Get ready for a smash, bang, punch, kick, whoa-where-the-hell-did-that-come-from?, terrific, graphically advanced fighting extravaganza. [ Yikes, a little overboard there.] Anyway, here's the sequel to that hit game... Super Smash Brothers... remember it? Waaaay back on the N64? Oh, well, it was good. So is this. Only, this is better. See, I never really liked the SSB game for N64. The controls were hard to learn and you needed to be in five places at once. This game is no different. However, the GameCube controller makes this possible. It's so easy to do combos and kick, bam, off-tha-screen moves with the well-designed GCN controller, because everything is right where you need it, within reach. In case you didn't know, the object of this game is essentially to kill the other person. There are a huge variety of Nintendo characters, along with some we haven't seen since the SNES. Here we go.

G R A P H I C S
In one word: "wow." This being one of the earlier games for GCN, the graphics are stunning. They really create a 3D feel to the level you're playing on and the person you are fighting as and against. SSBM uses all of GCN's capabilities, including spectacular lighting effects (i.e. when a certain power-up is used). The sense of movement is portrayed very well and really does give you the sense that you're rocketing away from a platform after another lovable Nintendo character has kicked you in your stomach. Even as there are 4 people running around the screen, tons of lighting effects being used, the graphics do not miss a beat, running along just as fast as you can mash the buttons. The polygon count is amazing - you can't even tell that Mario's head is not made from a perfect circle. And don't forget about the backgrounds. They are equally amazing, some of them even moving too. There are many different layers of textures and colors that you'll find in the backgrounds, and all are put to good use.

G A M E P L A Y
Well, how can you vary from such astounding gameplay already? No, there's not much to the game other than killing people and getting power-ups, but playing one thing for hours on end couldn't be more fun. I mean, what's more fun than hammering your friend off the screen? Not too much I'd say. While what you actually do doesn't vary that much, the levels have a wide variety, from a flying ship to a platform that's hovering over a racetrack. It's really hard to get bored of this.

C O N T R O L
As I said, everything is conveniently placed thanks to the ingenious controller design of the GameCube. If you're kicking someone and someone else comes from behind, you can easily twirl around and do that special move that fits that particular moment so nicely. They've also programmed the right actions to the right buttons. Everything is just what it should be. Even the joysticks are just right. The sensitivity is just about perfect. Only one thing: the c-stick should do something. All I can recall it doing was change the view on the character selection menu. Should?ve done something important in battle. Then again, it would be hard to be slamming the buttons and to be moving the c-stick all over the place. Oh well.

S O U N D
Well, we?ve reached that sad point in the review. Yes, Johnson, I?m saying that the sound is the worst point of the game. That?s not saying that it?s bad, but it?s just worse than the rest of the game. The effects are crisp and right on time, but nothing special. They get the job done. Nothing more.

- I N - B R I E F -
Graphics - 9.4
Gameplay - 9.7
Control - 9.6
Sound - 8.9

Overall - 9.4