The items that drop in the middle of battles are weirder than ever and have a wider variety of effects.
The result feels more honest and broadly appealing than any previous iteration. In their stead are a bevy of subtle new additions aimed at both casual players and the core crowd. The 3DS game lacks some widely panned mechanics from Brawl, particularly the random tripping that would cause characters to simply fall over face first as well as the general feeling of a low-gravity floatiness. It's why the game is so approachable to new players and why competitive players are still discovering new techniques in Super Smash Bros. That variability lies at the heart of Smash Bros. Similarly, if you're doing well but slip up and fall off the stage without taking even the slightest jab, the failure stings just a bit more. This adds a layer of tension to most matches, as dealing the most damage doesn't always guarantee a win. It's somewhat like a trumped up, glitzy version of sumo wrestling, and it's absolutely brilliant.ĭamage directly effects how far any given character will fly after being struck, but if you're skilled or lucky enough, you can stay on a stage even after taking more than your fair share of hits. Eventually, you'll be able to knock your foe clear off the stage, where they'll then fall to their death. Each character's attacks are easy to learn, and the goal is to rack up damage to knock your opponent further and further away. Unlike most fighting games, Smash has no life bars and does not emphasize extensive button combinations. Each player picks his or her favorite character before squaring off on any of one of a couple dozen stages.
In the soundtrack, I’ve tapped not just a nostalgia for Zelda and Pokémon, but for the whole Smash Bros. In the renewed emphasis on competitive modes and global rankings, I feel a connection to my competitive past.
In the trophies for characters like Pac-Man and Mega Man, I’ve found trivia for games that were simply before my time. for 3DS, I feel like I can visit different eras from my history. That’s probably because, as a child of the '90s, I grew up with it. has always felt like Nintendo’s real "tentpole" game to me, more so even than the core Mario series.