as Wii Fit Trainer and Sven try to corner Mario, which works for them, and they shoot him. Kirby fires at Wii Fit Trainer while Dedede goes for Sven. Kirby is successful, but Dedede misses, although Link, while also trying to dodge, hits an asteroid, destroying his ship.

With only Dedede, Kirby, Reimu, Monika and Sven still in, the competition only grows more serious. Dedede is set on getting Sven, as he's afraid of dogs. While escaping, Sven shoots at an asteroid near Reimu, destroying her ship in the resulting explosion. Pearl gets bored, firing a giant laser at the remaining four. Kirby and Monika are able to dodge, but just as Dedede finally lands a hit on Sven, he is hit by the beam. Seeing they are the only two left, Monika tries to distract Kirby by directing his attention to a lookalike of Bowser's airship, which distracts Kirby, rambling about how everyone is out to get him. Monika doesn't care about this and just takes the opportunity to shoot him, winning the second point and winning the challenge for the Poles. The Triple Metal Dededes lose for the first time, but being the team leader, Kirby is given one-time immunity, like Monika was in the prior episode.

The elimination ceremony happens shortly after the challenge, as the votes were sent in without much thought required. Kirby, Mario, Shadow and Reimu are given their statuettes, and Big Smoke is eliminated in a 5-1 vote. Shadow shows no surprise to the outcome, and Dedede calls him fat as he is taken to the New Albacore Hotel.

Back at the set, Mugman hopes Big Smoke isn't eliminated, but Shadow quickly gives him the news, to which Mugman decides he never cared about him anyway, suggesting the motion of cancelling him. Shadow is about to agree, but hears his name from the team's trailer, going to investigate. As it turns out, Mario is trying to start an alliance with him and Kirby. Kirby accepts immediately, but Shadow states he prefers to work alone, adding that he won't expose them so long as he isn't targeted. He leaves again, finding Wii Fit Trainer deep in thought about the hosts discussing the show in squid language. She wonders what they're talking about, so he makes up a fake translation, before admitting he has no idea. Sven then enters, greeting them both with a cheerful bark. Shadow wonders if the dog is soft, but when trying to pat him, remembers he's wearing gloves. Wii Fit Trainer asks why he can't just take them off, but he tells her that's a personal question. Sven then spends the evening trying to tell Wii Fit Trainer about his home through pictures and more barking, making her emotional. Pearl tries to sneak up on Shadow to remove his gloves, but he denies her, so she backs off. Monika joins the group, trying to boost her team's morale by reassuring Wii Fit Trainer.