Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review

[blackdelsol94]

This game sounds AMAZING. Period. IGN gave it a 9.5 , and press average is currently a 99/100.

I don't know if anything else need be said... I can't wait until Sunday!

Originally Posted by IGN

Closing Comments
by Matt Casamassina

Nintendo's epic 3D fighter series arrives on Wii as the best iteration yet. It's true -- there are a few minor quibbles to be made about the sometimes-repetitive single-player mode, unexplored third party character additions, lacking online communication options, or the largely familiar content inherent to sequels. But the moment you gather together with friends for a multiplayer match only to find, several minutes later, that you still haven't blinked, you'll have taken your first step into the digital drug that is Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and there's really no better way to describe it. The title's robust and balanced multiplayer offerings are completely engrossing and wholly entertaining from beginning to end, and this time around you can take those bouts to the online arena for similarly satisfying results.

Masahiro Sakurai and his team at Sora have drowned the fighter in high-caliber presentational extras, from a superb soundtrack to gorgeous full-motion cut-scenes. These, coupled with all of the characters and stages to see and master, the many unlockable trophies and stickers, the stage builder, the screenshot and replay tools, and so much more, combine for an exceptionally deep experience overrun with replay value.

You will play the game to death when you get it. But unlike so many single-player hits, Metroid and Mario included, you will still be playing and consequently loving Brawl in the months and years to come. It is one of the great multiplayer titles of the generation and simply not to be missed.


IGN Ratings for Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

9.0 Presentation
An impressive lineup of stages and characters, including some from third parties. Amazing soundtrack. Gorgeous cut-scenes. Simple menus. Long front-load and lacking online options.

8.5 Graphics
Looks like an enhanced version of Melee. Improved character models and backgrounds. Everything runs in 480p, 16:9 and at 60 frames. Even so, the graphics definitely lack detail in areas.

10 Sound
One of the best soundtracks ever created. Sound effects, meanwhile, are perfectly punchy and well-suited to the characters and environments.

9.5 Gameplay
Tight control, more balanced character move sets, new final smashes and more. We're not particularly fond of the single-player mode, but multiplayer is so good we just don't care.

10 Lasting Appeal
Destined to be played for years thanks to spectacular offline and online multiplayer modes. One of the great four-player games of all time.

9.5
Incredible OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

[blackdelsol94]

Another take from IGN:

Originally Posted by IGN

Another Take
from Mark Bozon

Along with Goldeneye, Smash Bros. was easily the most-played videogame of the N64 era for me. Whether it was one-on-three against a trio of level nine Pikachu, or playing countless hours with friends in all-nighter multiplayer sessions, I knew back then that Smash was something special, and that momentum has carried through Melee, and is again felt with Brawl. For Nintendo fans, Smash is a series that defines systems, and Brawl will do just that for Wii. We could give it a five out of 10, or a perfect score, and that won’t change the fact that when you’ve got a slew of hardcore Nintendo fanatics in front of a TV, Smash (along with the occasional Mario Kart race) is where you’ll turn. The series has infinite lasting appeal, and unprecedented fan service.

But when all is said and done, how does the game really stack up? The short answer, is that Brawl is a nearly-perfect experience, but it does have its flaws. It isn’t so much that Nintendo "failed" in a specific section of the Smash experience, but rather there was untapped potential that is visible through the small cracks in the game design. Branching out with Snake and Sonic, only to end it there, for example, is an odd choice. Where’s the extra third party support? In fact, why did Sonic make his debut, but leave characters like Tails and Knuckles by the wayside? Along those same lines, why go through all the trouble of adding some of the best CG work in Nintendo history, as well as what is undisputedly one of the most captivating and majestic audio scores in the industry, when it’s accompanied by a seemingly random placement of Nintendo characters and newly designed enemy fodder in the Subspace Emissary? It’s areas like these where I look at Smash, a game synonymous with fan service, and wonder why some of the most intricate details were added, but some of the most obvious design choices ignored.

But the wishlist could go on forever, and in the end that’s not the point. Yes, we could use more characters in the roster. Of course, we want voice chat for online, and sure, there’s always an opportunity to go bigger in specific areas (the Subspace Emissary is a perfect example of that), but remove all the hype and expectation we’ve had for the game over the last few years and you start to realize just how much passion was put into Smash. The animation is beautiful, the musical score legendary, and the pure fun that comes with smashing friends into oblivion with a killer cast of fighters is unrivaled.

I could rant and rave all day about how good Smash is, but it’s redundant at this point. Simply put, Smash is a must-have game, and every Wii console out there isn’t complete without it.

[blackdelsol94]

Current press average: 9.9/10. I will update this!

Originally Posted by GameStats

IGN.com 9.5 /10
GamerNode 10 /10
Computer and Video Games.com 9.3 /10
Nintendo Power 10 /10
Thunderbolt Games 10 /10
Famitsu Weekly 10/10
Famitsu Weekly 10/10
Famitsu Weekly 10/10
Famitsu Weekly 10/10

[tha_con]

I don't think you need to count the famitsu score like that, lol, just putting it down as a single 10/10 would suffice...

Either way, Sunday can't get here soon enough. God of War: Chains of Olympus, SSBB, FFVII: CC, and Hot Shots Gold round out my March purchases (didn't get anything last month, WOOT!!).

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by tha_con

I don't think you need to count the famitsu score like that, lol, just putting it down as a single 10/10 would suffice...

Either way, Sunday can't get here soon enough. God of War: Chains of Olympus, SSBB, FFVII: CC, and Hot Shots Gold round out my March purchases (didn't get anything last month, WOOT!!).

Quoted straight from GameStats, they counted it like that, not me. I suppose their logic is that it is four separate reviews.

March is shaping up to be a great month though. I can't wait to pick up SSBB. Thing is, I don't actually have to wait until Sunday.

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol94

Quoted straight from GameStats, they counted it like that, not me. I suppose their logic is that it is four separate reviews.

March is shaping up to be a great month though. I can't wait to pick up SSBB. Thing is, I don't actually have to wait until Sunday.

Me either...but we're not supposed to talk about things like this

BTW, have you seen Sony's new RLS sweepstakes? BIG prizes.

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by tha_con

Me either...but we're not supposed to talk about things like this

BTW, have you seen Sony's new RLS sweepstakes? BIG prizes.

Well then, this conversation never happened, did it?

I haven't seen their new sweepstakes yet (what is it?), but I do like the RLS site. It's cool that prizes are absolutely free, but stuff requires way more points than on Microsoft's EZ site... but you still have to pay a nominal fee for the MS stuff. It's kind of a toss up.


Edit: Wow, that sweepstakes really is awesome... PS3, 5 games, fridge, chair... wow. We can hope, right?

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol94

Well then, this conversation never happened, did it?

I haven't seen their new sweepstakes yet (what is it?), but I do like the RLS site. It's cool that prizes are absolutely free, but stuff requires way more points than on Microsoft's EZ site... but you still have to pay a nominal fee for the MS stuff. It's kind of a toss up.


Edit: Wow, that sweepstakes really is awesome... PS3, 5 games, fridge, chair... wow. We can hope, right?

Yea man, the Sony RLS is way way to freaking involved, borderline irritating.

I'm still waiting on my Blue Dragon from Microsoft's EZ site man...it's driving me nuts. They had it up as a special or something? I haven't been on there in like two weeks, but it's taking forever for me to get the game.

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by tha_con

Yea man, the Sony RLS is way way to freaking involved, borderline irritating.

I'm still waiting on my Blue Dragon from Microsoft's EZ site man...it's driving me nuts. They had it up as a special or something? I haven't been on there in like two weeks, but it's taking forever for me to get the game.

It shouldn't take more than 2-3 weeks...

I ordered PGR4 and a Wi-Fi adaptor, each of which came in less than a week, lol.

However, when I ordered the wall charger for my GF's Zune it took a full 2 weeks... I suppose it must depend on availability?

[tha_con]

Yea, I called and told me it was going to take a bit longer than the standard 2 weeks, but the lady wasn't very clear about why. Either way, it's only been about 17 days since I ordered it, so I'm not entirely upset about it, it'll get here when it get's here, not like I paid $60.

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by tha_con

Yea, I called and told me it was going to take a bit longer than the standard 2 weeks, but the lady wasn't very clear about why. Either way, it's only been about 17 days since I ordered it, so I'm not entirely upset about it, it'll get here when it get's here, not like I paid $60.

That's true.


Looking at the shipping return address though, the game/wi-fi adaptor were shipped from a different location than the Zune accessory. That might have something to do with it?

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol94

That's true.


Looking at the shipping return address though, the game/wi-fi adaptor were shipped from a diffe