Nice characters, awesome stage, wicked gameplay, what do you want more? You also can play it online!
Gameplay- The game brings back much that is old and blends it with that that is new. You have your basic Smash gameplay from the previous game Melee, although everything feels much slower, making the game much more friendly to newcomers. You basically hit each other, and the higher your percentage goes up, the easier it is to be knocked out of the stage. This time the game is introduced to the Smash Ball, an item that makes the already crazy fights even crazier. Once in a while this ball will come floating in, and the one who gets it may unleash their ultimate move on their opponents. Some characters "Final Smashes" as it were, are pure strength, while others are more strategic. And don't forget about the Dragoon item, a ship that when a player collects all the pieces, the player can aim at an opponent for a chance at a one hit K.O. The game allows you to use a wide range of controller types, from the GameCube controller to the sideways Wiimote. Motion controls are optional with the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo, which is used for smash attacks, and is surprisingly responsive. Although the same addictive nature of the previous titles returns better than ever, the only problem is that it still is more of the same, lots of the single player modes lack the same level of interesting gameplay as the multiplayer, and it can get repetitive. Luckily for this style of game, that isn't too much of a bad thing. 9/10
Graphics- Now we all know that the Nintendo Wii system doesn't hold up as much compared to other consoles not-to-be-named, but I will look at this based from what the system can do. The game is a revamped Melee in terms of looks, although the characters are much more highly details. On Mario, for example, you can see wrinkles on his shirt and the like. Although nothing too amazing, some parts of the game really stick out. One being the cutscenes in the Subspace Emissary mode, where you can see Nintendo's finest in the highest level of graphical glory that you have ever seen them in. Other impressive points for example are in certain stages that have moving backgrounds, that look pretty nice to boot. One such stage would be in MetaKnight's stage (my favorite character by the way), where you can see his ship flying round and even shooting at you. There are also very bizarre stages like the picto-chat and warioware, which just adds to the "frenzy", as it were. The game is by no means as fantastic looking as Super Mario Galaxy for example, and someone who doesn't look close enough may mistake it for Melee. But the game provides many great flashy graphics at certain points that make it look above average. 9/10
Sound- The most surprising point of this game is the quality of sound. Not just the characters voices but the fact that the soundtrack is so well made. The theme song is one of those things that will stay playing in your mind for a very long time to come. Not to mention that there are hundreds of unlockable songs that you can listen to whenever you wish. The music ranges from original scores to remixes of classics and then the classics in their original forms. It seems that every nostalgic tune from Nintendo's long history has been packed into this game. Other than that many characters, in fact all the returning ones pretty much sound the same as before. One thing that was lacking in previous installments was amazing music, and this time the series delivers. Never would I have imagined that one of the greatest points of this game would be the sound. Quite possibly the greatest game soundtrack ever. 10/10
Value- Here's the big one, and another one of Brawl's strongest points. Super Smash has always been known for its high level of replay value and addictive multiplayer. The trick this time is, that the game not only delivers in those aspects, but now it goes well beyond that, in fact I would go so far as to say the creators of this game put every idea that they thought of into this game, that's how much is in it. First off you have a much longer (although mediocre) single player mode that spans up to 8 hours or more. Then there are all the various event matches as well as a stage builder and the ability to take screenshots and the ability to record you 3 minute matches and a seamlessly infinite amount of unlockables and the ability to Brawl online and…the truth is the amount of things packed into this game never ends. Did I mention that there are now 35 characters in the game? A huge improvement compared to Melee's 20 something roster. It was proven that Melee could last 7 years and remained at a price tag of $35 because it sold so well over the years. There were always tournaments and more and more people playing the game, becoming one of Nintendo's most popular creations. If Melee lasted 7 years, this game can for sure outlast that. 10/10
Story- Super Smash Brother's Brawl has a "story" mode if you will called "The Subspace Emissary". It is basically a 8 hour or so long adventure telling the story of how everyone comes together and saves the world. It really doesn't make any sense but you cannot possibly expect it to with such a weird mix of characters. The biggest problem with this mode is that the gameplay feels like a very cheap platformer, that most Super Nintendo games would put to shame. But in all honesty, the Boss fights, beautiful cutscenes, the fact that it gives you more to do to get unlockables, and the fact that it isn't the game's main attraction make it all worth it. 8/10
Multiplayer- This is the game's shining star and the part of it that will have you playing for years. Multiplayer is the most addictive part of Smash, because it is so unpredictable. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, you are almost guaranteed to have a good time. And now with online, there is no need to worry about having to play by yourself, resulting in absolutely unlimited life for this game.* I can safely say that I have had the funnest moments multiplayer-wise while playing this game. 10/10
When It is all said and done, this game is a must buy for every Nintendo Wii owner. There is absolutely no reason why you should not buy this game, unless you can't stand the gameplay style for some reason. Not that the game is perfect, because it has many flaws. The game is great mainly based on the fact that the main attraction, its multiplayer, is so unique. And if multiplayer isn't your thing, you might enjoy the single player. But then again if you don't like multiplayer then this game isn't for you. I think that this is the best multiplayer game released in Nintendo's history. If you have this game online be sure to PM me and we will duke it out. And for those that say that this game doesn't use motion controls stand corrected, because in the Wiimote/Nunchuck control options, motion can be activated. I myself prefer the classic GameCube controller though. But that's just the thing about this game, there are so many options and so many ways to play, that just about everyone will have a unique experience with it. The game is by no means revolutionary, but it delivers its promises. I'm done, this game lived up to the anticipation, buy it.
*Note: I did not mention the online issues with this game because that is something that is not directly caused by the game but by Nintendo's servers not being able to handle the traffic. Online issues have not been taken into account in this review. Same goes for the Wiis who cannot read the SSBB discs.