Music for a generation spokespeople, MTV, have leapt into the SSBB fray with their 2 cents on what they think would make the game even better.
1. Worldwide Simultaneous Release
This one is key. Once
the game hit store shelves a month ago in Japan, “Smash Bros.” fans like myself
found it almost impossible to avoid being exposed to any of the the game’s
secrets. I can just imagine what it’s like for fans in Europe who have to wait
even longer. Leveling the playing field for all fans and keeping all the secrets
secret until the game is actually released would be a dream come true next time
around.
2. Increase the Multiplayer Number
“Resistance
2” will have 60 players online at once playing the same game, and
“Smash Bros.” only has four. Even off-line, “Smash Bros.” still only has four.
While it may break from the “Smash Bros.” mold, upping the overall players per
game would just add to the fun. Think about playing with eight of your friends
all at once on one screen. It would be crazy, hectic, and awesome.
3. Downloadable Content
Some of these things are
mainstays on the Wii’s competitors, but seem foreign to Nintendo products.
Downloadable content stands out at the top of that list. “Brawl” is perfectly
suited for additional content via Nintendo’s Wii Shopping Channel. Fans of the
game are rabid, and many of them would most likely purchase every piece of
content just to have the complete “Smash Bros.” experience. Characters would be
best for this, but I would settle for more events, trophies, or challenges.
4. More Characters
I don’t think this is asking a lot.
The Nintendo universe is ripe with additional characters that could be included
in “Smash Bros.” So are the Konami, Capcom, Sega, Namco and Square Enix
universes. The current list tops out at a total of 35 characters (37 if you
count Samus and Zelda as two each) which is meager when compared to another
personal favorite, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2“’s 56. “Mortal
Kombat Armageddon” had over 60 characters. In all honesty, all
they really need to do is add in Toad and I’ll be happy.
5. Voice Chat
Another way that the Wii is lagging behind
its competitors is the lack of voice chat. Trash-talking aside, if you have
tried to set up an on-line match against one of your friends you have seen just
how much “Brawl” would have benefited from having voice chat. We know Nintendo
wants to keep their console family-friendly, but it’s gotten a bit ridiculous.
Maybe next time around we can at least chat with people with whom we’ve
exchanged friend codes.
6. Unlockable Incentive Content Included On Other
Games
Imagine if, come April 27, you run out and buy “Mario
Kart Wii” and, upon throwing it in, it recognizes that you have a
“SSBB” save file and you receive a message that “Baby Mario has joined the
Brawl.” Or the Rainbow Road stage is now playable. I’m well aware this is a long
shot, but it’s still well worth considering.
7. DS Connectivity
This may be a bit of a pipe dream but
the DS/Wii connectivity is an underused feature that could really be used well.
For example, imagine if you were able to play a mini-game to collect stickers
and trophies and then beam them back to your “Smash Bros.” save file and add
them to your collection. It’s just another missed opportunity.
8. Capcom-Inspired 2D Fighting Mode
I’m not saying that “Smash Bros.” needs another game mode. By
the time you’re done unlocking everything there is more than enough. But what if
there was another way to brawl? “Smash Bros.” owes a bit of inspiration from the
“Street Fighter” series, primarily from later titles in
Capcom’s series, with their aerial attacks and full screen super moves. But what
if it harkened back to the days that made “Street Fighter” famous? Imagine a
two-player mode that was in the vein of “Street Fighter II” —
2D fighting on a single plane, finite life bars, and no getting eliminated for
falling off the stage. I know it’s not classic “Smash,” but it would be a whole
new way of playing the game.
9. Online Stats and Rankings
“Smash Bros. Brawl” starts
tracking stats from the second that the console is turned on, so why can’t it
provide some kind of online stats tracking and rankings? There are millions of
people playing this thing online, and we just want to know where we stand. This
is another simple yet vital feature that PS3 and Xbox 360 games have over the
Wii.
10. Create-a-Character
I hoped that player-created
characters could somehow be included in this version of “Smash Bros.” but alas,
it wasn’t meant to be. My Mii has been left to fight elsewhere. Next time
around, the Miis should be an integral part of the game, and you should be
allowed to use them as customizable characters that you can brawl with, both
online and off. Most of the other major fighting franchises have done it, not
necessarily well (”Soul Calibur” I’m looking at you). But at
least they’ve done it. Why can’t “Smash?”
Quite the comprehensive list they've compiled, huh??