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| From: Nintendo
Category: Video Games
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $39.98
You Save: $10.01 (20%)
New (47) Used (15) Collectible (1) from $36.99
Rating:  329 reviews
Sales Rank: 60
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Genre: fighting_action_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: Nintendo Wii
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: WI-RVLPRSBE
UPC: 045496901103
EAN: 0045496900397
ASIN: B000FQ9R4E
Release Date: March 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Finally Finally Finally! March 9, 2008
17 out of 21 found this review helpful
I have been anxiously awaiting this game, ever since E3 2005 when it was announced. I personally wasn't a huge fan of Smash Bros Melee, as I never owned a Gamecube. I bought a copy when I got my wii, but really haven't played it much. The wii version, however, I couldn't wait for. I know for a fact that many people bought a wii specifically for this title. I waited in line last night to pick up my copy and subsequently play in a tournament at my local Game Stop. I had seen lots of info online and in the SSB Dojo, but was still anxious to see this game in action... and let me tell you: I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. This game has proven to be SO AWESOME that I wish that I had given other Wii game reviews that I did in the past fewer stars... since now a 5-star rating takes on new meaning with this title! Finally, a Wii game that got it right... all of it right! No doubt this game will get plenty of 5-star reviews, so I won't bore you telling you how awesome it is. Instead, here are some reasons I love it, and why you should buy it:
1 - FREE ONLINE MULTIPLAYER: This takes the game to a whole new arena. The online multiplayer is done wonderfully. Also, there are several game modes available. I was able to connect and begin playing right away. Also, you can choose to play with people locally, nationally, internationally, or in your friend list. Nicely done! Also, one really cool feature for the online system on this game that differs from the other wii online titles is that more than 2 people can play online from your console at a time, rather than only allowing a single player to play online per console (unlike MX vs ATV or Call of Duty).
2 - Multiple control options: I LOVE that the wii games are starting to incorporate this. Having to purchase 4 wiimotes and 4 nunchucks to play 4-player games would cost a hefty sum.... But if you are like me and own 2 wiimotes, 1 classic controller, 1 nunchuck, and several gamecube controllers, you are in the game! You can use ANY combo of controllers you would like. I personally opt for the wiimote+nunchuck, as I don't like the gamecube controllers. However, my friends can come over and play with my GC controllers, no problem. Also, when you create a profile, your control schema choice is saved, so you don't have to set it up each time.
3 - Special Brawl: This feature seems really cool, though I haven't had much time to play around with it. Basically you can customize your character and game type. Lot's of potential here. Not to mention there is also a STAGE BUILDER! I think this there is a lot of potential here. Again, since I am writing this early in the morning on the first day I picked my copy up, I haven't had much time to experiment. That being said, it also seems like you can save your stage, and SEND IT TO A FRIEND to play on his console! As if that isn't enough, the rumor is that Nintendo will also be allowing you to submit your stage to them via wiiconnect24, and will, in turn, send certain stages out to subscribers via updates so you will end up with loads of stages to play on! Better upgrade that SD card, eh?
4 - Finally! Co-Op Mode: Well done, period. Haven't had a chance to get much accomplished here, but it is simple and straight forward enough. For some reason, past Mario titles have been unable to fathom co-op. Even Galaxy has a weak co-op option at best, if it can even be called co-op. Smash Bros finally got it right.
5 - Rotation Mode: Basically, this looks like it was built for controller hogs (like me). You enter the number of controllers that are connected (4 in most cases) vs the total # of players in the room.... And then WAMMY! Instant tournament in my living room! We played this for HOURS already, and it is pretty cool.
Anyway, this game was obviously well done. It is simple enough to attract novice gamers and "button mashers", and content-rich enough to attract fans and more hardcore gamers. They have taken an already great game and made it even better. I plan to log COUNTLESS hours on this one. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: Buy it.
Probably one of the best games on wii March 13, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This game has been probably one of the most anticipated games of the year: and it lives up to its expectations. I love Smash Bros, and this is just another reason to love it more. The only things that weren't very good were the subspace emissary mode (which isn't really that fun; it gets confusing, there are some pretty weird looking stuff) and the wifi online play (not very good, friend codes will give you a headache). The best thing about the game is the multiplayer mode, which makes me think that this game is probably the best for the wii right now. The CPU level 9 is actually a challenge, not like in previous smash bros and the classic mode is pretty much the same, still being pretty fun. The graphics are great and so is the sound to this game. The only game that beats Smash Bros in sound is Super Mario Galaxy, which uses a real orchestra.
This game is one that you can play for hours and you won't get bored. Here are the pros and cons of the game:
Pros:Addicting multiplayer gameplay, cool new characters such as metaknight from kirby and sonic, great graphics and sound, compatibility with gc controller, wii classic remote,and wiimote with nunchuck, stages are great, CPU opponent is a challenge
Cons:Subspace Emissary mode is confusing, long, and boring, wifi play lags and friend codes is a hassle, wiimote with nunchuck controls could be improved, after a while of playing with 4 people the game starts to take longer to load gameplay, would be nice if more than 4 could play for a change, masterpieces were unnecessary; they serve to advertise wii virtual console and only provide like 30-60 secs of gameplay
With the exception of the wifi play and subspace emissary mode, this game goes pretty well with its price. Some games that cost $50 should be sold for $10, but this game is definitely worth its $50. This is a must for your wii game collection. Although there are some faults to this game, the multiplayer and classic modes definitely make up for the mistakes.
Gameplay:A
Sound:A-
Controls: (Wiimote:B) (GC controller:A)
Fun: (Multiplayer:A++) (Subspace Emissary:D)
Solid, Fun, Enjoyable Game June 17, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Following in the footsteps of a game as widely acclaimed as Super Smash Brothers Melee for the Gamecube (with 7 million copies sold) isn't easy, even more so when there's a huge amount of hype surrounding the game as well. With that in mind, does Super Smash Brother Brawl live up to the legacy that Melee represents, or to the level that pre-launch material indicated? Short answer for both: reasonably so.
Super Smash Brothers is a Nintendo crossover fighting game series featuring characters from almost every Nintendo franchise. Favorites like Mario, Link, Kirby and Samus duke it out in battles of up to four people on stages that are also taken from Nintendo series. Rather than direct combat, SSB focuses on the more cartoonish option of beating up an enemy and then launching them out of the stage with a powerful attack. Plenty of items and stage events keep the game an incredibly fun party experience.
Brawl adds to the formula perfected in Melee by adding new characters, new items, and new stages, as well as some new features. There are a total of 26 characters; new additions to the cast include Pit from NES classic Kid Icarus, a Pokemon Trainer and three of his Pokemon, Pikmin's Captain Olimar, and the Mario series' villain/evil twin, Wario. Furthermore, two non-Nintendo characters are available, in a series first: Snake of Metal Gear fame and Sonic the Hedgehog both join the cast. In total, the cast additions include some pleasant surprises, but also some disappointing removals (characters like Roy and Mewtwo have been nixed, although they have been replaced with similar characters from newer installments of their respective series').
There are a bevy of new items in the game. Foremost among these is the Smash Ball; when attacked enough, it grants the attacking character a "Final Smash" - a devastating attack that varies between different characters. For example, Mario shoots a screen-wide barrage of fireballs, Link catches one opponent in a Triforce symbol and slashes away at them, and Kirby cooks all his enemies in a giant pot. Unfortunately, some Final Smashes are copied or reused; for example, one hidden Zelda character copies Link's Final Smash exactly, and every character from Star Fox (three in all) use the Landmaster Tank as their Final Smash. However, some are definitely really neat and welcome changes to the gameplay - a sort of temporary bonus minigame for whoever manages to get the Smash Ball.
Another new item is the Assist Trophy, which is similar to the Poke'ball item in that it summons an invincible helper to fight the enemies of whoever summoned them. For example, Samurai Goroh (from F-Zero) attacks enemies with a katana, as does Lyn from Fire Emblem (in a single swift cut). Kirby's friend Knuckle Joe delivers a barrage of blows and a mighty uppercut that KOs almost anything in its path. Little Mac from Punch-Out!! uses his speed and strength to deliver a startlingly fast jab. Jeff from Earthbound launches rockets at his enemies. Andross (in his Star Fox for the SNES incarnation) lurks in the background and shoots damaging 3d panels. Not all of them have good effects, though; The Nintendog covers the screen, making seeing the battle almost impossible. Mr. Resetti from Animal Crossing goes on one of his famous rants, the text of which blocks the upper half of the battle completely. All of them contribute greatly to the chaos and hilarity of Smash Bros fighting.
There are some new stages as well. The famous Bridge of Eldin from the Legend of Zelda serves as a long, flat stage occasionally broken by a bomb planted by a rampaging Moblin rider. The Frigate Orpheon from Metroid Prime occasionally flips upside down, causing the playing field to shift. Smashville is an Animal Crossing-themed level, and like its source will change depending on what time the level is played. Pictochat has the enemies fighting among the doodles and illustrations of the DS' built in chat program. Most of the new stages are good, but some of them (particularly Delfino Plaza from Super Mario Sunshine and Lylat Cruise from Star Fox Assault) are simply platforms on a moving background, and lack any real extra themes or effects. It's also possible to build your own stages with a variety of parts and backgrounds, which is a fairly intuitive process that can produce some insanely fun results.
Besides multiplayer, the game has a new single player mode as well: "Subspace Emissary", a story told through cutscenes and action stages. The former are well directed but unvoiced / unworded, relying heavily on body language to get their message across. The story involves an evil plot to destroy the world of Smash Brothers perpetuated by the game's villanous characters (Bowser, Wario, and so on). The Smash Bros cast must team up - splintered at first, but then united - to combat this menace. The interactions between characters have some real gems - for example, Lucas from Mother 3 using the Pokemon Trainer as a sort of big brother role model, or Diddy Kong dragging Fox and Falco off to help him rescue Donkey Kong. The story is difficult to make out, however (though it's explained in detail on the Smash Bros. site), and the final boss is nothing short of eye-roll material (hint: he's a new original character, not an established Nintendo character). The story is mostly enjoyable for the little tidbits, and those are good and plentiful, so they make it worth it.
The action stages are 2d side-scrolling classic platforming, with characters fighting against the mysterious and somewhat generic enemies unique to the game. The mechanics are similar to regular gameplay, but directed at a multitude of enemies rather than a small number of skilled opponents. Stages range from generic and boring to generic and frustrating - from "random jungle" to "random ruins" to "random flying space-lab". Other than the playable characters and some enemies from the Mario games, there's nothing "Nintendo" about the game mode - you feel like a Nintendo character playing in some other non-Smash Brothers game. So, in that way, this mode feels like it could've been done a lot better.
Other bonus parts of the game include the return of trophies from Melee, new unlockable tracks for stages, and a variety of new event matches and sub-games. Furthermore - perhaps most importantly - the Wii allows SSBB to be played online, either with friends (added by inputting their unique code) or with strangers. This mode is pretty well coordinated, and there are no real complaints about it. The option also exists to spectate matches and bet on the winner, adding to the stylish, crowd-pleasing dynamic that the game entails.
The gameplay as a whole is great, but it feels less sharp than Melee; some moves feel too slow, unresponsive, or just "wrong". The sense of controlled chaos that Melee evoked has been replaced by rampant and uncontrolled chaos, and a lot of the "art" of playing has gone out of it. The graphics are in general improved, with some good details on characters and stages, but for the most part everything's moving too fast to notice it. The sound is mostly improved - any poor changes in, say, the announcer's voice, or quality in general are offset by the sheer number of music tracks in the game.
As a whole SSBB is a solid, fun, enjoyable game, with some minor bugs and annoyances. There's a lot added, but the jump from Super Smash Bros. to Melee feels stronger than the jump from Melee to Brawl. However, by itself it is a good game with a wide variety of characters and stages from every part of Nintendo's history.
9/10.
Smashing March 10, 2008
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
Pros:
+Several New Characters
+Still fast paced, addictive gameplay
+Tons of levels to explore
+Tons of new items to mess around with
+Adventure Mode is more engrossing and structured
+Four ways to play
+Online Mode
Cons:
-Friend Codes make fighting with friends online a hassle
-Without voice acting or written dialog, it may be hard to grasp what the story in Adventure mode is for a while
-Long load times, especially in Adventure Mode
This review may be a little long.
After countless delays, Super Smash Brothers Brawl is finally here, and it goes above and beyond Super Smash Bros. Melee in almost every way possible.
The improvements over the previous Smash Brothers game are quite abundant. There are now thirty five characters. Fourteen of which must be unlocked first, either through several matches, classic mode or the games adventure mode. There are also a plethora of new stages as well as a few classic ones thrown in from Super Smash Bros. Melee. There are also new items and a whole new slew of extras to be found within this game. Simply put, this game is huge and won't keep you busy for just weeks, but months on end. Perhaps even years.
There are two big single player modes to trump through. First, there is classic mode which is not much different from the classic mode presented in Melee. You'll fight battles either one on one, two on two, three on one or a giant version of a character. There are also team battles and "Metal Menaces" to fight. You'll also see the return of Master Hand and Crazy Hand. Classic Mode can now be done with a friend instead of just by yourself as well.
However, the real deal in single player is easily the Subspace Emissary. Brawl's own adventure mode. The adventure mode here actually includes a story. The story is a little confusing at first. Mainly because there's no voice acting or even written dialog between the characters. You'll eventually grasp on to it, though, and even come to like it. The story even comes off as somewhat epic. The adventure mode here is much more fleshed out than in Melee. You'll fight an abundance of characters and have an abundance of characters join your ranks. You'll fight through chaotic boss fights and intricately designed levels. And you don't even have to go through adventure mode alone. A friend can fight alongside and many moments in the story call for more than one character to go through a certain level. The other good thing about going through Adventure Mode is that it can be a different experience on a subsequent play. Even better, however, is that the Adventure Mode is not that short. It will easily take you anywhere from nine to ten hours to complete it the first time, and you'll end up having to play a second time just to snag all the trophies.
Of course, the real treasure of any Smash Bros. game is the multiplayer aspect. Brawl doesn't disappoint. The matches are fierce and there are a ton of new things. As in the previous games, players go to a level where they battle against either other players or the computer. There are several new items added this time around. There's the sticky bomb, which sticks to a character until it detonates. There's the assist trophy which works a lot like the Pokeball and many more. The most important new item, though, is easily the Final Smash. The Final Smash is a devastating attack that usually serves as a one hit kill. You'll probably want to check out every character's Final Smash skill at least once. These aren't just the most powerful attacks in the game, they're some of the coolest looking as well.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl also supports four different controller functions. The Wii Remote by itself, the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, the Classic Controller and the Gamecube Controller. All of these controls are decent, but the Gamecube controller is easily the best of the lot. The controls are mapped out exactly like Super Smash Brothers Melee. Anyone who played Melee to no end will easily find comfort in the controls here. Regardless of what control function you use, the controls are tight and highly responsive.
The best part about Brawl, however, may very well be all the extras. You've got a series of trophies to collect and characters to unlock, but there's a lot more than just these things. You can also unlock soundtrack selections and new stages as well. In addition to all these things you can also save some matches and watch them again. Brawl also gives you the option of creating your own levels and saving screenshots. This is in addition to some of the things that returned from Melee such as Event Battles and the Homerun Contest. There's so much to be explored within this game. Brawl also goes online, and being able to fight people anywhere is amazing.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl also looks and sounds incredible. The graphics being the best the Wii has yet. The stages themselves look absolutely incredible. The backgrounds are highly detailed. The music here is some of the best to grace the gaming world. Nintendo got some of the most famous composers in the industry to contribute music and the soundtrack doesn't disappoint.
Is Brawl perfect? No. While it's nice to go online you'll still have to deal with friend codes and there's no way to voice chat or communicate with the people you're playing against online. When playing with friends, it'd be nice to be able to say something. The game also suffers from some fairly long load times. And while Adventure Mode is a treat, the last few hours of the run can become extremely repetitive.
Despite all this, Super Smash Brawl is a must buy for Super Smash Brothers fans. If you enjoyed Super Smash Brothers Melee and the original title that started it all, Super Smash Brothers Brawl is a real treat to own.
Brawl: Melee Evloved and much more March 14, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, SORRY
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is probably the most anticipated Nintendo game coming out this year and it delivers. Just like its predecessors on the Game Cube and Nintendo 64, it takes many of the Nintendo favorites and throws them into a solid fighting game, which each character having his/her/its own special moves. This time, the roster features 35 characters total with 21 starting and 14 unlockable. The basic idea hasn't changed from Melee, beat up your opponents until they have a high enough damage percentage and then knock them off the stage. However, what has changed is the different ways that you could achieve that goal. Of the 35 characters, almost everyone is unique. The three Star Fox characters do feel just slightly alike, and C. Falcon/Ganondorf, Link/Toon Link, Ness/Lucus have similar moves, but even those characters are different enough to offer their own strategy and have different advantages and weaknesses. Furthermore, none of the characters feel like an exact copy with different running/jumping stats like they did in Melee (Falco/Fox, Marth/Roy). All in all, all the fighters in Brawl are unique and you will sure find a style that suits your style. Each fighter is deadly if they are used correctly and none of them is overpowered (Meta Knight maybe.)
Now onto all the features in the game, first of all is the single player. The single player adventure, dubbed Subspace Emissary, is a much larger version of the adventure mode in Melee and it will take about 6 - 10 hours to finish, depending on the difficulty and the percent completion. The adventure doesn't take itself too seriously and the cut scenes are beautifully rendered. Don't try too hard to understand them and just sit back and enjoy its complete randomness. There were many times when I almost collapsed laughing at the silliness of the cut scenes and one left me with a gaping mouth because it was awesome. Although it could sometimes be tedious, the Subspace Emissary gives the player the ability to unlock all the characters, with Wolf, Jiggly and Toon Link requiring a little more work, without playing through hundreds of versus matches, but then again, it's not that hard to do. Although not the best single player game ever made, the Subspace Emissary keep the player occupied for a few hours, even just to see the next cut scene or battle the next boss. In addition, the game also features co-op play to alleviate the sometimes tedious or just plan out meanness, parts of the game.
All the goodness of even matches also makes their return. In addition, some of the events are now co-op, the last one being a co-op All-Star match with no recovery items. The event matches now also have their own difficulties settings, further increasing the replay value. Other stadium options include the return of the homerun contest and multi-man brawl, which can also be played co-op.
The part that is going to keep the player coming back for more is no doubt the multiplayer part. This was the reason why melee was so popular. Many reviews complain about how Brawl is the "more of the same," and "without any innovation." I did not find that to be the case. It is true that everything that made Melee great has returned, such as special attacks and chargeable smash attacks, but with the new characters and modifications to returning fighters, any old strategy must be at least modified to keep them effective. New features such as the footstool jump (using other people's head as a spring to jump higher), gliding (for certain winged characters), and wall clinging (grabbing to the wall) adds subtle new strategies and furthers the playing of mind games for the pros. Perhaps the most interesting addition is the Smash Ball, which breaks after repeated attack and gives the player the ability to unleash a Final Smash, a devastating attack that usually result in KOing an opponent. Once the Smash Ball appears, all actions seize and the focus shifts to obtaining the Ball. One of the major changes that Melee players will notice is the slower pace of Brawl but it is very easy to adjust after a few games.
The stages are awesome very unique and offer their own style of play. Unlike other fighting games where the stage plays no part in the fighting, almost all of the Brawl stages fight back with many different hazards. Just like Melee, the players need to keep track of the stages and try to avoid their hazards. In addition, some classic Melee stages make a glorious return, stages such as the Temple and Rainbow Cruise. There are a total of 41 stages, 31 new and 10 Melee stages. Plus the option to build your own stages, the option is almost limitless.
Although I haven't tried the online play yet, from the response of my friends and online reviews, it seems that it's nearly flawless with a stable connection.
The graphics of Brawl is one of the best on the Wii and it runs at a constant 60 fps. Although the graphic can't really be compared to those of 360 and PS3, given the capabilities of the Wii, the Brawl graphics is much better than that of Melee with more explosions, more action and more chaos in general.
The sound track of Brawl is probably one of the best in the history of video game. It includes original sound track as well as remakes of many of the classics. With over 150 different songs, all beautifully orchestrated, you will never be bored when you're fighting. The songs alone might be able justify for half of the cost of the game.
Now, there are a few aspects of the game that could be improved. First of them is the individual target smashes. Instead, there are five of the same levels for every character. The Melee target smash was unique which required different approach, but the Brawl target smash is all the same for everyone. It would be interesting to see different target smash stages for all 35 characters.
Another minor complaint is the loading time, but considering the large amount of content crammed into the game, it's a very small criticism.
Some people are experiencing a disc reading error due to dirty Wii lens and Nintendo is offering to repair the systems for free regardless of the warranty. It might delay your enjoyment of Brawl, but at least Nintendo is nice about it.
With new co-op play, new characters, new adventure, new items, assist trophies, new pokemons, new stages, Final Smash and all the extra contents, Brawl is everything that Melee was and much, much more. For the friendless, the game might not be that much fun, but with an almost perfect 4 player fighting game and solid online play, it can keep you and 3 of your best friends occupied for many months, if not years to come. I politely disagree with all the people who say that Brawl is just a Melee upgrade. The creator of Brawl, Masahiro Sakurai, clearly put a lot of thoughts into the game and improved on every aspect of Melee and made it into a unique game. All in all, Brawl lives up to every bit of the hype and it is the best entry in the series so far. With so much stuff crammed into a single disc, the game is worth every penny of its price and it will outlast many 360 and PS3 games.
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