Preview: The Ultimate Smash Bros. Brawl Preview Guide (Page 5 of 7)
Table of Contents
- Introduction.........................................page 1
- Playable Characters..........................page 2
- Attacks and Controls.........................page 3
- Stages.................................................page 4
- Play Modes...........................................page 5
- Items....................................................page 6
- Everything Else...................................page 7
Methods of Mayhem - Play Modes
Predictably, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy oneself with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, given a gigantic range of play modes to soothe the savage gamer.
Classic mode is the single-player option you already know and love, requiring that you face off against a randomized variety of characters in different settings and match types, collecting coins for some as-yet-unrevealed purpose. (Strangely though, it's certain they won't be used at an in-game shop...).
A home-run contest with a giant sandbag? Mario must be on the juice.
A brand new adventure mode dubbed The Subspace Emissary is included to boot, featuring side-scrolling levels and bosses, with cutscenes filling in the story between action vignettes. Co-op support lets buddies join forces to tackle the tale, as teams of heroes (you'll control different characters at various times during the quest) battle a Subspace Army filled with Primid enemies led by the evil Ancient Minister.
Moving right along, Special Brawl mode lets you tweak numerous variables and match settings as well, allowing you to adjust gravity, character status, camera angle or damage variables on-demand before engaging in individualized scraps. Wi-Fi Connection capabilities also let you go online and duel friends or strangers around the globe, even if current multiplayer staples like voice chat or headset communication are a no-go. There's even a 64-player maximum Tourney mode to boot in case you want to set up bracket-based competitions.
As in prior series outings, Stadium mode mini-games can also be appreciated too. For example, think franchise staples like target-breaking diversions, with five maps per character providing timed, speed run-style amusements. You can even record replay videos of these diversions - or 3-minute captures of standard brawls as well, we should point out - using an SD card or the Wii's internal memory and share them over the Internet.
Home-run contests that let up to two players compete or cooperate to see who can hit the doe-eyed Sandbag character furthest using baseball bat-powered smash attacks can be enjoyed to boot. (There's even a force field around the platform, so you can go to town when it comes to building the damage meter by caving Sandbag's face in.)
Best of all, however, you can further create your own stages using the Stage Builder toolkit, which lets you customize background patterns, location sizes, music, parts, palettes, terrain, etc. Saved creations can be placed on an SD card, traded with friends or be uploaded to Nintendo's WiiConnect24 service, with one daily winner's design being distributed to the community each day.
Per usual, trophies - 3D representations of characters in various poses complete with biographical info - can also be collected as prizes and viewed from various angles, or sorted and placed as you like. Think of them as virtual miniatures that are yours to admire and reference for fun, or show off to jealous pals. Stickers, served up as common in-game rewards, may further be snagged too and pasted in a simulated album, with subjects including every imaginable manner of signature Nintendo character. You can take screenshots of all these goodies as well as in-game highlights too, and send them wirelessly to friends around the globe.
![Screen Update: Speed Racer [PS2]](/screens/141542/205598-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Metal Slug 7 [DS]](/screens/142292/205544-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Lips [Xbox 360]](/screens/142386/205582-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Wanted [Xbox 360]](/screens/142398/205578-1-1.jpg)
