I totally lost, by the way.
The game looks absolutely brilliant, even blown up hugely on a projector. In fact, I kind of want to get an enormous projector now (and a lecture hall) just so I can play this. The graphics are easily the Wii's best, with reasonably detailed character models and gorgeous stages. The colors pop. The crazy flourishes that go along with a Final Smash are both hilarious and amazing.
I picked Snake, of course, and set about trying to figure out how to play as Snake in the middle of a tournament. Snake's moves are very unconventional for Smash, with so many of his Smash attacks (not just his specials) launching weapon fire in unexpected ways. Snake takes a lot of getting used to! For example, his down+B attack sets C4. Then you somehow have to remember where your C4 is so you can use it effectively -- or in my case, not mash down+B again immediately afterward. We were playing on Snake's stage, which is just claustrophobic enough to make it pretty likely you'll blow yourself up. Like I did with the Bob-Omb, also.
A fierce battle ensued over a Smash Ball, and since I was the underdog (i.e. loser), the crowd started to cheer me on as I vied tooth-and-nail for the ball. Then -- yes! -- I got it! And I didn't remember how to activate it. Again the crowd helped out, and soon I got to da choppa. Another Smash Ball showed up soon after -- items in general didn't seem as frequent (by default) as Melee, but two Smash Balls in five minutes is significant. Fighting over a Smash Ball is, in fact, important enough to be labeled an entirely new gameplay element (in addition to giving that status to the Final Smash attack), because it immediately shifts the focus of the whole game. Even after my Final Smash, I lost, but not by running out of lives. I had the smallest stock when the time ran out, triggering a three-way sudden death.
Brawl is Smash Bros. but just bigger. The Final Smashes and the mostly smaller stages are designed to create tension and excitement. They work. I was frantic, the crowd was frantic, and the five-minute match left me sweating bullets. I wasn't even that excited about the game, but now? Day one. The ease of operating tournaments and the character profiles are going to make this the multiplayer game of 2008.
_thumbnail.jpg "Mega Man 9")
_thumbnail.jpg "Smash Bros. Brawl Snapshots")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-21-2008 @ 12:48AM
Cyber-Tyrant said...
If you see Sakurai, ask him why Mewtwo, Roy, and Pichu were cut out.
BTW, here's an IGN interview with him:
http://wii.ign.com/articles/853/853748p1.html
Note: DLC: shot down and De-:comfirmed.
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2-21-2008 @ 1:46AM
Gun Barrier said...
nice article, it was an interesting read.
2-21-2008 @ 6:47AM
Dopple Boppler said...
Because no one like Pichu. No one.
2-21-2008 @ 8:03AM
StevenRafael said...
Can't really give Pichu his own moveset... I still don't see how Falco has been changed that much IMO, but atleast he handled more differently than fox when compared to differences between Pikachu & Pichu or Mario & Doctor Mario... Roy and Marth didn't handle that differently either, but it doesn't matter... Ike's replaced him.
As for Mewtwo, I'm just guessing he isn't the coolest kid on the (Pokemon) block these days. That spots been taken by Lucario. It really doesn't matter because it looks like enough of his moveset resembles Mewtwo's.
2-21-2008 @ 2:48AM
DannyHibiki said...
SSBB is pretty awesome on a projector. We have it being projected onto at 110 in screen right now. Instant party. :)
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2-21-2008 @ 3:19AM
Christian said...
I'll get to play it on my 56" HDTV. Now I just have to go get the component video cables for my Wii...
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2-21-2008 @ 3:57AM
Just_a_guy said...
you know what would be nice? Being able to play Brawl at the Pixar studio's big screen (where the walls ARE speakers). That would just be amazing.
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2-21-2008 @ 7:06AM
Ken said...
No way I will be beleiving that's a Wii game.
The wii is not able to produce such graphics. That must be the PS3 or Xbox360 version.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:29AM
Suichimo said...
Then its a good thing that the fact that its exclusive for Nintendo will make you believe.
2-21-2008 @ 9:02AM
Shadow31 said...
Give... me... Brawl...!!!!
So JC, you got to play Brawl? Before me? WELL BURN FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!
Naw, kidding, I still love ya, man... I am just insanely jealous...
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2-21-2008 @ 9:04AM
Mr Khan said...
That's a solid gameplay impression right there, good work. Its hard to accurately represent sheer fun.
But DLC de-confirmed, does that mean they're taking away our downloadable user-created stages?
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2-21-2008 @ 9:31AM
Donald said...
I think they mean in terms of new characters and the like (Mewtwo CONFIRMED... to be gone).
2-21-2008 @ 9:45AM
Sleage said...
What control scheme did you use? Did it work well?
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2-21-2008 @ 9:54AM
worm said...
Mewtwo, Roy, and Pichu are not part of Brawl because they SUCK. I played Melee competitively for years and NEVER found anyone who was good with any of these guys. Occasionally you'd get someone who could control Mewtwo well, but they could never seem to convert that to wins. Glad to see them gone. Now Doc on the other hand...why is he gone. I'm sad.
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2-21-2008 @ 10:16AM
nintendo1889 said...
Oh, but apparently people know how to legitimately take advantage of the wii's hardware (especially graphics). That says more than alot of 3rd parties (shovelware companies included) can do or have been willing to do! All in all, what you see is real; that's the wii's gpu in its rare glory.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:15AM
Steven said...
The best Melee chant was "Roy's our boy! Roy's our boy!" I'm gonna miss that. Marth just doesn't sound the same.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:32AM
Suichimo said...
Have you never watched Neo or Masashi play Roy? How about Taj play Mewtwo? Then you have seen T!mmy, although I may be wrong and its Tommy, play Pichu?
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2-21-2008 @ 11:34AM
Suichimo said...
That was meant towards worm. The reply button is being fidgety.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:38AM
Jack said...
I WANT MEWTWO
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2-21-2008 @ 11:40AM
GatorSax2010 said...
JC, I kind of hate you right now. But only in the jealous way, so it's all good.
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2-21-2008 @ 12:05PM
Sisyphus said...
I still find it hard to believe someone uses a Gamecube controller, let alone prefers them. I think it's easily the worst controller in several generations of consoles.
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2-21-2008 @ 4:13PM
Patrick said...
First off, I completely disagree, but from what I have seen, like everyone prefers the GCN over the Wiimote for Brawl.
2-21-2008 @ 4:23PM
hvnlysoldr said...
Because Game Arts was one of the first developing teams, will that mean they'll have gorgeous games on Wii?
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2-21-2008 @ 8:22PM
Michael K. said...
I have it preordered but I just can't get myself really excited about it, I'm just really disappointed with the character list, they could have done so much more.
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2-24-2008 @ 3:48PM
Marcy said...
Nice summary of the events, haha. I was the blue Link that you played against, and my boyfriend was dark Link. It was a good match.
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2-25-2008 @ 11:32AM
azu said...
I'm just disappointed in the character list as well. The stages look pretty good, and other stuff as well..but honestly, would it have hurt to leave Roy in there? Just change his moveset! It's just not gonna be the same without him, cause now I have to get used to Marth, and I don't like Ike all that much...
As for the GNC controller, I like it a lot. It beats the 64 controller anyday. And you can't really compare Wii remotes to the GNC controller...cause they're not even a similar format...
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2-26-2008 @ 4:50PM
Christina said...
Makes me so glad I didn't sell off my Wavebirds...
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