Why is ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Adored by All?

The first Super Smash Bros. changed the game (pun intended) when it came out in 1999. Never before had characters across other games come together like that. The concept of the game was relatively simple: various characters duke it out on stages designed after each character’s respective games. Who would’ve thought how much impact this would have on the gaming community.

There are so many things that make Smash Bros. adored by the gaming community. One of the first is the story mode. Having to battle your way against enemy after enemy on their home turf with limited lives can be challenging. All of the times you get eliminated off that stage makes it worth it when you complete the story in full. That Master Hand was such a tough last opponent, and watching the hand explode and crumble away is such a satisfying feeling, no matter how many times you defeat it. The story has since expanded in surprising ways, and Nintendo always finds ways to make the next title unique from the previous one.

Another important thing is the unlockable aspect of the Smash series. Most gamers want to unlock everything, and what Smash does so well is that it makes you earn every character on your roster. It makes you want to spend more and more time playing the game, which in turn improves your skills. You may need to get through the story on a particular difficulty, defeat 100 foes, or beat the obstacle courses with every character, but seeing that “CHALLENGER APPROACHING” pop up on the screen makes it all worthwhile.

Obviously, a big thing that everyone loves about Smash is the competitive multiplayer. There is nothing more fun than selecting your favorite video game character and taking out all of your friends. The four-player mechanic (now up to 8 in Ultimate) was something revolutionary when this came out. Being able to play together at the same time with all of your friends brought a competitive spirit that made each match intense and extremely fun to play and even watch as a spectator.

Another thing about the diverse roster of characters is that it allows gamers to find out about other characters which they may not have known otherwise (smart marketing move). As a young kid, I never knew where Fox McCloud came from, or Captain Falcon, or Ness. As I aged though, I wanted to discover their games and what they were all about (by the way Star Fox Adventures

is vastly underrated). The fact that Nintendo was also eventually able to get rival characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Megaman also show how beloved the series is and how far it has come. It is hard to imagine them ever being in the same game, and yet here they are, beating the snot out of each other.

A final thing about Smash is that it is a relatively easy game to pick up and learn how to play. There are no crazy controls, and it only takes a few matches to get a feel for it. Anyone can play, whether you are four years or forty years old. However, although easy to pick up, the game is tough to master. This is another thing that makes it so great. The control scheme may be simple, but to be great at it, you have to put in a lot of time, effort, and failure.

Most of us have some sort of Smash Bros. experience. It may be when we were as young kids, or in a college dorm with your hallmates, or even as an adult. That’s the thing about Super Smash Bros. that separates it from most games. Smash is meant for everyone to play, not just one particular group. Smash Bros. is a series that is near and dear to so many people and will continue to be for a long time.