Before I get started, there’s one thing I have to
mention: I’ve been playing this game exclusively with the Wii Classic
Controller Pro (the one that came with Monster
Hunter Tri). As I’ve established by
now, I don’t have any problems with the Wii U GamePad; the issue is that
playing Smash 4 means completely
un-learning how to play with a GameCube controller. This has been…an issue on a consistent basis.
I need to get used to the new controller, but it’s the closest facsimile
to the GC pad I’ve got right now.
So yeah, no commentary on how the GamePad figures
in this time around. So let’s put our
focus back on the game -- though before we do that? Let’s have a moment of silence for my
brother’s GC pad. After years of
smashing, it finally gave out on him.
Just as well, though. It had a lot
of exposed wires.
--So I gave Smash Tour a try for the sake of
unlocking the other Pac-Man stage. I’ve
discussed this with friends, but I’ll go ahead and say it here: it’s proof that
Nintendo wants (if not needs) Smash 4 to
be as many games as it can in one shot.
The Wii U hasn’t gotten over the stigma that it has no games -- which
I’ll admit is half-justified -- so when it does get a big release, it should do
so with the intent of loading it with enough content to bust the code wide
open.
--Just think about what this one game offers, and
what it’s frantically screaming at you.
This game is a competitive fighter!
But it’s also a party game! But
it’s got RPG elements! Oh wait, it’s
also got minigames that’d be perfect for fans of mobile games! Hey, do you like Mario Party? Well, we’ve got
that too! If you’re the cynical sort,
you can say that Smash 4 reeks of
desperation. In all fairness, I wouldn’t
blame you. The game is loaded with things, and how much you like it/get out
of it depends on how much you want to do
things and get things. The core gameplay is what holds it all
together (and well), but you can only mask your intent so much.
--Anyway, Smash Tour. Obviously, there’s one question that the mode
needed to answer: “Why should I play Smash Tour when I can just as easily and
immediately play a regular match with my pals?”
The answer it gives will depend heavily on you and your usual group of
gaming buddies. I have serious doubts
that it’ll even get touched amidst my
group, and the best it can hope for is getting ridiculed into oblivion. Still, for those who maybe want to take it
easy between matches -- for those looking for a change of pace or a colorful
take on the core gameplay -- then it’s got its place.
--In a nutshell, think Mario Party, but about five times faster. Everybody moves at once, gets items
automatically, and only trigger minigames (matches) if players meet up on the
map. I set each round to the minimum
turn number -- fifteen -- in the hopes of getting the stage faster, but I was
surprised at the generally-blistering pace.
Things tend to get hectic with traps, random hazards, and more, as you’d
expect. What I find confusing is that
for all the emphasis put on gathering power-ups on the map and boosting your
group of fighters’ stats, it ends up feeling inconsequential in the final,
game-winning match. I didn’t get nearly
as many power-ups as my opponents, but I still rocked them by a massive
margin. I guess playing against humans
is the way to go…
--In the interest of seeing what the endless
supply of doodads I won in single-player did, I gave the character
customization a shot. I haven’t tried
making a Mii Fighter (maybe I will someday), but I did make a souped-up
Pac-Man. To wit: my warrior of wakas has
boosted aerial power, auto-recovers health, and grows steadily more powerful as
he holds a Smash Ball (to compensate for his less-than-mighty Final
Smash). That’s on top of his defense
boosts, of course -- and while I’ve only gotten one variant of his special
moves so far, I went ahead and put it on anyway. Now his fire hydrant spews fire! Because that works, somehow!
--Okay, honestly?
I can see how customization can be a problem for, say, the tournament
scene -- stats or moves, either
one. But taken as-is, for the majority
of players who will never even try to get into the bottom rungs of a bracket,
personalized characters could be a huge game-changer,
let alone an incentive to play. Correct
your fighter’s weakness! Enhance their
strengths! Tailor their stats to your
play style! Boost them with special
abilities! Piss off everyone you care
about with your broken character! The
possibilities are endless!
--I don’t know how receptive my group will be to
character customization, but I’ll hope they’ll give it a chance. And if they do, this game just got a whole
lot bigger…
--There’s a lot to love about Smash 4, but I can’t say I’m too keen on the Home Run Contest or
Target Blast. I’m sure they’ll have
their place among fans, but I’m not one of them. They’re a way for you to learn how to rack up
damage with your fighter of choice, sure, but…should you really be doing that
in an environment so far-removed from a regular match? My gut instinct says no.
--Still, I see the appeal. Do you have what it takes to push your high
score to the limits of human ability (or the game’s ability, at least)? Can you constantly improve yourself with each
run? They’re modes that hearken back to
the days of old, while fitting the theme of self-improvement built into classic
games. Do you care enough to beat your
best score? Or are you just playing to
unlock junk?
--I suppose that does raise another point, though:
why play this game besides “because it’s fun”?
Is it to keep winning and winning?
To get better? To celebrate a big
fat Nintendo party? To uncover a
philosophical yet self-evident truth inlaid within our collective consciousness
yet altered ever so slightly by virtue of our unique opinions and experiences,
themselves the end result of our yet-unseen souls?
…
…So I tried using Peach again, and she’s looking
pretty solid.
And that’ll do it for now. See you guys another time, when I talk about
-- uh, more stuff? Yeah, more
stuff. That would probably be a good
thing to talk about.
Oh, wait, isn’t there something I should be saying
as well, given what day it is? Oh,
right. I almost forgot.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.
Funny you mention the AI. Have you heard about the mysterious Fox amiibo known as WaveShine? :P http://t.co/gX86lg8xDH
ReplyDeleteYeah, I heard about that! Along with a slew of jokes about it being the precursor to Terminator.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I have any interest in the world of amiibos, but I have some real respect for what they can offer for the game. If anything, it's bringing us closer to a future of full-on Pokemon battles (give or take a few particulars). I want to see what'll happen next with them, especially with Smash. Amiibo tournaments? 2v2 teams with one player and one amiibo? Sounds like a riot.