To all other Smash Bros. Fans

[Hrothgar]

I don't know how many of you are hardcore Super Smash Bros. Fans, but this is to those who are. Although those of us who live in North America will be waiting another month for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to come out, and even longer for Europe, Brawl hit the shelves of Japanese distributors January 31st.

Now I know that you can find out quite a lot from the official site of Brawl, but they haven't quite filled us in on all the details of the game. People have already posted all of the hidden characters and stages. I won't say here in case you want it a surprise, but you can find here

http://super-smash-bros.wikia.com/wiki/Character_List

There are even videos on Youtube showing the new characters. Does anyone have any thoughts about the characters who were included, or not included?

I personally think they made a lot of good decisions on who to include. They shaved off some of the clone characters (Namely Pichu, Dr. Mario), as well as added an interesting new cast. The only character I wish they had kept from Melee is Mewtwo. Not really because he was good or because he was from pokemon, but because he was a unique character. However, I was excited to see who some of the extra characters were.

I sort of had my heart set out for more 3rd party characters. I mean, I didn't expect them to go out of the ballpark and recruit Cloud or anything, but I would've liked anyone from Capcom. Or even some more characters from Metal Gear Solid or Sonic. Nevertheless, I think that the cast is great and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this game when it makes it's way to North America.

[Desert Drifter]

Ah... out of all of them, the original was just the best. Playing that with a few friends in the summer of 1999 was great. Melee just brought it "real-er" while Brawl is just another attempt, but still losing interest, though would be neat if you could use the "environments" to smash up and throw your opponents into for destructive fun, as of Bowser smashing Mario though a set of pillars or Donkey Kong stomping Wario though a flight of platforms - as an example... Don't get me wrong, but looks like another "hype", though the adding of Bowser, Peach, & Wario was kind of neat, but the hype seems to turn me away as of "Melee", but like all games, it's always interesting to see what could be next, but when you get to find out, we lose interest very quick as the "what if?" is gone from us fantasizing...

EDIT: If you really want my opinion, making Peach, Zelda, Samus, and Link appear as "dumb" blondes, wrecks the characters. The Peach from Mario RPG (SNES) with the flying frying pan was of her character to kick some tail and not just letting Mario get all the action, while Zelda seems to stand there unless your playing the "other" form, which makes her appear useless all together, and Samus just doesn't look like a "Bounty Hunter" as she appears to be a model... This weakens the strength of the women of Nintendo and makes them "idols" instead of "individuals", which seems to "annoy" me. Link? Well, the Twilight version just looks like "girly-man" instead of the "Hero of Time" as he appeared in OoT, though don't get me wrong, the game was great other then that... Then again, maybe I'm just seeing it wrong, but looks to me as if Nintendo seems to be "idolizing" instead of keeping the "originality" that we grew up on and loved...

[AnAutisticDog]

[Hrothgar]

Lol, okay you didn't even play melee did you?

though the adding of Bowser, Peach, & Wario

Uh, Peach and bowser were in melee my friend. In fact, they were starting characters, you didn't even have to unlock them. But yes, Wario is new.

Also there was a significant difference between melee and the origional, like the fact that melee is WAY faster. Brawl hasn't change a whole lot gameplay wise except the final smash. What has changed is that there are a lot more additional content, a deeper adventure mode, more characters, and even crazier weapons.

If you really want my opinion, making Peach, Zelda, Samus, and Link appear as "dumb" blondes, wrecks the characters.

Give me one shred of evidence that they act like 'dumb' blondes. It seems to me that inferring that fact that they are blond makes them dumb at all. In fact, Samus has been blonde since we've seen her in Super Metroid, and that was how long ago? Link was even blonder than his twilight version in Ocarina of time. However, being just blonde doesn't make you dumb, and we still have samus in her normal suit as well. Also, Zelda is just as powerful as shiek if you know how to play with her. As for peach, okay she may be kind of a typical blonde but what do you expect for a damsel in distress. But we still do see some strong characteristics in peach as well.

Then again, maybe I'm just seeing it wrong, but looks to me as if Nintendo seems to be "idolizing" instead of keeping the "originality" that we grew up on and loved...

Nintendo is VERY authentic, especially in the adventure mode. I mean all you have to do is play it and feel the authenticity of it. Anyways, if brawl just isn't your cup of tea that's fine. We all have different tastes. However, from what you described it sounds like you haven't really played either Brawl or Melee, and are kind of just talking about something you don't know too much about.

Anyways, I thought I'd end by saying what your probably thinking about me right now, "Hard-core nintendo 'know it all' dork.", and I would like to say yeah your right, lol. I just wanted to say that I don't mean to sound like an asshole, and yes I am too obsessed with the game. I don't really care if you have negative comments about the game, I just more accurate negative comments, like maybe "I don't like Brawl as much because the gameplay is slower" or "I think the smash balls are a score evener for n00bs". Stuff like that which has more ground to it.

Yeah I know, I'm reading too far into this.

[Desert Drifter]

Lol, okay you didn't even play melee did you

Yes - I own it and rather play the original.

Uh, Peach and bowser were in melee my friend. In fact, they were starting characters, you didn't even have to unlock them. But yes, Wario is new.

I know Peach and Bowser is in Melee, just stating it was neat of adding them into the two follow-ups.

Also there was a significant difference between melee and the origional, like the fact that melee is WAY faster. Brawl hasn't change a whole lot gameplay wise except the final smash. What has changed is that there are a lot more additional content, a deeper adventure mode, more characters, and even crazier weapons.

Understandable - just not into it.

Give me one shred of evidence that they act like 'dumb' blondes. It seems to me that inferring that fact that they are blond makes them dumb at all. In fact, Samus has been blonde since we've seen her in Super Metroid, and that was how long ago? Link was even blonder than his twilight version in Ocarina of time. However, being just blonde doesn't make you dumb, and we still have samus in her normal suit as well. Also, Zelda is just as powerful as shiek if you know how to play with her. As for peach, okay she may be kind of a typical blonde but what do you expect for a damsel in distress. But we still do see some strong characteristics in peach as well.

As I said: Nintendo seems to be "idolizing" instead of showing their true charactistics by making them appear "pretty" and just "show".

Nintendo is VERY authentic, especially in the adventure mode. I mean all you have to do is play it and feel the authenticity of it. Anyways, if brawl just isn't your cup of tea that's fine. We all have different tastes. However, from what you described it sounds like you haven't really played either Brawl or Melee, and are kind of just talking about something you don't know too much about.

Haven't played Brawl yet, but Meele didn't seem to impress me, but then again - my opinion.

Anyways, I thought I'd end by saying what your probably thinking about me right now, "Hard-core nintendo 'know it all' dork.", and I would like to say yeah your right, lol. I just wanted to say that I don't mean to sound like an asshole, and yes I am too obsessed with the game. I don't really care if you have negative comments about the game, I just more accurate negative comments, like maybe "I don't like Brawl as much because the gameplay is slower" or "I think the smash balls are a score evener for n00bs". Stuff like that which has more ground to it.

Yeah I know, I'm reading too far into this.

Nah, that's alright, you have a passion for the series and that's fine. No harm done, just an opinion. I'm a old school gamer, so today's stuff just doesn't "attract" me.

[Hrothgar]

Alright, fair.

I still don't see the dumb blond thing though.

[Desert Drifter]

Alright, fair.

I still don't see the dumb blond thing though.

Well, it's because "society" classifies "blondes" as "pretty" and "perfect" though leaving others out. Peach use to be a (red-head), Link (brown), Zelda, well... guess she always was a blonde, though she seemed more "helpful" to Link then to stand there and watch him get the crap beat out of him - cartoon adventures wise, while Samus (had black, though also green hair...), but even she was a blonde in Super Metroid, at least she appeared as a warrior, and not as now - a model in a fantastic 4 blue suit. Even if the women of Nintendo are not so tough compared to "Link" or "Mario", but at least they showed their "capable" of fighting back, though you would expect Samus to be a type to some kick tail, but seem as she's now the type to pose for the next cover of "celebrity edition"....

Don't get me wrong here, I have no problem with blondes, but today's society of "classifying" by looks is ridiculous....

EDIT: Let me clarify why "dumb blonde" - now I don't mean all blondes are dumb, what I mean is: society classifying certain people with "looks" (mostly blondes) as they are "idolized" as they are the first to be "hired" in stores, the first to get "helped", and the first to get the first "dibs", while everyone else gets "ignored". I don't know, maybe it's an Arizona thing...

[Hrothgar]

Well yeah, link has become blond. Though his hair is starting to slowly become brown again. As far as peach though, remember that the girl in Donkey kong wasn't Peach, and also they might have wanted her to be blond but didn't have a large color scale. Also, Samus in Super Metroid was uber pixelized and you only saw her when she died. I think it kind of makes since that she has a near perfect physique cause you'd need to be really in shape to operate that suit, and slender to fit in it.

I also think Zelda has become a stronger figure with her shiek persona. Personally I always wanted to see a shiek video game chronicling her adventures between the time Link was gone in Ocarina of Time. I think Nintendo is trying to add more depth to our damsels in distress. I mean, we got the game Super Princess Peach.

[Desert Drifter]

Well yeah, link has become blond. Though his hair is starting to slowly become brown again. As far as peach though, remember that the girl in Donkey kong wasn't Peach, and also they might have wanted her to be blond but didn't have a large color scale. Also, Samus in Super Metroid was uber pixelized and you only saw her when she died. I think it kind of makes since that she has a near perfect physique cause you'd need to be really in shape to operate that suit, and slender to fit in it.

I also think Zelda has become a stronger figure with her shiek persona. Personally I always wanted to see a shiek video game chronicling her adventures between the time Link was gone in Ocarina of Time. I think Nintendo is trying to add more depth to our damsels in distress. I mean, we got the game Super Princess Peach.

Then agan, maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I see your point, Samus needs in perfect "shape" to move that suit, but I'm not saying they should not be attractive, just not as "damsels" waiting for "rescue". Yeah, they improved Zelda in Twilight, but Peach looks like another Barbie. Samus... I don't know, maybe it's the blue suit, as it reminds me of "Sue Storm" instead of "Samus"...

Super Princess Peach? Yeah, I was looking at that one, sounds interesting, but seems I forgot about it.

[Hrothgar]

I think peach works as the damsel in distress archetype. Just as long as they keep Zelda strong so we won't have to girls working the same archetype. Peach is intentionally yes, a sort of typical blond figure but that sort of fits her more.

Samus used to wear clothes under her suit that looked closer to sports wear. I think they changed that in Metroid fusion cause she was going to be walking around without her suit an exceptional amount of time longer. If you get 100% on a lot of her games, I've heard you can see her in more revealing clothing. Nothing ridiculous, just like shorts and a tank top.

I feel that they were very true to the characters we love. My biggest beef with the game is mostly the online play isn't as good as I thought it would be.