Super Smash Bros. best in franchise
Most video game enthusiasts know the legacy of Super Smash Bros. The beloved games take Nintendo characters – both legendary and obscure – and pit them against each other in a fighting game that is both unique and accessible to anyone due to its simple controls. Six years after the release of the previous game, the newest installment in the series has finally arrived. The game promises all of the fun of beating the stuffing out of Nintendo’s most iconic characters, only in high definition and with even more content than ever before.
After playing the Wii U version of Smash Bros, I find it impossible to return to previous entries in the franchise. The fighting engine is as close to perfectly balanced as it has ever been. Each character has noticeable strengths and weaknesses, and if the character is played smart, there is no situation that is impossible to win. Any flaws that may appear in the engine over time can now be patched out of the game due to the advancement of technology. This creates the opportunity to further tweak and eventually perfect the game. The balance of this game highlights the flaws of the past ones. The companion to this game, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, shares the same mechanics, but looks and sounds much worse in comparison. The high definition visuals that can be enjoyed in the Wii U version blow any previous attempts out of the water. The lighting effects on fighting arenas like Mario Galaxy and Star Fox’s Orbital Gate Assault show off the beautiful graphics that the developers have created. Thanks to these factors, the game is both fun to play and great to look at.
The biggest point of excitement leading up to a Smash game’s release is the anticipation of what new fighters will be added to the roster. Not only are fan favorites like Bowser Jr. and the Duck Hunt Dog included in the new game, but also guest characters like Capcom’s Mega Man or Namco’s Pac-Man, who feel right at home alongside Mario and Donkey Kong. Many of the new characters also bring elements that mix up the way players approach the game. The boxer Little Mac is a powerhouse on the ground, but horrible in the air, Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy emphasizes multitasking in the form of a star-shaped Luma companion that can attack on its own, and Robin from Fire Emblem has limits on how many times a player can use his attacks. The most exciting addition to the roster is the Mii fighter. Have you ever wanted Abe Lincoln to be in Smash Bros.? Now you can create him and customize him just the way you like. All in all, the selection of newcomers added to the game is arguably the most creative in the series.
As previously mentioned, character customization makes its debut in this entry. Each character has 12 move variations, and with the addition of stat-changing equipment, the character you hate the most can turn into your new favorite. The only problem? All of the additional moves and equipment needs to be unlocked. This process is randomized, and you can get repeats of the same item, so just to get a fighter’s full potential requires a lot of time invested into the game. Nintendo’s take on the “toys-to-life” concept seen in Skylanders and Disney Infinity, named amiibo, are compatible with this game. If you scan one of the toys, you can fight it and have it level up and learn new techniques. While this is neat, I fail to see the point of the functionality. I will always prefer to fight a human being than a computer, and in my opinion the other ways to use amiibo are not interesting enough to warrant their $13 each price tag.
Previously, Smash games have always been four-player, meaning that a few people usually sat out. This version, however, introduces eight-player Smash. Provided you have enough controllers, you and up to seven friends (or enemies) can duke it out together. And having enough controllers shouldn’t be an issue, as the game supports a diverse lineup of them. Aside from the normal candidates like the Wiimote and Pro Controller, it also supports an adaptor that lets GameCube controllers to be used once again, commonly recognized as “the best way to play Smash.” And if you have a copy of the 3DS version, you can use your handheld as a controller. Eight-Player Smash is complete chaos, but that’s always been the franchise’s selling point.
While the main “Smash” mode of gameplay is the best it’s ever been, the additional modes leave something to be desired. “Smash Tour” is a board game twist on the Smash formula. While that sounds like it would be the most fun thing to be created by mankind, the execution of the mode is lackluster at best. Your mii runs around the board and collects fighters to use in the final battle. However, all players move at the same time, so it is hard to keep track of your character amongst all that is happening on screen. The additions of items, enemies, and stat boosts just add to the hysteria on-screen, and not the good kind like in eight-player Smash. By the time you’ve finished explaining the rules to your friend, you’ve both lost interest and have moved on to the normal game, the reason you bought the game in the first place. The stadium minigames also disappoint, as the fan favorite “Break the Targets,” which was designed to showcase the capabilities of each character, has been replaced with “Target Blast,” where you don’t even need to move.
Despite the few extra modes that don’t quite get off the ground, the core gameplay of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is so perfect and fun that it alone justifies the purchase of not just the game, but the Wii U itself. The game provides almost every feature that fans have been asking for, and with the patching capabilities, there’s no guarantee that the missing ones won’t be added in the future. If you’re a fan of Nintendo games, fighting games, or fun, you owe it to yourself to buy Smash.
Jeremy Farbman is a sophomore at Mt. Lebanon High School.