The complaint I most often hear concerning the “Super Smash Brothers” series is: “I don't get it.”
There's not a lot to get. The franchise features Nintendo's finest creations - Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, etc. - coming together in manic worlds of light and color to beat the stuffing out of each other.
Unlike most fighting games, where players inflict damage until an opponent's life force is depleted, in “Smash Brothers” players inflict damage until they can knock an opponent off the platform. The more damage, the better the chances of knocking them off. Some fights continue until a player is knocked off and others work on a point system, where the fighter least knocked off in a matter of minutes wins.
“Super Smash Brothers Brawl” is no different. Except this installment, the first for the Wii, offers more characters, stages and game play modes than its predecessors. With the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, players can battle online, although the system's cumbersome friend codes and absence of voice chat depersonalizes the bouts a little bit.
A single-player campaign, the Subspace Emissary, takes players through a threadbare narrative about Nintendo heroes and heroines being attacked by villains wielding cannons that turn people into trophies. The Emissary game play is slightly more platform-heavy, but the control mechanics of Brawl don't lend themselves well to precision jumping. Nor are the levels designed with a great degree of sophistication.
It matters not. Because if a player “gets” “Brawl,” they know the game's bread and butter is multiplayer brawling with friends. And like the Gamecube's best-selling “Super Smash Brothers Melee,” “Brawl” achieves almost infinite replay value in its addictively fun dream combat arena.
Like any fighting game, there are strengths to be found in each “Brawl” character. Heavier bruisers, like Bowser and King Dedede from the “Kirby” universe, are harder to knock around. Flying fighters, like Pit from “Kid Icarus” and “Meta Knight” from “Kirby,” can recover more easily from being launched off the platform. Although the two-button fighting system is inviting to novices, there is still tremendous depth to be exploited by players who put the time in. “Melee” veterans may prefer to use a Gamecube controller to play “Brawl,” and that option is indeed less problematic than playing with the Classic Controller or Wiimote alone.
Completing the Subspace Emissary mode unlocks Sonic the Hedgehog, who along with “Metal Gear Solid's” Snake is a legendary third party character lending himself to many a dream match with the Nintendo crew. Scores more characters, songs, stages and assist trophies are available to players who spend the time unlocking them through superlative accomplishments in the game. Outside of straight brawling, there are minigames and side quests galore to occupy players, plus a level editor in which they can build their own battlegrounds.
While the Wii's inferior graphics may irk players who feel “Brawl” looks faintly better than “Melee” on the Gamecube, there is little to bemoan about the newest game's graphic presentation. The cartoon Nintendo universe is presented in vibrant splendor, without the slightest hiccup even as four fighters duke it out amid morphing stages and hectic swirls of light. A full-length soundtrack of grandiose orchestral music further spruces up the presentation.
“Brawl” succeeds wildly at surpassing the scope of “Melee” by offering players so much more to do and master within the game. But, as always, at the core of the game are Nintendo franchise characters trading fists. And it's plainly fun. What's not to get?
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play
Game: “Super Smash Brothers Brawl”
Score: 95 out of 100
Rating: Teen
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Price: $49.99
Features: 4 player
Life span: Endless
The final boss: “Brawl” offers the best multiplayer fighting around, with myriad legendary characters and plenty of single player options to boot.
Unlike most fighting games, where players inflict damage until an opponent's life force is depleted, in “Smash Brothers” players inflict damage until they can knock an opponent off the platform. The more damage, the better the chances of knocking them off. Some fights continue until a player is knocked off and others work on a point system, where the fighter least knocked off in a matter of minutes wins.
“Super Smash Brothers Brawl” is no different. Except this installment, the first for the Wii, offers more characters, stages and game play modes than its predecessors. With the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, players can battle online, although the system's cumbersome friend codes and absence of voice chat depersonalizes the bouts a little bit.
A single-player campaign, the Subspace Emissary, takes players through a threadbare narrative about Nintendo heroes and heroines being attacked by villains wielding cannons that turn people into trophies. The Emissary game play is slightly more platform-heavy, but the control mechanics of Brawl don't lend themselves well to precision jumping. Nor are the levels designed with a great degree of sophistication.
It matters not. Because if a player “gets” “Brawl,” they know the game's bread and butter is multiplayer brawling with friends. And like the Gamecube's best-selling “Super Smash Brothers Melee,” “Brawl” achieves almost infinite replay value in its addictively fun dream combat arena.
Like any fighting game, there are strengths to be found in each “Brawl” character. Heavier bruisers, like Bowser and King Dedede from the “Kirby” universe, are harder to knock around. Flying fighters, like Pit from “Kid Icarus” and “Meta Knight” from “Kirby,” can recover more easily from being launched off the platform. Although the two-button fighting system is inviting to novices, there is still tremendous depth to be exploited by players who put the time in. “Melee” veterans may prefer to use a Gamecube controller to play “Brawl,” and that option is indeed less problematic than playing with the Classic Controller or Wiimote alone.
Completing the Subspace Emissary mode unlocks Sonic the Hedgehog, who along with “Metal Gear Solid's” Snake is a legendary third party character lending himself to many a dream match with the Nintendo crew. Scores more characters, songs, stages and assist trophies are available to players who spend the time unlocking them through superlative accomplishments in the game. Outside of straight brawling, there are minigames and side quests galore to occupy players, plus a level editor in which they can build their own battlegrounds.
While the Wii's inferior graphics may irk players who feel “Brawl” looks faintly better than “Melee” on the Gamecube, there is little to bemoan about the newest game's graphic presentation. The cartoon Nintendo universe is presented in vibrant splendor, without the slightest hiccup even as four fighters duke it out amid morphing stages and hectic swirls of light. A full-length soundtrack of grandiose orchestral music further spruces up the presentation.
“Brawl” succeeds wildly at surpassing the scope of “Melee” by offering players so much more to do and master within the game. But, as always, at the core of the game are Nintendo franchise characters trading fists. And it's plainly fun. What's not to get?
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play
Game: “Super Smash Brothers Brawl”
Score: 95 out of 100
Rating: Teen
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Price: $49.99
Features: 4 player
Life span: Endless
The final boss: “Brawl” offers the best multiplayer fighting around, with myriad legendary characters and plenty of single player options to boot.
