Super Smash Bros for 3DS Review
It’s finally happened. Super Smash Bros has finally made it’s way to Nintendo’s portable world. It’s something that I wondered about since the original announcement – ‘Wii U AND 3DS? What!?’. At first I was skeptical, how would this work on the 3DS? After playing the game for more hours than I’d like to tell, I can safely say that Super Smash Bros for the 3DS is fantastic.
Super Smash Bros is unlike traditional fighting games. There aren’t any complex combos to memorize, the game features only two attack buttons with variations depending on the placement of the control stick. You’re also not trying to deplete your opponents health meter, rather, you’re increasing their damage percentage in order to send them flying off the stage and to their death. It’s quite simple while having a lot of depth. It’s quite accessible, which makes it great for new comers and series veterans alike
One of the new additions to this version of Super Smash Bros is with how online play works compared to the previous title, Super Smash Bros Brawl. Two modes are offered online play, separating players who’d like to play for fun and those who want to play competitively. The mode “For Fun” is the mode with all the items on — meaning chaotic, hectic, random match scenarios. For Glory is the competitive mode, which turns off items in favour of skilled matches between players. Match records are recorded and 1:1 matches are also available with each stage in the game having the same layout – like Final Destination (a flat stage). The game can also be played locally in the same manner, both modes can be played with up to 3 other players.
Content wise Super Smash Bros for 3DS is quite impressive. It’s easy to dismiss this version of the game as being a bare bones, stripped down version but rest assured, it isn’t. It’s got all the same content you’d expect from a Super Smash Bros title. You’ve got classic mode, all-star mode, home run contest, target smash and many more modes. You’ve also got 3DS specific modes, a number of challenges to complete, characters to unlock (there’s more than 40 in this entry) and stages to unlock.
The 3DS version gets two specific modes — Smash Run and StreetSmash — along with stages based on portable titles, past and present. The first of the two modes, Smash Run, has you collecting items and power ups for five minutes. These power ups increase your characters stats, which is vital as you’ll be fighting three other players (computers or local players) in a battle with your modified stats. The StreetPass mode (StreetSmash) is less interesting. It’s essentially curling with character specific Smash chips. You control your one chip and try to hit the other chip off of a platform to get coins, which can be used to unlock trophies and other goodies.
That’s not to say Super Smash Bros for 3DS is not without problems. Although the game runs at a silky smooth 60 frames per second, the portable’s screen often makes 4 player matches difficult to see. The camera pans far too out for you to enjoy the action as much as you would on a TV. Controlling the game is also somewhat of a mix big. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not as satisfying as using a traditional controller. This is mostly due to the 3DS’ control stick. Often times I found the game not registering the difference between me wanting to crouch versus me wanting to go under a platform, or performing a smash attack versus a normal attack.
Super Smash Bros for 3DS is a fantastic portable title. The new game features a lot of great modifications from the past iterations to provide a familiar, yet refreshing experience to series veterans. At the same time, it offers accessible gameplay that’s inviting to newcomers. It’s a great place to start, and a great place to continue for all gamers alike. Although it likely won’t be the version of choice for most people, it’s not holding back by any means compared to it’s console counterpart – and that’s impressive.
