Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS is the first game in the series to be released to a handheld device. Just having the thought that I could play the game on a handheld device makes me so excited as I can brawl with my favorite characters on-the-go. When the game was first announced for the 3DS, many were skeptical whether or not the quality of the game will be on par with the previous entry that was on the console. To my surprise, Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS is better than I expected, although the game has flaws that makes it far from perfect.
For gamers who have been a fan for many years, playing Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 3DS will feel more of the same thing. The mechanics are similar to the previous entry where players have to choose a character from the roster and clash with up to four players in moving stages. What makes Super Smash Bros. or any other entry in the series fun is the ability to use characters from popular franchises like Pac-Man, Link from the Legend of Zelda, and Mega-Man. With their abilities that we all know from the games where they came from, players can use them in Super Smash Bros. to take out their opponents. In this new iteration, more new characters are added like Shu from Xenoblade, Trainer from the Wii Fit game, Pac-Man and many more.
Balancing is very important in a game like Super Smash Bros. and I am glad the developers made every one of the characters that are playable balanced whenever they are in a fight. The actual smashing and brawling that vets will find in Super Smash Bros. will be very similar to the speedy combat of Melee and the action of Brawl, making it very accessible to a player who has played either of the two games. As for the newcomers or casual gamers, the game doesn’t need complex combos to win in a fight. Simply learn the basic moves, move around, and launch them into the air while making sure they will fall out from the battle stages.
Visually, Super Smash Bros. looks impressive on the Nintendo 3DS. The design of almost 51 playable characters are top-notch, and they look very impressive on both the regular and 3DS XL. Through the countless battles and adventures that players will venture into, expect the visuals to stand-out. For a handheld game, the graphics of Super Smash Bros. looks very crisp and colorful, especially when any of the playable characters launch their special attacks. Expect to see a bunch of effects when all characters are brawling with one another. When it comes to the 3D effect, I can’t say that I’m impressed as it’s like they’re not even there.
When it comes to the available modes, there are several that return from the previous entry. Gamers who have played a Super Smash game before will find familiar modes that they can choose from like Classic, All-Star, home-run contest and Multi-Man smash. These modes can be played solo but those who are looking for someone to play it with friends and play through local wireless or online.
