Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, cartoonish, multiplayer Wii fighting game.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 31 parent reviews
Based on 272 kid reviews
Kids say the game is a fun and nostalgic experience, featuring beloved Nintendo characters and cartoonish violence that's deemed harmless by many reviewers, who argue it should be rated E10+ instead of T. While some express concerns about certain characters and moments deemed inappropriate for younger audiences, most agree that the overall content is manageable and suitable for ages 6 and up.
- fun gameplay
- cartoon violence
- rated concerns
- family friendly
- iconic characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Ever wanted to see who would win in a fight between Mario and Sonic? Now you can in SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL for the Nintendo Wii. Veteran Nintendo fans are familiar with the idea behind these cartoon fighting games: Duke it out with and against popular Nintendo mascots such as Mario, Link, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Wario -- each with their own unique abilities and power attacks. Now you also have access to new playable characters from other video games, including the Zero Suit Samus (from Metroid: Zero Mission), Meta Knight (from the Kirby games), Pit (from Kid Icarus), and even Solid Snake (from Konami's Metal Gear Solid), and Sonic (from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series). The goal is to use your special way of fighting so effectively that you weaken your opponent and they fall off their platform.
Is It Any Good?
Having all of these familiar and beloved characters in one game is a treat, not to mention you need to unlock new characters by winning matches since not everyone is available right from the get-go. Up to four players can compete together on one Wii, which makes this a great game to play with friends. New to the series is online play, so you can brawl against friends on another Wii in another city, which works surprisingly well. There's also a new lengthy story-driven mode called The Subspace Emissary, which is essentially a side-scrolling game where one or two players fight against more difficult "boss" characters.
Another aspect of this game that makes it so good is the ability to customize the game. You can tweak everything from the character's special powers, weapons, and moves to the musical score and how the game is controlled (whether you prefer Wii Remote, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or the GameCube controller). You can even design your own levels to share online with friends. This eagerly anticipated title is great fun for those new to the franchise or longstanding followers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about types of violence in games. Do cartoon characters and some over-the-top combat moves make this brawl game feel less violent, even with the constant fighting? How do gore and realism in games change how you feel about the gameplay? Which type of game is more fun? Which would you prefer to play and why?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo Wii
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Nintendo
- Release date : March 9, 2008
- Genre : Fighting
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : December 1, 2021
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