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Thursday 21 February, 2008
Gameplay 2
In the second hour of my play, I invited a few friends over to play the multi player mode. While the single player mode is fun, the multi player is the true fun of the game. We started by playing a free for all 4 player game, with stock (5 lives each). Because one of my friends was much better than the rest of us, we all ganged up on him first. One of the great aspects of the game is the copious trash talk that often happens; anyone who bragged was intentionally targeted first, and there were almost "alliances" where I would leave one of my friends alone in order to try to eliminate someone else. The game continued to be very fun, and never gets old. There are an infinite number of combinations of moves and tricks, and there is no "skill cap" to the game, making it have the same appeal as a game like Counter-Strike.
Design
As a game, Super Smash Brothers is very innovative. The use of the screen as a "death point" is original, and the percent damage system simply adds to it. Each percent of damage amplifies the distance each move knocks you out. Someone at two or three hundred percent damage will fly significantly farther from the same kick as someone with 10% damage. This system, combined with the amazingly designed levels, makes for engrossing gameplay. The levels have obstacles, places to fall, and moving platforms. Unfortunately, a large portion of the game turns into who is better at edge guarding and whether your character has a spike. Nonetheless, the ability to dodge, shield, use items and double jumps make the game require an immense amount of skill to play well. Also, the "delay" between attacks, where you can't move, are important gameplay mechanics, as well as each characters run speed and the time it takes the character to punch or kick. The levels are varied, and provide various challenges; the Zelda level has tornados, the Pokemon stage has moving platforms and Pokemon that come out of the opening in the center platform, the Donkey Kong level has the barrels, and so on. The game continues to be interesting for as long as the player wants it to be because of its mechanics, and there is almost infinite room for improvement. The game uses 3d characters in a 3d landscape, but the characters can only move on a set path, making the game very fluid. Super Smash Brothers was also one of the best games for the time that was designed specifically for multiplayer, and these types of games foster social interaction. There isn't much to change about this game - it is well balanced and well made, and the sequel, Super Smash Brothers Melee, seemed almost a downgrade to me. While it had better graphics, the gameplay and mechanics were not quite as good. The games reward structure relies more on social rewards, and while there are no "upgrades" or other rewards, the satisfaction of beating the other player is a reward in itself.
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