Images from Nintendo
Your character choices in
Super Smash Bros. Brawl include guys, gals and the cute, puffy creature that is Kirby.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a lot of fun in very particular circumstances. This absurd jumble of nearly every Nintendo-created character in history results in a chaotic, fun fighting game for hardcore Nintendo fans playing together. Everyone else will wonder what all the fuss is about. SSBB is not a subtle game. As soon as a fight starts – with up to four participants – your only goal is to be the last man, woman or fuzzy, asexual creature standing. Controlling the action with a regular Wii remote is clumsy and frustrating, but the game also supports standard GameCube controllers, and a lot of gamers will probably prefer that setup.
You can play multiplayer either in-person or online, although Nintendo's dogged loyalty to its clumsy Friend Code system hinders the online mode somewhat. There is a single-player mode, but it's not recommended. If you are a lonely gamer, you can fight through a simple tournament by yourself or trudge through a tedious story mode with lackluster platformer elements.
BOTTOM LINE: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is pedestrian in a lot of ways. The graphics are GameCube-quality at best, and the singleplayer mode is dull. But the multiplayer mode and the rainbow of Nintendo characters – ever wanted to see Mario punch Link in the face? – will be worth the price of admission alone for many gamers.
Victor Godinez
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
BFor Nintendo Wii. Rated for ages 13 and up. $49.
