If you bought and played Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, you’re probably satisfied. You’ve Smashed to your little heart’s content, laughed, cried, possibly thrown your handheld device, and enjoyed quality gaming with friends and fellow players both in the same room and halfway across the world. Your in-game trophy collection is packed with nearly every collectible amiibo-like figure, each a nod to a classic Nintendo series of old (or new). As you put your feet up and kick back for yet another evening of For Glory throwdowns after a long, hard day, you may even find yourself wondering: “why do I need the console version?”
Well, I’m here to tell you to take that back right now and go to your room this instant, young man. Seriously — I’ve had my hands on the Wii U edition for days now, and though I can’t offer up specific impressions untill reviews go live on the 19th, I can vaguely hint that Smash fans should not plan on skipping this game. It’s bigger, it’s better, it’s grander, and the truth of the matter is, you’re simply not ready for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Here’s why.
Console Super Smash Bros. for Real This Time
Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the original Wii was a graphically respectable game, but there’s a funny thing about the Wii; over time, you find ways to convince yourself that its 480p graphics look good. And in some instances, if you try hard enough and sit far enough from your TV, they absolutely do. But coming from Brawl, there’s really nothing that can prepare you for the lush 1080p goodness that awaits.
Worlds collide in SSB Wii U. Literally.
Even before getting my hands on the game, I’d seen it at both PAX Prime and E3 back in June, and the visual sharpness and clarity is the kind of thing that induces double-takes. Obviously it’s not as if I’d never seen a game running at 1080p before, but to see Smash — this series, these characters — pulling it off kind of makes you question your reality. Much like Super Mario 3D World, I imagined how my ten-year-old self would react to such a thing, and a big smile crossed my face.
Additionally, the world of Smash on Wii U isn’t just about sharpness and resolution. It’s about color, speed, and consistency. The stages laid before you are often a marvel to look at (just wait until you see the new Final Destination), but it’s more than that; there’s an unmatched sense of grandeur, not to mention the thrill of knowing you’re experiencing history merely by playing. It’s been six years since Brawl released, after all, and even more so than the notoriously intermittent line of console Zelda games, Smash releases can define eras of your life.
Wii U Only Features You’re Going to Want
Nintendo’s 50-fact Extravaganza regarding the Wii U version erred on the side of information overload, but if you sift through the massive info-dump, you’ll discover that there are a handful of exclusive features you’ll have a tough time missing out on if you stay 3DS-only.
Most obvious among them is 8-player Smash, an absurdly hectic mode that is completely unprecedented. You don’t have to look far for examples of just how absurd the new mode is. Though not exactly practical if your goal is to win by skill alone, it’s the best option possible at get-togethers or when large groups of people are present. Better yet, with items turned on and eight players, unskilled participants have a better chance of eking out a win than ever. In other words, it’s the ultimate party mode.
There’s more to the story in terms of game options and modes, but there’s no need to recap all 50 facts here — you can check out Nintendo’s video for that. Long story short is, an identical roster is hardly synonymous with an identical game. And eight Little Macs relentlessly KO-ing each other is a (terrifying) sight you’re not going to see anywhere else.
The Spirit of Smash
As trying as For Glory mode in the 3DS version of Smash has been, at the end of the day this is a series about real-life, face-to-face connections. It’s also a series about seemingly disparate Nintendo franchises colliding in an epic and once-per-generation fashion.
The modest improvements of Brawl’s audiovisual presentation caused some of this radiant splendor to dim, but I assure you that with the Wii U edition, it has absolutely been found again. Remember when you first tried Melee on Christmas morning and your jaw hit the floor at the detail, the grandeur, the dream-like timbre of it all? In my view, that’s what we’re dealing with here.
Also See: 50 Facts about Super Smash Bros. Wii U
The 3DS version is a swell achievement and a fun time, but I’ll let you decide if what I described above is something you honestly want to miss. Lord knows there are enough bundles and refurbished console options to secure a Wii U this holiday. In the meantime keep your eyes peeled for our review on Wednesday, and watch this video of Marth and Little Mac hurtling through space. Trust me — it’ll set your mind at ease.
