First off, I'm not going to turn this into a rant against Smash Bros. Far from it. I think the game is good. But, forgive me, I don't see it as being THAT good. Yet every gaming blog, Joystiq, Kotaku, and, yes, even our beloved Destructoid, seem to faun over the game with a lust not seen since we saw our first Playboy (don't lie...you know you looked!)
Sure, you get to take your favorite Nintendo characters (with a few cameos for good measure) and beat the ever loving crap out of them. Fair enough. We all know Donkey Kong deserves to get his a** beat a few times. For me at least, I don't see the longevity of the whole thing. Unless you've got tons of friends who constantly come over, I just don't see Smash Bros. as having that long of a gaming life. One of my friends comes over and almost masturbates to the wonder that is Smash Bros. Brawl and I'm just not seeing the fascination with the whole thing. On top of that, Joystiq has now created a page DEDICATED to Smash Bros. and its insipid updates. WHY?! Is there such a dearth of fighting games out there that we find one we like and just cream our pants over the whole thing? If so, I think someone needs to remind them that there are other games on the horizon which will destroy Smash Bros. Street Fighter IV comes to mind.
Fighting games have been around forever, from Karate Champ to Street Fighter and all the absolute crap in-between (Primal Rage and Time Killers, I'm looking at you!). Many are great, a few are mediocre, and others are absolute crap. For me, I'm looking for a fighting game that takes more than button mashing. I want finesse, style, and most importantly...skill. Smash Bros. always seemed to devolve into a button mashing match and got old really quick. Games like Guilty Gear, Street Fighter III & IV, and Virtua Fighter 5 all require pretty good skills to really play well. Smash Bros. just doesn't do that.
Please understand, this isn't a rant against the game. Not at all. In fact, I'll likely get it once I beat a few other games collecting dust on my shelves. I won't be at the Midnight Launches or Tournaments, etc. I'll wait and pick up a used copy eventually. Unlike these gaming blogs...I can wait.
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And the reason why? People cream over nintendo/the wii. and well, the only real thing to play on wii is SSB:B
wouldn't say it doesn't require skill either... especially brawl. they made the pace alot better, and it's nowhere near as retarded as the game cube one, feels alot more like a fighting game.
of course it aint got shit on GG, VF5 and I guess the turtle tastic SF3, but it's fun with a couple mates.
Also, sure it does take less skill. It's definitely not a button mashing game. The reason my friend and I still play SSBM over other fighters to this day is because it takes a lot of raw skill (and that we can get more than 2 people playing at the same time). Sure, we have people that play with us that hump the C-stick but, they get eliminated pretty quickly.
I think it helps that it hits at a bunch of Nostaglia for seasoned gamers.
Same thing will happen as did with Galaxy. Hyge hype, big release, everyone creams over it, then the next hype rolls in.
I got linked to one of those forum threads, and like half the posts were "Waaaah please stop getting the game early it ruins the excitement for me". Jesus.
*facepalm*
Look, I'm not even going to argue this here and will simply redirect you here.
I'll concede you there. It does have SOME finesse, but for my fighting dollar, I'll still take VF5 over Smash Bros.
It's not about the fighting game aspect. I know there is better fighting games but there isnt a better party game. Throw in custom stages, slim online play, the best gaming soundtrack, a boatload of new characters and levels and you get mega-hype.
Also I'm pretty sure the same will happen with SFIV as we get closer to release.
Imagine Fake Xbox Kid
So being able to have all these characters in a game using their signature moves, on their signature stages with their theme music...it's just kind of an overload. It's like a dream come true. You might not feel the same way because maybe you don't care as much about some of these Nintendo characters.
The other reason I think people are so excited is because of all the content. Anyone who has looked at all the trophies, items and music in this game should know that there is an absolutely absurd amount of content in it. There is no other way to describe it, Sakurai completely went overboard, but in a good way.
So I guess it's hard for me not to acknowledge all the effort Sakurai and his team put into the game and appreaciate that effort. It just leaves me in awe and I think others feel the same way.
As for it's appeal mostly garnered from Nintendo fanboys, I can honestly say that I am probably the only Wii owner who has no interest in Galaxy whatsoever.