Super Smash Bros. Brawl

it's difficult to rate sequels for video games. on the one hand, it's Smash Bros. it's a fun, riotous experience that's perfect for a crowded basement. on the other hand, nearly every change made to this from Melee is for the worse. I understand the desire to take away the skill curve that Melee inadvertently introduced, but it's possible to do that without making numerous aspects of the experience deliberately unfun. the Subspace Emissary was a total letdown.

Brawl was a major step down for the franchise. Lots of factors, but the gameplay just didn't draw like it used to. And you know what else? Tripping. Fucking tripping. This defies the logic of the world by which I stake my sanity. Tripping?! SAKURAI!!!! But, it's still pretty good. Also, the soundtrack? The orchestral renditions of past themes? Jesus Christ, I've written whole essays set to those beauties.

If Smash Bros Melee never existed then I would probably rate this much more highly as an impressive expansion on the ideas of the N64 original, but as others have said pretty much every change made from Melee represented devolution, not evolution. I honestly haven't played a match in this game since, I dunno, 2010 at the latest?

Poor simplistic fighter that's not even fun as a party game. I mean I get this franchise reputation - there's no good fighters on most Nintendo consoles so N-fanboys need to pretend that there's anything good on their console in that genre, but let's be real here, ok?

So sluggish compared to Melee and 4, but still decent. Fuck the Subspace Emissary, though.