Published on December 8th, 2014 | by Scott Romeyn
Super Smash Bros for Wii U Review
Super Smash Bros for Wii U Review Scott Romeyn
Summary: The ultimate showdown between 50 of Nintendo's brightest stars
Perfection!
Primary Format – Games – Nintendo Wii U
Game Genre – Fighting
Rating – PG
Game Developer – Sora Ltd
Game Publisher – Nintendo
Reviewer – Scott Romeyn
Following the release of the 3DS game in October, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the second half of this generation's instalment of the ultimate Nintendo All-Star title. And boy, does it deliver. With the most to offer than any Smash Bros. game has ever had before, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is clearly the definitive instalment.
Smash Bros. for Wii U shares the same character roster as the 3DS version with about fifty characters from over a dozen Nintendo franchises, and the ability to create your own characters with Mii avatars. Each character has their own variety of attacks inspired by their games, and the goal of Smash Bros.'s main event is to do battle with other characters until you've weakened them enough to launch them right off the stage. The controls are much more comfortable than the 3DS version, and with plenty of controller options there's a controller for everybody, but on a personal note if you missed out on picking up a GameCube Controller Adapter, you'll be kicking yourself.
There's a huge variety of stages to choose from, and you can now design your own stages with the Wii U gamepad by drawing shapes- a huge step up from Super Smash Bros. Brawl's grid-based tiles. But what falls short with Smash Bros. for Wii U's custom stages is the lack of two things; a diverse range of visual options which makes your creations feel a little generic, and the lack of objects you can place- only cannons, moving platforms and lava. This can be forgiven for the sheer quality of a package that the rest of the game is. Smash battles can now have eight players at once, which is total chaos on the battlefield but luckily it doesn't make playing the game any harder and if anything you'll just enjoy yourself more.
Of course, the Smash battles aren't the only thing to do in this game. Classic Mode, All-Star mode, and the Stadium games return from the 3DS version- but enhanced and expanded to take advantage
of the Wii U's power and disk space. All of these changes rejuvenate the experiences from the 3DS version and bring a new challenge. There's a lot of content in the Wii U version that wasn't in the 3DS version. Event matches are back from Brawl, where you complete challenges set by the game and receive rewards like equipment, trophies and gold.
There are completely new modes in Smash Bros. for Wii U as well. Special Orders has you taking orders from Master Hand and Crazy Hand as a sort of bounty hunter, accepting randomized missions to earn rewards, and Smash Tour is a new party game where you and three other players travel around a board receiving characters and upgrades to fight with in the final battle. It's an enjoyable little side game to say the least, but I do still prefer the 3DS version's exclusive mode, Smash Run.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is also the first game to support Nintendo's new amiibo figurines. In this game, you can train your amiibo to play well, and you can train it tactics for victory, and you'll watch it get smarter and quicker. It's like being a teacher to your own personal Smash Bros. pupil. It brings a surprising amount of joy into the game. And when the time comes and you find that your amiibo can even beat you in a one-on-one battle, you'll realize that you just befriended a toy. They're a perfect ally; one that knows how you play and works with you. They're a perfect rival, they know you better than you know yourself and they'll find a way to beat you.
Graphics and Audio
Smash Bros. for Wii U's graphics looks absolutely amazing. Unlike the 3DS version, which has a washed-out look to it, the Wii U version has such vivid colour and high-detail environments that it makes all the previous Smash Bros., games look ugly, and that's saying something. Every character's designs stay true to their roots, and yet there's no clashing of art style between franchises of a radical visual difference. The soundtrack is a heavenly experience that culminates over 30 years of Nintendo games into over 400 unique musical tracks with more variety than any other game I've played.
Ask me what the best experience is on the Wii U and I would tell you Smash Bros. in a heartbeat. After a long winter of Nintendo titles that didn't quite hit the high note that people expected, Smash Bros. makes up for any shortcomings Nintendo has had in recent years. You don't even have to be a fan of fighting games to love Super Smash Bros. because it's a genre of its own. Its Nintendo's finest hour and I'll still be enjoying this game long after %100 completion.
Gameplay – 5 Graphics – 5 Audio – 5 Value – 5 Total 5/5 – The perfect representation of all things Nintendo!
• Compete with classic players from the Super Smash Bros. series, along with new challengers like Mega Man, Little Mac or newly announced Palutena, the Goddess of Light from the Kid Icarus games. For the first time, players can even compete as their own Mii characters.
• Use a variety of control methods during the high-energy and action-filled battles, including Nintendo GameCube controllers – the long time controller of choice for hard-core Super Smash Bros. players.
• Customize move sets when playing locally or online with friends.
• Connect with amiibo for added fun.
• Experience the beauty of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in stunning HD, a first for the series.
• Fight against friends and family locally or online, or battle random challengers from all over the world online in "For Fun" or "For Glory" modes.
Scott Romeyn Born in '95, learned how to play on a SNES. Became a little too obsessed with gaming in the Nintendo 64/PlayStation era. Spent his teenage years making custom Mario levels with an editing tool, now thinks he's some sort of level design savant. Big lover of collectathon 3D platformers. Still plays Super Mario 64 regularly.
Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Review →
Paper Mario Color Splash Wii U Review →
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Wii U review →
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U Review →