Smash 3DS Do you think we've grown up? Is that why the 3ds version feels so lackluster?

[NinjaWaddleDee]

Back in the days of melee, when I was in first grade, I could replay all of it's single player modes non-stop. I always took my time with the game, and made up my own little adventures as I played. Those were some of the best times of my childhood. Then, when I was in 6th grade, Brawl came out. I was happy for the SSE mode, because it gave me a more direct and structured experience. It gave me something to work for that wasn't replaying classic mode, all-star mode, etc millions of times. Although at that age, I still enjoyed playing the other single player modes.

Then Smash 3ds came out. I'm a freshman in college. Since Brawl, we've seen hundreds of industry-changing games release. Games with epic stories, genre changing gameplay, etc. And yes, many of these games were also from Nintendo. Over these past (almost 7 years.) I've went back to Smash Bros. every so often. It was always waiting for me when I wanted to go back for some multiplayer fun. However, I could count the times on my hand, that I went back to the game for it's single player modes. Not until the announcement of Smash 4, did I go back to it's singleplayer a couple of times.

And that's the thing, my attention span/imagination has gotten shorter as I've aged. I have more priorities now. As an adult, I don't feel like grinding through classic, allstar, and adventure mode (or whatever it's going to be) 50 times with different characters. It's just not fun for me anymore. Once or twice, or even to unlock characters is fine. In fact, unlocking characters and stages actually is a GOOD thing about singleplayer modes. Unfortunately though, there wasn't much to unlock in this iteration of smash.

I always come back to multiplayer though. That's why the Wii U version NEEDS a more stable online environment. When my friends can't come over, I still want to play with humans, but with no lag. That's what makes smash fun for me as an adult, the unpredictability of human players. It's the same reason why I don't go back to play the grand prix in MK8. I'd rather play online against human players.

So, anyone else feel like their "growing up" is what makes the 3ds version feel lackluster? Because if you think about it, this game has pretty much the same amount of content as melee, and we enjoyed the heck out of that game's singleplayer modes back in the early 2000's. But now, I see a lot of threads about people feeling "burnt out" on the game.

 

[Lichi]

Nope. No Smash could entertain me for years with the single player game modes. It was always about gathering friends around one TV and getting to play against real players you had real connections with. Try playing Smash 4 while sitting in the same room as your friends and it'll be just as entertaining (at least it is to me). The problem here is, that I could easily gather 2-3 friends back in 2000 - 2009. Let's be honest, as long as you are in school, you have a ****load of freetime and nothing to do with it. You do not need to do your homework - you'll improvise a few lines during the breaks in school. You do not need to study for exams - you just go in and get your grade that does not matter as long as it lets you progress further. You do not need to work (at least not daily), and gaming is not an expensive hobby if done right. Pick up used copies of games or smth.
So you can just gather your friends who are as bored as you are and get them to play. Playing with friends makes every game worth your time, even the low quality ones. So you continue doing just that.
Today, I can not get 3 friends to join me playing Smash at my place everytime I want to. I have to work, I have to study, heck, some days I am even too tired to do anything after work. Same for them. So we meet up for Smash like... every other month or so. In the meantime, we can play online. Anonymous online gaming gets you bored pretty fast though. There is no smack talk, no laughing and making jokes, no off-topic chatting. And to top that off, you got either "For Fun", which translates to "By Random", and "For Glory", which means "No variation". Have fun playing people on omega-stages over and over and over without having any real contact to the guys you're playing.

TL;DR - I and everyone around me has less time to enjoy the game with you in person. Online gaming is dominant, but poorly executed in this game in particular. That's why the hype got de-hyped in a matter of weeks. Imho.

 

[wingo]

No, I got a neighbor who is 10 and hates the game because it is bad. The game feels lackluster because it is lackluster.

 

[Kikaioh]

Maybe the problem isn't so much that you've grown up, but that this is the third iteration in a series of games that you've already played a lot, and it's no longer fresh and different for you. The older I've gotten the less interesting things seem to have become, because after a long time of repetition or slight variation the excitement of experiencing something brand new that you've never seen before is gone. Just as a comparison, I started Smash on the N64, and started getting burnt out around when Brawl released, so there's a sort of parallel there with your experience.

But I'm enjoying Smash 4 a lot. I like being able to practice in all of the different modes, and the online is definitely a huge improvement over the Wii version, and of course no tripping. The characters are also a lot more balanced, so the likelihood of a character ban is a lot less, so I don't feel as worried as much.

 

[StarBot]

No, I got a neighbor who is 10 and hates the game because it is bad. The game feels lackluster because it is lackluster.

That isn't a good reason to hate a game.

Did your neighbor gives any more reason?

 

[wingo]

That isn't a good reason to hate a game.

Did your neighbor gives any more reason?

She hates the roster, the jumping and the new ledge system.

 

[StarBot]

She hates the roster, the jumping and the new ledge system.

Ledge System?
She's pretty smart to understand that.

Also, she most likely never seen or heard some of the fighters.

 

[KingTeo]

Big reason it might feel lackluster is because it's on a handheld.

 

[Ampetrix]

Maybe the problem isn't so much that you've grown up, but that this is the third iteration in a series of games that you've already played a lot, and it's no longer fresh and different for you. The older I've gotten the less interesting things seem to have become, because after a long time of repetition or slight variation the excitement of experiencing something brand new that you've never seen before is gone. Just as a comparison, I started Smash on the N64, and started getting burnt out around when Brawl released, so there's a sort of parallel there with your experience.

But I'm enjoying Smash 4 a lot. I like being able to practice in all of the different modes, and the online is definitely a huge improvement over the Wii version, and of course no tripping. The characters are also a lot more balanced, so the likelihood of a character ban is a lot less, so I don't feel as worried as much.

This. I feel so glad now that I rarely played brawl since I just hang out with a friend who has a Wii back then. This feeling is also similar to Animal Crossing too, or any high-replay game in particular. Well, that's just me.

The thing is, I'm not even bothered to complete the challenges(although I'm 2/3, is that good enough), not bothered to get the custom moves, the equipment, the trophies, or whatever. I guess I let the game take its pace so I wouldn't get bored easily, OR it is not interesting enough. Maybe I am not that "completionist" type of person.

 

[JKarmageddon]

I completely adore the game, and im a senior in college. I stopped playing Brawl heavily after a week, but I just love having smash everywhere. I've got plenty of friends who play online as well, and this batch of newcomers is my favorite in the series.

It comes down to personal preference.

 

[Jrec]

New here, just wanted to say I don't think there is anything wrong with the 3DS version. I am pretty new to smash. I played 64, Melee, and Brawl some with my brothers & friends but was always terrible. So while I enjoyed the games it was mostly because of the people I played with, if not for that I probably would have never played. Now this time around, I'm trying really hard to get better. I don't have as much time as I used to either, but I think it may be something about the 3DS making the game so accessible, the awesome roster, the online play, and probably some nostalgia that is making the game stick with me and i'm having a blast. My point is.. I think the 3DS version of Smash is great for what it is. There are some things that aren't perfect (no smash run online, FG needs more stages) but it's still Smash on a portable and the majority of the experience is there. I do think if I had played 64, melee, and brawl to death, this version would leave something to be desired. That is true with any game though. I loved COD back in the WaW, MW2 days and then I slowly lost interest, but people picking it up now enjoy it all the same as it is their first experience with it. Cause while they can add new characters & features to a new game, the core gameplay stays the same and i'm sure to some people it gets old after a while.

 

[K-45]

It might be a mixture of both as u are growing up u have less free time aND more things to do with the limeted free time you have. Also the impact of the games kind of died down especially with the roster. Not saying this is a bad roster but the only characters I was really hyped to play as was megaman and Robin, But nothing feels as hyped as sonic.

If u are like most fans and have 200+ hours in almost every game the mechanics get repetitive after awhile.

Edit: doesn't matter how old u are anyone can enjoy smash.

 

[wingo]

Ledge System?
She's pretty smart to understand that.

Also, she most likely never seen or heard some of the fighters.

She knows more about the characters than I do.

 

[CroonerMike]

I actually agree with you on this. While I love the 3DS version, I only play it when I have time and even then it's more of just keeping me busy. I do feel a somewhat lack luster, but I feel the Wii U version will be much better.

 

[Spinosaurus]

I think it's really just you having higher standards, which I guess might be the result of you growing up.

The game is very barebones, though.

 

[Aunt Jemima]

To be completely honest, the 3DS version is lackluster in content. Hardware limitations make it seem... not like a Smash Bros. game. I feel the same way, but I know that the Wii U version will fix it.

 

[ZombieBran]

Nothing new. Smash has always been a mediocre single player game. It's just super noticeable now because this is a handheld.

Even SSE was dull once you get past the novelty. The CPU AI is awful on every level but 9. At 9 its still awful except now they have frame perfect reactions. It doesn't make them much less easy, it only makes them more tedious to fight. And it will give you bad habits.

Smash is really only great with friends or actual humans. This is true for most fighters. Online is okay, though I do not enjoy the severe lag (even with great connections) or lack of options.

 

[Cammed Z28]

No.

I'm 26 and enjoyed.SSB64, Melee, Brawl, and now 4. That is 15 years of Smash and still love them all (yes even Brawl, for its.own reasons)

 

[Spinosaurus]

Subspace Emissary was poorly designed through and through. A Kirby game without the actual good stuff.

Brawl was pretty light in single player content, too.

 

[Reila]

I was a grown up when Brawl was released and it didn't feel lackluster to me, so no. The game is lackluster because they didn't bother filling it with content.

The Wii U version will clearly be different, fortunately.

To be completely honest, the 3DS version is lackluster in content. Hardware limitations make it seem... not like a Smash Bros. game. I feel the same way, but I know that the Wii U version will fix it.

So... Smash 64 and Melee aren't Smash games? Because those games were made for weaker hardwares compared to the 3DS (Gamecube was weaker in certain aspects, but more powerful in others, to be accurate). I do agree with the lack of content in the game, but it has nothing to do with hardware limitations. It was Sora Ltd/Nintendo/Sakurai's choice to make the game this way, probably to give people more reason to buy the console version (...it worked with me, at least )

 

[Shadic]

Subspace Emissary was poorly designed through and through. A Kirby game without the actual good stuff.

Brawl was pretty light in single player content, too.

At least it had a real single-player campaign. And a real target-test (kind of).
Also your avatar is neat and I used to use a recolored one elsewhere like ten years ago.

But yeah, considering that the 3DS version was supposed to be catered towards a single-player experience, it's extremely lackluster. All of the mini-game features are basically just free mobile game apps, Smash Run is a shallow gimmick, and there's nothing even on the scale of Melee's Adventure Mode. Combine that with the 3DS's controls, and it's a fairly disappointing experience.

Hopefully the WiiU version really does have some neat features, and isn't similarly barebones.