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Even back when the game was first announced, Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Final Smash attacks were widely debated among those anticipating the game, with some welcoming the addition, and others decrying the new feature. There were worries that the focus of the game would shift too much to these super attacks, and that some characters's FS's would be too powerful, while others would get the shaft. Of course, before the game was out, you couldn't really pass judgment on them one way or the other.

Now that it's been out a couple of weeks, though, and we've all had ample time to mess around with it, what do you think? Was adding Final Smashes a good move or a bad one on Nintendo's part?

A few guys I know through a chatroom and I got into this very discussion late last night, after a round of online Smashing (Finally got it to work right, thanks to WiNG's blog). One of them had gotten frustrated, saying that once the ball pops up, everybody rushes after it, regardless of what else was going on. Part of his frustration, I think, came from another member of the chatroom, who had a habit of getting the ball most of the times it came up (I didn't witness the match that precipitated this discussion, so I can't be sure); this member, in turn, conceded that it was becoming one-sided, suggesting that if FS's were banned, then so should the Dragoon, while a third member of the chat suggested this would lead to banning all items, and what would be the fun in that?

Personally, I love the Final Smashes. Yes, they shift the focus of the game, but I think it adds a layer of strategy to the whole thing. For most characters, you need some kind of strategy to use them effectively, or at least to not send yourself flying off the screen. I've found if you're playing with a somewhat skilled group, a successful Final Smash will get you an average of one or two KOs. Most players have enough sense to clear the area when someone gets the Smash Ball, if they don't try and beat the ball out of them before they can use it, and you can avoid most of the effects if you're good.

Plus, there's plenty of strategy in getting the Ball in the first place. Sure you can just blindly go after it, but part of the reason the aforementioned Brawler gets it most of the time is he actively attacks the other fighters during the chase. I've won more than a couple matches by using a more reliable item or attack (Like the Hammer or Bobombs) while others were distracted by the Ball, and likewise have been KOed during the pursuit.

So, what do you guys think? Love'em, hate'em? What kind of strategies have you had to use to cope with the new addition?

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