The file was not found on your file system. This means that it has either not been created or the path you have specified in $trrandom_file is incorrect.

The file was not found on your file system. This means that it has either not been created or the path you have specified in $trrandom_file is incorrect.

The file was not found on your file system. This means that it has either not been created or the path you have specified in $trrandom_file is incorrect.

Graphics

Being a game from the fifth generation, the graphics don't look that great with age. Yet, with Super Smash Bros. coming right in the middle of the N64's lifespan, the graphics aren't that bad. Sure, the characters look blocky, but that in no way makes the graphics horrible. Plus, to the game's credit, we're treated to a few graphical effects that we haven't seen in future Smash Bros. games. I'm sure quite a few male gamers were, disturbingly enough, excited about zapping Samus to see the inside of her suit, as well as getting to find out what Pikachu's skeleton looks like after shocking it.

7

Sound

While the game's main focus in terms of music was in remixing classic songs as well as bringing back other classic songs for nostalgia's sake, HAL treated us to some catchy new music, as well. Songs such as Master Hand's theme and Metal Mario's theme were catchy in their own right, as well as less lengthier tunes like the character select screen and main menu. I'd say that there was a fair balance of old and new music, and the game definitely benefits from both types of music. Overall, it was a great first effort.

8

Play Control

I may be one of the few who found the controls for this game to be, overall, better than its sequels. With the N64 controller, the C-buttons are to jump, Z and R are to throw others and shielding yourself, A is a standard attack, and the B button in conjunction with the control stick unleashes special attacks. If you've played Melee or Brawl (and honestly, who hasn't?), the controls on the Virtual Console version will be right at home if you choose to use the Gamecube controller. You could choose to use the Classic Controller, but just like Brawl, the Gamecube controller is Smash Bros. perfection for all three games. The reason why I say that the controls are better in this game is because they not only feel comfortable, but you can tell they got it right the first time. Aspects such as throwing are actually lethal in this game, as opposed to the sequels completely doing away with its effectiveness. While the sequels do add more ways to fight, the original's controls are not only effective, but easy to learn and master.

9

Originality

Fighting games were very popular in the 90's. Yet, most of them had the same idea in mind: beat the shit out of your opponent until his health gauge runs out. Then Smash Bros. came in and showed new ideas in the genre. Instead of having health bars, you have a percentage meter, in which the higher it gets, the more likely you'll be thrown off the stage (as opposed to dying). It's because of this that levels were in midair as opposed to the arenas in other fighting games. To top it off, the concept of having four players fighting at the same time, whether on teams or not, made it very different from its competitors. Sure, it wasn't bloody like a few other fighting games, but it didn't need to be. The game made up for that with non-graphic explosions, thunder, fire, and acid. It was original then, and the concept still feels original now.

10

Final Word

I was a huge fan of Super Smash Bros. when it came out. I can still remember seeing the two commercials for it (before and on/after its release, respectively) with disbelief in the concept I kept seeing over and over again. I remember being overjoyed when I got the game; it was like Christmas in Spring, which is a bit fitting, considering its VC release. While Melee and Brawl sported vast improvements over the original (with a few things that didn't carry over from the original) and are, overall, superior games, Super Smash Bros. is a game that still holds its own, even today. The Single Player mode is still challenging, whether it's the main game or boarding the platforms/breaking the targets, and, despite the limited number of stages and options, the multiplayer is still a blast to play with friends. For a first attempt at a 3D fighting game, HAL did a hell of a job. While I would recommend the sequels over this, the original still has good enough qualities to recommend it to anyone, especially if you have friends to enjoy the simple, yet enjoyable multiplayer. If you haven't played it before, don't miss out now that it's out on the Virtual Console.

9

Overall Score: 8/10

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