Been Brawlin'

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is finally here. I went with a group of friends to the midnight launch, and someone awesome got it for me as a gift and wow, it is amazing. I really wasn't expecting much from the game, but it packs quite a punch. It is true that it doesn't offer much in terms of evolution of the gameplay, but the sheer volume of content that has been added to the game, along with the new characters, make it feel like a very fresh and welcomed change.

The first thing I noticed about the game was the change in it's engine. Anyone who played a lot of Melee will probably notice that this game's pacing is different. At first, I wasn't a fan, but as I stuck with it I really grew to like it. The characters are very balanced, but once you get the hang of your favorite character, the gameplay all just seems to flow. Linking together big combos has never been quite as fluid. It's a game that a hardcore SSB fan can play with a newcomer, and both can walk away having a good time.

That's not to say there's not room to master the game, however. The characters are balanced very well, but if enough time is spent with the game, each can be mastered and used devastatingly. The balanced characters are perfect for newcomers to the series, but the room for improvement makes the game truly addictive to those who knew every tip and trick to Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Another thing I noticed right off is that, due to balancing issues, some series favorites have been changed a little bit. My old favorite, Fox, plays slower, and some of his moves are not as powerful. He is still a good character though, he's just more balanced. Your favorite character from before is still probably going to be your favorite character now, unless you convert to one of the new characters...which brings me to my next point.

The new characters are freaking amazing. I've been wanting Diddy Kong since the first game. To finally have him in game makes me more nostalgic than any game has made me in quite a bit. The other characters are completely awesome too. One of the most unique has to be Snake. He's difficult to play, but I can see him as being extremely rewarding if you master him. Most of his attacks revolve around range, which makes him a very unique addition.

Graphically, the game looks good. The backgrounds are extremely detailed, to the point where they can be distracting at times. The characters look detailed and polished as well. The best part, in my opinion, is that the game runs at a constant 60 frames per second and it doesn't drop. 60 frames per second = godly.

The music in the game hits home on a nostalgia level. Don't get me wrong, it sounds fantastic, but what is going to leave you impressed about the music isn't its quality, its the sheer volumes of songs included. The most random Nintendo songs you could think of are included in the game. These range from the original Donkey Kong theme all the way to the Wii Sports theme music. It's goofy, but at the same time, it adds this really fun and playful element to the game that will bring back a lot of good memories to anyone whose been long-time Nintendo fan.

I could keep talking, but not enough could be said about the lengths Nintendo went to to deliver such a stellar package. The final smashes are extremely fun. The level designer is awesome. The new characters are a blast. Subspace Emissary is unique and fun. The game is all around stunning and well done. Albeit, if you didn't like the previous entries in the series, it's really unlikely this game will change your mind. But if you love Super Smash Bros., this game is epic. I give it two thumbs up, and highly recommend it.