Video Games

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

BFor Nintendo Wii. Rated for ages 13 and up. $49

READY TO RUMBLE: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a lot of fun in very particular circumstances. This absurd jumble of nearly every Nintendo-created character in history results in a chaotic, fun fighting game for hard-core Nintendo fans playing together.

DEFINITELY A BRAWL: SSBB is not a subtle game. As soon as a fight starts – with up to four participants – your only goal is to be the last man, woman or fuzzy, asexual creature standing. Controlling the action with a regular Wii remote is clumsy and frustrating, but the game also supports standard GameCube controllers, and a lot of gamers will probably prefer that setup.

FIND A FRIEND: You can play multiplayer either in-person or online, although Nintendo's dogged loyalty to its clumsy Friend Code system hinders the online mode somewhat. If you are a lonely gamer, you can fight through a simple tournament by yourself or trudge through a tedious story mode.

BOTTOM LINE: The graphics are GameCube-quality at best, the single-player mode is dull, and the controls lend themselves to mindless button mashing. But the multiplayer mode and the rainbow of Nintendo characters – ever wanted to see Mario punch Link in the face? – will be worth the price of admission alone for many gamers.

Victor Godinez

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