The third installment is coming in at number three. Coincidence? I think not!
It’s no surprise to see everyone’s favorite Nintendo fighting franchise find its way to a top spot our list. The latest addition the franchise is bigger and badder than ever before (I use “bad” with its positive connotation). With more detail, unlockables, music, and more, this Wii titan more than deserves the praise it’s received.
There was an expected outcry in the Smash Bros. community prior to Brawl to add more to the series’ third entry—more characters, more single-player content, more unlockables, and essentially more EVERYTHING. Not only were these cries heard, they were answered. Brawl’s single-player mode is expanded from the older games. The story mode in Brawl is not only longer, it’s a game in and of itself. Taking more than a few hours to complete, it tells the tale of a Super Smash Bros. universe under attack. Players follow a few plot lines until all the stories and characters come together in the end to face a final threat to their world. Throughout the stories, players can unlock stages, music, and characters.
Oh, the characters. Some say there are too many, while others say there aren’t enough. Rumors spread like wildfire from the first trailer revealing Solid Snake’s appearance. “Will Banjo and Kazooie be in the game?! What about Goku?!” Sorry, random Internet commenter, that just isn’t the case. Brawl includes some third-party characters, but not too many. Regardless, the game still has a pretty packed roster. Each character has his own move set and style of fighting. Even poster boys Mario and Luigi have their own distinctive fighting styles and final attacks. Each character also has his own final attack, which gives the game even more dimensions and makes each character more distinct
Brawl is not only a joy to look at, but also a joy to play. Players can use any of their Wii controllers, or go back to their GameCube controllers to duke it out. The game keeps the goofy sense of play players have come to expect while simultaneously kicking up the intensity. In true Smash Bros. fashion, players can go from gripping their controllers in concentrated silence for hours to laughing along with friends while bashing each other there is no limit to the kinds of fights that can occur within the game. Along with each fight comes a plethora of memorable stages posing their own challenges and twists to each fight. Players can even design and duke it out within their own stages. If that isn’t enough to keep players coming back for more, the game offers tons of unlockables, including stage pieces, music, hidden characters, stickers, and trophies. There is virtually no end to the rewards and experiences players can glean from the game.
Like the two entries before it, Brawl is still met with great praise and fond memories. It’s easy for people to pick up and play, and it’s perfect for hardcore fans of the series. Brawl did what people wanted and expected—it brought a bigger and more diverse experience to the world of Super Smash Bros. Some didn’t care for it, but many others came to love the newest addition to the Super Smash Bros. legacy and the Wii’s library of showcase titles.