Let’s face it, winter is behind us. For many, spring is a welcome relief from the snow and wind, but for video gamers it means a painful spring game drought. Developers, rushed to get their products on store shelves in time for the holidays, seem to take a vacation of their own this time of year. Amidst this dry spell, however, Nintendo has released its opus, the most anticipated game of the season – Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii.
Brawl is the sequel to Super Smash Bros. Melee, the best selling game on Nintendo’s previous console, the GameCube. It is a 2-D fighting game for up to four players, featuring the stars of the Big N’s other franchises, such as Mario, Yoshi, Kirby and Starfox. Known for its fast-paced action and zany attacks, the series has garnered a large following across many demographics.
For those of you who are familiar with Melee, not much has changed this time around. New stages, modes and challenges have been added, beefing up the overall package, but the core game-play remains the same.
The characters you know and love have all returned for another round, though many have been tweaked for the sake of fairness. Several new fighters have been added, bringing the roster up to 34 brawlers. The big news this time around is the inclusion of non-Nintendo-owned characters, the most anticipated of which is Sonic the Hedgehog. A long time rival of Mario in the world of video game mascots, Sonic is an extremely fast combatant, whose moves are mainly variations on his signature spin-dash. Also imported from outside of the company is Solid Snake, of Metal Gear Solid fame, whose moves utilize heavy artillery and explosives.
The single player mode has seen the biggest changes since the last installation. The Adventure Mode has been fleshed out from a string of encounters to a full-blown side-scrolling experience reminiscent of Paper Mario. The plot isn’t exactly Pulitzer worthy, but it provides a decent excuse for the characters’ varied backgrounds to intertwine.
Also included is a level editor, which allows players to build and fight in their very own custom arenas. As more matches are played in custom stages, more interesting pieces are unlocked with which to build better levels. Players who are especially proud of their creations have the option of submitting them to Nintendo, who will choose one stage per day to submit online to every Wii owner on Earth.
Speaking of online, Brawl is one of the first, and undoubtedly the biggest game to utilize the Wii’s online multiplayer service. Using WiFi connections, Brawl owners can log on to Nintendo’s free service and battle their friends from around the world. The full online experience, however, requires a console-specific “friend code.” It is possible to battle perfect strangers, but that entails a stripped down experience without rankings or text messages.
Another big addition is the “Final Smash,” a powerful, character-specific coup de grace which is achieved by destroying a special item called the Smash Ball. This simple item changes the entire dynamic of the game because whenever it appears the focus of the match shifts from beating on other players to getting the ball. This is an interesting twist and certainly shakes up the typical formula of “ring-out or knock-out.”
Overall, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a more polished version of its predecessors. Everything feels faster, tighter and more intense. The Wii remote works surprisingly well, and even if you opt for the familiar GameCube controller, the whole game seems fresh and new. If you were a fan of the game in its past iterations, you will be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about this time around. And if you happen to own a Wii, you owe it to yourself to buy Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Andrew Sheridan can be reached at [email protected].
