Topic: Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament Impressions

[JusDBerube]

We were there, in person, to witness the madness.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37756/super-smash-bros-invitational-tournament-impressions

I'm sure many of you experienced the Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament through the live stream offered from Nintendo, but I'm here to tell you what it was like in person. That's right, I witnessed the madness up close.

Upon entering the Nokia theater I was handed a giant book that featured all the playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. tournament. I had no idea what this was for, but I was happy to get any sort of swag. When I sat in my seat I was immediately impressed with the lighting and stage set up. As a big Smash Bros. fan, it just felt good to be in a building with people as hyped up for the new games as I was.

I've been in some Super Smash Bros. tournaments before, and have even competed in the finals. I have heard roars of the crowd behind me as I smashed my opponent with massive attacks. Sadly, my experience pales in comparison to what the people playing the game must have felt. It was awesome hearing a giant theater filled with people cheer and roar as exciting moments happened during the competition. A cool added featured, that you may have missed when watching at home, was when a player got a Smash Ball strobe lights would flash from the ceiling all over the theater.

The book, I mentioned earlier, was actually used for voting for fan favorite characters during the tournament. Fans would also hold them up to show everyone who they were rooting for. This was a great idea and got many of the people attending the event involved in a way that allowed them to participate to some degree.

Overall, the event was fun and you could tell the fans were very into it. Sure, the tournament had a bunch of people playing a game they don't know too well, and with items, so the results were sure to be a bit random. However, that wasn't the point. The Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament was meant to be a fun experience that would bring fans together and serve as a showcase for the new games. Mission accomplished Nintendo. Just don't be scared to do this in the future because sometimes it's important to make your fans happy with events like this.

[lolmonade]

It was enjoyable to watch for the most part.  The announcers were horribly cringy, in my opinion though.  Is that commonplace for professional Smash tournaments?
 
 

[ShyGuy]

Sure, the tournament had a bunch of people playing a game they don't know too well, and with items, so the results were sure to be a bit random.

Final Destination, No Items.

[Caterkiller]

I was in the 2nd row and got so close Sakurai. I could almost smell him...


It was absolutely nuts and I was jumping around and roaring with rest.

[ClexYoshi]

It was enjoyable to watch for the most part.  The announcers were horribly cringy, in my opinion though.  Is that commonplace for professional Smash tournaments?

It actually usually doesn't. I think there were a couple of contributing factors to the lacklustre commentary; they were probably asked to avoid using swearing or derrogitory terms. they were probably also asked to avoid using technical terms that the less initiated would not understand, such as DI, SHFFL, move priority, etc. They probably aren't initiated with the items and had a bit of trouble telling what the hell was going on for most of it besides the last match between Hungrybox and Zero, where the commentary flowed a little more naturally.

Speaking of which, I think Hungrybox went into it with the right strategy of avoiding the fray at all costs and being very oppertunistic with his KO's. The Smash Bros. documentary paints the guy as somebody who may not possess as much manual dexterity as the crazy ass people wave dashing all over the place and tossing out 6 NAirs a second via mastery of SHFFL, but he plays smart and he plays... well, about as cheap and gimmicky of tactics as he possibly can, hence his mastery of Jigglypuff's 'wall of death' strategy.

[Kairon]

I will ALWAYS vote for Pikachu.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Nintendo really should continue to do more events like this. I have absolutely no interest in playing Smash Bros (either competitively or casually) but even I got a kick out of seeing how much the audience and the participants enjoyed the game. Unsurprisingly, the fans are energised when Nintendo acknowledges their existence.

[Sarail]

I will ALWAYS vote for Pikachu.

That Geoff Keighley can suck it.