Classic mode is a serviceable Arcade-style gauntlet, while All-Star Mode is essentially the same experience with a Nintendo history twist. This time around, though, the solo play feels basic and unexciting, and not just because there's no equivalent to the epic Subspace Emissary adventure seen in Brawl. for 3DS doesn't skimp on single-player diversions. was made to be enjoyed with others, Smash Bros. And because of how the 3DS local wireless works, you're pretty much at your connection's mercy if there's any interference in your play area.Ĭomes in three well-rounded varieties-Brawler, Gunner, or Swordfighter-each with multiple special move combinations.Īlthough Smash Bros.
experience, so it's a massive downer to see the 3DS version struggle to deliver a consistent experience.
For many casual fans, four-player bouts are a fundamental part of the Smash Bros. for 3DS requires four copies of the game and four individual systems to create an inconsistent, and therefore far less fun, experience. on consoles (like, say, the upcoming Wii U version) requires one copy of the game and four controllers for flawless multiplayer fun. Knowing just how bad the local multiplayer can get, the value proposition here just doesn't add up. It's like the lag-in-local-play boogeyman is just out there, somewhere you won't know when he's coming, but you better pray to God he doesn't get you. Worse still, isolating the problem is near impossible, since no variable (cellphone use, playing in a moving car, specific levels, items on or off) produced identical, lag-filled results. But just like online, constant interruptions-if you're unlucky enough to experience them-will put a damper on everyone's good time. The amount of lag is directly proportional to the number of players, since one-on-one matches work fine, and three-player games only have a few intermittent hiccups. At times, the action can even come to a complete standstill, utterly hamstringing the excitement and momentum that Smash is so well known for. Four-player matches crap out a quarter of the time, becoming so choppy that they make you feel like you're controlling your character underwater. What's even more of a buzz-kill is the fact that local multiplayer isn't exempt from unreliable connections.