The newest entries in the long-running fighting franchise, Super Smash Bros., are here! It’s an exciting time for owners of both the Wii U and 3DS, since no Nintendo fan will want to be without the fan-favorite game.
The simply titled Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. For Wii U are two different games, but they share many similarities. We’ve already looked at the 3DS version, but now it’s time to see what makes them different. If you aren’t sure which one to buy, read on!
Aside from characters, stages are probably the coolest new content in a Smash Bros. release. Of course, there’s no shortage of new places to take your battles in both versions. Between the two, the only shared stages are Battlefield, Final Destination, Boxing Ring, Gaur Plains, and Wily Castle. The Wii U version has 47 total stages, while the portable 3DS features 34.
Not all stages are new. Each game features a mix of fresh venues and some from older games. If stages are of the utmost importance to you, you might be drawn to one version or the other; check out the full list if you’re interested.
In addition to the regular stages, the Wii U also allows players to create their own playing fields from scratch. This feature was also in Brawl, but not nearly as fleshed-out. The Wii U’s Gamepad makes editing much more enjoyable due to its touch screen, and the editor is more powerful overall, too.
If you’re a creative type, some players have even been recreating their favorite stages from past games.
Both versions include a few modes that you won’t find on the other system. On the 3DS, you can play Smash Run. In this mode, up to four players have to work their way around a maze-like board for five minutes, collecting power-ups in preparation for a final showdown. This could be a normal battle, a race to climb a stage, or a crazy match where everyone starts with high damage.
The other exclusive mode on the 3DS is Street Smash, which takes advantage of the social StreetPass feature of the 3DS. It plays more like a Mario Party minigame than a Smash battle; as such, it’s little more than a distraction.
On the Wii U side, you’ll be able to play Smash Tour, a complement to Smash Run. It, too, is like Mario Party, where you move your players around a board and try to collect upgrades for a final fight. It’s probably not the mode most will spend their time in, but it’s a cool aside.
The Wii U also sees the return of Event Matches, which were present in Melee and Brawl but are missing from the 3DS edition. This is probably one of the best single-player modes, as it features funny and creative situations from all around the Nintendo universe. With multiple levels of difficulty for each challenge and extra challenges for branching paths, even veterans will have to work hard at these.
The Wii U’s other special mode is Special Orders, where you take on a series of random challenges from Master Hand or Crazy Hand.
Smash Bros. is a party game at heart, and 4-player mayhem is a staple of the franchise. However, the Wii U version decided to step this up and includes a specific mode for 8 players to join the brawl all at once. It’s only available on larger stages, and is bound to get so crazy it might deter some, but if you’ve got a crowd waiting to play, it’s perfect!
With so many players, you’ll need lots of controllers. Luckily, Smash Wii U supports many types, including the GamePad, Wii Remote (with optional Nunchuk), the Wii U Pro Controller, a GameCube controller, or even a 3DS. Some are more precise than others, obviously, and the ability to play off-TV with the GamePad is another plus.
On the 3DS version, you’ll all have to link up with your own copy of the game to play local multiplayer.
There are some splits in the versions that won’t make headlines like the above, but are worth noting. Classic Mode is present in each title, but while the 3DS edition lets you choose your difficulty and path, the Wii U Smash tweaks the gameplay based on how you’re doing. Both feature a vast library of awesome music, but the Wii U features more and allows you to choose how often you want to hear each track on a given stage.
The Wii U version includes a Photo Mode for all of your wacky picture-taking needs, as well as the Special Smash mode from Brawl, where you can make every contender metal, huge, fast, or some combination thereof. Of course, it also can’t be forgotten that the 3DS edition plays in 3D, and the Wii U version displays in glorious high-definition.
Smash Bros. on 3DS and Smash on Wii U have their differences, but in the end they’re both awesome games in their own right. Of course, the experience had to be shrunk down to fit on a handheld, so you don’t get quite the wealth of content on the 3DS, but it still does a fine job of upholding the Smash name. There’s plenty that’s the same, too — the character rosters are identical, both allow you to collect trophies and customize fighters, and Stadium modes like Home Run Contest are present on both platforms.
The Wii U version is the definitive edition, but if you don’t have a Wii U or want Smash on the go, grabbing Smash Bros. For 3DS is great, too. Wherever you’ll be able to enjoy the game the most is the right choice for you!
Not ready to jump into next-gen Smash yet? Check out Project M, a fan-made tweak of Brawl perfect for competitive players with an original Wii.
Which version of Smash will you get? What’s your favorite new feature? Hit the pause button for a moment and leave a comment!
