Chapter 1
Learning the Basics
So you want to join the hype train and buy Super Smash Bros. Brawl and become the champion on your block. There's only one problem: you have never played Smash Bros. before! That's quite an issue, isn't it? Luckily, Rob will be your Obi Wan Smashobi, free of charge!
The object of the game isn't to kill your opponent, but knock said fool off of the stage. The stages may be large, but the sides of the screen are very deadly. The more you hit an enemy, the more damage they receive in that percentage meter down below. The higher that number is, the more likely a player will go flying after a charged-up attack. When your enemy has a high enough meter, you attack, and said foe flies off the screen, a point is given to you and their point is lost. The most points at the end of a game wins.
Meta Knigh is a fast character,
use that to your advantage!
Each character is different, so don't expect Meta Knight to be the same speed as Bowser. Learning who you want to play depends on how quick you want to land attacks and how much power you would like. If you want a very fast character, Sheik or Meta Knight may be your best bets. If you want brute strength, King Dedede or Bowser will handle well. If you want a balanced character with no major advantages, the Super Mario characters will be best.
Once you've chosen your character, the first thing to know is how to fight. There are two types of attacks: normal attacks and special attacks. Normal attacks are your typical punches and kicks, all set on the same button. The special attacks are a little more complicated, but we'll get to that later.
The real strategy behind the game is to keep yourself from falling off the screen by staying in the center, and hit the enemies as often as possible to move them towards the outer part of the screen. When their percentage nears 100% or more, it's time to knock that enemy off.
Normal attacks are all placed on the A button, or the 2 button, depending on what game controller you wish to use for the game. You can choose from four different configurations: Wii Remote, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, GameCube controller, or the Classic Controller. Each of these can be reprogrammed in the game to best match your playing style, but buttons can be reassigned for further customization.
GameCube controllers and Classic Controllers are ideal for most hardcore gamers, whereas the Wii Remote and Remote/Nunchuk control styles have less buttons but require a lot more button combinations. Many game testers and journalists have found the GameCube and Classic Controller styles to be better than the Wii Remote, but any is fine. If you find yourself more comfortable with less buttons, the Wii Remote is always a great way to train on the basics. For now, let's train under normal attacks.
Start simple and easy with normal attacks.
Running up to a player and hitting the normal attack button is relatively easy and the best way to start learning your character. Run around a few times, press your jump button (tapping up on the directional pad, or pressing X/Y), press it again to see a double jump in the air, and see if you're comfortable with character's speed. If a character is too fast at first, the battles might be too rapid for you.
There are techniques to this normal attack button. By pressing in a direction and holding down the attack button at the same time, your character will charge up and unleash a more powerful attack - this is called a Smash Attack. Release the button and watch your enemy fly. Attacks work without holding any buttons, but variations of those attacks can be done by tapping right/left, up, or down. Whether holding or tapping the directional pad while hitting this button, there's a new technique for each.
Each character has strengths and weaknesses with these attacks. While Link may have a great move jumping in the air and pressing down+attack to hit enemies from below, his up+attack isn't as fast. Zelda has a powerful blow by pressing up+attack to make her great with characters coming from above, but her down+attack isn't anything spectacular. We'll get into specifics later, but a beginner needs to have a feel for what does what to develop a strategy and be comfortable with his/her character.
Mario's regular special attack is the fireball.
Learning the normal attacks leads us to special attacks, which are quite fun if used in moderation. Players can use four special attacks by pressing the B (or 1) button instead of the A (or 2) button, so all rules apply from the normal Smash attacks. Whether pressing left/right while using the button, up and the button, down and the button, or simply pressing the special attack in no direction at all, each character performs his or her own signature moves.
Special moves can be a vital part of a player, but beginners relying on them may find themselves hurting in the end. Newcomers love to spend the entire match throwing Mario's fireballs or shooting Fox's gun, but either can be dodged by an advanced player and leave you open for punishment. It's really important to find a balance between the special attacks and normal attacks, and learning this golden rule separates the real Smash players from the rest. Special attacks are often slower than regular attacks, and sometimes they leave your character vulnerable to be hit many times.
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