I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure how much longer I can wait for the new Super Smash Bros. That may sound absurd coming from someone who just played the game at E3, but it’s like any addiction; a small taste can make things a whole lot worse before they get better. Of course, this was Nintendo’s plan all along, and it’s exactly why I’m going to buy both the 3DS version in October and the Wii U version when it releases two months later. When you play the game at Best Buy this weekend, you’ll become hopelessly ensnared too.
It’s easy to take mainstays like Smash Bros. for granted, but you may be surprised to know that there were many at E3 who felt it was the show’s very best game. Though I saw lots of eye-popping and occasionally mind-blowing things this week, I’m almost inclined to agree; among titles that were fully playable, Smash Bros. was easily the game to beat. So congrats on that, Nintendo — recognition well earned!
Nintendo’s E3 build of the game cut down the roster a bit, but luckily there were two characters everyone wants to know about included — Megaman and Little Mac. I had a chance to try both, and I have to say, they each struck me as incredibly exciting. For my personal fight-style I expect Mac will win out as a permanent choice in the end, but both newcomers are powerful, fun to play, and most importantly, well balanced. Mac’s devastating uppercut is a fun mechanic to play with, especially when it comes to balancing his damage meter, and it brings a freshness to combat that I hope we’ll see for at least a few other characters as well. Regardless, you’re going to have a lot of fun with these guys.
I’d already read every last detail about new characters, though, and it’s likely you have too. Instead, what jumped out at me most during my time with the game was the fun implementation of new and ridiculous items. The Tanooki Tail was particularly useful; as you might expect, it allows for hopping and fluttering through the air ala raccoon Mario, and the two times I grabbed it granted me a handy advantage over the other three opponents duking it out down below. Later, I snatched Skyward Sword’s Gust Bellows, and though its sporadic breeze was a bit tough to control, I did manage to send Marth flying to his death. This netted me a free T-shirt when I later won the match, so for that I give the Gust Bellows an A+.
The largest question in my mind before playing didn’t just concern characters or items, though. I was curious about balance and feel. You may remember the drastic shift that was Brawl when it released seven years after Melee, and though it offered technical superiority thanks to the Wii (faster response time with the Classic Controller, improved visuals), many competitive players still hold Melee as the gold standard. As a casually competitive player who thinks Brawl gets a bit too much flack, my impression of the new game is that Sakurai and company may have finally nailed it. The dreaded tripping “feature” has been removed, the game retains Brawl’s lightning-quick response and defense-based gameplay, but the whole thing has been sped up just a tad to deliver faster, more furious Melee-esque action. This time around, Nintendo has Namco Bandai helping out with balance and feel as opposed to Sakurai huddling in a dark room balancing by himself, so maybe that has something to do with it.
Despite the tweaks, I would place the overall feel of the game closer in line with Brawl, and I think for most players that’s a good thing. Subsequent entries of a fighting series shouldn’t be so drastically different that you’re awful at one while excelling at another, and though I’ve occasionally bumped elbows with professional players in Brawl, I was completely destroyed in Melee at a standard dormroom tournament at around the same time. The fact that the new game will allow me to keep my skills (as long as I make a few necessary adjustments) and let the fun stem from trying new characters instead of re-learning old ones is, I feel, a fantastic development, and a very wise decision by Nintendo. In with the new, but keep the old too.
Smash is the only game on the show floor I stood in line for more than once, and in typical Smash Bros. fashion it has me insufferably itching to secure my own copy as soon as I possibly can. I don’t think I’m alone, either. Out of every game at E3 2014, Super Smash Bros. on Wii U always had the biggest crowds. It has big screen time, electrifying moments that caught the attention of passerbys, and was unrelentingly fun to play and watch for all three days.
The game’s visuals are a substantial step up too, and though 1080p and 60fps have been reported, the same occurred with Mario Kart 8, which ultimately landed at 720p and 60fps. It’s no big deal to most players, and though the E3 demo looked 720p to me if I had to make an educated guess, we’ll just have to wait for the final game to really know. Resolution aside, rest assured that detail has been jacked up in almost every area, from the wavering of Fox’s fur to the intricate and much-improved artwork on the character select screen. I highly suggest you go play the game at Best Buy this weekend if you weren’t planning it already — you may just consume enough Tanooki Tails to drop cash for a pre-order.
