After what seems like an eternity, Super Smash Bros. Wii U is almost here. Fans have been waiting patiently for more than six years to get their hands on Nintendo's latest brawler, and anticipation is running high. At this point, though, the wait is almost painful.
Late last night, Nintendo released the opening cinematic for Super Smash Bros. Wii U, and it's hard to tell if the studio was trying to ease the pain of waiting or trying to build up even more anticipation. Either way, the new trailer is just as fast-paced and explosive as ever:
The new cinematic is exactly what everyone expected: a star-studded roll call for the upcoming game. It does a great job of showing what Super Smash Bros. has to offer in a relatively limited amount of time. Most of the 40+ characters are shown, including the 3rd party characters Mega Man, Sonic and Pac-Man. What's even better is that the trailer does it without feeling like an advertisement, which could have easily been the case. There's also a showcase of the game's new Final Smashes, and considering just how much better the new techniques are than in previous games, it was a wise choice to include them.
If the trailer does one thing better than any other, it's how it shows off the new game. Super Smash Bros. Wii U looks fantastic, and the cinematic makes sure to focus on the game's presentation. Sure, it's not on the same level as one of the new-generation consoles, but it doesn't seem to matter at all. Compared to the 3DS version of the game, Smash Bros. Wii U looks phenomenal, and little details like Link's tunic and Samus' Power Armor really stand out.
To be honest, the trailer's not 100% perfect. In general, the cinematic is a little straightforward. It's mostly re-cut footage from previous trailers and demos, so fans that have been following development won't see a whole lot of new content. It's certainly not bad by any means, but it doesn't have the same impact as something that was tailor-made for the game's opening. Compare the new opening to that of Super Smash Bros. Melee and it's easy to understand the difference.
Regardless, Super Smash Bros. Wii U looks positively amazing. It could have been a simple port of the 3DS version with no extra effort, but that's obviously not the case. Nintendo's put a lot of time and energy into the game, and thankfully, it won't be long before fans get to reap the rewards.
Super Smash Bros. Wii U is set for release on Nov. 21.
