Preview: Super Smash Bros BRAWL

Super Smash Bros is one of Nintedos most esteemed games. It features mental button mashing so perform moves. What differentiates this game from every other combo fighting game is one very important difference. To kill someone you must push them off the edge. Attacking them makes them weaker and thus easier to push of the edge, but you must ultimately kick them. The skill becomes timing your jump to get back on the map. The latest instalment, SSB Mellee featured the majority of Nintendos much loved characters from Kirby to Samus and Mario to Zelda and some truly crazy maps that distract you from what is already confusing game play. So, what can we expect from the new title in the series, Super Smash Bros Brawl?

This game is for the Wii, and is due out later this year. Among other things it will have a collection of new characters including Wario, Zero Suit Samus and, as a true surprise for most, Snake from Metal Gear Solid. However, one of the most obvious question about any Wii game is how will it use the motion sensing features? It won't. They are not planning to include any motion sensing. This to me is a disappointment as I was looking for a level playing feild against my friends but it isn't particularly surprising given the nature of the game. To counter this, the main selling point is on-line play. This will be crazy as the off-line play is pretty intense when you get 4 players who are quite good. I belive that if they can get decent lobby support and maybe a headset this could turn around the internet side of the Wii which has had a slightly weak start, see Wiiview.

As with every Nintendo game, all the details are quite shady and will remain so until the launch. However, no one can stop everything from being leaked so here is a summary of what everyone combined knows:

Characters:

• Fox McCloud from StarFox
• Kirby from, yup, Kirby
• Link from Legend of Zelda
• Mario from any Mario
  
• Meta Knight from Kirby
• Pikachu from Pokemon
• Pit [NEW] from Kid Icarus
• Samus Aran from Metroid Prime
• Solid Snake [NEW] from Metal Gear Solid
• Wario [NEW] from WarioWare
• Zero Suit Samus [NEW] from Metroid Prime 3

There will be a new stage for every new character. There is also speculation based on the two videos released for this game that there will be some others although that is unconfirmed.

The game will feature on-line play through the built in wi-fi. Also each character has a "Brawl" special move. Most are un-announced but some have been revealed. Links will be a special tri-force thing that traps people. Mario seems to be able to charge at people on fire. Kirby seems to put on a chefs hat and cooks people, it is rumoured that Samus will have a huge laser gun, however I am sceptical of this as the trailer it just looks like they are blowing it out of proportion, and finally, Warios is a huge, nuclear sized fart!

One final note to the character list, Nintendo have stated that there are many more things to come, possibly more characters. Most notably Sonic. Particaully with the Mario and Sonic new Olympics game it is possible that Sonic could be joining the ranks.

Updates are bound to follow E3 which is fast approaching.