Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS Video Game Review

It's time to Smash on the go!Courtesy of Nintendo

Super Smash Bros. (SSB) makes its portable debut on the Nintendo 3DS and exceeds expectations. Offering tight gameplay, customization and an abundance of great modes to keep you busy for months on end.

For those new to the series. Super Smash Bros. is an answer for those Nintendo fans that grew up wondering who would win in a fight between Samus Aran and Captain Falcon or Mario and Yoshi. It's a fighting game like no other, with platforming action mixed with ranged and up-close combat. Pitting a variety of classic and new characters alike against each other for the ultimate video game character battle royal. There are 48 characters to choose from - including awesome new additions Sonic The Hedgehog and Mega Man - and that's not even counting the different versions of a Mii you can play as.

So. Many. Characters.Courtesy of Nintendo

Super Smash Bros. works differently than other fighters in that you're not working to deplete your opponents health bar in the traditional sense. Instead, your goal is to take away your opponents stock (or lives) by doing one of two things. knocking them off the stage and keeping them off or hitting them so far off the stage they enter the blast zone and instantly lose a stock. Each character has a damage percentage and that percentage goes up as you attack your opponent. The higher the percentage listed, the easier it is to knock your opponent into the air towards the blast zone.

Bowser finally has the opportunity to lay the smack-down.Courtesy of Nintendo

Fast, Smooth, Customizable

My big concern going into this review was whether or not Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS would play as well as its big brothers on console but that fear was squashed pretty quickly. Not only does this portable version of Smash run at a seemingly constant 60 fps, but its move from analog sticks (and C-Stick for Gamecube fans) to the single circle pad of the 3DS has been wonderfully handled. While the circle pad isn't as precise as an analog stick, it certainly is acceptable. Only when playing for long stretches did the compact control layout strain my hands.

Link vs Samus. Who would you choose?Courtesy of Nintendo

What I found to be the most prominent tweaks to the Super Smash Bros. gameply on 3DS is the inclusion of customizable special moves and the overall speed of the game - this version of SSB is fast without being impossible to follow. It's definitely faster than Super Smash Bros. Brawl's more sluggish pace.

When it comes to customizing move sets, you have the opportunity throughout SSB's modes to earn variants of special moves. As an example, Mario can choose between a faster but less powerful forward Fireball or a Fire Orb, which is slower but much bigger and repeatedly hits an opponent. Each character has four special moves and each of those four moves has it's own variants. Allowing you to custom tailer your fighters abilities to your specific play style, increasing SSB's depth and bolstering incredible replay value.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Trailer

Modes Galore

The biggest accomplishment of Super Smash Bros. first venture into portable territory is the sheer amount of content on display. It really is incredible. There is enough game here to satisfy even the most hard to impress. Most memorable modes from past iterations are accounted for. There's Classic Mode (fight your way through opponents and an end boss), All-Star Mode, the Home-Run Derby, Multi-Man Smash and more favorites plus a new version of the Target game - here called Target Blast - and what has become my new favorite mode, Smash Run, which is exclusive to this version of SSB.

Target Blast has you sending a bomb into a fragile vertical scaffolding in hopes of destroying numerous targets. Think Angry Birds meets Smash Bros. There's some neat strategy involved with this mode though. You attack the bomb, increasing it's damage percentage (Like when fighting an opponent), which makes it easier to knock the bomb farther and higher. The catch being that the bomb is on a ten second timer as well. Basically the more you attack the bomb, the less time you have to get it to its destination. It adds an interesting layer to an otherwise simple premise.

Target Blast - Super Smash Bros. meets Angry BirdsCourtesy of Nintendo

Smash Run is one of the more talked about of the new modes and for good reasons. It's unique and an incredibly fun offline mode. In Smash Run, you and three friends (you can also play it solo with bots) are dropped onto a huge multi-layered course and tasked with finding power-ups and collectibles all while fighting various enemies along the way. Defeated enemies drop items which level up your character stats such as Power or Speed. After five minutes of this mayhem you face off against your friends with each of you having the acquired boosts from your Smash Run.

Take on a Smash Run to earn power-ups and more!Courtesy of Nintendo

If you choose to jump online for some random head-to-head matches against the world you'll be happy to find a pretty reliable experience. I encountered moments of lag but they were fairly rare. For the most part, my online battles ran at a steady clip and my inputs were translated well within the realm of reason. I still think the best way to play Super Smash Bros. is locally. But I'm very pleased with the online stability of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is available now.Courtesy of Nintendo

Final Thoughts

Nothing short of an incredible package. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS not only proves to be a worthy addition to the 3DS library but one of the best Super Smash Bros. games yet. Fantastic gameplay, customization and an abundance of worthwhile modes and collectibles to unlock will keep this cartridge in your Nintendo 3DS for a long time.

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