Super Smash Bros. Brawl smashes predecessors with new ideas and content.
With the top-selling Gamecube sequel Super Smash Bros. Melee outselling its predecessor by over two million copies, it's no wonder that the Smash Bros. license has become Nintendo's new go to series for fans. Now with a somewhat new Nintendo system on the market, it's once again time to jump into the nostalgia-filled fray with Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Nintendo Wii.
While the first Smash Bros. could be considered a proverbial "testing of water" game with Melee adding to that formula, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is finally the step in the right direction the series needed to take to become a well-rounded game. The many additions the new game brings to the table are proof of that.
To begin with, no longer are gamers stuck with simple classic single-player mode, as fighting through the lineup up characters to reach the final boss is so Mortal Kombat. Brawl includes a surprisingly in-depth single-player mode that mimics the wonderful 2D sidescrollers of Nintendo's yesteryear. The levels are not only decently designed, but there are tons of them and every single one of them is intercut with an amazingly cinematic FMV. The story is actually respectable as well, mixing and matching players' favorite Nintendo characters to tell a story that makes players want to find out what happens next.
Some of the levels and enemies do tend to get a bit repetitive, not to mention the final level "The Great Maze" is one of the most annoyingly tedious levels of all time, but the fact that players without access to friends that game now have something to do for their $50 makes it easily overlooked.
Besides an impressive single-player mode, multiplayer is back with a vengeance. The roster now sports 35 characters (not all of which are of Nintendo fame, mind you) and 41 brand new and favored old stages to fight on. But that's not nearly the best part. Now fans that find themselves bored with these preset stages can use the new level editor to make their own smash dojos. This unlocks almost unlimited level ideas and experiences, and sharing them with Wii friends is a breeze.
But the funny thing is, that even with a level editor in tow, the majority of the preset levels are absolutely leaps and bounds better than the predecessors'. The new Earthbound level is epic is scope and gorgeous to look at, while the Pokemon Spear Pillar level has so much crazy stuff going on it's hard to tell up from down, literally, but nothing compares to the old school homage to retro gaming like a Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., or Game and Watch stage.
With a brand new story mode, characters, levels, and a level editor, it's hard to imagine anything else Nintendo could squeeze onto this disc to make fans happier. But they squeeze on anyways. The soundtrack to this game is phenomenal, the trophies have once again returned to collect via a new mini-game (not to mention the inclusion of stickers now), the unlockables will take weeks to achieve, and finally, the coup de grace, online multiplayer.
Unlike the yesteryear of my middle school days, no longer are we as gamers forced to squeeze in front of a television to play. Sure it's a closer bonding experience, but friends constantly come and go. Now friends can go, but always be on call for a quick smash or two miles away. Even though Nintendo still intends to neuter any respectable source of online play with friend codes and no speech support, just the fact that one can play and observe smash fans from around the country is enough reason to be happy.
With all the praise aforementioned, a few things trip up Super Smash Bros. Brawl from becoming the perfect gaming experience, such as the literal "tripping" that characters now have a tendency to do when dashing for some reason. Also, more building parts and space would have been appreciated for the truly inventive at heart and of course I could always make the argument for more characters, stages, weapons, and ideas, but that would be me being greedy for a game that already does so much more than its previous installment.
The bottom-line is this, if you have a Nintendo Wii and you love Smash Bros., this game must be yours. On the other hand, if you have a Wii and have never had the chance to play Smash Bros., this game must also be yours. I'd would even go so far as to say, if you don't have a Wii and have never even heard of Smash Bros., then seek one out for the sole purpose of picking up Brawl and enjoying. The game is chock full of fun and is capable of bringing back the fondest nostalgic memories of any old school gamer at heart.