First impressions: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

by Kyle Orland { Mar 6th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Update: Wii Fanboy has some impressions of our first friend-code-enabled Wi-Fi match. The result: Relatively lag-free.

Yeah, we've given you the hands-on impressions before, but now that we've gotten the final retail version into our metaphorical Joystiq HQ, we thought we'd share some quick opinions on the full Brawl experience. Click the continue link to find out our thoughts on the Subspace Emissary mode, Online play, the various control options, and more.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Gallery: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Subspace Emissary mode: First off, don't expect the story to hold together at all. We're about 1/6th of the way through, and so far there's been little rhyme or reason to the events taking place. It all plays out like some badly-written fan fiction, meaning a bunch of excuses to put various unlikely pairings of characters together. Gameplay-wise, beating up on the endless grunts thrown at you is pretty dull, but at least there's a good variety to the enemies, and the boss battles are pretty lively. There's are some extras to be found by exploring the platforming environments, but don't get your hopes up -- this isn't Super Metroid or anything.

Online play: Connecting to the Wi-Fi network and finding random opponents is a pretty streamlined experience, even though it took us quite a while to find anyone available to play with (understandable, seeing as we're not sure if we can connect with Japanese players, and almost no one outside Japan has the game). Lag was a major issue in our first online test, and Brawl has an interesting way of handling it. Rather than putting one laggy player at a disadvantage, the game seems to slow down the proceedings for everyone until it gets control data from all the players. It's great in theory, but it made the game nigh unplayable in our tests -- we could literally count the frames per minute at one point. This could have just been a bad connection on one end (hard to tell without the ability to talk to your randomly-assigned opponents), but we recommend playing with nearby friends if you can.

Controller options: Using the Gamecube pad feels just like old times -- any Melee fan will feel right at home, and it's a nice option to have. The Remote/Nunchuk combo felt pretty natural as well, though using index fingers for anything but blocking takes a little getting used to (the B button is used to attack, the C button to jump). The Classic Controller felt a little off initially -- the buttons just weren't physically where our thumbs expected them to be. This probably has to do with our over-familiarity with the Gamecube pad though. Using the Remote on its own was by far the worst option -- the tiny digital pad can't match the feel of an analog stick, and reaching around to hit the B button for blocking was more than a little awkward.

Bonus modes: The Event Match mode shows a lot of inventiveness so far. The more interesting goals so far include: trapping two opponents in Yoshi eggs simultaneously; climbing a waterfall with Zelda; and navigating Bowser through an auto-scrolling version of Super Mario Bros. Level 1-1 as three sadistic Marios try to stop him. The Coin Launcher mini-game is surprisingly fun, though possibly a little too slow-paced. The Home Run Contest is much improved by a forcefield that keeps the bag on the platform (but be careful ... it will break if you give it too much punishment). Target Smash is still a blast, but the character-specific stages have been replaced by five generic levels for all characters -- a step back, if you ask us.

Check out all of our extensive coverage of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, including galleries, news, impressions, a metareview, and more.

Tags: controllers, hands-on, impressions, online, ssbb, Wi-Fi

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Dauragon88 @ Mar 6th 2008 2:36PM

If I get any more excited for this game, my head will probably explode off of my shoulders

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 6th 2008 2:36PM

Anyone know how long the subspace emmisary mode takes?

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 6th 2008 2:40PM

8 hours.

loungemonkey @ Mar 6th 2008 2:50PM

I have heard 5 or so.

Though I am sure speed runs will be done in force.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 6th 2008 2:59PM

Damn, that's an awful lot of work just for Sonic...

Am I the only one upset Sonic and Snake are both initially locked?

Microswirl @ Mar 6th 2008 3:07PM

70 hours WITH the MGS cutscenes, 10 hours without.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 6th 2008 3:48PM

I just want Snake just to hear Peach screen "Oh my god, I can't believe I'm being hit on by the famous solid snake..."

Dan CiTi @ Mar 6th 2008 3:56PM

Yo you can unlock every character by playing 450 matches of Versus. Just go into special brawl, make it HP battle and equip the flower that hurts you. Make the opponent have 1 HP and keep pressing start basically.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 6th 2008 4:36PM

Or they could not be dicks and keep fighters unlocked in a fighting game. I've always questioned the logic in forcing players to do single player in a multiplayer game...

This seems so counter intuitive. Of course it could be MUCH worse. I'm looking at you, Mortal Kombat and your Krypt system...

Mr Khan @ Mar 6th 2008 5:49PM

I would believe that would be the point, to force the players to try other game modes if they want to get the full multiplayer experience

gst @ Mar 6th 2008 2:39PM

As much of a smash bros. fan as I am, I am glad to see you guys not just gushing endlessly over the game. It is nice to see a little criticism here and there.

Not that anything you could say would stop be from buying it anyways... :)

Mr.ESC @ Mar 6th 2008 2:39PM

You now saying other thing than "OMG its perfect" will grant you the wrath of Nintendo fanboys. Once I hear about this guy that gave 8.8 or something to a Zelda game and boy the thing turn ugly. I heard recently that same guy was fired.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 6th 2008 2:39PM

I just want to say, I hate you joystiq for putting this article up. The temptation to actually read it on a slow day like today could be too great...

jsn @ Mar 6th 2008 2:45PM

what do you really expect to ruin??

Donald @ Mar 6th 2008 2:40PM

Logic?

Where we're going, we don't NEED no stinkin' logic.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 6th 2008 3:57PM

Back to the Future reference?

Shagittarius @ Mar 6th 2008 4:19PM

Back to the Saddles

Mr.ESC @ Mar 6th 2008 2:44PM

In a serious note thanks for the spoiler alert.

Seriously is there anything left unsaid about SSBB? The internets tubes spoiled the crap out of that game like same happened with portal.

I feel like I already played that game.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 6th 2008 2:45PM

Ignore the extra "like".

DMeisterJ @ Mar 6th 2008 2:45PM

Metal Gear Solid 4 will be better than this. (j/k)

I actually really want to play this game, guess I'll have to go over my friends house to try this out. I really liked Melee, so I can't wait to play.

Jerk Face @ Mar 6th 2008 2:57PM

OMG SSBB IS TEH BEST GAME EVAR MGS4 IS TEH GHEY AND YOU R TEH GHEY FOR LICKING IT LOL!!!!11ONE11!

samfish @ Mar 6th 2008 3:30PM

Licking a man's solid snake would likely make you gay, it's true.

mykel @ Mar 7th 2008 6:17AM

very clever

Shiro @ Mar 7th 2008 1:06AM

And if you're already on the FOURTH one, well...

Exitmouse @ Mar 7th 2008 12:59PM

I hear being hit in the face with Diddy's nuts can do the same thing.

NATO_Duke @ Mar 6th 2008 2:54PM

I am betting this article starts a flame war any moment now. Should I post everthing that sucks again? Nah - have fun.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 6th 2008 3:04PM

“Welcome to the beautiful matchstick city, this city was founded on top of a giant powder barrel so please be careful”

samfish @ Mar 6th 2008 4:05PM

Maybe if this was about Mario Kart it'd start a flame war for sure.
...something about Mario Karts gets the trolls all riled up, I'm telling you.

As for me, I'm to ill to go poking any bee hives and such so you'll have no participation from ol' samfish, that's for sure.

Vince @ Mar 6th 2008 2:54PM

was this blog entry just an excuse to bash the game or something? because that's all that happened.

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2008 2:59PM

http://i32.tinypic.com/2dspxzr.jpg

Jerk Face @ Mar 6th 2008 3:02PM

Ha ha.. Deaftly, I love you.

Roto13 @ Mar 6th 2008 3:22PM

Criticism does not equal bashing. >_>

Vince @ Mar 6th 2008 3:28PM

usually when you criticize something you give good and bad points. up until the very end about the minigames there's nothing but bad.

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Mar 6th 2008 2:59PM

22nd! Yes! Calling first was a fad from 2 years ago. Calling 22nd is the new hotness, and much harder to time out. I win bitches!

Mr.ESC @ Mar 6th 2008 3:07PM

Fail,You aren't 22th.

You are 20th counting replies.

rockintom @ Mar 6th 2008 3:09PM

Uh... Except you are #11. You lose quite badly.

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Mar 6th 2008 3:28PM

I just chose a random number, but you must admit creativity

*grins*

Toasty Toaster Man @ Mar 6th 2008 3:01PM

I think all of the non-cube control schemes just take some getting used to. I use Wiimote-Nunchuck. I started using it to prepare for the tournament, and now I can't see myself going back to the cube controller. Same with my friend that plays with the wiimote NES-style.

Alex @ Mar 6th 2008 3:10PM

I hope the wifi isn't usually laggy and you just had a bad experience.

Silly Sauce @ Mar 6th 2008 3:12PM

I think I'm the only one who doesn't "get" this game. I don't suck at it nor am I some pro combo maniac but I just can't seem to like it!! My friends are balls stupid for SSB so I'm sure I can try to like it a third time...

Marshmallow713 @ Mar 6th 2008 3:20PM

I'm with you. I actually really like the other games but I just don't understand one bit what's so excited about this game. Not that it won't rock, but it will be almost the exact same game they've released 2 times before. I dunno, granted most game series are like that, but all the game series I like have a story and that's a huge reason I love playing all of the sequels.

Oh well, my little. bros. is getting this day one so I'll still play it and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Just not a bit deal imo.

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2008 3:30PM

I feel the same way about smash bros, its a fun game but nothing that special. I think it's mostly the nostalgia factor with the characters that gives everyone a boner. Anyway I've had it preordered for months heh. Too bad about the online lag because that was one of the main reasons I even wanted this.

Zertoss @ Mar 6th 2008 3:36PM

Different strokes for different folks. Every game, no matter how good, can't be for everybody.

Personally, I'm "balls stupid" for the game. I loved the first 2 games and so I can't wait to play the 3rd. New characters, new stages, new game modes, online play, all reasons I'm excited.