Game Review: Let's Get Smashed

Posted by Jonathan McNamara at 6:05 AM Apr 01, 2008

If you’re the kind of person who pays any attention at all to video games and you’re reading this it means that something is physically preventing you from actually playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl right now and you're trying to get your fix any way you can.

Yeah, it’s that good.

But don’t take my word for it. Listen to the million gamers in Japan who purchased it. Listen to the 2500 GameStops with their midnight launches tied to “the biggest video game tournament ever.” Listen to the facts: You can make Mario punch Sonic the Hedgehog in the face while Solid Snake fires missiles at Donkey Kong.

But enough blatant praise, let’s delve into the reasons why Brawl deserves the top spot in your list of gaming priorities.

Graphically, Brawl is the best-looking game on Wii hands down. Nintendo accomplished this partially by utilizing a dual-layered disc capable of storing more memory but the environments, characters and even the items are incredibly detailed. If you look close enough you can see the stitching on Mario’s overalls.

Sonically Smash looks down from its fortress of perfection to point and laugh at every other game soundtrack there’s ever been. Every video game composer you’ve ever heard of is on this soundtrack including Nobuo Uematsu of Final Fantasy fame who composed the game’s main theme. Aside from a host of original epic battle music there are instantly recognizable tracks from nearly every title so much as referenced in the game. Play the Sonic stage and be treated to sonic sensations from your Sega Genesis days. Hear the pulse-pounding chase music from Metal Gear Solid as you fight in front of a lumbering Metal Gear Rex in the background. And when he lumbers be prepared to hear his trade-mark Godzilla-style whine because all of the sound effects are perfectly ported from their respective games.

Playing the game is no different from the classic Smash titles. Game play remains sharp and responsive. What is different is the amount of controllers you can use. Veterans are likely to prefer playing with a Game Cube controller, but the Wii classic controller, Wii remote or Wii remote with the nunchuk are also viable playing options. Despite the fact that when playing with the Wii remote alone the shield button (B) is on the back of the controller there’s no absolutely no reason to go out and purchase a different remote just to play Brawl.

As fantastically good as this game is (and believe me when I say that I’ll be picking up my Wiimote to kick the shit out of Luigi as soon as I’m done typing this) there are a few poorly executed aspects of the game.

First on the list is Subspace Emissary. Essentially Emissary is a plat-former adventure mode akin to Super Mario Bros. Playing it is a confusing experience. At first you’ll find yourself delighted by the beautiful cinematic scenes and gripping storyline in which the entire cast of Smash characters struggles against an unknown evil force that is stealing their respective worlds. Actually playing through Emissary quickly becomes a chore as the difficulty curve shoots through the roof half way through and the Smash Bros. game play style simply doesn’t lend itself to a plat-form game.

Despite its faults, Emissary is excusable because you don’t have to play it at all (you can unlock all the character you get by beating Emissary in other ways) and for simply giving a nod to all those Nintendo fans who get their jollies seeing unlikely character match-ups fighting for a common good.

Completely inexcusable is Nintendo’s wi-fi support for this title. I know that making fun of Nintendo’s internet presence is like making fat jokes about a bulimic, but seriously? There’s absolutely no excuse for joining a “play with anyone” match online and having to wait indefinitely for an opponent.

Given Nintendo’s inability to get its internet-based act together it’s unlikely that we’ll see any downloadable content for Brawl (downloadable characters anyone?), which is a real shame seeing as this is the first version of this game to come out on a system theoretically capable of reaping the benefits of downloadable patches and bonus content.

I hope the big N proves me wrong someday. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a Luigi to bludgeon while I hold my breath.