July 1st, 2008 ~ Alliteration-tastic!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
We all knew it was coming. Our cousins across the globe had already told us what it was like. Now the Europeans get the Brawl experience. And it was well worth the wait.
I had to do a lot of things for this Brawl review, namely waiting a couple of days for the ‘holy freaking pancakes, Brawl is awesome!’ factor to wear off so I could take a decent look at the game. I also had to resist the urge to play every time I mentioned a great element, otherwise the review would never be finished. Was it necessary to unlock all the characters in one go? Or was it necessary to play it for 13 hours straight (with 2 bathroom breaks of course)? You tell me. I did it anyway because Brawl is just that good.
The single most important thing to assess about Brawl has to be how well it plays, how well the combatants move and strike. If Brawl were a car, it’d handle like a dream. Each character moves just as they should, some feel heavy and slow, others glide and jump around. They’re as powerful and fight as you’d imagine. It all makes sense, and feels right.
The Smash Bros series has always been famous for its all-star rosters, so much so that there is a game mode named ‘All-Star’. It’s the gaming equivalent of the Oscars. And I’m not talking C-list celebrities. Certainly not the ones who were on Big Brother once, had the personality of a door knob then milked it for every last penny. Brawl has the Will Smiths, the Michael Caines and the Mariah Careys. The talented, popular ones that you actually care about. For this latest instalment, the big news is the inclusion of non-Nintendo characters, Snake (of Metal Gear Solid) and Sonic (from Sonic the Hedgehog). Other welcome additions include the infamous Wario fresh from his WarioWare outings, and Captain Olimar of Pikmin fame. Also, the roll call has been given a serious kick in a better direction. In the previous game, Melee, it was loaded with ‘clone characters’ that were basically copies of other characters with near-identical move sets. This made the roster seem larger than it really was. This time around, HAL have made the selection of characters far more unique and varied than any other fighter out there. Characters that were previously clones now have a lot more individual characteristics to make them worth using, and the new additions have great styles that take Brawl’s depth one step further.
You’ll soon learn that Brawl doesn’t do things in half measures. It doesn’t like just having one or two of something. That isn’t Brawl’s way. Brawl likes the number ‘squillion’. It is no longer a number used by children in the playground. Brawl put an end to that. Brawl has a squillion characters, a squillion modes and a squillion unlockables. The reason I felt the need for this description is to help you comprehend just how much there is to be found in this game. I actually tried counting how many trophies, stickers, stages and songs there were to be unlocked, in addition to the ones you start off with. In doing so I nearly died. So, for safety’s sake, I’m going to make an educated guess of a metric squillion. And each one of these is a nugget of gaming history to savour. You’d be hard pressed to find a game worth mentioning from Nintendo’s expansive history that’s been missed. It’s like a photo album of nostalgia, loaded with a description of each trophy for those unfamiliar with that historic artefact.
Game modes are in plentiful supply. Aside from the aforementioned All-Star mode, there are 5 other single player modes, Classic being the simplest of these. Fight through 12 stages, arcade style. It’s the very heart of Brawl, a raw experience interspersed with special stages. The Adventure mode has become much meatier, now going by the name ‘The Subspace Emissary’. RPG elements have been added, such as the stickers, which you can apply to characters to give them special attributes and you get to pick which members of your team you want to play with. The levels themselves are in the style of a side-scrolling platformer, their design relatively bog-standard, but with some quite brilliant set pieces and boss battles, supplemented by a good variety of enemies. The Subspace Emissary plot is not central to the overall game but does a good job of loosely bringing together all of the characters without being overly complicated and confusing. The highlight is undoubtedly the brief but wonderfully rendered cut scenes that appear after each level.
There are other game modes too, some full games in their own right, all combining to add considerably to Brawl’s already impressive lifespan. The Stage Builder deserves a special mention as it enables you to create your own multiplayer levels. It’s rather basic in terms of visual customisation but structurally you can re-create most ideas from your imagination, adding yet another bag of hours to the pile of lifespan.
Eventually, we get to the multiplayer. Readers familiar with Smash Bros will understand if I take a little pause to prepare myself for this. The multiplayer aspect of Brawl is what it’s all about. The sheer fun of beating each other senseless is brilliantly captured in gaming form. And you save money on hospital visits. Almost every single thing you can do solo, you can do in co-op with a friend. That includes the Adventure mode as well as the always fun Multi-man brawls and the Home run contest. If you’re looking for any kind of offline multiplayer experience, Brawl has something for you.
Even if you have a lack of friends, Brawl likes you. If you’re feeling glum because you can’t fill all 4 player slots for multiplayer matches, you can easily add in CPU opponents. There are plenty of difficulty settings for you to set these bots at, ranging from walk in the park to devilishly fiendish. These keep the game fresh as you can always set up challenging scenarios for yourself. There’s also a full online mode offering versus and team battle, complete with a waiting area for you to practice against the training bag while you are allocated opponents. The online performance doesn’t match up to the sublime in-game implementation of Mario Kart as it can be sensitive to lag, so ensure your connection is otherwise unused and fingers crossed your opponents will have equally good connections. If conditions are on your side there’s a lot of fun to be had.
Brawl also utilises the internet in other ways. You can swap screenshots, replays and even your own stage creations with friends, as well as receiving some stages and replays from Nintendo from across the globe.
When you get into the match, there’s far more options than just your own attacks. The stage is gradually peppered with a vast array of items to be used. From health pickups, to baseball bats and Smash-making weapons like the Final Smash ball. This unleashes your character’s Final Smash move, and while this may seem like a game breaking addition at first, it becomes clear that they are not always simple to use. The chase for these can put a spark into any fight no matter what’s going on. Assist Trophies are another new addition, basically acting like the pokeballs, unleashing a random character from a hoarde of games to help you take down your foes. Again, these are very sought after and fuel the energy levels.
Brawl manages to appeal to and be approachable for all varieties of gamer, a rare trait which is ideal for this big Wii title. Four different control options as well as an as-deep-as-you-want-it combat style mean that whether you’re a parent looking forward to seeing Mario and Sonic have a punch-up, or a Nintendo fan wanting the Nintendo Chronicle (of love), Brawl can offer you an outstanding game. Gather your friends, this is the perfect multiplayer experience.
Nexus
July 1st, 2008
Is it really worth a 10/10? I’m really not trying to bring up the age old “what-makes-a-game-worth-10/10″ argument but the review seems pretty biased. I’m speaking completely subjectively but i’ve read and heard about a lot of things in Brawl that would drop it a mark or two, and i spend my days pretty much just solely talking to people about shit like this.
I understand that this is one person’s viewpoint on the game but to represent DarkZero as a site? What do you other guys think of the game? Personal scores?
Ben
July 1st, 2008
Brawl is my favourite game on Wii, even eclipsing the excellent Mario Galaxy. When it comes to multiplayer, vast array of unlockables, attention to detail, character selection, entertainment and fun, nothing comes close to this. As with any game there are a few things to criticise, as one would expect with so many modes on offer, but in he scheme of things these are dwarfed into insignificance. Brawl is a fusion of old fashioned simplicity combined with the freedom and variety modern gaming can offer.
Melee took me a little while to fully appreciate, so I understand why some are still not won over by the series. But it ended up being my most played GameCube game. Brawl won me over straight away and the perfect integration of Olimar, Sonic and Snake is a stroke of genius. It’s rare for me to enjoy a game this much.
10/10
Seth
July 1st, 2008
I loved the original Smash Bros. but nevver played Melee. So far I’d have to say that I’m astonished by the sheer volume and variety of content that Brawl contains.
I havent even yet touched upon the Multiplayer, Subspace Emissary and Online modes, and yet I’m still in awe of the number of things I have left to try.
I’m loving the different characters, and the gameplay that seems basic at first, but in reality has so much to learn.
The attention to detail, the sheer love that this game has been built with, and the excellent ideas it presents mean that the positive aspects far outweigh any minor criticisms.
Right now I can’t see how this game could possibly be any less than a 9/10. I’m sure once I’ve tried a 4-player match I’ll be thinking more like 10/10.
This is how all games should be made. They’ve done everything they possibly can with the core concept of the game.
Andi
July 2nd, 2008
It is a lot of fun, but there are too many issues that knock it down from a ten.
The “subspace emissary” is crap. Without a cube pad, the controls are wonky as fuck and as a hardcore fighting game fan, it is woefully unbalanced. Unlocking characters in any game is a bollock, but that is a mild annoyance. Don’t get me wrong, it is a fun, enjoyable game with a lot of charm and a hell of a lot for the Nintendo fanboys to web their fingers up with, but ten out of ten? Personally, that is a score I save for things that will truly shape the future of games. Gran Turismo, Mario 64, Halo… I wouldn’t say this was in the same company.
Good, but not the absolute best.
8/10
Sean
July 2nd, 2008
“Unlocking characters in any game is a bollock, but that is a mild annoyance.”
I’d call it more than mild. The box says I can play as Sonic - so why do I have to play for five fucking hours before he’s unlocked?
And the controls are a bit daft even if you have a Gamecube controller. Why oh why does the game force you to use the analogue stick for movement (unless you’re using the Wiimote, which is shite for other reasons)? It lets you totally customise everything else about the controls, so why not that? Why the hell do I have to double-tap with an analogue stick to make my character run? The characters’ movement is entirely digital - stop, go, or double-tap to run. That’s fine, but try letting me actually use a digital controller to do it, eh?
(8/10)
Barry Buttocks
July 2nd, 2008
Smash Brothers Brawl is worth 8 at the most, unless of course you’re a self indulgent fan-boy who can’t spell Michael Caine.
BB
x
Steve
July 2nd, 2008
You do of course forget to mention most of the features you talked about here were present in melee. Fair enough how much can you do to such a concept as Nintendo all stars fighting?
Too many reviews just critisise the points and don’t even give room for the plot or how fun something is. Others focus too heavily on the negative as fun as that can be for the reviewer. I honestly think Ally’s hit the nail on the head here. Not the perfect review but an entertaining and not overly bias peice of journalism (ie professionalism) that adresses the game itself and not overly conserned with its flaws. Fun is of course why we play games, listen to music, watch a film ectra. Attention to detail, competence in level design ectra are just the icing on a cake and a good review should reflect this. In the olden days when I did reviews I would review a technically bad game higher on the fun aspect (Dead rising, Cod3)
Shame that the online service doesn’t even offer the bare minimum of acceptable features (MKWii set the low standard for nintendo wifi) but is so much lag excusable?
For those critising Ally’s approach I say just because someone who was all hyped up for the game and knew it would be good (nobody expected it to suck now did they? ) doesn’t mean the review loses any meaning as a critical analysis.
9/10
Ben
July 2nd, 2008
Unlocking characters is a slightly eccentric aspect to take issue with. I’d much prefer to explore the game, track down a character and defeat them in order to unlock. This is much more meaningful than handing out achievement points. In this genre this is one of the rare highlights of single player. By starting with all the characters I would draw a not overly serious comparison by saying it would be like starting a Pokemon game with them all in your collection.
Control wise I have taken issue with the Wii controls in the past but have had no trouble with the Wiimote + nunchuck.
Sean
July 2nd, 2008
“For those critising Ally’s approach I say just because someone who was all hyped up for the game and knew it would be good (nobody expected it to suck now did they? ) doesn’t mean the review loses any meaning as a critical analysis.”
Aside from the fact that barely critices it at all, you mean.
Really, are you a mate of Alasdair’s?
Darren
July 3rd, 2008
I think Brawl takes all of Melee’s good features, refines them and adds some more. I don’t have an issue with the score - it is either a 9/10 or 10/10 game in my opinion. I’m struggling to think of another game that offers as much gameplay and variety of game modes.
When Wii2 is out we will look back at this game as one of the best on the Wii.
Matt
July 3rd, 2008
“Unlocking characters is a slightly eccentric aspect to take issue with. I’d much prefer to explore the game, track down a character and defeat them in order to unlock. This is much more meaningful than handing out achievement points. In this genre this is one of the rare highlights of single player. By starting with all the characters I would draw a not overly serious comparison by saying it would be like starting a Pokemon game with them all in your collection.”
Well you’ve obviously got more time than me mate… Personally when I buy a multiplayer game I want to play it with my friends as soon as I get it home. I’ve not the time to play the game alone for 5-10 hours to unlock all the characters.
I can’t understand why the fuck anyone thinks the single player is fun, it’s hugely generic and lacking charm or mechanical integrity. You’re all mental, frankly.
Oh, and i’ve no idea what the hell you’re talking about Steve… Quite frankly you write like you’ve been hit round the head with a cricket bat.
Seth
July 3rd, 2008
I can understand both points of view here. On the one hand, I love the challenge of unlocking things and it makes me feel as if my gameplaying is actually working towards something.
On the other hand, if someone comes round to play some Brawl, I dont want to have to say ‘Sorry, Sonic’s not available’..
I’ve mostly been playing the singleplayer which I’m quite enjoying, as the variety in the characters, stages and modes is keeping me occupied.
But I tried out the online last night with friends and I must admit that was much more fun! Didn’t even experience any lag the whole time!
At the end of the day, Brawl’s gameplay is extremely shallow compared to most other games, but they’ve put in enough variety and it’s much more entertaining than other fighting games for me.
Plus there are some fantastic Nintendo nostalgia moments that just get me grinning
Manuel
July 3rd, 2008
I think the review is spot on, super smash brawl really deserves the 10 out of 10, just like GTA4 and MGS4 did, all this games had issues, specially GTA4 and MGS4 and this didnt stop them to have a perfect 10 ( i dont known why they are complaining about it,) but still they all deserve a great score , and specially this one, is hughemongus
lewis murphy
July 6th, 2008
come on this game is fun BUT not 10 out of 10 end of
Tom
July 7th, 2008
Thanks for clearing that debate up with such a well thought out argument Lewis.
Sue
July 7th, 2008
Wow, don’t know what you boys are on about! This is the best game on my Wii yet!
Nexus
July 8th, 2008
Blatant advertising from Sue, well done there
Rob
July 27th, 2008
When a reviewer gives the game 10 out of 10, does that mean the game is perfect? No. On Darkzero decimal scores arent given any more, therefore this game could be a 9.5 in theory.
As for Matt, abusing other members who like to post their opinions wont make you a better person, instead it makes you look like a dick, but thats by-the-by.
Alasdair in many ways is correct with his review of the game. If you were to buy a box of jaffa cakes for a quid, and they were good, then you went back out to the shop and bought another box with 20% free for the same price, would ask for them to be made cheaper becuase of the fact that a few of those free jaffa cakes didnt taste as good as the rest? In many ways this relates to the scoring of this game.
The Subspace Emissary is not the main feature of the game in any way at all, more of a different outlook on the series, to make things a bit different. In this case the comments have proven that people havent taken to this very well, but the game shouldnt be knocked down for an additional different section, when the focus and main game is elsewhere in the product.
For excitement, fun, proudness and skill-age i believe this game should be 10/10. For crappy Wii controls that couldnt really have been any better (due to the layout) id knock a small amount off, say 0.4. This did not affect me though as a GC user, i already owned the traditional and best control method.
Just think of the masses of things in the game, and then the miniscule amount that is wrong with it. Does this really affect the gameplay? or is that just nitpicking?