Developer: Sora Ltd.
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Fighting
Players: 1-4 locally (multi-card), 1-4 online
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Hours Played: ~30 hours
Progress: Unlocked all characters and stages, played Smash Run a few times, played about an hour of online multiplayer matches, finished about 3/4 of the second page of challenges

Super Smash Brothers is hands-down my favourite series of video games. Excellent, approachable mechanics and just the right blend of skill, fun and competition are hallmarks of each game in the series. The sound foundation of its gameplay coupled with the mind-blowing awesomeness of having all of your favourite Nintendo characters together in a single game make each new game release an unparalleled event in the worldwide video gaming community. The prospect of being able to take the latest version of Smash Bros. around with you was equal parts exciting and terrifying when the 3DS/Wii U version pair was announced — you’d be able to take one of the very best party games on the go with you, but would the proposed character parity between the versions hold the Wii U back from reaching its full potential? It turns out that both of these feelings were justified to some degree, so does the first portable Smash Bros. game live up to its series illustrious reputation or does it tarnish Smash Bros.’ once pristine name and foreshadow problems with this year’s Wii U release? Read on to find out how smashing our time with the game has been.

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