Tom Powter reviews Super Smash Bros. for Wii U…
This is it. This is the one we’ve waited six years for.
When the now iconic theme music first played at E3 2013, I knew this was going to be a special one. Despite the early stage of development, Smash Bros.’ patented attention to detail was obvious. Rarely does a game send its fanbase into such a frenzied furore. Rarely does a game generate so much hype that it can single-handedly fuel a company’s marketing campaign, or be relied upon to salvage a sinking console. But that’s Smash Bros. Nintendo’s behemoth just came out in Europe – and that’s what we’re here to review.
Allow me to begin by retracing some of my thoughts from my Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS review. The character roster on show here is the strongest it has ever been. The majority of the newcomers are all completely unique and some immensely technical. Animal Crossing’s Villager has a completely zany move set, full of quirky references to his home series, while Punch-Out!!’s Little Mac offers gamers a completely new style of play for Smash Bros.
Alongside these, other newcomers like Duck Hunt Duo, Pac-Man and Fire Emblem’s Robin offer a fantastic level of variety and it’s clear to see that a large amount of love has gone into these guys. What true clones there are, Lucina and Dark Pit, aren’t too intrusive and add nicely to the roster. Also, with Mewtwo’s imminent return, Dr. Mario’s inclusion can be all but forgiven.
A great number of series are represented here – from obvious names like Mario and Zelda, to more obscure games like Xenoblade Chronicles and Earthbound. The amount of variety on show here is only offset by the huge level of originality present. It’s simply the best character roster Smash Bros. has ever had. Not only that, but the characters are all nicely balanced, with some veterans being boosted in strength, while others have been taken down a peg (or three – looking at you, Meta Knight!).
Adding the ability to create and use your own Mii Fighter also adds to the sheer diversity on show in the roster and each and every character is absolutely brimming with personality. From Duck Hunt Duo’s hilarious animations and the seven Koopalings who accompany Bowser Jr., to the general aloofness of the Fire Emblem cast, every series is represented with colour and life.
Of course, the cast of Super Smash Bros. is only part of the appeal. The series’ core gameplay remains as strong as ever and, in this case, is perhaps the best it’s ever been. If you’ve been reading up about the game prior to release then this might sound like old news to you now, but Smash Wii U is the perfect blend of Melee’s furiously fast-paced gameplay and Brawl’s slower, more defensive combat. The game is certainly Smash Bros. – ramp up your opponent’s percentage to send them flying off of the stage – but it’s the definitive version of the game you know and love.
The game’s core mechanics feel strong, and you’re delivered many methods of play. Do you want to use the Wii U Gamepad to do battle? Maybe you’re a GameCube controller purist? Or maybe the new Pro Controller is the way forward? Either way, it doesn’t really matter – Smash Wii U allows you to play the way you want. The typically tight controls and speedy gameplay make for the most interesting and balanced Smash Bros. yet. It’s fast, without being too messy and can provide some seriously intense moments.
There are some gameplay elements that have naturally been changed in this instalment. Changing ledge mechanics and the overall speed of the game means matches might last longer as it takes players longer to die, and a lot of the fighting may now take place off-stage in the air. As always, the meta game for Smash Bros. is incredibly flexible and it’ll take some time before the competitive players find their niche – for now, enjoy exploring the many gameplay experiences Smash has to offer.
Of course, the gameplay wouldn’t mean anything if you didn’t have places to play – that’s where Smash Wii U’s stage roster comes in. Boy, is it a treat. Almost every single fighter is given a stage this time around and, unlike in the 3DS version, big series names like Donkey Kong and Starfox are given completely new stages, alongside returning ones.
Interestingly, there isn’t a single stage that scrolls annoyingly upwards like Brawl’s DK Jungle Falls and, to my knowledge, the stages that scroll sideways like Mushroomy Kingdom have been all but eliminated as well. Instead, a number of travelling stages have been added in their place – Skyloft, Wuhu Island and the returning Delfino Plaza to name a few. This is excellent – travelling stages are not only generally some of the fairest stages in Smash Bros., but they are also complete visual delights. Skyloft sees you soar above a gigantic statue and look down upon the Zelda locale, while Pilotwings is a stunningly beautiful stage, seeing you ride atop a couple of planes that even rise above a giant volcano for some truly memorable views.
They aren’t all travelling stages mind you – new stages like Mario Galaxy and Kalos Pokemon League help to show off the game’s variety. Of course, series stalwarts Final Destination and Battlefield remain, as well as Melee’s Temple and Onett stages. There are even stages representing games that aren’t even out yet – the colourful Yoshi’s Woolly World stage! It’s intriguing to see Smash Bros., a series that is noted for lagging a generation behind with its representation, finally start to catch up – the Wii U racer Mario Kart 8 also has a stage!
After the 3DS outing, where there were a vast number of returning stages and a lot of them not so great, what’s the situation like on Smash Wii U? Well, with over 40 stages to choose from, just under 20 of them are returning – so it’s a pretty hefty percentage. Never fear though, for the selection on offer here absolutely trounces that of the 3DS.
Returning stages Delfino Plaza and Luigi’s Mansion are absolute delights, as are Pokemon Stadium 2 and Halberd. Some might seem a little unnecessary – did we really need Smashville when we’ve got the nearly identical Town and City? – but overall, the choices on offer are completely solid. With regards to the stages, there are just a couple of missteps. For instance, why doesn’t the Wii U version of Smash get a new stage for F-Zero or Earthbound? Both Captain Falcon and Ness have been Smash veterans since the original game, yet here they’re both lumped with a single returning stage. It’s especially annoying when the 3DS version saw their franchises get new stages and they were both so good too!
All is forgiven though with the return of Congo Jungle – a stage from Smash 64! I’d love to see the original game get more representation. It’s where it all started after all.
Alongside the stages already given to you is the return of the Stage Builder, which is both better and worse than its Brawl counterpart. The freedom given to you by drawing stages on the Wii U Gamepad is somewhat muddied by restrictions placed on the stage components themselves. Being unable to turn pieces around or move them once they’ve been positioned is annoying and while the Stage Builder does allow for a bit more expression than it did before, it comes with unnecessary and irritating limitations that perhaps shouldn’t have been there.
What really helps make the stage choices so enjoyable however is the graphics. Yes, Smash Bros is easily the best looking game in the series and one of, if not the best looking game on Wii U. The game runs at a deliciously smooth 60 frames per second at all times, barely ever have I witnessed any slowdown, and a stunning 1080p HD. The frenetic action has never looked better. Colours pop and even the cluttered menu screens manage to look great. The character selection screen is gorgeous, with wavy flames lighting up the individual character boxes.
Individual characters look and act the part, with excellent animations and an intimate attention to detail. Being able to see Bowser’s scales, or the rippling shimmer of Zelda’s dress is certainly a novelty – but the additional work put in here truly pays off. Smash Wii U looks gorgeous. In fact, the entire game reeks of polish. That extends to the music choices too. Since Brawl, the Smash games have been applauded for bringing together a great number of composers. The same is true here, with numerous tracks available for each and every stage – including returning ones. The My Music section of the game adds so much in terms of Nintendo’s history and is a joy to rifle through.
This is all well and good of course, but what if you don’t want to just play Smash? What is there to do on your own? Well, while there isn’t anything as complete a package as Brawl’s The Subspace Emissary, there are an awful lot of modes available for the solo player (most of which can be played in co-op anyway).
Classic Mode returns as always and is once again changed up. While the 3DS version tried to change things up a bit, the Wii U version attempts to do something completely new. Your character becomes a trophy which you move around a board. You can then choose who you want to fight next, with intriguing developments like rivals and team battles occurring almost out of nowhere. While at first I didn’t like the look of this Classic Mode, it’s grown on me and now, I think it’s even better than the 3DS’ excellent effort. The Wii U’s version often throws in random elements to change things up every time and, since you decide who and where you fight, no Classic Mode is the same. Of course, you will always face off against series villain Master Hand at the end for some familiarity.
All-Star Mode also returns, though this time to face off against the newer characters before moving on down to the retro heroes. Alongside this, stadium mini-games also thrive, with series favourite Home-Run Contest back once more. Target Blast is also available and remains an inferior version of Target Smash, while Multi-Man Smash offers up a myriad of different modes for players to try. All of these modes feed into a number of challenges that will in turn unlock customisation options, stages and trophies. There is an absolute ton of things to do here and Smash Bros will keep you busy for ages.
Event Match is also returns from Brawl and I am so happy it did. Events are perhaps the most original and unique ways to play Smash Bros., with a number of pre-determined event set-ups allowing you to play with a variety of characters you might not have tried otherwise. One event for instance sees you trying to put Bowser Jr, Ness and Toon Link to sleep with Jigglypuff, while another sees Mario trying to stop one crazed Little Mac from beating up another. There are loads of different events to try and complete with their own hidden rewards to win and it’s here that you see a lot of the game’s own personality shine through.
Okay, I’ll talk about it. 8-Player Smash. Yes, in this game you can play with up to seven other characters on a single screen. Yes, it’s just as crazy as you might imagine – but it’s good. It’s really good. While you unfortunately can’t play with eight players online, the frenzied action is the personification of what Smash Bros. is. 8-Player Smash is a crazed mash-up of Nintendo all-stars, battling it out on a Nintendo themed stage with a plethora of Nintendo themed items. So you see, this mode is everything Smash was meant to be.
While it won’t hold over the competitive players, and is in no way a replacement for regular Smash, 8-Player Smash is a welcome addition to the series and that’s the main thing. The mode is a great party mode and it really can get intense as you’re whittled down to the final few players. Only set stages can be played with this mode and it is often determined by the stage size – Hyrule Temple and Palutena’s Temple for instance are perfect fits. Meanwhile, some stage choices seem a little odd – Castle Siege for instance, seems very small. Regardless, the mode is great fun and a worthwhile inclusion into this already bursting package.
Other new modes include Master and Crazy Orders, where you complete a number of tasks for the series’ gloved villains. They’re interesting modes but probably won’t keep your attention for too long. Speaking of not keeping your attention for long, we have Smash Tour – a Mario Party style board game mode that appears to be the Wii U game’s version of Smash Run. It’s an additional mode, an add-on if you will, that really doesn’t impact the main game in any way – thankfully. Smash Tour is a strange mode that I don’t really see why people would want to play it, certainly not for long at least. A number of Miis run around a barebones board collecting fighters and eventually fighting with them. The random nature of what fighters you end up with is nice and forces you to use a character you might not be comfortable with, but for that, you’ve already got the far superior Event Match. It’s confusing and messy and luckily is merely an extra to an otherwise excellent package.
Online play also returns, as you might have expected. Are you bracing yourself for the worst? I can understand why. Brawl’s online was atrocious and full of lag, while the 3DS version of Smash saw slight improvement. However, even during local play you might experience tremendous slowdown. Luckily, that seems to have been mostly eradicated here. It’s quick to access the online modes and just as quick to get right into a match. I’ve played a number of games in For Glory, the game’s online competitive component, and haven’t experienced any lag whatsoever. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge, but it may be that Smash Wii U’s online is actually working and that is excellent.
Both For Fun and For Glory return from the 3DS version, as well as the multitude of modes that come with those. All-in-all, it seems that Smash Bros. Wii U has been stuffed full of different modes for people to play. Yes, this is the biggest Smash Bros. to date – but as we come to the closing thoughts, is it the best?
Super Smash Bros. is a strange beast. Often daunting to new players, it is renowned for being a game that tries to be a party game, but is more often than not taken as an ultra-competitive fighting game pitting Nintendo’s best against each other. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U takes everything to the next level. The gameplay is the best it has ever been – fast, fluid and excellent to pick up and play. It’s traditionally easy to play but difficult to master, and with around 50 characters to choose from, there’s somebody for everyone.
The Wii U has allowed the game to be seen in a new light, with gorgeous graphics and stunning orchestral tunes. While the lack of a complete adventure mode is a shame, especially since it’s been replaced by some solo modes that simply don’t add up in comparison, Smash’s core appeal is stronger than ever. When the game is absolutely massive, how can you mark it down for blemishes that simply don’t matter? How can you punish a game that excels in every single area that it should? The only faults this game has are in the extraneous modes.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the best version of Super Smash Bros. ever. 15 years and four games down the line, Smash Bros. is now Nintendo’s flagship title. There’s absolutely no doubting the level of hype the series brings. The character roster is incredible, the stages are fantastic and the HD visuals add so much. If you own a Wii U, buy Smash Bros. If you don’t own a Wii U, buy one for Smash Bros. It’s the best game on the system. While it has minor issues, they simply don’t detract from my criteria that makes this simply excellent. I would end by saying something like “you’ll have a smashing good time”, but now, I don’t think I need to.
Pros
Smash Bros. gameplay at its absolute best.
The best character roster Smash Bros. has ever seen.
The best stage list for any Smash Bros. game.
An incredible range of Nintendo history, tightly compacted into one beautifully crafted package. Music, references, trophies… the list is absolutely endless.
8-Player Smash is a great addition to the series.
Stunningly beautiful graphics add a whole new layer to the series.
Cons
Some extraneous modes aren’t that good
Rating: 10/10
Tom Powter
