Super Smash Bros Brawl (Nintendo)

It's finally here. After an endless wait and one soul crushing delay, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is finally here and it is everything you wanted it to be and more!

Like little children eagerly awaiting the arrival of Christmas morning, gamers everywhere have been holding their collective breath in anticipation of March 9th, or as we in the office refer to it: "Brawl Day."

Well, your suffering is about to come to an end: soon, you too will come to find out what we already know – Super Smash Bros. Brawl is simply amazing. The list of things it does right is downright mind-blowing: an eclectic roster of fighters; a finely tuned fighting engine; a seemingly endless array of unlockable content; an undeniable sense of charm; and eye-pleasing visuals are just some of the things that Brawl gets right.

Oh, and did we mention that it has online multiplayer? Not only can you battle against your friends, you can take your skills online and challenge gamers all around the world. If you think you can't wait for March 9th to arrive, consider this: we have our copy of Smash Bros. Brawl waiting and we're just itching to hop online.

There are few games that are as loved by gamers as Super Smash Bros. and for a good reason: the series boasts simple yet addictive gameplay, fluid controls, and an unparalleled amount of unlockable content. The newest entry in the vaunted franchise, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, retains all the elements that made the first two titles such classics and expanded upon the established formula in every imaginable way.

Full House

The roster of fighters has always been one of the greatest strengths of the Smash series, and Brawl ups the ante with the biggest and most well-balanced roster to date. Solid Snake is perhaps the most anticipated new comer, and fans will not be disappointed with his performance. Snake is a well-balanced fighter who can stand his ground both in distances, though the use of his remote controlled missile, as well as short range battles, due to the speed of his standard attacks.

Fortunately, the developer put the same measure of refinement into every other character as well. From returning veterans like Mario to newcomers like Sonic, every fighter feels balanced, both in their fighting moves and how they control. Returning characters have also gotten a tune-up, which gives them a new sense of life. On the down side, there are several characters on the roster that felt like clones of each other. The similarities between Fox McCloud and Falco, for example, are so great we had a hard time telling them apart. However, the roster is varied enough that it isn't that big of a deal.

The More The Merrier

The other big attraction present in Brawl is the sheer amount of unlockable content that you can uncover and best of all, every item you unlock actually adds to the overall gameplay experience. The majority of this content comes in the form of assist trophies, Pok?balls, weapons, and items.

The assist trophies- – items that call support characters into battle – add a nice element of strategy and it also gives the sense that the roster of characters is far bigger than it really is. Even though you don't have direct control of them, having Little Mac or a fleet of 8-bit motorcycles from Excite Bike rush out to your aid is a neat twist that adds a lot to the battle. The nostalgia factor for old school gamers will also be high as the assist trophies make many references that they'll be sure to recognise.

Of course, the most powerful item in Brawl comes in the shape of a Smash Ball. This uber-powerup appears randomly and once collected, they allow you to initiate your character's Final Smash; depending on who you're playing as, that'll usually result in a one hit knock-out. Collecting a Smash Ball is not as easy as it sounds, however to obtain one, players must hit the tiny ball as it floats around the screen several times. When four Brawlers are all chasing after a Smash Ball, the chaos and competition that erupts is both exhilarating and hilarious.