Super Smash Bros (Wii U)

I remember playing the original Super Smash Brothers (N64) and being pleased with just 12 fighters back in 1999, the grand total of playable characters has now risen to a massive 51. Alongside the 3ds Smash Bros game this has the best and biggest selection of characters yet, with many of the new editions being most welcome such as Mega Man, Pacman Little Mac, Duck Hunt Duo and Shulk from the Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii). The graphics look stunning in HD and you can have up to 8 players playing together offline. Playing this game with friends and family is fantastic fun, but the more players there are the more manic and insane it gets. The locations for each fighter are brilliant and I especially like the Mega Man 2 music used on his stage. The only fighter I miss from Brawl is Snake, because he had a cool and unique fighting style, but all the brilliant new editions more then make up for it. I'm really happy to say Nintendo have cracked the online mode for Smash Bros at last, because I've had four player matches online play silky smooth and the same could could not be said for the 3DS or Wii versions. I must say finding online matches with my miiverse friends isn't as easy as Mario Kart 8, because I've seen them playing local matches but I can't jump in like I can with MK8. It appears you both have to be looking in friends list at the sametime to play eachother, which is more restricting and slightly less satisfying for myself and others.I really enjoyed the story mode in Brawl, but this version has replaced it with the more basic classic mode. In classic mode you choose a fight against several groups and gamble your gold coins, which was used in Super Smash Bros Melee. As you complete classic mode new challengers will appear and if you beat them you will unlock them as a new fighter. I do miss the option of not being able to use the d-pad in this game instead of the GamePad stick, because I have always used the d-pad in fighting games since the SNES days.A excellent new edition is the Tour mode, where you have a choice of three different party type boards and you fight eachother for prises which my daughter enjoys. There is over 700 trophies to unlock which will take some doing and each tropy comes with some information about it. I'm also pleased to say I can post screen shots on Miiverse at last, because I was unable to do this with the 3ds version. I nearly forgot to say because I own Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (Nintendo 3DS), I can use the 3ds as a extra controller for the Wii U version of Smash Bros.Alongside Mario Kario 8 this is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer games on the Wii U online and offline, which should not be missed by any Wii U owner unless you really dislike fighting games.

Having never played a Smash Bros game before I was initially a bit hesitant to pick this up. However, I decided to take the plunge and see if I could pick it up and get my head around a game that's considered to be easy to pick up but hard to master.Initially it's a little overwhelming with so many options being thrown at you, not really helped by the menu which seems to a little muddled (not something I'd expect from Nintendo) but after a few goes I felt slightly more comfortable with the controls. Online modes seem to be pretty standard fare but with some fun extra's like the ability to bet on the outcome of matches that you can speculate on. But I guess where the game will really shine is the local play where up to eight players can duke it out.The amount of fan service that's crammed into this game is nothing short of incredible. The collectable items and unlocks just seem to keep coming which adds to the incentive to keep going and learn.I picked up an Amiibo at the same time as the game and what little time I've had with it add's a new twist to gaming. Your chosen Amiibo can train and level up along side you learning from you and gaining stats which will make it a formidable foe or worthy ally!The games soundtrack is totally stellar it has to be said, having so many fond memories of the games locations and genres really puts a massive smile on even jaded cynics like myself.In conclusion. It looks great, it plays great and it sounds great. It has all the depth that you'll ever need with the advantage that a novice can 'pick up and play'A worthy purchase.

Another brilliant entry into the SSB universe. I've been playing since the N64 days and this is a worthy addition, they have added a couple of features which I don't really like but they packed it full of so much content you can ignore that completely and not let it bother you too much, the main annoyances is the addition of the Miis which is a little tacky in my eyes, any they removed the tournament mode and seemed to replace it with a Mii board game which I have no interest in.Without going into too much is pretty much more of the same just in HD and additional features, not to mention a mammoth selection of control schemes and controllers to choose from, if you are lucky enough to get a gamecube control to wiiu adaptor then I think this is the best way to play, I can't play any other way now! Good fun with mates or on your own, must own if you have a Wiiu, ignore the Amiibos though unless you like to collect as they are pretty pointless for this game as it basically just adds an AI into the game that is saved to that Amiibo that upgrades over time, and there is no fun in watching your AI fight in smash bros, only playing for yourself!