Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan on Sept. 13. This has given many fans well enough time not just to play through the game but to deem whether or not the installment lives up to expectations.
While it is the fourth installment in the franchise, Smash Bros. 3DS is the first to be ported on a handheld. But this doesn't change the feel of the game, following the same basic premise that Smash Bros. titles have used for 15 years.
As with all other Smash Bros. before it, the 3DS version of the game will have players picking their favorite character before going against three others in stages. But unlike the usual fighting game, there are no life bars. The aim is not necessarily to inflict the most damage but to make sure enough is done to knock an opponent off the stage.
For those who have been with the franchise since the beginning, this needs no explanation. Most of the critics who have tried the game are actually long-time fans. Won't this color reviews? Not in the slightest. Because the best critics are those who know the game in and out and have seen it progress through the years.
So what do they have to say about Smash Bros. 3DS?
Giving the game an 8 out of 10, GameSpot lists the good in Smash Bros. 3DS as "wonderfully vibrant art with near-perfect animation, fantastic score that runs the gamut of Nintendo's properties, plenty of design changes that keep the formula fresh, and lots and lots of Nintendo fan service." As for the bad, the only gripe Daniel Starkey listed is that handheld controls will take some getting used to.
Nintendo Life had a better time undoubtedly, scoring Smash Bros. 3DS with a 9 out of 10. "Remarkable production values combined with a staggering amount of content and fan service make Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS an entertaining, rewarding and downright addictive title that's immensely hard to put down. That said, it's not perfect: the online multiplayer can be very hit-or-miss in terms of connection quality, and the customization features are pretty lacking, although these aren't considerable enough to damage the overall experience," Martin Watts wrote.
Also giving Smash Bros. 3DS a 9 out of 10 is Destructoid, but it has a more succinct explanation for its rating. "A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage to what is a supreme title," according to Chris Carter.
Smash Bros. 3DS will be released in North America and Europe on Oct. 3.
