Smash 4 is as it should be: fun, engaging and just simply a good time to play. There is a good character selection, a good enough single player mode and a bunch of what I would normally consider great online features. Let's get into this game a little, bit by bit.
For a 3DS game, the graphics are pretty smooth. The game runs pretty much seamlessly at 60 frames per second, if there is any choppiness in the game none of it stands out. The game adjusts to the small screen nicely, and the differing controls and button positioning compared to the other games in the series only take a few minutes to get used to, so it's not a problem.
The single player modes will also keep most players happy. With a faster, cleaner version of Classic and All Star modes, the usual inclusion of Home-Run Contest and Multi Man Smash and a set of Challenges, there is a fair bit to do. The supposedly 3DS exclusive mode, Smash Run, is a bit of a hit-and-miss. You spend 5 minutes fighting various creatures to boost your stats, only to be thrown into a random contest afterward. It could be anything from a normal game of Smash, to a race or climbing contest, and you won't know what it is until you get to that point. Depending on your character, you will either excel or struggle with the chosen mode, which in of itself only last for a short time compared to time spent collecting upgrades. I didn't find myself minding this mode much, but for some the interest in playing it will fall off quickly.
Now, the online play. This game was hyped quite heavily for it, and sadly it just doesn't hold up. The game is plagued by horrible, and random latency issues, seemingly regardless of how smoothly you can play different games. When the latency decides to run well, playing online will be incredibly fun. Other times, the game is rendered essentially unplayable; everything just bogs right down: it's a very frustrating experience, and for sure harms the replay ability of online modes when the player worries if their next match will be a lagfest or not.
In closing, how much someone would want to buy this game lingers on a question: are you buying solely for online play? If so, it would be better to wait for the Wii U version, in hopes that it runs better online. For players that don't mind the latency issues on the current version, however; the game will keep bringing you back for more,