GiantEnemyGoomba
Member
Metacritic - 86
GameXplain (Video) - "Liked"
Wired - No score
That aside, Smash Bros. on 3DS excels not because it does anything new, but because it goes back to what worked. It’s packed with enough content and fanservice to please the most jaded of Nintendo fans, and it returns to the frenetic, high-speed action that higher-level players loved so much.
Techno Buffalo - "Buy"
Going into the portable version of Smash Bros., I think I had the same hesitations and questions a lot of fans have had for months. Mainly, I was concerned that the size of the handheld would limit the scope of the game.
That’s not the case at all. Nintendo’s asking for $39.99 for the 3DS version of Smash. Quite honestly, this game meets and exceeds that value, no doubt about it.
While I was bummed about the nature of unlocking the characters here, I haven’t been able to put this game down. Sure, I have everyone there is to have, but I don’t have all the trophies, I haven’t completed all the challenges and I haven’t earned all the customization stuff for my characters.
The crazy thing about Smash on the 3DS? Whenever Nintendo releases the NFC reader for the 3DS and the amiibo stuff, this game will get even bigger. It’s huge as it is now, but knowing that it’ll grow and features will be added down the line? Getting Smash on the 3DS for fans is a no-brainer. It’s a great little game.
Pure Nintendo - 10/10
If you have a 3DS, get this game. If you don’t have a 3DS, go get one, then get this game. I’ll even say this, as a gamer who loves collecting games to put on his shelf, this is a title that I’m glad is digitally downloaded on my handheld. I knew that this game cartridge would always be in my 3DS when it was announced and now, I have it with me all the time. Just as a forewarning though, it is a chunky download, going up to a whopping 9,000 plus blocks. It’s worth every block for hours upon hours of constant Smashing. See you in the fray!
Game Blog (French) - 10/10
A wonderful demonstration of Nintendo's expertise, Super Smash Bros. is both accessible and deep. A refined formula that transcends the capabilities of the 3DS to offer an amazing game. A statement for lovers of pure gaming and a paradise for Nintendo fans.
Digital Chumps - 9.8/10
Super Smash Bros. 3DS is a wonderful addition to the series featuring great cameos, a return to strong fighting mechanics, and best of all, a viable, portable Smash Bros. experience. Though the game will soon be released on the Wii U, the 3DS version is the way to go for the various single player modes and unlockable content (though the multiplayer mode is great here as well). Fans of the series should pick this game up as waiting for the Wii U version may be a difficult task.
GamesBeat - 97/100
You can never tell how great a fighting game will really be until the public has time to master it, but Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has everything it needs to finally get the competitive community to move on from Melee. The new characters are excellent, and the gameplay is smooth, fast, and exciting.
I do wonder how some of the mechanical changes will impact the competitive scene. You can now air-dodge as many times as you want, and you can no longer hold on to a ledge as a way of keeping your opponent from getting back on a stage (they now simply take you place on the ledge). These aren’t necessarily good or bad things, but they are different. I’m excited to see how it shakes up the tournament scene.
But even if you’re a more casual Smash fan, you’ll love everything that the 3DS version offers. It’s a perfect handheld iteration of one of Nintendo’s greatest franchises.
GamingTrend - 95/100
In the end, Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS is phenomenal. Let any doubts about a handheld version of this game be put to rest- Super Smash Bros. 3DS pulls no punches and stands proud with its console predecessors.
Vandal (Spanish) - 9.5/10
Even though it's played in a handheld, it is as good as any other game of the series. It works great on 3DS, and the fighting system has been improved, tweaked and revisited with new additions and objects. One of those games you shouldn't miss if you own a 3DS.
GameSided -
Overall: 9.5/10
Competitve model: 7.5/10Smash Bros 3DS is a game that will keep me occupied for years to come. With unlockables galore, new modes, and friends to compete against, I don’t see any reason why this game won’t be planted in my 3DS cartridge bay regularly. There are few complaints I can level against this game. The omission of a meaningful story mode and bonus stages are unfortunate, but far from game-breaking. Also, while the controls are perfectly serviceable, they aren’t as precise as a GameCube controller – I definitely missed having a C-stick at times. But if that’s all I have to complain about, this is a winner – if you have any interest at all in Smash on the go, Smash Bros 3DS is worth your time.
While this number is subject to change as the metagame evolves, the game in its current state is a viable competitive title. However, it's certainly not without problems. Smash Bros 3DS allows players to be safe with very little effort, and until players find a way to breach rolls and dodges competitive play eventually will be dominated by characters who can safely pressure their opponents with projectiles or large hitboxes. This game is a strong improvement from Brawl, but players and tournament organizers alike should to experiment with new ways to balance offensive and defensive play. As it stands, defensive play is decidedly stronger.
ZWAME (Portuguese) - 9.5/10
Super Smash bros for 3ds isn't treated like an afterthought, it's everything that you can expect from the series: brilliant game, extremely polished, loaded with content for hours on end, made with love and respect for the series of its respective characters. It's smash bros, it's amazing and portable, what more do you need?
Game Informer - 9.25/10
Even on my best day, I wouldn’t be confused with a tournament-level Smash player. After shifting my block and throw moves from the shoulder buttons to the face buttons, though, I was playing at the same level I do on Melee or Brawl. I won some matches, I lost a few, and I had a completely great time no matter the score. We all know the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is on the horizon, but the 3DS version is more than something to keep you busy until then. It’s a must-play for Smash fans.
VideoGamer - 9/10
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is certainly a surprise package. Packing a substantial amount of content and the same fantastic gameplay as its home console siblings, it gives the forthcoming Wii U version an awful lot to live up to.
I Love VG (Italian) - 9/10
The game feels like a genuine Smash Bros. experience, made portable with little to none sacrifices. As always, is full of contents like any other Sakurai game, and is a joy to play in multiplayer.
3D Juegos (Spanish) - 9/10
One of the best reasons to acquire a 3DS system. Dozens of characters to choose from, game modes, options, secrets... A game for the ages.
Polygon - 9/10
If this new generation of Smash Bros. only featured straightforward battles, the upcoming Wii U version — with its elevated thumbsticks and same-screen local multiplayer setup — would probably have an edge over this 3DS incarnation. But the fourth Super Smash Bros. is more than just brawling; a lot more, in fact. I've spent far more time collecting loot, doing Classic mode playthroughs, participating in Smash Runs and pushing my high scores in various minigames than I have actually fighting other people.
Super Smash Bros. 3DS hasn't been compressed as much as it has been tailored. And as unlikely as it may be, it fits like a glove.
Game Reactor (Spanish) - 9/10
Ultimately, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS proposes slaps and punches action with a unique style, a combat without respite that can range from simple and light experience with friends to a powerful and really technical clash between two veteran opponents. That wideness is commendable, but what makes it great, huge despite being a portable game, is that quality of not imposing a fixed experience that would be exhausted long before, the ability to leave many things in the hands of the players so they mold the game to their liking with a huge amount of content and options (and hey, always without breaking the gameplay or the fun).
Is it like playing on a console? Of course not, the screen can sometimes feel too small, or you'd like to use a more solid traditional controller, but it's all the power of Smash Bros. in the palm of you¡r hand, adapted to the type of plays that come with this device, at the same time leaving the sign of the cross and the circle well-marked in its catalog. After confirming the excellent final quality of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, we can only wonder (dream?) how it will play on Wii U.
Nintendo Insider - 9/10
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is an absolute triumph for the handheld, and successfully achieves the dream of being able to play Nintendo’s popular mascot brawler on the go. Made to be enjoyed with others, it’s polished to perfection and as complete a package as anything that has come before – bursting at the seams with content to keep your occupied for hours on end. We’ll see you in the ring.
The Escapist - 4.5/5
While designed for your pocket, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS does not skimp on the features. A full-fledged Smash game, packed with stuff to discover, and boasting a roster of familiar and thoroughly inventive new characters, this is a beautiful fighting game than everyone can enjoy. Just a shame that the online isn't that hot.
Destructoid - 9/10
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS delivered just about everything I wanted out of it, and then some. I've grown attached to a number of newcomers, I've played more online matches than I ever did with Brawl, and I'll be tackling all of the single-player content for weeks on end. I'm all in again thanks to Smash 3DS, and it's made me even more excited for the Wii U version later this year.
Pocket Gamer - 9/10
Super Smash Bros simply has an unbelievable amount of content. I've been playing for over 13 hours and I still haven't played as every character. So there's loads to keep you going, as long as you enjoy the bouncy, hectic, messy fighting system.
Joystiq - 4.5/5
While there are definite areas where Nintendo could improve on Super Smash Bros. in an inevitable sequel, this is the most feature-complete, compelling Super Smash Bros. entry to date. It stands right alongside Fire Emblem: Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as a game that every 3DS owner should play. Even if you can't find a smooth online match, the wealth of single-player and local multiplayer options will keep Super Smash Bros. fresh for months to come, and that's even before you consider the numerous unlockable characters, trophies, items and any potential DLC the developers might have planned. When Nintendo is firing on all cylinders, it creates the sort of games that other companies only wish they could put together, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the perfect example of that sterling pedigree.
Nintendo Life - 9/10
Remarkable production values combined with a staggering amount of content and fan service make Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS an entertaining, rewarding and downright addictive title that’s immensely hard to put down. It’s a hugely successful transition from the big screen, which retains everything — the in-depth gameplay, the seamlessly merged crossover universe and that unrivalled Nintendo charm — that has made each home console instalment to date an instant classic. It feels familiar, further defining the mould of the series instead of reshaping it, but it does so to impeccably high standards.
That said, it’s not perfect: the online multiplayer can be very hit-or-miss in terms of connection quality, and the customisation features are pretty lacking, although these aren't considerable enough to damage the overall experience. As the wealth of modes, stages, characters and other features prove, this isn't a quick release intended to tide over players until the Wii U version comes along. Rather, it delivers more than a 3DS game should feasibly be able to do, so much so that it’ll be enjoyed alongside its HD counterpart and in its own right for years to come.
Multiplayer.it (Italian) - 8.8/10
Super Smash Bros. hit handheld gaming after fifteen years, and it's as great as usual, even without a bulletproof single-player mode. This isn't a [90] just because offline multiplayer - with only one cartridge - has been omitted.
IGN - 8.8/10
Smash 3DS is impressive and, for the most part, feels right at home on 3DS. The multitude of ways to play and awesome customization gave me many reasons to keep fighting - and I’ve been at it for more than 45 hours already. It all produces a fun feedback loop of engaging in matches to unlock custom moves and trophies, then jumping into another match to try out the new stuff. Even the online modes feel carefully considered and focused on what the series does best, and what the 3DS can reasonably do. It’s a little disappointing that the four-player antics that are the best part of the console games don’t really work on a small screen, but there’s still more than enough that does work to make Smash a great 3DS game.
MeriStation (Spanish) - 8.7/10
Smash Bros also looks great on this handled system. Fluid and dynamic combat, a great character roster and a good variety of modes. However, nothing compares to best Brawl modes.
Nintendo World Report - 8.5/10
All of the elements that made previous Smash Bros. games great can be found in this 3DS iteration. The transition is a little rough, but for the most part, everything is well represented and comes off as big as the home console releases. The mixture of new gameplay mechanics and modes and old and nostalgic moments make this newest version work wonderfully, even with the problems. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS doesn't try to change the formula in what made Smash Bros. great, but it keeps adding to the existing formula and in that, creates new experiences that continue to make the game worth investing time in.
Nintendo Force - 8.5/10
When I first saw Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. The controls are fine, it looks great and the various options are fun to toy around with. While a few modes could have been bigger in scope, it is endlessly surprising how well balanced it all feels. That makes the characters and playing with them the more stand-out experience and I had a ton of fun with what was on display here. From oddballs like the Wii Fit Trainer to classics like Donkey Kong, players will be soon be able to find their favorites. Those favs can be used fully in the game’s local and online multiplayer functions. There will be some lag on that information highway, but when the game gets on with it, there are some great times to be had with friends. That is where Smash 4 truly shines through.
Gamespot - 8/10
I found so much raw joy in my time with Super Smash Bros. 3DS. And even though I played to the point where I was literally in pain, I didn't have to keep playing Smash Bros. 3DS. I wanted to.
Giant Bomb - 4/5
With Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, Nintendo has checked many of the biggest boxes for a sequel. The roster is bigger and better, a large variety of fun stages has been added, and some cool tweaks like character customization make their debut. Spotty online offerings, the drawbacks of being on a portable console, and the lack of a substantial single-player mode hurt the overall experience, but not enough to tarnish the series’ name. If you’re a longtime fan of Nintendo (or just the Smash series in general), there’s plenty here to keep you busy until you can play it in its ideal form on the big screen.
Nintendo-Online (German) - 8/10
US Gamer - 4/5
Given the technical limitations of the Nintendo 3DS, Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco have done an admirable job with this port. At its core, Super Smash Bros. is both a loving tribute to Nintendo and a surprisingly deep fighter, and though it hasn't changed much over the years, its appeal is strong as ever on the Nintendo 3DS. The solo experience is admittedly lacking, but as a multiplayer game, it remains a delight.
Shacknews - 8/10
Super Smash Bros. brings everything good about the series, including its rich roster of beloved characters, stages that honor Nintendo's handheld heritage, tens of hours of unlockable content, and condenses it all into a fine portable package. It goes a long way towards catering to both long-time fans of the series and casual newcomers with mechanics that are simple to grasp, while also adding some welcome new degrees of complexity.
It's as close as Nintendo can possibly get towards packing in the addictive pleasure of the console versions onto its 3DS handheld. Fans couldn't ask for a better appetizer to the Wii U version set to hit later this year.
God is a Geek - 8/10
It’s not feature rich, and it’s not the perfect way to play Super Smash Bros. 4, but Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS does mean you can see if attacks link in training while in the queue for coffee. It means you can set a new high score in a home run contest while on the loo and save the replay to prove how you did it later. It means you can play Super Smash Bros. online without crippling lag, while waiting for pasta to boil, and then watch some replays of online Luigi players while you eat. It would be easy to sit and reel off a list of things Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS doesn’t have, but it’s better to focus on what it is. And what it is, is a functionally excellent, portable version of Super Smash Bros.
FNintendo (Portuguese) - 8/10
The free-for-all fighting festival makes its entry in the 3DS with an excellent technical performance, a memorable soundtrack and a significant lifespan, all of which contribute to make this a very solid bet for Nintendo's portable machine.
Eurogamer - 7/10
The outlandish animations continue to delight as the hours pass, and the extraordinarily generous drip-feed of new items, stages, modes and characters will draw you back in over and over again. This is a lovingly made game, filled with the fruits of hard and caring labour. But it is also a game built on undeniably weak foundations. Anyone who's pulled off Nagare Namikawa's synchronised swimming finishing move in the Rival Schools series or played the Sega Saturn's Pocket Fighter will know that humour and irreverence can be elegantly combined with sturdy fighting mechanics. Super Smash Bros. manages only the humour. Away from the communal focus of the television screen, it's a much weaker joke.
Games Radar - 3/5
A highly polished iteration of Smash Bros. that plays great on its own. But when you're afflicted by latency problems in local multiplayer, you'll suddenly become painfully aware of the 3DS version's critical shortcomings.
