News of Nintendo releasing a Smash Bros. game for Wii U was exciting and quite frankly expected given the franchise pattern over the years. What we did not expect, however, was a 3DS version. The ability to play Smash on the go filled us with excitement, but concerns were valid. How smooth would a portable Smash play, and would it be too similar to the console edition?
Nintendo thankfully put these potential issues to rest with the launch of the 3DS Smash Bros. on October 3rd. Not only does it play beautifully, but the game also features unique stages you cannot find on the Wii U. Suffice to say, we had trouble putting it down, and enthusiastically wrote several strategy articles, including how to unlock everything in the game.
Despite our love for handheld Smash, its Wii U counterpart is the real star. All of the characters are the same, including the likes of Mario, Luigi, Pit, Princess Peach, Mega Man and Little Mac, but it too comes loaded with exclusive levels (from such games as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the classic Donkey Kong arcade game and Pilot Wings) and features. Chief among them 8-Player Smash, which is all sorts if crazy, and GameCube controller support providing you track down the hard-to-find adapter.
Thing is, the features don’t end there. Mii Fighter is a cool distraction from the main game, with players experiencing a board game of sorts. Meanwhile, a level editor allows players to create their own stages. This is on top of the hundreds of trophies to collect.
In addition, we have amiibos, the figures the company released alongside Smash on November 21. Although Wave 1 (consisting of Mario, Princess Peach and Samus, among others) shipped with various defects, the toy line became a surprising success, thanks to rare figures like Marth, Wii Fit Trainer and Villager pulling in big money on eBay; limited quantities of Wave 2 amiibo like Little Mac and Captain Falcon only intensified the U.S. search. Oddly enough, some Nintendo fans who collect amiibo do not own Super Smash Bros. or even a Wii U, depriving themselves of the ability to level up these toys in the game via Near Field Communication technology, similar to Skylanders and Disney Infinity. You can then transfer data to the amiibo and take it to a friend’s house, where you’re able to team up with your computer-controlled buddy or pit him/her against someone else’s character.
One can certainly make a great case for why Super Smash Bros. Wii U is not only the best game for the system, but the finest of 2014. The multiplayer potential, combined with the biggest roster in the franchise and various modes provide plenty of content for fans to enjoy this year and well beyond. Considering we may not see another game in the series until the next piece of Nintendo hardware, we’re perfectly happy with the final result.
As for the 3DS version, it’s a wonderful companion and the only way to get your Super Smash Bros. fix on the go. That is, unless you travel with the Wii U.
If you’re a Smash fanatic, improve your skills with Prima’s Super Smash Bros. tips and tricks. We’ll tell you the best characters for beginning players while at the same time offering multiplayer strategies for beating your friends.
