Well, after years of waiting, numerous teasers, tons of trolling (thanks Sakurai) it’s finally here… Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has finally arrived. Let me tell you, Smash for Wii U is no joke. This game is full of content and is a lot of fun to boot. This review is obviously going to be a review for Smash on Wii U, so let’s get started after the break!

 

WiiU_screenshot_TV_0144F

Super Smash Bros. is a game that puts Nintendo’s all-stars in a battle royale; you have a massive rooster to choose from. You have classics like Link, Mario, Samus, Pikachu and Fox, then a little more obscure characters from Nintendo’s legacy such as Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles and Marth and Ike from Fire Emblem. Each character has their own unique play style and it’s up to you to figure out which one is best for you (I personally like Link, he is a very well balanced character).

WiiU_screenshot_TV_0144F

Smash Bros. has a lot of content like I said earlier… Between fighting your friends locally or online, to single player modes, Smash is something that will keep you occupied for quite along time. Single player offers modes like Classic Mode, which puts you against other characters to win trophies, equipment for your characters, etc.  There is a mode called All Star Mode, which puts you against every character in the game chronologicly starting from 2014 and ending at 1980.  You have to do it in one go with little to no healing items and it can get pretty difficult if you’re at a higher difficulty setting.  There is a new mode called Smash Tour…It is literally a Mario Party style game board where you have to collect power ups, characters, etc. in a set amount of turns without touching another player on the board.  If you touch another play, everyone will be thrown into a four player Smash, it can get quite hectic at times.

You also have Event Matches which are fights that you have to meet certain requirements and use certain characters to complete. A devious example of this is to try and put all opponents to sleep at the same time using Jigglypuff. On top of all of that you have modes such as Home Run Contest, Multi Man Melee, Blast the Targets (which is kind of an Angry Birds rip off), Trophy Rush, etc.  Throughout this review I have mentioned trophies a few times, what they are are collectable virtual figures of characters, items, places, etc. based on Nintendo’s extensive history of gaming.  If you are like me, the trophies are one of the best parts of Smash Bros, Nintendo has really gone all out with the designs and descriptions of the trophies (even if a few of the Earthbound trophies are a little trollish). Collecting all these trophies will keep a gamer occupied for a while and they add to the replayability of the game.

WiiU_screenshot_TV_0144F

Smash offers numerous ways to play the game, between using a Gamecube Controller, WiiMote, WiiMote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, Wii U Controller Pro, Nintendo 3DS etc. there is a way and a control scheme that’s comfortable for anyone to use. Smash on Wii U literally has the most diverse way of playing this game, it is literally unmatched by any other game I have played to this day. I prefer using the Gamepad now, I have big hands, so my hands don’t exactly cramp in the same way they have with GC controllers, WiiMotes, etc.  Nintendo went all out when trying to make this game accessible to everyone.

One of the biggest issues with Brawl was it’s online… It was so laggy and unstable it was almost impossible to play with anyone outside of local play. Smash Bros. Wii U rectifies that… I’ve only experienced issues online when someone has had a bad internet connection, which is no fault of Nintendo. When the internet connection is perfect, the game has no hick ups and Smash for Wii U is one of the best online multiplayer experiences I have ever had.

Smash for Wii U added a new local multiplayer mode called 8 Player Smash, you can literally have up to 8 players, at once, on the same screen. Let me tell you, it’s nuts. So much chaos, it’s awesome. Unfortunately, like I said earlier, it’s local multiplayer only, so don’t think you’ll be fighting 8 random people online (that would be awesome though). There’s a lot of fun to be had with this mode if you can manage to get 8 people in the same room.

WiiU_screenshot_TV_01450

With the launch of Smash for Wii U came the launch of Amiibo as well, Nintendo’s line of NFC figures. Those things are actually really cool. When you activate one, the character will appear at the character select screen and he can fight. You can’t use these Amiibos yourself though, they are NPCs to an extent… but they are so much more. They start off at level one, and are terrible in a fight at first, you have to level them up. As you level them up they learn new strategies, your strategies, and they get very difficult. I have the Link Amiibo myself, I bought it to help with this review. I got him up to level 50 which is the highest level an Amiibo can go and he’s ridiculously strong. He’s stronger then a level 9 NPC and I’ve seen him demolish my friends. With what I have seen with Smash Bros. and Amiibo, Amiibos look like the have a bright future ahead of them. I honestly want more after seeing what my Amiibo can do.

Now, the performance of Smash Wii U as a whole is incredible. For a console that is under powered (which it is) Smash is beautiful. It runs at a smooth 60 frames per second and boasts gorgeous HD graphics. Smash is so colorful, yet so serious at the same time it’s truly a sight to see.

Smash Wii U offers a ton of stages from Nintendo’s franchises. Between Skyloft, Isle Delfino, Gaur Plains, Lylat Cruise, etc. every stage is fun and looks beautiful. Every stage has an Omega form as well, which makes bigger stages and every stage actually like Final Destination for pro players (I prefer Omega Stages because they are fair). I honestly believe that Smash Wii U has the best selection of stages I have ever seen in the Smash Bros. series… these stages are incredible.

Well, this is about the time I wrap it up. I love Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, it’s my favorite games at the moment. If you don’t have a Wii U, THIS is the game to pick one up for… Smash Wii U has failed to disappoint me, and is a pinnacle of gaming in my eyes. Like all my reviews, I rate the game out of a score of 1 to 10… 1 beng the lowest, 10 being the highest. I give Super Smash Bros. for Wii U a 10/10, this game is perfect. I have found no flaws with it and it is literally the best iteration of Smash to date. It’s a perfect balance of Brawl and Melee, the characters aren’t too heavy, yet they’re not to floaty and there’s no lame tripping like there was in Brawl (I HATED tripping).  So, that’s my review… Let me know your opinion of the game or if you feel I’m wrong in the comments, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, see ya around.

 

Chris Mercer

Ummmm…Wait, what am I supposed to do here again?