I recently had an argument with an online user(s) (personal information disclosed) over the topic of Super Smash Brawl’s online multiplayer. Apparently I was in full disagreement that it’s the greatest component ever made as I believe that isn’t even remotely true. As this online user sits with much anguish thought (I hope), let me share with you my opinion on the matter.

First or foremost, from what we’ve heard I don’t like the online component at all. I’ve really never been pleased in Nintendo’s decision to add that functionality to some games as it’s reputation proves to be a underwhelming experience for some of us (except for EA Nation which is made by a third party) and this continues to prove my point. The matter of fact is that upon the release of Super Smash Brawl, players will find themselves in a rut when they realize how broken the entire component is.

To get this off my chest early on, I don’t mind playing against my buddies. I’ve already enlisted some good friends of mine into accepting a series of challenges which can take upwards of five hours to complete (that is how addicting I am). The problem I’m bogged down by is the random-match generator we’ve come to know and dislike. Annoying and quite unnecessary information is the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection cannot be in comparison with Xbox Live though the latter is the better of the two. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t exactly hate Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, as battling in Pokemon: Diamond & Pearl is insanely addicting since voice chat functionality is introduced. Super Smash Brawl in particular just disappoints me in almost every single way when the online component is mentioned about. Lets see…

• No voice chat or communication options
• Lag will be inevitable and possibly consistent (Sakurai) mentioned it himself)
• Cannot view the opponents name during battle
• Pre-determine messages in place for communication (friends only)
• No leader boards to track down overall stats

Because of this, I made the argument that fighting a player online won’t differenciate much from battling a computerized bot offline. Let’s contemplate this for a minute: You face another player, you cannot talk to him (only taunt), his name isn’t displayed and battle records aren’t saved into some form of history or leader board. Skill level is entirely subjective and that doesn’t pertain only to people as computerized bots on level nine can stir up quite a challenge. So the real enjoyment of competing against people is against friends in which names are displayed and invites can be sent to other buddies to get in the same match up. Of course everyone would want to get a speaker phone or Skype real close in order to communicate.

All in all, Super Smash Brawl may have an online component, but it can only be enjoyed with friends or with people who are deaf, blind and mute (catch the metaphor please). Yes I am ridiculing this game in particular just because it’s possibly one of the greatest fighting experience to ever hit home consoles and this major fault is more than an insignificant gripe. But since the game has been delayed to February 2008 (for North America), I pray for hope that within the two months, some issues concerning the online would be fixed or proved upon. Perhaps that is quite too much to ask for a two month span of time for Nintendo.

Ignorance is bliss.