Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS is the fourth entry in the storied, all star, crossover mascot fighting series, and the first game in the franchise to hit a handheld. It is also the first game in the series since 2008, when Super Smash Bros. Brawl came out, and it promises a return to the kind of mechanical purity that made Super Smash Bros. Melee so great (and which Brawl compromised in its focus on its party game design).
What I am saying is, it’s got a lot riding on it, so it’s imperative that it do well (especially since it doing poorly might negatively affect the hype for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, which releases later this year). And thankfully, if the critical reception that this game has gotten is anything to go by, Nintendo and Sora seem to have pulled it off- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS appears to be largely excellent.
“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,” gushed Polygon, before they awarded the game a 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,” Destructoid said, before giving the game another 9.
Gamespot loved the game, saying that even when they were literally in pain thanks to the 3DS’s unforgiving ergonomics, they could not stop playing it. “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,” they said, before giving it an 8/10.
As of right now, the game sits at a healthy 86/100 on Metacritic. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more coverage of the game, including our own review, which should go live shortly after the game’s release.