Zero Punctuation: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Cowabungaa

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Feb 10, 2008
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First of all: A funny review as usual, good one.
Second: Shut up all you fanboys, this game isn't damned perfect. Yathzee isn't even a "real" reviewer, he's just entertaining us!

Ok, on with the content now. I'de like to bring up some points of discussion about this.
First of all, he's simply wrong about the controls. If ány fighting game is known for nót having those insanely long Soul Calibur-ish lists of combo's, it's the Super Smash series. One of thé strong points about this fighting game, is that you can still preform cool feats with your character without spending hours upon hours of thumping combo's in your head, SS's strenght lies in the fact that you can do so much things with only a few things you have to master.
Although I can clearly say I to-ta-ly loved the previous Super Smash (Brothers), wich means I played it for 4 years without finding it boring, I do agree on some things Yathzee comes up with.
Number 1: the frenzic battles.
Although I was very fond of Super Smash, 9/10 times I played it, it was just against my brother (e.a 1 vs 1) so we didn't get that camara problems. I can remember that I was playing with some mates, and I just couldn't find my char anymore. That sucks, indeed. Ofcourse that doesn't mean it can't be fun, this isn't a serious fighting game, it's a party game (same with Mario Kart) so this should never be reviewed like a serious fighting game. Such a mindless frenzy can be lots of fun, just smashing away.
Number 2: The unlockables.
At first I didn't really care about those odd characters wich I could unlock, I didn't know Falco, Captain Falcon or Marth. That's not really the problem, what ís a problem is that some are just to damn the same. Just take that blond haired Ness-clone in Brawl, it's 1 thing that an unknown character is in the game, but thát guy isn't even a real main character in an original game and is almost the same as Ness himself. Nintendo really made a mistake with that one.
Also, I can also agree on how to unlock them. Take Mewtwo in Brothers, that was áwfull to unlock, a punishment! It's a shame to see Nintendo did nothing about that. The situation Yathzee depicts about bringing the game to a party and finding out that craploads of the content isn't there, happend to me and it is indeed very painfull. And to unlock it all agáin...arg. Some things were nearly impossible (especially game stages) to unlock. Really, that's simply retarted.
All in all, I think I can have craploads of fun with this game. It has a certain amount of comedy value to totally smash that tough Snake's head into oblivion with a little pink ball named Kirby, especially when you're sitting next to 1 of your best friends. The downside indeed is what you need to do to gét there, because so many things need to be unlocked, wich can be very irritating. What game is supposed to do, it's doing absolutly wonderfull.

PS:
to sonic turning gold and flying around the screen for 45 seconds.
Really nothing wrong about that, that's 1 of the things Sonic can do as well in his original games.
 

Ultrajoe

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Apr 24, 2008
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I decided to read the entirety of this epic monster thread, and its like we keep going through the same cycle of 3 stages over and over, every 3 or four pages...

now thats human nature for you, that said, i hate SSB, because my favorite character link (in my hands) can never beat any of my uber-fanatic friends, they are ALL 'That Guy'

so i play them at Dawn Of War and beat them 2 on one (me the one)
 

gigirizzi

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Apr 23, 2008
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ElArabDeMagnifico said:
Uszi said:
I find it VERY interesting that Yahtzee called from the get-go that there would be accusations that it would be said of him, "He is not a real reviewer."
He is a real reviewer, just not a serious one, he's got some good points, and he uses humor to prove them, but he's not here to "review" games, just to make us laugh.
WRONG

What he does can be classified as satire. And satire dosen't exisist just to make you laugh, but also to say things that traditional reviewers don't have the courage or freedom to say. And Y is brilliant in doing that.

I read trough all the comments and I see that almost everybody agrees on the fact that this game has some (for many people a lot) major flaws. This game has an average of 94% on Gamerankings, can I ask you why?
 

neonworms

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Apr 25, 2008
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I think the reason it was so popular on the game rankings was solely from the hype it got. The game is not good and the only reason it is so well loved is the nostalgic remeberence to the ancient games that fan boys and fan girls cling to for hopes that they still think they're cool. It's games like smash bros. that make it so hard for actual good games like Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne (Lucifer's Call in Europe) to become popular.
 

gigirizzi

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neonworms said:
I think the reason it was so popular on the game rankings was solely from the hype it got. The game is not good and the only reason it is so well loved is the nostalgic remeberence to the ancient games that fan boys and fan girls cling to for hopes that they still think they're cool. It's games like smash bros. that make it so hard for actual good games like Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne (Lucifer's Call in Europe) to become popular.
In theory hype should influence the gaming crowd but not seroious professional reviewers...
 

excessum ado

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Dec 27, 2007
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shred_lord said:
A smashing review there. Well Done.
That was fucking hilarious dude.

Regardless it was a decent review. Certainly not his funniest but up to par with the majority of his reviews. Nice to see this admittedly over hyped game be given some justice and I cant think of anyone better to do it then Yahtzee.
 

DennoCoil

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Mar 6, 2008
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This is fucking great! XD I love you Yahtzee!

I didn't think there would be so much nerd rage being thrown around like flaming poo from the circle jerking fanboys and the uninterested crowds who grew out of Nintendo's childish gaming, but I think that's to be expected if you disrespect a Nintendo product.

Yeah, I played a demo at a GameStop for about 10 minutes and quickly got bored as I found out it was exactly the same game as I played it before on the N64 almost 10 years ago. [Main strategy: Do enough damage, then throw everyones ass off the platform. Instant win.]

I might as well put in my opinion, even though I might be crucified for it: Super Smash Bros Brawl is equal to Halo 3 in it's disillusioned zealous fanboys, over hyped media, mediocre game play, and the "same as the last game with only a touch few upgrades" bait-n-switch routine. [Yeah, it's not gonna be the big change like how Resident Evil 4 changed its own franchise.]
 

Marriot

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Mar 19, 2008
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first comment on a thread that i dont think Yahtzee will ever read but anyway great review. I like how yahtzee points out the flaws and splashes glow in the dark food coloring all over the shit in a game and even sets it on fire so a rescue team can find it, despite the smell. Like many other reviews of his i agree with this one along with Halo 3, i cant believe that game got 10/10 so much, the witcher, god that game was confusing and stupid and degrading towards women, and other numerous titles whos shittiness i cant type in this tiny text box.
 

m_jim

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Jan 14, 2008
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gigirizzi said:
I read trough all the comments and I see that almost everybody agrees on the fact that this game has some (for many people a lot) major flaws. This game has an average of 94% on Gamerankings, can I ask you why?
I have an explanation. Because normal people hate things, and internet people super hate things. Because reviewers have more than two modes (i.e. opinions outside of F'ing awesome and F'ing awful) and internet people do not. Or maybe the people who like the game are too busy having a good time playing it to post something on here to try to persuade all the haters that it's fun. Take your pick.
 

neonworms

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Apr 25, 2008
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In theory hype should influence the gaming crowd but not seroious professional reviewers...[/quote]

Your very right. Too bad it next to never works that way, i suppose thats why i agree with most of Yahtzees reviews, they`re not media driven.
 

chadmeister

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Apr 25, 2008
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I bought the console almost specifically for Brawl, but after a week of playing it I just didn't like it at all, and eventually sold my Wii all together.

Now I has the money for the MGS4 bundle coming in june : )
 
Mar 27, 2008
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Good review, made me chuckle.

Re: nineteen pages of drama...

OK, Yahtzee's not a conventional reviewer. OK, this review wasn't as great as the other thirty odd fantastic ones he's put out. OK, he might seem to have a go at everything. But the stuff he comes out with is usually pretty damn insightful. Sure, he finds faults in most things, but I constantly find myself listening to his criticisms and then thinking, "Oh, yeah... That's a very good point, I hadn't thought about that."

We have the internet, it's 2008 - there are enough sources for opinions on games, music or anything else. Look around - don't take one view as gospel and then get your knickers in a twist when you disagree with that one source once in a while. Take Yahtzee's reviews for what they are - almost universally negative, insightful and funny commentaries on games and gaming.
 

CodeChrono

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Mar 29, 2008
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What I enjoyed about this review was the fact that it didn't just review the game and all its annoyances but pointed out flaws within the general game communnity. It's very similar to the Turok review, which I think (and still think) to be his best.

Being a frequent player of Brawl on weekends, I can see the gripes and acknowledge them. But in the end, I still want to play it regardless.

I wish you the best of luck for next week's review Yahtz. :O
 

Chewster

It's yer man Chewy here!
Apr 24, 2008
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gigirizzi said:
ElArabDeMagnifico said:
Uszi said:
I find it VERY interesting that Yahtzee called from the get-go that there would be accusations that it would be said of him, "He is not a real reviewer."
He is a real reviewer, just not a serious one, he's got some good points, and he uses humor to prove them, but he's not here to "review" games, just to make us laugh.
WRONG

What he does can be classified as satire. And satire dosen't exisist just to make you laugh, but also to say things that traditional reviewers don't have the courage or freedom to say. And Y is brilliant in doing that.
Bingo. And being tied to a gaming "review" site that isn't owned by video game stores helps.

gigirizzi said:
I read trough all the comments and I see that almost everybody agrees on the fact that this game has some (for many people a lot) major flaws. This game has an average of 94% on Gamerankings, can I ask you why?
Payola and advert coin, if I had to guess. I mean, there was a reason that Jeff Gerstmann got shitcanned from Gamespot after saying that Kane & Lynch was mediocre.

Like most media, piss off the advertisers and it's time to kiss your sorry ass bye bye.
 

Chewster

It's yer man Chewy here!
Apr 24, 2008
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m_jim said:
I have an explanation. Because normal people hate things, and internet people super hate things. Because reviewers have more than two modes (i.e. opinions outside of F'ing awesome and F'ing awful) and internet people do not. Or maybe the people who like the game are too busy having a good time playing it to post something on here to try to persuade all the haters that it's fun. Take your pick.
Yeah, not quite. While your assessment of "Internet people" holds some water, let me assure you that most big "review" sites/magazines have the same two modes.

If you're from a large studio who has a lot of clout (i.e. money), then the game is "F'ing awesome".

If not, it's probably going to be "F'ing awful".
 

Drechu

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Apr 25, 2008
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heh heh awsome as always there Yahtzee...i must say tho the amount of comments here doubled here upon this great release of yer review on SSBB. Struck quite the chord.

can't wait for yer next addition to the Zero puntuation series~
 

Uszi

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Feb 10, 2008
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chewbacca1010 said:
gigirizzi said:
WRONG

What he does can be classified as satire. And satire dosen't exisist just to make you laugh, but also to say things that traditional reviewers don't have the courage or freedom to say. And Y is brilliant in doing that.
Bingo. And being tied to a gaming "review" site that isn't owned by video game stores helps.
I think the argument is of the form: Yes, but in this particular review he let his personal attack on Nintendo and Fighting games in genre interfere with any possible satire/criticism of the specific game itself, which is what we really tune in for.

Not that I necessarily disagree with you gentlemen.

chewbacca1010 said:
gigirizzi said:
I read trough all the comments and I see that almost everybody agrees on the fact that this game has some (for many people a lot) major flaws. This game has an average of 94% on Gamerankings, can I ask you why?
Payola and advert coin, if I had to guess. I mean, there was a reason that Jeff Gerstmann got shitcanned from Gamespot after saying that Kane & Lynch was mediocre.

Like most media, piss off the advertisers and it's time to kiss your sorry ass bye bye.
TheEscapist is pretty damn cool, I must say. Though as someone who posts here regularly, and subscribes to the newsletter and reads the articles, I wonder if my opinion is objective or not.

I think Yahtzee's style of satire tends to make him immune to the, "You gave our game a bad review so we're pulling your funding," schtick... and I mean even on the level of the Escapist itself. I feel like if the Escapist was getting money to push a game, and Yahtzee dismantled it, then there would be little repercussion. TheEscapist can just say, "He does what he does! We can't control it!"

Take for instance Peggle and Pop-Cap games. Have you all noticed that TheEscapist has Pop Cap game banner ads on the site? I'm sure it's not because the admins are Peggle fans, rather they are getting a stipend for pushing it.

If anything the negative press was GOOD for Pop-Cap games, as I'm sure none of us had heard of it before the review.