Smash Bros is most definitely an interesting series. I imagine that back in 1999, nobody thought that the idea of Nintendo characters beating the snot out of each other would be the smash hit that it is now. Royal,et, here we are in 2014 freaking out over that Smash Bros Direct that was two weekfreaking out about Megaman's final smash, bringing back the jokes about Ridley being far too big to be in the game, and everybody wanting Mewtwo instead of Greninja. To celebrate this, and by celebrate I mean vent out some of this hype, let's look at how this crazy thing got started with Super Smash Bros. on the N64.
Being a fighting game of this nature, plot is basically non-existent. Oh sure, I can talk about how in this game the fighters are supposed to be toys and the whole thing is supposed to be made by Master Hand, but that doesn't really go anywhere. For sake of having a plot synopsis in every review though, lets just say that the hand is an aspiring fanfiction writer that really wanted this to happen. If he only knew...
Super Smash Bros, unlike other fighting games, requires players to deal damage in order to knock opponents off the stage, rather then depleting a life bar. The higher the percentage, the farther the player flies. If you're going to deal damage, you'll have to take advantage of each characters special moves and the various items that randomly drop during the battle, as well as hoping Lady Luck is on your side when stage hazards enter the fray. Typical attacks are dealt through the A button, and grabs can be performed by pressing R, which also performs throws, while guarding is performed with the Z button.
Similarities between character actions end there however. The different characters each have their own special moves that can be used to destroy the competition, from simple things to Mario's fireballs and Pikachu's electricity, to things like Captain Falcon's Falcon Punch, which really needs no description at this point. The key to becoming a great smasher is figuring out how to use each move effectively, and not just Thunder spamming to get by.
In terms of presentation, the game sort of is in between. The graphics use 2D drawings for just about anything that doesn't move. 3D models are used for stages and characters, but they're average at best. I know critiquing N64 graphics is like insulting a newborn for not being able to take it's first steps, but some of the models like Mario's and Yoshi's seem to have been downgraded from previous models on the same system. This is the only time we got to see Ness and Samus on the N64 though, so that's a thing. The soundtrack uses various tracks from different Nintendo games, and the result is one great soundtrack, with a few original pieces thrown in for good measure.
Now Smash 64 is fun and all, but I still have to say that it suffers the problem Spyro 1 has. It doesn't do anything wrong, but the sequels are just better, making this game weak in comparison. This is mainly from the lack of variety in this game. Single player leaves much to be desired, with the adventure mode being set to be the same everytime, and the multiplayer, though fun, is just spiced up in the sequels with more characters and stages, leaving little reason to go back to this one.
Now how the game runs is nice and all, but what can you do? Well first there's the single player, where you go through a set number of opponents with a few minigames sprinkled in-between, ending with a battle with Master Hand. Now this is fun and all, and it helps get you acquainted with each character, but because everything is set in this mode, there's not much variety. It serves as a form of training, then as a form of unlocking the secret characters, and then as merely a distraction. There's also an option to play the minigames, and Break the Targets has become well known as one big challenge. There's also a normal Training mode if the main Singe Player doesn't do it for you.
It's the multiplayer though where Smash Bros begins to really shine. Battles can be set with multiple options, like Time where your goal is to get as many KOs in a set amount of time, Stock where you set the number of lives and try to be the last one standing, and Coin which nobody ever plays. Ever. Whether its a Team match or an all out Battle Royal, seeing multiple skilled players duke it out in a battle is quite the sight to behold, and being in said battles is an absolute blast, even if the items end up being the winner most of the time.
Now Smash 64 is fun and all, but I still have to say that it suffers the problem Spyro 1 has. It doesn't do anything wrong, but the sequels are just better, making this game weak in comparison. This is mainly from the lack of variety in this game. Single player leaves much to be desired, with the adventure mode being set to be the same everytime, and the multiplayer, though fun, is just spiced up in the sequels with more characters and stages, leaving little reason to go back to this one.
HOWEVER, the game is still fun. With the right people with you, it still can be an absolute blast. Though an N64 cart will run you for quite a bit of cash, it is available on the Virtual Console for $10, which seems like a fair price for what you're getting. I would recommend only getting it if you'll have friends to play with at some point, because the single player won't hold you for very long. Now.
About that commercial...
The Silent Protagonist still believes that to be the greatest commercial Nintendos ever made.
All images are the properties of their original owners. Hence the watermark in one of the images.
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