Publisher: Nintendo
ESRB Rating: E 10+
Console: Wii U
Overall Review
Super Smash Bros has slowly grown to be a pillar of the Nintendo lineup since it was released on the Nintendo 64 oh so many years ago. So much so that the release of the Wii U version has been anticipated because some analysts thought that it might be able to save the Wii U. We know now that this wasn’t the case, but that doesn’t say anything about the game itself.
The truth? Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is one of the best fighting games released in years and is arguably the best Wii U game period.
The core of the game play is built around fighting. Players control fan favorite Nintendo characters (with a few guests) and attempt to smash each other off of precarious platforms. Unlike other fighting games like Street Fighter and Marvel vs Capcom the combat is simple and accessible thanks to single button press special moves and straightforward mechanics. Parents who have grown up playing this game who are hoping to bring their sons and daughters into the fold should have little trouble teaching them the basics.
None of that accessibility harms the Smashes high end play either. There is plenty of room for players to grow in skill as they play the game which is excellent for a game that will not likely get a sequel before the next Nintendo console. This is a game that will be a source of entertainment every time to put it into your Wii U for years.
Fighting game are, by default, multiplayer experiences, but Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has the advantage of doubling as a party game by featuring modes that include up to eight players.
It is also impossible to discuss this game without talking about Nintendo’s entry to the Toys to Life genre: amiibos. Smash includes support for amiibos by allowing players to use the figures they own as characters in the game. The easiest comparison is to consider them like Smash Pokemon. They can be leveled up and trained as you play. This is an interesting mini game for players to take interest in and it is an excellent way to help even the odds between younger gamers and their older siblings or parents. Simply buy them an amiibo of their choice and let them level the character up and fight alongside them like a team.
Family Gaming Assessment
There really isn’t any way to avoid the fact that Smash is a fighting game. The only method of interaction between characters is through combat. However, the violence is cartoonish and lacks any type of blood or gore. These characters may as well be action figures fighting on a table top.
Playability Assessment
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a tale of two games. Its simple controls make it very easy for newer players to pick up the game and play successfully against AI opponents. There is, however, a very high skill cap meaning that there is a lot of room for them to improve. The early and high level games are played so differently that they don’t even really resemble each other..
Conclusion
Smash is a game that speaks for itself. If you have any interest in playing a fighting game with Nintendo characters then this is a must own.
Linda Wrobel 
Guest Writer