Topic: The Subspace Emissary Sucks

[Adrock]

Let me start by saying that I've had the game since Thursday and that I've completed 100% of the SSE in 10 hours and 6 minutes (and that's only because I couldn't find 1 trophy box in one level so I re-played it at least 6 or 7 times).

It's just dull. Really, really dull. The levels are overly simplistic and boring. The flaw is that they're designed so that every character can complete them which makes sense since there are a variety of different characters. At the same time, the entire mode fails at being fun and/or interesting. Nothing about it is especially original (i.e. choose-the-correct-door-to-proceed-puzzles, hit the switch to open a door, find the key which is is often right next to the locked door). They even recycled parts of the older levels to make the last level. That's just plain laziness. Additionally, none of the levels really take advantage of specific character attributes. For example, characters with extended jumps (i.e. Kirby, Peach etc.) never need to use them to advance. I found plowing through levels with Ike to be the easiest way to get through the mode which I completed just to get all the characters.

The enemies too are poorly designed which I don't understand. Game Arts has excellent artists (i.e. Lunar, Grandia). More importantly, they're all pretty easy to defeat even on higher difficulties. Some of the bosses offer some challenge, mainly the final boss (who has 1 super cheap instant kill move and a couple other super cheap almost instant kill moves) and Meta-Ridley.

The story... well, there isn't really a story. The characters are all kind of just there and nothing really makes sense or gets explained. Some sh*t goes down and they all just decide to team-up. But, there is a ton of CG which gives the illusion that there is a coherent plot behind it all because why would they have put all those cut-scenes in there otherwise?

Seriously though, my problem with all the CG is that it hogs disc space which is the reason the game is dual-layered which, then, is the reason why load times are so frequent. Maybe I'm spoiled, but when Melee had minimal load times, I'm having a hard time understanding why Brawl, developed some 6 years later, has so many.

I know I'm ranting, so I'll end this soon. I remember months and months ago when Smash_Brother wondered why the development team spent so much time on the adventure mode when Smash Bros. is primarily a multiplayer game. While I always wanted an expanded adventure mode, I have to agree with Smash_Brother which proves that there's a first for everything. The idea was better on paper or maybe it was just poorly executed here. Either way, think of all the characters and stages we could've gotten instead.

By the way, the game is still near perfect because Smash Bros. is inherently a multiplayer game and they did get that part right though maybe its a little too slow (maybe).

[GoldenPhoenix]

I have to agree SSE, is pretty lame IMO. It feels like a chore and can get pretty tedious. I really want to unlock Sonic so I am about forced to go through it, but still not what I call a good time.

[mastro]

I find it pretty good so far but I only completed about 3 levels. I plan to only play it for like a hour at a time then go back to multi player or classic mode.

[Mikintosh]

yeah, i don't own the game yet, but i don't plan on beating the whole SSE thing at one time (which i don't think Samurai intended people to do), as fatigue is bound to set in at that point.

[Adrock]

I didn't beat it on a single run. I played in spurts, an hour or 2 at a time. It's still just not a lot of fun.

I forgot to mention that, on the positive side, SSE is more fun co-op. Still, I think a co-op classic mode would have worked better. Yeah, you could just set up most of the classic mode matches in multiplayer, but a co-op classic mode would make unlocking stuff a lot more fun that way.

[Mikintosh]

But I don't get it; it's only dull because of the level design? Kirby's level design was always, I thought, fairly simple, but I enjoyed the actual platforming/combat/whatever. I'm only now watching the Youtube videos of SSE (didn't want to get overexposed until the game was almost here), and the thing looks pretty fun to play, regardless of how "original" it is. But anyone who was expecting it to be the greatest side-scroller Nintendo ever produced was, I think, getting their hopes needlessly up.

[Nick DiMola]

Well, I guess I'm in the minority, but I am really enjoying it. Maybe it is because I finally got my fiancee to play Smash Bros., but I am having a good time playing through it with her coop style.

[Adrock]

But I don't get it; it's only dull because of the level design? Kirby's level design was always, I thought, fairly simple, but I enjoyed the actual platforming/combat/whatever. I'm only now watching the Youtube videos of SSE (didn't want to get overexposed until the game was almost here), and the thing looks pretty fun to play, regardless of how "original" it is. But anyone who was expecting it to be the greatest side-scroller Nintendo ever produced was, I think, getting their hopes needlessly up.

1. It's not only dull because of level design. It's dull for a variety of reasons which I mentioned above. To summarize, the only thing that was driving me to finish the mode was that I figured it was the fastest way to unlock characters/stages/music. In any game, I think the quality of the experience should drive people to keep playing. For example, I didn't finish RE4 to unlock Assignment Ada. I finished it because the game was awesome. It was fun so I wanted to keep playing.

2. SSE isn't really like Kirby though, to be honest, the last one played was The Crystal Shards on N64 so maybe my memory of the game is hazy. In any case, Kirby games are designed usually with only Kirby in mind. I would imagine that building a beat-em-up/platformer game around 30+ characters is entirely different. Sakurai/Game Arts certainly gave the concept their best shot. I just don't think that Smash Bros. gameplay is very well suited for this kind of thing.

3. I didn't expect it to be "the greatest platformer Nintendo ever produced" nor did I even imply anywhere near as much. Regardless, something doesn't have be the "the greatest anything" to be enjoyable.

[Mikintosh]

Fine, you really can't argue with someone's opinion (especially since I haven't played the thing yet), but they were never gonna put more stages/characters in place of SSE. They knew Brawl needed a strong single-player mode (I appreciate their putting on in as I dont get to do multi-player as often as I'd like), and so they made sure it was a full "game" and not just a side distraction. It was also a strong selling point to people who'd otherwise think the game's Melee 2.0, which more stages and characters (which again, were not coming anyway) would not have helped combat.

[Bill Aurion]

I'm loving SSE, except for all the cheap traps that make me go "Oh, Sakurai!" ='D

[NWR_pap64]

What annoys me a lot about the SSE mode is that it has no ending...Seriously, you beat the boss, the worlds are restored, cue credits...Throughout the game you get these exciting cross overs and team ups and some great cutscenes. And it just ends...No final scene with the characters, no resolution, NOTHING. The annoying part is that they hired the writer of FFVII to create this mess.

Here's how I would've ended it:
After the characters defeat the final boss, they return to the stadium and are treated to a hero's welcome. As the crowd is going wild and confetti is raining down you see the characters saluting the audience, giving each other handshakes and just plain celebrating their victory.

As the camera pans out you see the entire cast and they slowly turn into trophies. Then the stadium morphs into a child's room. You learn that the SSE mode was really a kid playing with his figures, a tribute to SSB 64's theme. Then the kid slowly backs out and closes the door. Cue credits.

Now, how hard would it have been for Sakurai and the famed FF writer to create this ending? What's even sadder is that SEGA made a proper ending for Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, even though it isn't a story oriented game!

What...the...hell?

[Adrock]

Mikintosh wrote:
It was also a strong selling point to people who'd otherwise think the game's Melee 2.0...

I wouldn't say SSE is a strong selling point. Smash Bros. fans would have bought the game, Melee 2.0 or not. However, if someone didn't like Smash Bros. before, I doubt the expanded Adventure Mode would really change their minds. Also, without having played it, I don't think you can make the argument that "they made sure it was a full 'game' and not just a side distraction." In fact, I would actually say the opposite, it felt like a bonus. And I think if you ask most Smash Bros. fans, they would choose to have more characters/stages than SSE because characters/stages are fun for years.

pap64 wrote:
What annoys me a lot about the SSE mode is that it has no ending

It didn't really have a story so the lack of an ending didn't bother me as much as it probably would have otherwise.

[Svevan]

Yeah SSE sucks. Big surprise too, since single player Smash has always sucked.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

7.9

no customizable skins and Link doesn't talk

[NWR_pap64]

pap64 wrote:
What annoys me a lot about the SSE mode is that it has no ending

It didn't really have a story so the lack of an ending didn't bother me as much as it probably would have otherwise.

Even if the story was non-existent they could have at least shown us a congratulatory screen or have one last scene with the characters (and no, the scene where the characters stare at the sunset does not count because they are in trophy mode).

Like I mentioned earlier, Mario and Sonic does this. After you complete all of the circuits you are treated to a scene where all the characters march and salute the audience. Its a celebration scene which is satisfactory and fun to see. Why couldn't Brawl do that?

Take Star Wars A New Hope for example. Imagine if after Luke destroys the Death Star, the screen goes black and the credits roll. The audience was stripped of a scene in which we see the characters celebrating their victory. This is what happened in Brawl. Couldn't we see the characters one last time, NOT in trophy mode?

I know I am making a big issue out of this, but it annoys me that Sakurai hired the guy that wrote the story for FFVII and the best they could do was this.

Its a sad day when a fanfic writer can do a better job with a story than the actual creators...

[Adrock]

I know I am making a big issue out of this, but it annoys me that Sakurai hired the guy that wrote the story for FFVII and the best they could do was this.

Wasn't the best plot Kazushige Nojima came up with originally about some of the characters riding on a bus to a stadium? I can't expect much from someone when they seriously just don't seem to care.

[NWR_pap64]

I know I am making a big issue out of this, but it annoys me that Sakurai hired the guy that wrote the story for FFVII and the best they could do was this.

Wasn't the best plot Kazushige Nojima came up with originally about some of the characters riding on a bus to a stadium? I can't expect much from someone when they seriously just don't seem to care.

I think that was Sakurai's take on the story. According to the interview Sakurai tried to come up with a story by himself, but couldn't find a way to bring these characters together and a storyline to wrap it all in, so he hired the writer as support. in Sakurai's own words, one could do what the other one couldn't.

[ThePerm]

You guys don't watch silent movies do you? I think SSE is great. This is a game i like, i'd play onlne more, but it barely works. I've tried like 20 times to brawl with people, but its only worked 4 times. And of the 4 times it was with the same people. I haven't even gotten to friend code brawls.

[NWR_pap64]

You guys don't watch silent movies do you? I think SSE is great. This is a game i like, i'd play onlne more, but it barely works. I've tried like 20 times to brawl with people, but its only worked 4 times. And of the 4 times it was with the same people. I haven't even gotten to friend code brawls.

Um, there's a difference  between silent movies and the SSE mode. Silent movies have simpler stories which are conveyed by acted scenes and facial expressions. The SSE story, though, is convoluted due to the lack of clear details. Had we not gotten the basic details before the game's release we would have no idea what is going on.

Though, it seems that people either love or hate the SEE mode. Many reviewers are quick to point out that the Brawl doesn't work as well as a platformer engine. However, some fans seem to love this a lot, just as there are fans that hate this. Some friends of mine absolutely hated the mode and decided to unlock the characters by meeting the other requirements.

[Sessha]

There were definite problems with the SSE, like the last boss being the cheapest bastard ever.  But overall I liked it.  The end was a bit tedious but it was a step in the right direction.  And I don't know if I'm the only one but I loved the cutscenes.

[Smash_Brother]

Cap and I unlocked Sonic by racing off the stage in a 1 man stock 300 times.

I'm not kidding. Took far less time than SSE would've.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm liking it so far. The gameplay isn't great but it isn't bad, and I absolutely love the cutscenes. Diddy pulling Fox by the collar is comedic gold.

[Dasmos]

Cap and I unlocked Sonic by racing off the stage in a 1 man stock 300 times.

I'm not kidding. Took far less time than SSE would've.

I'm sure that was loads of fun.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Cap and I unlocked Sonic by racing off the stage in a 1 man stock 300 times.

I'm not kidding. Took far less time than SSE would've.

I did that a few times too. Finally got to the point where I unlocked captain falcon. IN regards to the SSE, it seems like a mish mash of things that make no sense and has no cohesion, I really enjoy how the cutscenes have an exciting moment happening like you being surrounded by tons of enemies, or an epic chase, or something which is then followed by a shoehorned 2D level that really doesn't relate to what happened in the cutscene until you get to the certain points in it where another cutscene comes in. On the flip side I do enjoy Mission mode and classic mode.

[Mikintosh]

Cap and I unlocked Sonic by racing off the stage in a 1 man stock 300 times.

I'm not kidding. Took far less time than SSE would've.

I did that a few times too. Finally got to the point where I unlocked captain falcon. IN regards to the SSE, it seems like a mish mash of things that make no sense and has no cohesion, I really enjoy how the cutscenes have an exciting moment happening like you being surrounded by tons of enemies, or an epic chase, or something which is then followed by a shoehorned 2D level that really doesn't relate to what happened in the cutscene until you get to the certain points in it where another cutscene comes in. On the flip side I do enjoy Mission mode and classic mode.

Yeah, because no video game has ever had cut-scenes to set the mood than have the actual playable sections have a more of a...video game feel out of necessity. Why was everyone expecting a Bioware-level story for this? Super Smash Brothers is great, but it does not aspire to Kingdom Hearts greatness in that area.