The most anticipated game for the Wii for 2008 has finally arrived. This is the third game in the insanely popular Super Smash Brothers series. The concept is simple: a fighting game that features many Nintendo characters.

I want to state clearly: this is an offline review of the game, seeing as how I don't play the game online yet.

Plot

A majority of the game has no plot, as it's just "fight this person" in a battle. However, the new adventure mode (much improved on since the last Smash game) has a decent plot.

In the "Subspace Emissary" adventure mode, you travel through various Nintendo worlds to find out why heroes are getting captured and turned into trophies.

Gameplay

Super Smash Brothers Brawl is a fighting game that features Nintendo characters (as well as some non-Nintendo exclusives) as playable characters. The game is easy to just “pick up and play”. The characters include Kirby, Mario, Link, Pikachu and many more. Most of the character list from the previous Smash game returns, which is a feature. However, the one problem with characters is there is still clones. Clones are characters that have the same moves and generally are about the same.

The game is split into two main sections: solo and group. Each section features the adventure mode, plus other things. Both modes features things for 1 or more players.

Solo

The section is divided into five modes. These are classic, adventure mode, stadium, events and training.

In Classic, you fight opponent after opponent. There is also some mini-games between some of them. This is similar to the previous classic mode seen in the previous Smash game. This is for 1 player only.

In adventure mode, you play the Subspace Emissary mode. You start off with a few characters, and get more to play with later on. Levels have a nice amount of variety to them. In one level, it's just a straight forward level, while another will include puzzle solving and so on. There is a nice selection of bosses and enemies, however some repeat a little too often. While playing the game, you will find stickers during matches (as well as in this mode). These stickers serve as equipment to make your characters stronger. This is for 1 or 2 players.

In stadium, the events from the previous game return: target smash, home run contest and multi-man. Target smash is improved, as it now has multiple stages of difficulty. The goal is to destroy targets as quick as possible. In home run contest, you have to hit sandbag a long distance. In multi-man: you have various challenges to defeat a certain number of enemies. All of these are for 1 or 2 players.

In events, you have a certain task to do. Some examples: an event will have you defeat an opponent and in another you will have to win the match in a certain way.

In training, you practice doing moves against a computer controlled opponent and try to get a lot of combos. This is just a practice mode, and isn't that special.

Group

Group mode is divided into several modes as well, with the main focus being on multiplayer.

Brawl: this is the majority of the game you will be playing. You pick a character and fight a computer and (or) a human in a fight to see who is the best. A huge variety of items can be used during a match, some examples are a baseball bat, banana peel and various guns. This is for 1 to 4 players.

Besides Brawl, there is a tournament mode, as well as other multiplayer options. Customizing what you want to do for a match is nearly endless.


Graphics and sound

The graphics in the game are some of the best seen on the Wii so far. They are full of color, and great detail. Most of the stages are from previous games in some shape or form, so they did a great deal of upgrading here.

The sound in the game is where Brawl really shines though. It features multiple songs from every major Nintendo franchise in it’s history. There is many English songs, as well as Japanese songs. There is hundreds of songs in the game total, so if there is a certain Nintendo song you like: it’s probably in the game.

Replay value

The game is a Nintendo fan’s dream. There is numerous characters to unlock, as well as many trophies, songs and stickers to unlock. The adventure mode is a good 10 hours or more, and that’s just the start of it. There is many options to switch around in matches, many stages to play and so much more. Plus there is a create-a-stage mode, which is easy to use. This game will keep you busy for many years.

Recommended: Yes