Sunday, July 6, 2008

Review: Super Smash Brothers Brawl for Nintendo Wii

One could say that if you build anything upon the blocks of a previous success, it is guaranteed to have greatness. Nintendo for example are always building, and their blocks of success in which they choose to build upon never really change. But this does not seem to worry anyone with the release in Australia of Super Smash Bros. Brawl delivering yet another step in their smashing saga. Super Smash Bros. Brawl exclusively for the Nintendo Wii is yet again delivering its Side-on fighting style which has seen its predecessors to be blockbusters. Bringing many of the Nintendo favorites along with some guest characters this little gem, seems to be living up to it’s hyped up name. All in all, 35 characters (that’s including those to be unlocked) can fight head-to-head in up to a 4 player Free for all or team game.

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The Objective is trouble-free; knock your opponent off the edge of the map. Each of the 35 characters are in some way unique, but there are a few characters who are almost complete clones and just a skin swap. There are many stages to play on with mates on the sofa or over Wii-Net, and there is enough content and fun to be had just within the multiplayer that you could almost forget that there is a solo mode. Along with the solo/co-op Sub Space Emissary which plays as a story line as an amalgamation of Nintendo characters thrown into one storyline. This lasts for around 12 of solid game play (Normal – Hard Mode), so is not a truly worth your hard-earned unless you have people to play with, or are happy playing the Sub Space Emissary mode and playing Brawl games with bots. There is the good ‘ol line up of the original characters from the Nintendo 64’s Super Smash Bros. game and some of the favourites from Melee but it has a healthy new array of new characters. Not to say that the old fighters are tiresome, but a new look onto the gameplay with its new members is refreshing. While upon the topic of old fighters, this addictive piece plays like the old ones, and I had no troubles with finding the type of Wii-Mote combo that worked for me. You may use the Wii-Mote, a Wii-Mote with the Nunchuck, the Classic Controler, or a Gamecube controller. There a unique few character that is worth your time unlocking such as Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid saga and Sonic, along with many more such as our old time punching buddy, Captain Falcon. Naturally, Nintendo made some minor modifications to the gameplay speed compared to Melee and chose to place some interesting new ideas to the fighting style such as the Smash-Orb which allows the fighter to unleash a overwhelming attack which can overall have a great outcome to the final score.

brawl level

I find the collection of Stickers and trophies to be a slightly trivial function for a game, but apart from this minor personal bias I cannot find any true flaws. There is nothing really to be said for the graphics, it is a Wii game so nothing extraordinary is to be expected but it is pleasant on the eyes as well as its soundtrack being the very rounded a well suited to the game. I have played countless hours on the original Smash Bros. and find the combat to be somewhat too familiar but with all the new features, characters, maps and the countless other goodies, there is nothing stopping me from brawling till I drop. This is designed for sitting around the TV with some mates and rotating the controller around (Wonderful Nintendo tell you who is next to swap the controller). Though upon that tone, there is no doubt in the minds of this games development team that it is also a delivery for the hardcore fans. This is what was expected of the hype, thankfully it lived up to it. This is more than just another solid Nintendo game, this is probably your best buy for the Wii for this year and will have you playing it for longer than that.

Speed review/Summary: Following the footsteps of its two older brothers, this lives up to both of them. Plenty of content, exciting new fighters, many new maps and very well balanced. Works with all variations of controllers for Wii. It is worth your money and if you could only afford one Wii game this year, this is the one folks. Will keep you busy no matter what type of gamer you are.

4.5 / 5 Stars

Dan Byron

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