Super Smash Bros Brawl - Masterpieces game mode revealed
Friday, January 25th, 2008 at 11:21am by David
I’m not sure if this is an attempt to market Virtual Console games or an homage to the great series in Nintendo’s history, but there’s a new Smash Bros Brawl mode revealed today.
Several memorable characters compete for brawl supremacy—that’s Super Smash Brothers Brawl in a nutshell.
But what about the past fights for each of those characters? What were they like?
It may sound impossible, but you can experience those battles in Brawl as well!
That’s right, for the first time ever, you can play trial versions of these games by the miracle of Virtual Console!
The post on the Smash Bros Dojo goes on to say that each game will have a time limit and that it doesn’t require use of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. They also reveal the following games as part of the mode: Ice Climber, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Kid Icarus, Kirby’s Adventure, Super Metroid, and Star Fox 64.
Sounds like they’re trying to cram as much onto one Wii disc as they can. What do you think of this new Brawl revelation?
January 25th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I think it’s a pretty good way to get those Wii owners who haven’t made the jump to online yet make that jump.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:41 am
This is great news indeed.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
This is UNBERIBABORU!! O_O
What an incredible feature, i don´t see how any game could steal GOTY 2008 from Smash.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I think this is great. The Virtual Console should have this already. Trailers aren’t enough. They should release a demo level with every game, so you could try the game out.
In fact, they should launch a channel devoted to Wii game demos, so you could try something before you bought it.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Frickin’ give it to me now!
At least now we know VC demos are possible and we’re getting a whole bunch at once.
It’s both and homage and a way to get people hooked into VC games to push them into buying if they were unsure (as many are due to no demos). Hopefully this’ll mean we can get demos in the future directly through the VC and also that a few unreleased titles are on their way to finish of their masterpieces. Also, would one of the “masterpieces” include Smash Bros. itself?
January 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
It seems like a nice idea, but perhaps the space on the disc could have been better used putting more Melee stages in…
January 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Uh…. Oh yeah.
This is *cool*.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Freaky Dug - these NES demos take no more than 3 megabytes of space so it’s a mere fraction of impact on the overall space of the game.
Demos are what the VC needs to implement more of. Why haven’t they? I would be buying their games left and right if they had demos to remind me of the gameplay, even timed demos.
at least this is a step.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
So we should be expecting demos of: Mario, Ice Climbers, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Kirby, Zelda, Star Fox, Metal Gear (NES), Sonic, Donkey Kong Country, Pokemon…and the list goes on and on.
The above list are hopefuls but would like the majority on the disc.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I’m sorry, but since when is bundling demos of other games on the disc with a major release innovative? And they’re OLD games, to boot?
Even if they made demos of those games available on VC where they should be, that would still be only part of the XBOX 360 experience. Bundling them on a game is as cute as it is contrived.
I love my DS. I love my Wii. Let’s see some firmware updates for the DS! Let’s see some VC demos, some DS Demos on VC, and some updated features on the DS! How about an easy way to find online matches and user-created content? An internet/email browser app for the DS in firmware?
Time-limited demos of games you can play in their entirety on an emulator for free is a big deal?
January 25th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I don’t see this as anything but an advertisement. The fact that Nintendo isn’t willing to just have demos available for download for most/all VC games ala XBLA shows how ridiculously stubborn they are when it comes to anything online. And to waste space–no matter how much–for something like this really “grinds my gears”. Does Nintendo actually think that most of the people getting Brawl haven’t played any of these games? It’s a joke.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I guess that’s nice. It’d be better to have demos on the vc still. Either way I’ll continue testing games on vnes before buying them.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
To Fool Throttle and nek to kuruma:
Why such pessimism? No one is calling this an innovative feature - just a cool one. Sure, most people who buy Brawl will have already played many of these games, but for those who are newcomers (and, though a minority, there WILL be newcomers - why should they be neglected?), the creators of Brawl have been giving those newcomers the attention they deserve! I, for one, have never played Ice Climbers or, somehow, Super Metroid. Other games that will be included I haven’t played in years - so playing for a few minutes to get a taste of nostalgia is a neat idea. It goes nicely with what Super Smash Bros. is all about — a mix of ALL the classics!
I highly doubt this was a move made solely for advertisement. Obviously game demos precipitate sales, but ultimately the creators here are clearly looking out for the player, whether he/she is a hardcore gamer or a more casual one.
I agree that Nintendo has a long way’s to go with their online offerings, but this game, which could have EASILY simply been Melee + crappy online, into something pretty bestial. I’m particularly excited for:
+ New characters with unique movesets (Pokemon trainer, Captain Olimar, to name a few)
+ Subspace Emissary Adventure Mode and the various ways to play it (one-player, two-player, online co-op, etc.)
+ Three new control schemes + the perfected GC set-up
+ New courses, new items, remixed Nintendo songs
+ STAGE CREATOR and the ability to download a new stage each day - and to share yours with your friends
+ Graphics that pay great attention to detail, color, design, nostalgia, etc.
+ Screenshot and video sharing
+ LOADS more
I honestly wasn’t expecting this game to become this big - and this new “Masterpiece” section only adds to the fun — again, especially for any newcomers or long-time fans who’d like to revisit a classic.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
bryan: The point is that this Masterpiece “mode” doesn’t add anything to the game. It’s not a part of “Super Smash Bros. Brawl”. Not even Ninty and the developers see it as that (see here.)
Like Fool Throttle said, since when is bundling demos in a game anything new or exciting? In this day and age I don’t even want to see demos on a game disc anymore. I want to either download them or get them from a demo disc.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
neko:
Obviously, since the classics are their own games, they aren’t to be considered a portion of “Smash” itself. But just like scoreboards, nostalgic rewards (stickers, medals, points, etc.), screenshots and even online all ADD to the final package and presentation of a game, so does this “Masterpiece” idea. None of this extra features are vital - Brawl has its grounds covered with Brawl essentials (extreme multiplayer, both online and off).
This all helps present a more complete, more diverse final package. How does it not add anything to the game if, by playing excerpts of the original games from which many of the in-Brawl characters came, players can indulge in even more Nintendo nostalgia?
This allows the game to reserve its “let’s bring all Nintendo’s (and some third-parties’) cherished characters together” concept while adding individuality to each character.
And this is all on ONE disc - for one price… I don’t see how you could be complaining. It’s like if a laptop comes with tons of bonus features and you just want the bare bones for doing work… it’s all just a plus. It’s not like Nintendo is forcing you to pay more or even play these classics.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
bryan, your examples of things adding to the final package of the game don’t mesh with what the Masterpieces are. The stickers, points, trophies, etc all have some valid application in the game to modify the experience. Points allow you to play the shooting minigame to win trophies. You can collect stickers and then place them on your character’s trophies to enhance their abilities. Playing a time-limited demo of a 20-year-old game (not that there’s anything wrong with that) doesn’t enhance the Brawl experience at all. It’s a diversion.
My complaint has nothing to do with any of the other (actual) modes, like Subspace Emissary, as you seem to be making it out to be. It’s that it takes space away from adding more stickers, etc that I can actually use in some way.
“It’s not like Nintendo is forcing you to pay more…” Oh but they are! Remember, these are not the full games, they’re DEMOs. The only one you could actually play through (although arguably not getting the full experience) is Super Mario Bros. So if you want to play the whole thing, you have to buy the game. That is the entire point of why demos exist.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
The developers of Brawl have for a long time indicated that they want Brawl to be not just a game, but a complete Nintendo encyclopedia. The trophy system is an indication of this, as it educates players on Nintendo’s history. I would be willing to bet that a majority, not a minority, of Brawl players have not experienced all of the classics. This allows players a taste of Nintendo’s history. A chance to see where their favorite fighter originated. The space issue is strange to me… have you not seen all that is included in this game? These masterpieces will not infringe on any of that. Think of how many VC games you have crammed on that measly 512mbs of storage, and those are COMPLETE games. While not the primary selling point, this makes me want Brawl that much more.
January 25th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’ll play the demo NES games… only if the emulation for the NES games isn’t screwy like it is on the VC.. where the colors and images are DIMMED for NES games on VC. That has always irked me since I got my Wii, to see dimmed colors on NES VC. ARG!
January 25th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
It is im my opinion really cool, and even if this is just advertising, well, ill enjoy it without paying extra.
This game has a lot of effort put into it. It’ll be awesome.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I’m just glad I reserved the thing. I wouldn’t surprised if that’s the only way you can get it in some places at launch.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Hey the more cool stuff in this game, the better I say.
it is ABOUT time that some Demos are out for VC games.
Still, can not get the feeling of blatant advertising out of my mouth. Maybe it will go away when I play some of these great demos.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:44 am
And just think .. maybe some day there will be another game wherein Smash Bros Brawl will be in its Masterpieces mode!
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Ha ha ha ha, I know why they did this. Nintendo knows that almost EVERYONE with a Wii wil buy this so……. They decided to promote the Virtual Console. But im not Complaining. BRAWL IS GONNA BE AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!