Stage 1: Impressions |
Stage 2: Analysis |
Stage 3: Evaluation |
Much needs to be taken into account for the final grade of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While Peach players seem to be unhappy with the character's limited jumping ability and some are bothered by the new aerial evasion, these same players are finding the new characters to be even more satisfying than the old Peach. There are enough new items and modes for gamers to still want to play this game on an almost daily basis, and there's certainly more customization than ever before.
Item selection is still as easy as before, with more to choose!
Simple things, like changing the menu screen music, picking what songs should be played in areas, making your own insane levels and having crimson-eyed Link characters fight each other are worth any of the change. Melee was fun, and will last in the hearts of all gamers, but Brawl has certainly taken over with fresh content and the ability to download new stages on a regular basis. Brawl will, in fact, last for years. It was hard to believe that anyone who tired out every component of Melee would buy a sequel, but great games always come in threes.
A trophy for swimming? Yes, there's one for everything.
Online had to be the most difficult component to evaluate, with spurts of lag issues persisting even a week after consumer launch. Will the experience improve? Probably. Even if it doesn't, at least the service is completely free; years of competitions at no expense to the consumer can still make for a good time. These games seem to work best in one-on-one battles with friends living in a nearby radius, which will be a decent portion of players wanting to play with friends from down the street without having leaving their televisions. It is unfortunate that interacting with random people worldwide is impossible beyond the match, but players will never have trouble finding someone to brawl against.
Wii Message Board notifies you of sent stages by friends!
Online is mainly a bonus to actual gameplay, and there's enough for everyone. Even casual gamers and parents can enjoy the simplicity of the Wii Remote controls and play through Subspace Emissary on the easiest difficulty. After all, many game-playing parents grew up with side-scrollers like these. Pressing two buttons for the majority of all attacks is easy enough to get into, and if not, you always have the flexibility to reassign button configurations to your tastes.
Casual gamers: Join on Easy! Bring a friend along!
The graphics are beautiful, the audio is clear, the online system is one of the best on the Wii in over a year and a half, the stages are varied, the mini-game experiences are time-consuming, the trophies are endless, the game is much more balanced and the new items are a blast. The Smash Balls are a game of catch, but can be turned off if there's any issues of fairness. What more could you want?
Did I mention that the graphics are amazing for 480p?
From someone who has invested countless hours into this franchise, the answer, surprisingly, is little. Despite all of the hardware limitations of the Wii (no hard line ethernet port, no hard drive, no 720p or 1080p support, limited RAM, motion control woes, barely any SD card use) Brawl has managed to overcome for the hardcore audience. This is once again the game to own for the console, and no Wii should be without a copy.
With all that said, The Wiire proudly grants Super Smash Bros. Brawl the site's very first A+. May consoles return defective after overheating issues from spending too many hours a day enjoying our beloved console.
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Gorgeous graphics exceeding expectation.
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Stage 1: Impressions |
Stage 2: Analysis |
Stage 3: Evaluation |
