The latest Smash Bros. game is one of the most anticipated games in a while, and judging by its massive sales the Wii's most anticipated game ever. Does it live up to the hype?

One among the many expansions to the series is the addition of a story mode, the Subspace Emissary. Some evil force from outer space has arrived on earth and is turning our favorite videogame mascots into immobile trophies. A number of staple villains such as Bowser and King Dedede have enlisted in this effort. There has been only extreme reaction to this; people either love the fan service or hate the non-story.

I myself am indifferent; it simply frames the game play with pretty cut scenes. This mode has fighting, platforming, brawling, and puzzle elements. It is balanced between those elements but the majority of the game is a beat 'em up side-scroller.
There is a bevy of other game modes, but I am not going to get much into most of them.
The mode you will probably be spending most of your time in is the Multiplayer Brawl mode. This is the mode were up to four friends can battle on the couch to see who can reign supreme. Alternatively, you can take on three computer players by yourself to practice your skills.

The multiplayer delivers the same chaotic, fast-paced fun it always has. The beauty of the Smash Bros. series is that novices can pick up and play the game right away but more hardcore gamers can perfect their skills. Moreover, both can play each other at the same time and have fun. Since my brother first got the game, we have played each other about once a week in marathon sessions. My young niece and nephew have also played it a few times and loved it, despite not being able to pull of all the moves.

Brawl also moves the multiplayer online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. I have tried it out to mixed results. I have no game friends currently, so I always choose the "Play with Anyone" mode. Every time I have connected it has taken over a minute to load up a match and sometimes up to five. About half the matches I have played have been so laggy that they were unplayable. There are no names associated with anyone you are playing and no voice chat so the whole thing feels very anonymous. It is a far cry from the immersive experience of Xbox Live. I hope that Nintendo will vastly improve on this system in time for Mario Kart Wii.