Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Third Super Smash Bros. game, first with online play and third-party characters.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a crossover fighting game released in 2008, developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. As the third game in the Super Smash Bros. series, it follows *Super Smash Bros. Melee* and marks the first entry not primarily developed by HAL Laboratory. Instead, a creative team under Sora, including members from various Nintendo and third-party studios, handled development. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced the game at a pre-E3 press conference in 2006, and he asked Masahiro Sakurai—director of the prior two games—to return as director. Development began in October 2005 but faced delays; the game launched in Japan on January 31, 2008, in North America on March 9, 2008, in Australia on June 26, 2008, and in Europe on June 27, 2008.
The roster of playable characters expanded compared to *Melee*, though some characters from that game were removed. *Brawl* is the first series entry to include third-party characters. Like its predecessors, the goal is to knock opponents off the screen, but it differs from traditional fighting games by using simplified move commands and emphasizing ring outs over health-based knockouts. Its single-player mode, "The Subspace Emissary," is more extensive than earlier games—a side-scrolling, plot-driven beat 'em up with computer-generated cutscenes. Multiplayer supports up to four combatants, and *Brawl* is the first franchise game to offer online battles via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players can use four controller types simultaneously: the Wii Remote, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, GameCube controller, and Classic Controller.
*Super Smash Bros. Brawl* received widespread acclaim, praised for its entertainment value despite criticism of its content loading times. Its musical score, created by 38 renowned video game composers, was celebrated for representing different gaming generations. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences named it "Fighting Game of the Year." In 2010, it appeared in the book *1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die* and is considered one of the best video games ever made. As of 2023, it is the eighth best-selling Wii game, with over thirteen million copies sold worldwide. It was followed by *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U* in 2014.
- Release date
- January 31, 2008 (Japan); March 9, 2008 (North America); June 26, 2008 (Australia); June 27, 2008 (Europe)
- Developer
- Sora Ltd.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Platform
- Wii
- Genre
- Crossover fighting game
- Sales
- Over thirteen million copies worldwide as of 2023
- Director
- Masahiro Sakurai
Lore & Background
Brawl contains 41 selectable stages, 29 initially available, including stages based on third-party games such as Metal Gear Solid-inspired Shadow Moses Island. The game also includes 10 stages taken from Melee. A Stage Builder mode allows players to create their own stages, the first in the series to implement this feature. The musical score was composed through a collaboration of 38 renowned video game composers.
Reader's Guide
Super Smash Bros. Brawl received widespread acclaim, with praise centered on its entertainment value despite issues relating to its content loading times. Its musical score was lauded for its representation of different generations in gaming history. The game was named the 'Fighting Game of the Year' by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. In 2010, it was included as one of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, and is considered to be one of the best video games ever made. As of 2023, it is the eighth best-selling Wii game of all time, with over thirteen million copies sold worldwide. It was followed by Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U in 2014. The game's legacy includes its introduction of online play, third-party characters, and the Subspace Emissary mode, which expanded the single-player experience beyond previous entries.
Did You Know?
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl was the first game in the series not developed primarily by HAL Laboratory.
- It was the first game in the series to feature playable third-party characters.
- The game introduced Final Smashes, character-specific super attacks performed by destroying a Smash Ball.
- Brawl was the first game in the franchise to feature online battles via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
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