There was a lot of pressure on Nintendo to get it right with it's third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, after it's predecessor, Super Smash Brothers Melee, was the biggest selling party game. No surprise then, why this game was released a good year into the life of the Wii.

What Sort of Game is This?

Fighting games traditionally pit two players against each other in a restricted environment. Players aim to land or block a variety of hits, kicks and throws. These moves are performed by either memorizing complex button combinations, or through millisecond perfect timing.

Although on first impressions, these game can look chaotic, the better examples (Tekken, Virtua Fighter and Street Fighter) have a consistent play mechanic that invites the player to hone their performance -so much so that many have developed large communities that compete in yearly tournaments.

What Does This Game Add to the Genre?

SSBB is an unusual fighter in that it greatly simplifies the controls. Character moves are determined by their surroundings as much as the button being pressed. It is also unique in being able to draw characters from Nintendo's impressive back catalog of other games. This is further exploited by a range of powerups and special moves that will be familiar to fans of these old games.

The game's other unusual aspect is the damage system. Rather than simply depleting your opponent's energy until they die, SSBB has you whittling away their resistance to being knocked off the map. Once you have suitably weakened them, you can toss them baseball like from the arena. This avoid the characters dying on screen and also creates some fascinating endings as players become increasingly cautious as their vulnerability goes up.

What do People Play this Game to Experience?

SSBB delivers high impact action that can create fun and laughter for a range of abilities. The tension rises as your characters vulnerability rises with each hit, and you try and knock the other players from the arena. This sort of edge of the seat gameplay, available right from the start, makes it a game that demands 'just one more go.'

SSBB improves over previous editions of the game by introducing new characters, environments and powerups. It also features a new final smash finishing move, not to mention a comprehensive online mode that allows you to play over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. This allows players to arrange contests, watch matches, take snapshots and record videos as well as compare their performance against their friends.

How Much Free Time is Required to Play It?

SSBB sessions are best played when you have a group of people that can play together for a good hour. It takes a little time for new players to acclimatise to the pace and tactics of the game. If you have the time available these could easily be extended into the small hours of the morning (which is often the case in many a dorm room).

What Factors Impact on Suitability for Novice/Expert Young/Old Players?

While this may sound a little complex, these features really do make the game more accessible to novice players. The sheer exuberance and activity on screen, as up to four players battle it out, is great to watch and even more fun to play. The direction plus single button attacks mean that pretty much any age of player can take part, provided they (and their Aunties/guardians) are comfortable with the cartoon violence involving a full gamete of bats, clubs, guns and missiles.

While this move towards the mainstream has potentially made the game less attractive to the hard core fighter fans, SSBB still attracts an expert following. These players develop their skill through their fast reaction times and knowledge of each character rather than the traditional fighting game techniques.

ESRB rating: T for Teen