Super Smash Bros. Brawl

super smash bros brawl box art review wii
9.0 Overall Score
Graphics: 9/10
Sounds: 9/10
Controls: 9/10

Smooth play, lots of characters, good graphics

Adventure mode is too short

Game Info

Game Name: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Developer(s): Nintendo

Publisher(s): Nintendo

Platform(s): Wii

Genre(s): Fighting/Action/Adventure

Release Date(s): March 9, 2008

ESRB Rating: T

super smash bros brawl screenshots gameplay

Don’t rain on our Smash Bros. parade!

The brawl is on, and the super stars of Nintendo are up for the fight.  Everyone is ready throw-down and be it Mario beating up on his brother Luigi, no one is safe with the battle starts.  Throw in some surprising guest fighters, and you have one of the biggest and best fights in the galaxy.

Produced by Nintendo, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a fighting game for the Wii.  It is the third instalment in the Smash Bros. series which started with  Super Smash Bros. for the N64 in 1999 and was followed by Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube in 2001.  The game was well received and became a bestseller for the Wii.

I actually was not a huge fan of Smash Bros. for the N64.  I thought the concept was fun but the game was kind of clunky with games like Street Fighter II having far superior controls and moves for their characters.  Super Smasher Bros. Melee helped perfect the game style.

super smash bros brawl gameplay screenshots solid snake

It’s all fun and games until Snake pulls a gun out and starts gunning everyone down

There are 35 fighters from multiple games Bowser (Mario), Captain Falcon (F-Zero), Diddy Kong (Donkey Kong), Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong), Falco (Star Fox), Fox (Star Fox), Ganondorf (Zelda), Ice Climbers (Ice Climbers), Ike (Fire Emblem), Jigglypuff (Pokemon), King Dedede (Kirby), Kirby (Kirby), Link (Zelda), Lucario (Pokemon), Lucas (Earthbound), Luigi (Mario), Mario (Mario), Marth, (Fire Emblem), Meta Knight (Kirby), Mr. Game & Watch (Game & Watch), Ness (Earthbound), Olimar (Pikmin), Princess Peach (Mario), Pikachu (Pokemon), Pit (Kid Icarus), R. O. B. (Nintendo Robot), Samus (Metroid), Snake (Metal Gear), Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog), Toon Link (Zelda), Wario (Mario), Wolf (Star Fox), Yoshi (Mario), Zelda/Sheik (Zelda), and Zero Suit Samus (Metroid).  Plus, many appearances by other Nintendo stars as unplayable cameo roles.

Each character has special moves and unlike a lot of fighting games, most are relatively easy to activate.  The controls are smooth and work best with the Nunchuk controller and the Wii Remote, but they can also be controlled with just the standard Wii Remote or the Classic Controller and GameCube controller are also compatible.  This is a nice option if you plan to use the multiplayer option (which does boost the fun).

There are many different styles of gameplay.  The Classic involves standard matches and mini-games.  The Stadium allows for home-run contests and multi-man brawls.  Events have specific goals set for each player and more content unlocks as they are played.  The Adventure is a side scrolling story-driven game.  Multiplayer modes includes the Brawl with three other players (and CPU characters), Rotation which can be played with up to 16 players, and a Tourney which can include up to 32 people.

super smash bros brawl pokemon mario vs pit

I choose you…Torchic?

The Adventure mode is ok…but it would be kind of fun to see a full game like this with all the characters.  It is strange to play through levels as Jigglypuff and then go through as Solid Snake.  It is relatively short and can be finished quickly (which is helpful since each character earns you a special statue…it is the reward system for the game).

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a definite must for Wii owners especially since fighting games are scarce on the system.  For me, any game that brings back Pit aka Kid Icarus is a worthy game.  There isn’t any blood or gore like most Wii games and therefore can be a great way to get out the frustration on a family member.  I am still waiting for the Super Smash Bros. Brawl controversy to be unearthed and learn that many of the fights are being thrown for coins and power-ups…it will happen.  Until then, Smash away!  Super Smash Bros. Brawl was followed by Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS in 2014.

Related Links:

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy 2

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New Super Mario Bros. Wii U

Super Mario All-Stars–25th Anniversary Edition

Super Mario 3D World

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart 8

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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