Metareview -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Mar 7th 2008 at 5:00AM }
- GamePro (100/100): "From the fighting mechanics to roster of players Brawl is a well-rounded game that I just couldn't put down. The only downside to Brawl is that it doesn't do anything to reinvent the series. It takes elements of past SSB games and refines them, which is great, but players expecting an entirely new experience won't find it here. Still, it is a well round game that doesn't disappoint and it's a must buy for every Wii owner."
- IGN (95/100): "You will play the game to death when you get it. But unlike so many single-player hits, Metroid and Mario included, you will still be playing and consequently loving Brawl in the months and years to come. It is one of the great multiplayer titles of the generation and simply not to be missed."
- GameTap (90/100): "That's the beauty of Brawl: It's a game that keeps on giving. The game supports online matchups via the Wi-Fi Connection, of course, but even when you're not focused on the primary game modes, you can spend hours just playing with extra features or hunting down a ton of unlockables. ... Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a Wii game you can play forever...or at least, until the next Nintendo console arrives."
Gallery: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Henry @ Mar 7th 2008 5:09AM
For. The. Win.
el serpiente @ Mar 7th 2008 5:04PM
For. The. Kids.
The BPM Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine @ Mar 7th 2008 6:46PM
For. The. Horde.
... What?
Ramifications @ Mar 8th 2008 12:36PM
For The Wii?
Damnit. I need to get one.
Obie @ Mar 7th 2008 5:10AM
I will kill a small child for everyday that I don't have this game! GAAARGH!
calvin @ Mar 7th 2008 5:32AM
whoa buddy.
anyways,
"We're pretty sure the many who plan on playing all Sunday night and are calling in sick for Monday don't care. "
i'm definitly one of those people.
Obie @ Mar 7th 2008 5:44AM
Yeah sorry about that...got a bit excited there.
But can ya blame me? ;)
E.J. @ Mar 7th 2008 6:43AM
I already have it thanks to non-corporate, independent, mom-and-pop stores.
Replays are great especially for the people that say "No way you hit me with that!" Also, if you're interested, here's my attempt at a custom map for when you get the game:
http://rapidshare.com/files/97707939/st_080306_2357.bin.html
Place it in an SD card under folders:
(SD Drive letter):\private\wii\app\RSBE\st\
It isn't much. But my friends and I found it fun. Needs tweaking though.
Halorin @ Mar 7th 2008 8:49AM
I already took Monday off. Months ago. :D
Antonio @ Mar 7th 2008 9:22AM
I'm taking a vacation day Monday myself.
glitched @ Mar 7th 2008 9:39AM
I have zero interest in this game.
Fernando Rocker @ Mar 7th 2008 9:42AM
glitched
We have zero interest in your opinion.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 7th 2008 9:52AM
Wow, Zero Interest!! I bet you saved a ton of money on the mortgage you had to take out to afford this game.
glitched @ Mar 7th 2008 11:06AM
That's hilarious coming from Fernando... You came into the GT Prologue post yesterday and did the same thing.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 7th 2008 11:13AM
BTW Glitched, who's your lender? I'm trying to find a low interest mortgage right now.
glitched @ Mar 7th 2008 11:47AM
I'm half interested in understanding your complete interest with the word interest. Or am i zeroing in on the wrong thing?
Gehodra @ Mar 7th 2008 1:11PM
@glitched
Why no interest? Is it because you're an elitist Smash player, or because you never liked the series? Cause I'm in the boat with the elitists, but I retain... some interest.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 7th 2008 2:33PM
I actually am in the process of getting my first mortgage. So when you said Zero Interest, the first thing that came to mind was interest rates.
Then the jokes wrote themselves.
embassy @ Mar 7th 2008 5:35AM
"Gamespot: 8.8"
weirdestchild @ Mar 7th 2008 7:35AM
They fired that guy, don't you remember?
PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 7th 2008 6:41AM
wtf. they just wanted to be the only ones that gave it a grade below a 9. i hate people like that, its not about them or their image, its about the damn game. 8.8 is still a good score in general but a disappointment for this game. glad to see everyone else gave it its due.
E.J. @ Mar 7th 2008 6:47AM
Some people may get irked at the slowdown from Melee to Brawl and the changes in their favorite characters from Melee.
jimmygotsmack @ Mar 7th 2008 7:12AM
I thought gamespot was blacklisted ever since kane and lynch.
Seriously though, has anyone else notice how many games at gamespot get lower scores then anyone else.
In anycase, where did you read that, as of writing this, there is no review on the gamespot website, where did you see this score, or are you referring to something.
bm @ Mar 7th 2008 7:33AM
---------------------------->joke
_0_ \0_ _0_
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 7th 2008 7:35AM
or maybe they're just taking some points off because like most nintendo franchises this one is largely similar to the last one? someone's gotta do it
John Z @ Mar 7th 2008 7:52AM
I'm not seeing the review on Gamespot's site yet. As much as I would expect them to knock it down a little because they probably didn't get paid enough, I think it's a little early to start the internet hate machine here.
Nicholas @ Mar 7th 2008 7:59AM
LOL, until you posted that Gamespot score, I forgot that Gamespot still existed...
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 7th 2008 8:07AM
Twilight Princess Deja Vu
embassy @ Mar 7th 2008 8:42AM
i loving the attention people, keep it up.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 7th 2008 9:25AM
"Twilight Princess deja vu"
Yeah, except TP deserved an 8.8. I don't think this one deserves a 10/10 based solely on the lack of voice chat, but I'd probably only dock it .3 or .4 for that.
Will @ Mar 7th 2008 9:25AM
He is just joking you guys, Gamespot doesn't even review in .8's anymore, they go by intervals of .5 now.
PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 7th 2008 10:36AM
lol. i think this is my fault. i just saw his "Gamespot 8.8" score and just assumed thats what the real score was. i dont really wanna go to Gamespot to check either, me and her parted ways a long time ago...
either way, i still stand by my statement that some sites mess with scores to generate traffic. if you see a ridiculously low score, your more likely to go read the review to see what the hell is up. or at least thats where my logical bread crumbs lead me.
Aberu @ Mar 8th 2008 10:20AM
The people that are pissed about 8.8s on games need to remember how stupid it is that we run a 6-10 review scale at the moment. I mean there are plenty of movies that are worth watching that are 3 out of 5 stars. Yet for some reason, in gaming review terminology that is the worst game you could play.
Game_playa @ Mar 8th 2008 3:55PM
WTH have you been smoking man??
Gamespot gave it a 9.5
RabbidMickeyMouse @ Mar 7th 2008 5:43AM
"Gamespot: 8.9 with GC controller"
Nigeria @ Mar 7th 2008 5:59AM
The Sony Wii is amazing, I got one of those.
AwesomeStuff @ Mar 7th 2008 12:06PM
I lol'd.
Curmeo @ Mar 7th 2008 6:02AM
finally Nintendonald's releases a worthwhile game.
Markusdragon @ Mar 7th 2008 6:15AM
Indeed, it's been a whole 5 months since the last one! How did we manage?
Curmeo @ Mar 7th 2008 7:56AM
Mario, Zelda, Metroid: the only fundamental difference between the Wii and GC/N64 games is the use of the waggle remote.
SSBB and MK Wii, on the other hand, implement online play for the two franchises. this is a significant improvement as far as Nintendonald's low standards go. truth is, Nintendonald's should have delivered online gaming on GC, but the past is the past.
i commend their online efforts (though still lackluster compared to PSN and Xbox Live), but i dont support the Zelda/Mario/Metroid waggle versions because they havent implemented online play for the Wii versions of these three aging franchises and on top of that, the gamer is still stuck with last-gen GC level graphics/sound/immersion.
bm @ Mar 7th 2008 8:03AM
Hahaha, as long as you keep repeating your awesome made up words and saying other silly shit about online modes in games that only a fucking retard would deem suitable, you'll get popular yet! Keep at it there curmeo.
Dudeman08 @ Mar 7th 2008 8:13AM
ya know we all complain about remakes, but most remakes are "hardcore" games and we keep buying them... it's funny how when there tends to be another game in a series it tends to be somewhat similar to what the last game was (there are a few exceptions to this rule). Most of the time there are things like OOoo extra features and better graphics, etc. but essentially nothing new or groundbreaking.
P.S. The only fundamental differences between MS or Sony games on the PS3 or Xbox are updated grpahics...
P.P.S. thanks for beating that dead horse again...
Curmeo @ Mar 7th 2008 8:36AM
dudeman08, wrong. the fundamental differences between PS3/360 and PS2/Xbox1 games are:
1) much better online play
2) much better graphics/sound/immersion through truly updated GPUs and sound cards.
3) much better gameplay made possible through truly updated CPUs that allow game devs to enhance a.i. and gameplay elements.
look at multiplat PS3/360/Wii/PS2 games. virtually all the multiplat Wii/PS2 games suffer from inferior gameplay due to weaker CPUs whereas the PS3/360 versions offer more characters on screen at the same time, better enemy a.i., more complex game modes, more variety of weapons/moves etc.
Wii's GPU/CPU is pretty much identical to GC's GPU/CPU, dont kid yourself. the only upgrade Wii truly offers is online play and even this feature is weak compared to PSN/Xbox Live.
samfish @ Mar 7th 2008 8:52AM
Oh shut the fuck up, Curmeo. Just shut the fuck up, you fucking troll moron.
Prof_Chaos @ Mar 7th 2008 9:00AM
Tobe completely honest, I am disappointed with the lack of online on the Wii. However, not for the games you mentioned (Zelda, Mario, Metroid) each of those games are designed as, and best enjoyed as a single player experience. Also your comment regarding the innovations in these games being only the the use of waggle is wrong IMO. The best new feature has nothing to do with motion control. It's the IR pointer. The pointer WILL be a revolution is the FPS genre (when controls schemes are built similarly to MP3) and was used effectively in both Zelda and Mario. I like traditional controls, but the pointer and motion control have the ability to bring a lot to the table to enhance gameplay if used properly (not just for the hell of it).
Gewurztraminer (needs more umlaut) @ Mar 7th 2008 9:21AM
Bash Nintendo all you want. Come Sunday, nobody who cares will be reading it anyway.
Evan @ Mar 7th 2008 9:42AM
@Curmeo
Halo: the only fundamental difference between the Xbox and 360 games is the graphics. So what's your point?
As for online, not everyone cares (less than 50% of 360 owners have gold accounts). Smash Bros is first and foremost a living-room multi-player game, not an online multi-player game. Nintendo's target demographic is people who have real-life friends, not geeks who live in their parent's basement and need to play video games online as a substitute for real social interaction. If the difference between a "casual gamer" and "hardcore gamer" is having real-life friends, then Nintendo does make games for casual gamers.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 7th 2008 10:06AM
@Dudeman
Bra-fucking-vo(if you can't tell, it's essential for me to place expletives in every day words)
Which is why I hate it when people complain about the many Mario and Zeldas on the Wii, yet they have no problems spending money for games, while they may have different characters and local, are essentially the same damn games we've been playing since the ps2 era.
Prof_Chaos @ Mar 7th 2008 10:32AM
@ Vegeta
That is not simply a Nintendo thing, to repeat games with different characters/locals with incremental improvements to gameplay. EVERY franchise goes through the same thing. It doesn't matter if you're talking about sports franchises, Nintendo IP's, Final Fantasy, Halo, Devil May Cry, etc... They all do it. You know why? Because they are in the business of making money. If you have a concept that people like and will buy, the best way to make more money is to not screw with the format.
Bottom Line: If the game entertains you, it's done it's job. There are thousands of games made in each console generation. If you want a new experience find a new IP and give it a try. If you want an entertaining, fun and safe experience pick up a sequel.
Ryan @ Mar 7th 2008 11:26AM
@Evan
There's nothing more entertaining than watching people call other people geeks on an internet videogame blog.
Keep going, one day it will actually make you feel better about yourself.