Brawl changed the idea with color changes just a bit. While Melee added a few extra outfits to some characters, Brawl promises six colors each.
However, there are exceptions. All the playable characters of the Pokémon universe (Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Pokémon Trainer and Lucario), as well as Sonic, have less than six. The other exception is that Wario has two outfits, each with multiple color choices, effectively doubling his alternate costume choices. The costumes can be cycled by clicking on the character (any controller), pressing A/B (Wii Remote), pressing 1/2 (Wii Remote w/ Nunchuck), or pressing X/Y (Classic, Gamecube).
A few characters (namely, Lucario and Sonic) have sets of costume changes that can be difficult to distinguish from each other in a match. As such, tournaments have a rule stating that in a doubles match, a partly colorblind Lucario or Sonic player may request to be given the blue team. In some cases, texture hacks are used to make the color difference more obvious.
Same color glitch
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is a glitch in which players can use the same character with the same color scheme for VS mode (other than Team Battles).
Based on his current design since Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Party 4.
Black
Resembles Morton Koopa Jr.'s appearance in recent games.
Red
R
Resembles a Red Koopa Troopa or a Spiny.
Blue
B
Resembles Bowser's appearance on the international covers of Super Mario Bros. His shell also resembles the spiny shell from Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart Wii.
White
This costume turns Bowser's hair red and his shell and spiked collars to white, somewhat resembling Dry Bowser from New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart Wii. It also resembles Morton Koopa Jr.'s white and gold shell (Super Mario World only) and darker skin.
Brown
Resembles Boom Boom's sprite from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Resembles his costume from the F-Zero X Expansion Kit, as well as a Japanese commercial for F-Zero X.
Red
R
Nearly identical to his rival Blood Falcon's outfit, even the writing on his back changes to say "Blood Hawk", with a skull design around the lettering.
Green
G
Resembles the color scheme of the Wild Goose, Pico's F-Zero vehicle.
Blue
B
This is a reference to his original F-Zero appearances (his costume in the F-Zero games is more vibrant than his Super Smash Bros. outfits).
White
Resembles Jody Summers' outfit, also known as Captain Fabulous.
Based on his current appearance since Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
Yellow
Resembles the alternate outfit in the Two-Player Contest mode in Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64.
Pink
Changes his color scheme to resemble that of fellow Donkey Kong character Dixie Kong in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!.
Purple
Resembles an alternate costume worn by Diddy Kong when the second player used him in Donkey Kong Country 2.
Green
G
Blue
B
Resembles the alternate outfit in the Two-Player Contest mode in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
All of Donkey Kong's alternate costumes can be traced back to the multiplayer mode of Donkey Kong 64.
Brown
Based on his current appearance since Mario Party 4.
Black
In Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong wears a yellow tie for his alternate color scheme in the Two-Player Contest Mode. He also looks like a rainforest gorilla.
Red
R
May represent the original Donkey Kong from the arcade game with the same name, who had reddish orange fur.
Blue
B
Green
G
White
Resembles a yeti, a famous East Asian cryptid. Also resembles to Eddie the Mean Old Yeti from the Donkey Kong County animated series.
Resembles Peppy Hare's outfit from Star Fox 64 and his outfit in Star Fox: Assault.
Green
G
Resembles Fox's outfit, as well as the multiplayer mode in Star Fox Assault.
Black
The black color matches Fox's (and by extension, Wolf's) dark costume. Also based off of an artwork for the original Star Fox game where he had black feathers.
Popo and Nana switch positions for their red, black, and white costumes, but they do not switch positions on the selection screen like they did in Melee.
Purple
Red
R
A variation based on their default look. Could possibly be meant for some kind of "holiday" look. Also makes Nana resemble the red Ice Climber on the boxart for Ice Climber.
Blue
B
Black
Green
G
White
The only costume that renders both Ice Climbers' coats the same color, but also the only one that gives them different mitt colors. Resembles the color of any Ice Climber when touched by an enemy in Ice Climber.
Jigglypuff's alternate costumes are mostly feminine accessories, which is one of the reasons why this Jigglypuff is considered to be female.
Pink
Red
R
The same red flower Jigglypuff had in Melee. It appears to be a hibiscus flower with five petals in a circle-like shape. It also resembles Phoebe's flower from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Similar to an alternate costume in Kirby Air Ride.
Green
G
Similar to an alternate costume in Kirby Air Ride.
Purple
Features a very ornately decorated belt, similar to one on a formal Japanese kimono. This costume is also similar to an alternate costume in Kirby Air Ride.
Blue
B
Features a belt that contains the same icons as one of the menu schemes from Kirby 64.
Brown
Mirrors Kirby's white costume, making him appear like he did in Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy.
All these colors are also similar to different Kirby colors in games such as Kirby Air Ride and Kirby & the Amazing Mirror. They are all also usable in Kirby: Squeak Squad, where color variations are distinct and each have their own names.
Pink
Yellow
Shigeru Miyamoto originally wanted Kirby to be yellow, but Sakurai was determined to make him pink. Sakurai won, but the yellow Kirby design later appeared as Keeby, the character controlled by Player 2 in Kirby's Dream Course. Yellow Kirby also resembles Beam Kirby from Kirby Super Star, but without the hat.
Blue
B
The same as when Kirby is Ice Kirby in Kirby Super Star, sans the hat. Also used for Player 3 in Kirby 64.
Red
R
The same as when Kirby is Fire Kirby in Kirby Super Star, sans the hat. Also used for Player 3 in recent multiplayer games.
Green
G
The same as when Kirby is Plasma Kirby in Kirby Super Star, sans the hat. Also used for Player 4 in recent multiplayer games.
White
Based on Kirby's monochrome appearance from the original Kirby's Dream Land. It is also similar to Kirby's appearance on the North American box cover.
The Red tunic can be traced back to the color change caused by the Red Ring in the original The Legend of Zelda. It is also based off the Goron Tunic that was featured in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is Link's only color scheme that changes the color of his belt.
Based on the Blue Ring from The Legend of Zelda for the NES.
Yellow
His tunic color is based off of Link's color scheme of when he uses the Great Fairy Tears from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. It is the only color scheme to change the color of his sleeves and pants.
Black
Based off Dark Link, who originated from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and appeared again in Ocarina of Time. His design is based on Dark Link's cameo appearance in Twilight Princess, where Lanayru used the character to symbolize the Dark Interlopers in Link's vision.
Based on his current appearance since Luigi's Mansion and Mario Party 4.
Orange
Based on Mario's color scheme from Pinball, but with an orange hat instead of a blue one.
Pink
R
Based on what Luigi's color scheme in Wrecking Crew, in which he wore pink.
Blue
B
Based on Mario's color scheme on the cover for the NES version of Mario Bros.
White
Based on Fire Luigi. This new white costume replaces the old version that appeared in both SSB and SSBM, where his overalls are darker and his skin and gloves are tan, which was based off Luigi's colors in Mario Bros on the NES.
Purple
Makes Luigi resemble Waluigi, his arch-rival from the Mario series.
Based on his current appearance since Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Party 4.
White
Based on Fire Mario's appearance dating back to Super Mario Bros. onward.
Blue
B
Based on his appearance in Donkey Kong, but wears a blue cap instead of a red one. Also resembles the Balloon Fighter's color scheme from Balloon Fight and Mario's outfit from the DIC cartoons.
Yellow
Based on Wario's color scheme, just as in previous games.
Black
Based on Foreman Spike from Wrecking Crew '98, which was confirmed on the original SSB Japanese site. Updated from the original version of this swap to be more black and white than brown and yellow.
Green
G
A color inverse of his traditional colors. Resembles Mario's appearance on Japanese and European box arts for Wrecking Crew. Also appears as part of the flashing animation from a Starman in Super Mario Bros. The color of his overalls are now more brown than orange, updated from the original game.
All of Meta Knight's costumes are similar to alternate costumes from Kirby Air Ride.
Purple
White
Resembles a Paladin, a Holy Knight. Also based on a similar swap in Kirby Air Ride.
Red
R
Based on a similar swap in Kirby Air Ride. Also resembles his concept artwork from Kirby's Dream Collection.
Green
G
Based on a similar swap in Kirby Air Ride.
Blue
B
Although believed by some fans to be inspired by Kirby and the Amazing Mirror's Dark Meta Knight, it actually resembles his official art from his first appearance in Kirby's Adventure, where his mask and shoes were depicted as a dark purple color, his body was close to black, and his cape was red. However, in this appearance, his eyes were not red and his gloves were white, unlike the palette swap.
Pink
Based on a similar swap in Kirby Air Ride. Also changes his color scheme to resemble Kirby.
Features a white T-shirt with red sleeves, the same as the shirt Fuel wears in Mother 3.
Yellow
The black and yellow stripes resemble the uniform of the Hanshin Tigers, a Japanese baseball team with a large following. The shirt also bears a very similar color scheme to the Gigantic Ant enemy from EarthBound.
Green
G
Blue
B
Is based on Ness's younger self that he encounters briefly in EarthBound, who was wearing a blue hat.
Purple
Has a Mr. Saturn sprite drawn on the front of his shirt. May be based on the Good Kid's Shirt from Mother 3, which is found only in Saturn Valley.
The trainer's hat resembles that of Leaf, the female trainer in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Charizard resembles its pre-evolution, Charmeleon.
Green
G
The trainer takes on the color scheme of Brendan as he appeared in Pokémon Emerald. Ivysaur and Squirtle appear with their "shiny" colors.
Blue
B
Charizard's purple colour is similar to that of its shiny color from Generation II. Squirtle's blue colour is possibly inspired by the original sprite in Generation I, particularly Pokémon Yellow.
White
Charizard's yellow tint resembles the shiny colors of its pre-evolutions, Charmander and Charmeleon.
Based on R.O.B.'s Japanese colour scheme for the Famicom. This design also was the source for the R.O.B. Sentry.
White
Based on R.O.B.'s North American color scheme for the NES. Even the words on his base change from "Family Computer Robot" to "R.O.B. - Robotic Operating Buddy", the same as the American design. R.O.B.'s gray costume also appears similar to the R.O.B. Blaster from the The Subspace Emissary
Yellow
Slightly resembles the color scheme of the glitch, Flipper, from Stack-Up.
Purple
The only color where the cord on the back is a different color. It also has the color scheme of the glitch, Spike, from Stack-Up. Also resembles the North American SNES color scheme.
Blue
B
Gives R.O.B. colours similar to a R.O.B. seen in StarTropics. Also resembles the original color scheme of the Gameboy Advance and the Nintendo Gamecube.
Green
G
Similar to the R.O.B. Launcher from the Subspace Emissary, though lacking the same bright blue cord and missile-launching face.
Sonic is the only non-Pokémon character to have fewer than six palette swaps. The stripe on his sneakers is white in all palette swaps, and, in all but the default palette swap, the rest of his sneakers match his wristbands.
Blue
B
Black
Resembles Dark Sonic from the Sonic X anime.
Yellow
Gives Sonic an indigo color and golden bracelets that resemble the ones worn by Silver the Hedgehog.
Green
G
His wristbands resemble the ones attached to the gloves that appear in the special stages in Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Red
R
His wristbands resemble the ones attached to the gloves that appear in the special stages in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Based on the red Link copy from the Four Swords saga.
Blue
B
Based on the blue Link copy from the Four Swords saga.
Purple
Based on the purple Link copy from the Four Swords saga.
Brown
Based on the color scheme of Link in the original The Legend of Zelda. The brown hair and sleeves with the more traditional green tunic resembles some of the older iterations of Link in games such as The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. It also makes him look like his appearance from the Legend of Zelda cartoon.
Black
Based on a toon version of Dark Link, who appears closer to this color scheme in Four Swords Adventures, but does not resemble.
Unlike all other characters, Wario has two outfits each with multiple color choices: his biker costume from the WarioWare games, which is his default costume, and his classic overalls from the Mario series and the Wario Land series, effectively doubling his alternate costume choices.
Cyan
Based on his outfit from the WarioWare series.
Red
R
Resembles Fire Mario with the white helmet and red jacket.
Yellow
Resembles the color scheme his overalls, with a yellow jacket and purple shirt.
Green
G
Loosely resembles Zombie Wario from Wario Land 3.
Black
A color swap of his red alternate.
Blue
B
References the colors of an actual biker, with the denim jeans and jacket combo and the white undershirt.
Wario's overalls closely resemble the cartoonish look in both the Mario and Wario games, in contrast to Mario, Luigi, and Waluigi, who were given more realistic-looking overalls.
Yellow
Based on his classic outfit from the Mario series and the Wario Land series as well as his current appearance since Mario Party 4 and Wario World.
Red
R
Resembles how Mario looked like in the early Mario games where he had red overalls and a blue shirt instead of the blue overalls and red shirt he wears today. This somewhat mirrors the way that Wario's "classic" outfit appears as one of Mario's alternate costumes. It also resembles Mario's outfit from the DIC cartoons.
Blue
B
Resembles Mario's appearance on the cover of the e-Reader game Mario Bros.-e.
Green
G
Similar to Mario's green costume.
Brown
White
Makes Wario look like his appearance in the first three Wario Land games on the Game Boy and Game Boy Color until Wario Land 2, since those games were in black and white.
All of Yoshi's costumes are different variations of the Yoshi species in many of his games, specifically Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Story, Super Mario Advance 3, and Yoshi's Island DS. The soles of his shoes, the saddle on his back, and his scales stay the same color, no matter what color he is.
Green
G
A standard green Yoshi as well as his current appearance since Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Party 4.
Based on her character model from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Masahiro Sakurai stated that Sheik's appearance reflects how she would have looked like if she appeared in that game, based on designs drafted up during that game's development.
Red
R
Based off Zelda's early appearances in The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: Adventure of Link. This is also the only one of her color schemes in which she doesn't wear gloves.
Blue
B
Official art for A Link to the Past shows Zelda with a blue dress, while Sheik seems based on Tetra with the blue costume and red scarf.
Pink
Based off Zelda and Sheik's appearances inOcarina of Time and Melee respectively.
Green
G
If the original Zelda is beaten without a ring, Zelda's dress will be green.
Black
Closely resembles Zelda's robed appearance in the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Based on her outfit she wears upon completion of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
Pink
R
A reference to her first appearance in the original Metroid after clearing it 100% or by entering JUSTIN BAILEY into the password screen.
Black
Similar to the outfit she wore in a Japanese Super Metroid commercial. Also resembles the color scheme of her ending outfit in the same game.
Purple
Green
G
May be a reference to her suitless appearance in the Captain N comic. Sakurai refers this outfit as a "mass-produced Zero Suit," similar to how Samus's green costume is referred to a "mass-produced Samus", a reference to Gundam.