A sequel to what?
only the best smash-em-up, Super Smash Brothers.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl has finally reached all game-savvy Wii owners..
..in the US..
Thanks to some first-rate importing and royal mail, (oh god i love you), I have managed to be one of the first in the UK to Brawl.
was my year-and-a-half-of-religiously-checking-the-official-website-for-updates wait ever so slightly worth it?
read on!
If you're familiar with the previous games, the overall concept doesn't differ particularly in basic objective - Fighting other players on themed stages and rack up points by smashing opponents out the ring.
The tradition of newcomer characters from other games from Nintendo is upheld, but this time with a few exceptions (i'll explain later). Every character uses unique Smash attacks, specials, and techniques, (previous installments had move sets which means a couple of characters using the same moves as each other). The use of Items that spawn randomly help you fend off your title as head brawler, like guns, bombs, slashing or throwing items, or special ones.
If you are smash veteran, such as yours truly, all that should be obvious. There are so many differences!!! Not too many to ruin the game, but enough to enhance and preserve the integrity, playabilty and smashability. Certain things i'll elaborate on more such as Final Smashes, Stage Builder, new items, the Subspace emissary and most importantly, the addition of some of the coolest characters possible!
In reference to new items, one of the most notable is the Assist Trophy - (summoning a player from another game to assist you and fights your enemies for a short period, includes: Andross, Shadow the hedgehog etc).
And now the important matter of Smash Balls and the Final Smash. These are basically a massive attack, possibly smashing all on-screen competitors - very awesome.
Veteran players will notice subtle differences in veteran characters, in subtle ways. Nothing major, but still cool.
Trophies. these are an already established part of smash bros where the trophies are collected and sport endless Nintendo Trivia and history. Trophy Designs vary form pat/present characters, items, vehicles and even the trophy base is a trophy.... geddit? collecting them all is a dauntin, but fun challenge. there are around six hundred, nearly double the amount in Melee! Also, Instead of a "slot machine" to gain more trophies, the 'Coin Launcher' makes a debut. A fun mini-game in which you shoot coins at passing by trophies and targets obtain them, and also coin bonuses.
Along with trophies, stickers are now another excuse for mindless collecting! They can be used in Brawl's Subspace Emissary (like Paper Mario's many badges).
not entirely necessary, but still aesthetically pleasing.
Brawl boasts the only Full story mode of any Smash Bros. to date, the Subspace Emissary, boasting surprisingly good graphics for a Wii title.
Full to the brim with awesome, the SSE is almost like one long, playable movie, alternating seamlessly between cutscenes and side-scrolling adventure or brawling. Above the hierarchy of easily-smashable goons are bosses that span a wide spectrum of already established, powerful characters, such as, (without spoiling too much), Rodley of Metroid fame, Rayquaza from Pokémon, and the fearsome Petey Piranha.
If the Puzzle-esque feel of Zelda Games tickles your fancy, then SSE caters for you too! It is not only fun, but also a great way to discover most of the hidden characters without going through other, long alternatives.
One of the most tantalising points to this game is of course, the Amazing amount of Characters to collect! What I love is how all the new characters bring a certain flare and their own unique play styles, which considerably makes the whole SSBB experience so much richer. The Pokémon Trainer, a new character who utilises three different Pokémon during the match, like a rotation. Captain Olimar (Pikmin) who is fearfully assisted by many Pikmin creatures, is another addition.
those are just two.
And I don't want to spoil.
But the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake are characters that will surely entice.
The Brawl Soundtrack is one of the most amazingly ground-braking soundtracks of all time, with no exceptions. The line-up of musicians span some of the most innovative composers and musicians, who have all worked on previous nintendo classics. Nearly all the tracks are fully orchestrated, without a MIDI tune in sight - (well, you musn't include the classics.. although - many of those have been remastered and now sound even better). You can collect the songs as you go, they'll apear in stage like this:
Lets talk Wifi. the online mode is extremely good, boating a friend roster, and it's even possible to play home run contests with friends! for those (like me) bieng too far ahead of the game to know anyone else with Brawl - (thought a quick and subtle boast was needed.... nyeh nyeh), there is a "fight against anyone" selection. Slight lag occasionally creeps in, which can be the difference between victory and defeat, but there should be no substitute for skill!
In summary, if you have a Wii, this is a must. there's nothing better.
For the general public i'd say 97%.
Personally, 100% wouldn't do it justice..
