Tuesday 12 February 2008

game log: super smash bros melee (adventure mode)

I already have a game log for Super Smash bros Melee, but for this unit I should really go into a little more detail on a specific aspect of it: the adventure mode. I've already explained how good the fighting is: at first glance simple yet packed with hidden depth. But how does the adventure mode's 2d side scrolling platforming work?
Quite well, actually. Due to the nature of the game, it has been made largely easy, considering slower characters will have a harder time navigating the levels. Also, enemies can be dispatched either by jumping on their heads classic mario style or by attacking them with techniques, which makes them a small challenge; however, the platforming sections are broken up by encounters with enemy playable characters, who pose a much bigger threat.
The levels are also reasonably varied, with a simple left to right mario-themed stage, a labyrinthine zelda stage with a randomly spawning exit, and a rising ice climbers mountain. I'm aiming to make my game very similar to this, so it is certainly one of the more useful games I looked at.
That's not to say it works perfectly. Ways to improve it would be to add in more challenging regular enemies, for example the hammer bros from mario would have fit in perfectly, or adding more hazards into the levels. Of course, the sequel Super Smash bros Brawl is soon to be released with an apparently much-improved adventure mode, so whether these flaws have been addressed is a question that will be answered very soon.

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