After an enjoyable online session with one of my Final Fantasy XIV guildies the other night, I sat down to spend a bit more time with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U earlier today.
My hesitance to play that much until now has largely been due to the fact I hadn’t really picked a “main” — that is to say, a character I would generally play in preference to anyone else, given totally free choice. Maining a character involves learning their moves and the best situations in which to do them, and is a bit more effort than just bashing buttons and hoping for the best — a playstyle I’m not quite convinced I’m entirely beyond just yet.
A bit of play with Zero Suit Samus (of Metroid series fame) against my friend the other night as well as today has me thinking that she’ll be a solid choice, however. She’s a speedy character, and I’m a fan of being able to quickly dodge out of the way of trouble, and her moves are all pretty easy to understand. She has a medium-range projectile attack, a slightly shorter range electric whip jobby plus a few satisfying combos, uppercuts and the like. Her dashing regular attack is a powerful kneebutt to the chest (or face for the shorter characters) which is simple enough to understand, and in modes such as Multi-Man Smash, where your opponents are significantly weaker than normal but come in much greater numbers, this is more than enough to send your foes flying into the distance for a satisfying knockout.
I got in some good practice with Zero Suit Samus (distinguished from her fully armoured counterpart) in the Multi-Man Smash modes, which I cleared for the first time with her, as well as the arcade-style All-Star Mode, which sees you fighting your way through Nintendo (and guest) characters from throughout the ages in reverse chronological order, beginning with recent additions to the roster such as Wii Fit Trainer and working all the way back to classic characters like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U really is a somewhat daunting package when you first pick it up, much like its predecessors. The sheer wealth of different ways to play is bewildering and baffling at first, but it won’t take long for you to find your favourite modes — and, pleasingly, there’s no obligation to play the modes you don’t particularly enjoy, since most of the unlockables can be obtained in several different ways ranging from simply playing a certain number of matches to completing specific modes or achievements. Today I unlocked a couple of extra characters, including Mr. Game and Watch — the poorly animated silhouetted figure from Nintendo’s early ’80s LCD game-clocks, complete with bip-bip-boop sound effects — and R.O.B., the ill-fated plastic robot that would supposedly “play” with you on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System on games like Gyromite. (Turns out he’s much better at fighting than he is at wielding a controller.)
I’ve enjoyed the Smash Bros. games over the years, but I wouldn’t say they’ve been absolute favourites. This latest installment, however, is proving to be an addictive little beast, and I’m looking forward to learning more about how to take my game to the next level. Then one day, I might be able to actually beat my friend Tim, who is frustratingly and irritatingly good at it, assuming you let him play as his mains (inevitably, as a Zelda fan, he mains Link and Ganondorf.) In the meantime, however, I’ll be continuing to grapple with Zero Suit Samus until I’ve got that flying knee timing just so.
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I’m better at some characters (Bowser, Toon Link) and terrible at others (Sheik, Little Mac), but I don’t go out of my way to “main” anyone in particular.
I prespribe to the notion that the game is more fun with random elements. I let the computer pick my guy and I enjoy platforms and items. It keeps things even for different skilled players (I have kids of various ages) and keeps everybody interested longer.
I can respect the competitive scene for what it isn but I find it too frustrating to be enjoyable.
That’s kind of how I’ve been with previous installments, and I wonder if that’s why I’ve found myself only engaged with them for a relatively short period of time. It does mean you can pick up and play and — assuming you’re playing with people who feel the same way — have a lot of fun, though, because there’s no pressure.
The trouble comes when you play against someone whose skill is mismatched against your own, such as my aforementioned friend Tim. At that point it’s useful to have at least one character you know a little bit better up your sleeve. I have no interest in pursuing the competitive scene or anything like that — I don’t have anywhere near the skills required! — but it’s nice to feel like you’re getting a bit better at something. 🙂