Happy Birthday Brawl!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the latest in the legendary zany action fighting franchise celebrates its first birthday today.‚  Make a wish, blow out the candles, give it a pinch to grow an inch, and observe a moment of silence for all those foreheads that were undoubtedly face-palmed in dismay from the many release delays that plagued gamer’s psyches everywhere.

If you were like me, in the months leading up to Brawls release, would check the Dojo multiple times a day in thirst of any nugget of information large or small.‚  Brawl is brimming full with characters, items, stages, and game-play modes and the Dojo did a painfully excellent job at teasing me and the rest of Brawl nation.‚  The Wii forums were abuzz with giddy fanboyistic excitement with every new sliver of information unveiled even if it was an image of a slippery banana rendered in high def quality.

Brawl was the title so many Wii owners were so hotly anticipating.‚  Officially announced at a pre-E3 event in 2005 by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, Brawl had a tough act to follow in the chart-topping Melee, but Sora Ltd., the developers of Brawl knew they could build the best Smash Bros. game to date.‚  Nearly 8.5 million copies later and a growing global renown for the genre, Brawl succeeded both monetarily and as a cultural phenomenon sucking in more and more with this new and exciting release.

What is it about Brawl that makes it so appealing?‚  On its face Brawl is a bunch of funny looking characters smacking each other around with a plethora of weaponry ranging from the annoying red shell, to the ultimately powerful smash ball. ‚ ‚ I believe the lasting appeal with Brawl is that it creates an environment for gamers of all ages and abilities to enjoy.‚  Whether that be duking it out in a hardcore winner-take-all fashion or sitting back and putting all items on high to have the craziest brawl imaginable.

Many gamers were excited about the inclusion of online play with Brawl, and I must say, I was too, but these hopes were crushed in my first lag-filled, time-limited match.‚  Finally, so many gamers could settle those scores, originating from forum flame wars, over the internet with their friend code and wireless connection.‚  Well I guess they still can, but Nintendo’s stance on multiplayer gameplay has always preferred the local to the vast and unknown internet space.

I have spent hours and hours and hours playing Brawl and 95% of the time is spent with Wavebird in hand, room filled with friends, soft insults flying, with the result being a great time to be had by all.‚  The harrowing excitement when a smash ball drops is like nothing else, I “zee-rok” my way to the sphere as fast as I can in hopes of slaying an enemy with my mighty finishing move.‚  After a match when three heads are hung and one is smiling, the determination and will to avenge the loss is lingering in the air, with the only remedy being a rematch.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the epitome of Nintendo’s pursuit of perfection in quality and lasting appeal.‚  ‚ Brawl feels fresh every time I play it.‚  Some of my fondest memories of gaming revolve around the series of titles.‚  Rooms filled with friends, enjoying the pure, non-violent (okay it is violent, but it’s no Gears of War) experience, it’s something that will stay with me forever.

What can we expect as Brawl’s successor? According to Kotaku.com, Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Nintendo character Kirby and designer of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, is creating a new title for Nintendo.‚  The project is currently titled Project Sora.

About this project the new company is working on, Satoru Iwata assured that it’s not another Smash Bros. game, saying, “It’s not Smash Bros. I asked for.” Sakurai added, “I can promise an experience that’s different from anything [you’ve played] up until now.”

In this world of sequels I welcome a new IP, and especially due to Sakuri’s involvement. I can’t even imagine what he is planning, let the hype begin.

If you’re reading this after a hard day of work at the local grind, or after suffering through an excessively boring astronomy lecture in school, ease some of that pain away by commemorating Brawl’s birthday and getting the group together for a session of some wholesome Nintendo animated violence, its healthy, I promise.

For more information on Sakuri’s new game check out the official Project Sora website here.‚  I just hope you brought your Japanese translator.

Delectable images in the gallery to draw you back!

Blast wants to hear from Y-O-U.‚  Are you still enjoying Brawl? If so who is your favorite character and why?