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- A n00b's Take on Smash Brothers Brawl
- Posted 5 months ago by SoulScreme
I admit it, I'm a total n00b. I have been playing games for a long time and have always loved fighting games, but I haven't been a Nintendo fan since the SNES. Now, my roommate owns a Wii and picked up Super Smash Brothers Brawl. I'd played the original a handful of times, never really getting into it. But, I figured I'd give this one a shot since I wouldn't be starting 3 years after the release this time. My impressions are mixed to say the least.
For one, Nintendo totally screwed up co-op play. We thought it would be awesome. I'd just picked up Army of Two for the PS3 and he was picking up Smash Bros. We figured we'd have endless co-op gaming fun for a month at least. While the co-op in Smash Bros. is fun, it is also flawed. For instance, I wake up around 3PM on Sunday after having had to work on Saturday. My roommate is already up and is playing the Subspace Emissary mode of Smash Bros. At anytime during this mode, I can pick up a controller, press a button, and start playing. We tried it and it worked fairly well. Soon enough, 4:30 rolls around and I have to leave for Church. I started trying to quit out but none of the buttons seemed to do it. So, I just placed the Wii-mote on the floor and left. 45 minutes later he has to quit the game and restart it to get rid of my guy. I've heard of co-op games where you need to start with all of the players. I've heard of Jump-in/Jump-out. I've never heard of Jump-in... then things get crappy.
So, there, that's my biggest gripe about Subspace Emissary. I hate the story, it's retarded to me, but it's not for me, it's for fanboys, and they seem to love it. Anyway, I get back home from Church and we decide that maybe we'll play online a bit. We'd read about how 2 people could play online form a single Wii, like Warhawk or Halo. So we fired up the online mode. Well, it doesn't work quite how you thought. There are two modes, play against friends and play against strangers. A second player CANNOT play against strangers. They can ONLY partake in friend matches. This is pretty annoying. The game is brand new and we haven't gotten our friends codes yet, so we just wanted to play some random folks. Not only can't two people do this, but as of now, one perosn can't either. Apparently Nintendo failed to get the online play working for the release. I've seen games with wonky online play at the outset, but this isn't working for anybody.
Multiplayer issues aside, the game is fun. Fun in the sense that if you accept that there are tons of cheap moves and the gameplay is highly unbalanced. It's enjoyable to smack people around, but I'm not sure I'd call it a good fighter. The platforming is okay, the fighting is okay, I'm just not sure what the gam excels at other than fanboyism. Maybe I "just don't get it", but to me this is better than Mario Party but not up to snuff with games like Virtua Fighter or Tekken and definitely pales in comparison to multiplayer experiences like Halo and Warhawk. So, it's fun, but why all the hype?
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You giving it an 8 is like someone else giving is a 13. Shock/awe!
Either way, for me the game is a solid 8. Just not living up to the likes of Halo 3 of MGS4 for what I expect from this type of blockbuster fan fest. Just seems to lack polish in a number of areas. The core gameplay is polished, but it's also nearly identical to the last game. The new bits seem rough around the edges.
Well, I just found something annoying. Played my first (laggy) friend match online. It was a blast, my only complaint is that you can't invite people. At least, I couldn't figure out how to. Seems like you have to start a game and they have to join. Plenty of PS3 games allow you to send messages or invites. Just because it's not through the XMB doesn't mean it can't be done, just a bit more of a hassle than on 360.
No in game XMB = no way to chat with friends to organize matches, see who is online, ect.
I think he means that every company has had some kind of online screw up, using the XMB thing as one example.
Side note, finally got it to work with one of my friends. It's a bit laggy at times, (which I'm choosing to blame for now on the fact that he's on DSL, not cable), but we had a blast.
Wait, how does in-game XMB have anything to do with broken online play?
Yeah, let's step back a second. So far, launches that go off without a hitch have been the exception rather than the rule in this industry. Nearly every big game or system either has a shortage (either hardware or software), some fatal flaw that kills it after a month, or some kind of major screw up, and this is no different. Let's just be glad that they had enough copies to go around and nobody's gotten mugged or shot over the game yet.
Every company does it, it sucks. MS did it with Christmas and XBL, Sony did it from the start, not thinking people wanted an in-game XMB when it is absolutely essential, and Nintendo is selling out without it, so they don't care. It's crazy.
I'm so sick of hearing about how the poor companies couldn't have possibly espect THAT many people to play online. Sorry, but that's bullshit. It's not understandable that they've been "caught off guard," they knew damn well how many people to expect due to the pre-orders and the hype. They simply failed to build a system that was robust enough. There are stacks of books on the topic and methos of stress testing. Sadly, they were too focused on story lines involving drinking tea and making sure to put exactly 1 billion stickers into the game to worry about the online play.
You're absolutely right that Smash Brothers doesn't compare to Tekken, or Virtua Fighter, mostly because it's not really a fighting game, at least not the same kind of fighting game. Tekken and VF, those games are 100% about the fighting, the technical aspects of it, etc.
Smash Bros. has always been chiefly about having fun with characters that you've known your whole life. To that end, the game's fighting system is simplified, so you lose some "depth" but each character has its own subtleties and strategies, so it's not so unbalanced. Frankly, the game's been out for less than 48 hours, so it's probably a little early to say it's horribly unbalanced.
You're also right that you have to be a Nintendo fan to really appreciate it, just like you'd have to be a fan of shooters to really enjoy Army of Two, or an RPG lover to get into the Final Fantasy games.
As for the online mode, well, yes, it's extremely annoying that there's so much trouble with it, but I suppose that's to be expected when an entire continent decides to play online all at once. This is by far Nintendo's biggest online endeavor, so it's understandable if they've been caught off guard by the sheer volume. It's like a freakin' Zerg Rush.
Personally, I love the damn thing, and I'm going to at least give Nintendo a week or so to sort out the online thing. But then, I'm a huge Nintendo fan.
The story blows, but it's probably the best story I've ever seen in a fighter. Take a look at this ridiculous ending from Tekken 5:
Wtf?
I'm not saying I will never play it again. It's a solid game, it's a lot of fun. I just don't see it being the huge hype machine that it is. To me, it's the same as Army of Two. It's a blast, it's not the best game I've ever played, but it's still hella fun. I just don't get why it's on the level of Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid as far as anticipation.
1. And that is a bad thing?
2. There is a difference between fanboys and fans. A big difference.
3. Some of the best fighting in Tekken and VF come to spamming attacks and knowing how to counter. If you know what you are watching you notice a lot more of what is going on, from every slight move to every dodge.
I do see what you mean, though, but it's worth putting more time in to to get more of a feel for the game.
Coop:
1) Yes, but unlike army of two, you can join at any time.
2) Really? Isn't that... umm... exactly what I said? I said it's for fanboys, which is what you're describing.
3) Sure, there is a bit of depth. I mean, heck, it's deeper than say, Killer Instinct. I really don't see it comparing to other fighting games like Tekken of VF, I've watched some of the best play which usually comes down to spamming a handful of attacks and becoming good at jumping.
Just to let you know, going back to the menu (which is in-between every level) and hitting "b" drops out of the co-op. Just like in Army of Two, you can't quit co-operative play mid level, you need to wait until the end.
As for the story, it is made for Nintendo fans. I would imagine the plot of Kingdom Hearts would be boring for someone who doesn't care for Square or Disney in the same way.
It also doesn't seem like you put enough time into the multiplayer. Spending more time with it should show that you do more then "smack people around," which is why it is such a popular game. There is plenty of depth that can be found with practice, and the game is a blast for anyone willing to give it time.
mike, just this morning you said this was the best game ever made!
Seriously though, I agree. I want to love this game. I really, really do. But I just can't get into it. I love Mario, I love Link, but I just don't think Smash Bros. is for me.
I agree with just about everything you said. I seriously wanted to like this game. Unfortunately I do not. I agree that it is for fanboys. I just don't see the appeal of this game. I just don't get it. Average at best in my opinion.
I haven't given the game enough of a look over to make a well-rounded decision yet, but I'll let you know when I have....