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Review by Doctor Setebos
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You can call it "partaking in a bit of fan service" if you want; some would call it "pandering to the user base". But any way you slice it, the Smash Bros. series of fighting games featuring Nintendo mascots old and new is one of the most popular franchises in Nintendo's history. And on its third iteration, Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii does not disappoint.
This newest Smash title is a dramatic improvement over every version that has come before it. It includes online multiplayer, a fleshed-out single player campaign, a larger player roster featuring more fan favorites, a stage builder, improved gameplay, improved graphics, more co-op events, more unlockable content - the list is vast and has been eagerly anticipated. Build all of that on top of a solid fighting game engine, and you have the makings of an absolutely stellar title.
Subspace Emissary
Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube included a side-scrolling "adventure mode" that was little more than a series of battles, interspersed with some running and some light platforming aspects. It was nothing compared to the adventure mode in Brawl: the Subspace Emissary. Written by scenario writer Kazushige Nojima, a Square Enix scribe responsible for the stories of Final Fantasy VII, FFVIII, the upcoming FFXIII, and Kingdom Hearts, the Subspace Emissary features multiple stories profiling all of the different Brawl characters separately coming together during the course of the campaign to battle a singular evil force. The beauty of this story is that it is told completely through cinematic scenes that are devoid of any voice acting whatsoever. The gameplay for the Subspace Emissary is based entirely on each character's regular fighting moveset, and it translates surprisingly well to a platforming experience.
Online Multiplayer
Yes, inputting and managing online friend codes is a pain. But while Nintendo still hasn't figured out how to properly implement and maintain a suitable online framework, it doesn't detract from the bulk of the game. The fact remains that this is the first time players have had the opportunity to take the battle of Nintendo mascots online, and players are taking full advantage of the new functionality. So much, in fact, that the option to play against anyone available on the online network hasn't worked very well since launch. However, playing against friends works wonderfully and with very little lag, even across country.
Character Roster
Brawl features 9 more playable characters than Melee, which featured 14 more than the original Smash Bros., which basically means that in the course of three games, the roster has nearly tripled in size. Besides the usual Mario, Bowser, Captain Falcon, Pokemon, Link and company, Brawl also includes something that Nintendo has never before added to a Smash Bros. game: third-party characters. Konami's Snake (Metal Gear Solid) and Sega's Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog) are refreshing additions to Brawl's character roster.
Smash Ball
The Smash Ball item is another addition new to Brawl. When a Smash Ball appears on a stage, the battle quickly devolves into a mad dash to be the first to crack the ball open and unlock a furious Final Smash Attack. The Final Smash is a special move that is unique to every character and unleashes a devastating attack that is largely unavoidable by the rest of the players in the battle.
Stage Building
Another element that was added to Brawl was the ability to create and share custom stages. As you play through the game, you are given access to more stage building parts that allow you to create more intricate stages and design them to your own tastes. You are also able to submit your creations to Nintendo, and every day Nintendo selects a stage and sends it out to all connected Brawlers over the WiiConnect24 service. Features like this help keep the content fresh and continually gives you a reason to go back and play more of the game.
Overall, all of the characters in Brawl - old AND new - play well and in a fashion that makes sense for each character. The fighting style is balanced and the extended features of the game are superb. While the online play still leaves something to be desired (and many things desired to be REMOVED), it is passable enough to make the entire Brawl package a game that simply cannot be passed up if you are a Wii owner. Altogether, this is a game that will be difficult to shelve.
Tabasco on 04/07/2008
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tashi on 04/11/2008
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