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Super Smash Bros. Brawl in competitive play: Difference between revisions
Super Smash Bros. Brawl in competitive play (edit)
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{{ | {{Title|''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' in competitive play}} | ||
{{ArticleIcons|ssbb=y|competitive=y}} | {{ArticleIcons|ssbb=y|competitive=y}} | ||
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==2011-2013: Post-MLG== | ==2011-2013: Post-MLG== | ||
[[File:OCEAN defeats Mew2King APEX2012.jpg|thumb | [[File:OCEAN defeats Mew2King APEX2012.jpg|thumb|300px|OCEAN defeats Mew2King in ''Brawl'' singles]] | ||
Following the MLG era, ''Brawl'' activity largely centered on the scene's grassroots tournaments, particularly [[Apex]]. The advent of streaming groups such as [[CLASH Tournaments]] allowed for high-definition footage of ''Brawl'' sets, featuring high-quality, professional commentary for the first time in ''Smash'' tournaments. The [[Tristate Area]], as the home of Apex and CLASH Tournaments, became the most active and publicized region in the United States, and the unofficial center of the ''Brawl'' community. | Following the MLG era, ''Brawl'' activity largely centered on the scene's grassroots tournaments, particularly [[Apex]]. The advent of streaming groups such as [[CLASH Tournaments]] allowed for high-definition footage of ''Brawl'' sets, featuring high-quality, professional commentary for the first time in ''Smash'' tournaments. The [[Tristate Area]], as the home of Apex and CLASH Tournaments, became the most active and publicized region in the United States, and the unofficial center of the ''Brawl'' community. | ||
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===Game speed=== | ===Game speed=== | ||
The lack of combos, along with lower falling speeds, the removal of [[dash dancing]] and [[wavedashing]], and lower movement options in general, has promoted a more defensive gameplay; protective options have also become much stronger, as [[powershielding]] gained a larger timing window and the [[air dodge]] can now be used without the player becoming [[helpless]]. Since combos are not guaranteed, there is a higher risk and lower reward of [[approach]]ing and initiating an attack than in ''Melee'', and waiting and shielding is often a safer option | The lack of combos, along with lower falling speeds, the removal of [[dash dancing]] and [[wavedashing]], and lower movement options in general, has promoted a more defensive gameplay; protective options have also become much stronger, as [[powershielding]] gained a larger timing window and the [[air dodge]] can now be used without the player becoming [[helpless]]. Since combos are not guaranteed, there is a higher risk and lower reward of [[approach]]ing and initiating an attack than in ''Melee'', and waiting and shielding is often a safer option than aggressively attacking. This has promoted a heavily [[camp]]-based gameplay and has caused the game to become much slower-paced than ''Melee''. Both games traditionally operate under an 8-minute time limit, but it is extremely rare for a 4-stock ''Melee'' match to go to time, while this frequently occurred in 3-stock ''Brawl'' sets. | ||
Such factors influenced players and spectators alike to consider the game boring, harming its competitive scene. In an attempt to improve the game's spectator appeal, some newer tournaments, such as [[Get On My Level 2014]] and [[Glitch 2]], have introduced 1-stock and 2-stock rulesets to speed up gameplay. While generally more positively regarded among spectators, competitive players generally feel that shorter matches hurt the game's competitive depth, making [[self-destruct]]s and other mistakes more punishing and giving players less time to adapt to their opponent during the set. | Such factors influenced players and spectators alike to consider the game boring, harming its competitive scene. In an attempt to improve the game's spectator appeal, some newer tournaments, such as [[Get On My Level 2014]] and [[Glitch 2]], have introduced 1-stock and 2-stock rulesets to speed up gameplay. While generally more positively regarded among spectators, competitive players generally feel that shorter matches hurt the game's competitive depth, making [[self-destruct]]s and other mistakes more punishing and giving players less time to adapt to their opponent during the set. | ||
===Roster balance=== | ===Roster balance=== | ||
The case could be made that all of the games in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series have issues with roster balance, but ''Brawl'' is notorious for having a very poorly balanced cast. Newcomer {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} is one of the few characters in the game with true combos, and his numerous jumps and nearly limitless recovery make him powerful both offensively and defensively. Adding to his oppressive advantages, his frame data is | The case could be made that all of the games in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series have issues with roster balance, but ''Brawl'' is notorious for having a very poorly balanced cast. Newcomer {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} is one of the few characters in the game with true combos, and his numerous jumps and nearly limitless recovery make him powerful both offensively and defensively. Adding to his oppressive advantages, his frame data is unrivaled among the game's roster outside of {{SSBB|Sheik}}, allowing him to pressure and overwhelm slower characters while his disjointed [[range]] and [[transcendent priority]] make him extremely difficult to both approach and punish. Because of his strengths, Meta Knight became the most used character in competitive ''Brawl'' and is almost | ||
universally considered the best character in the game. Multiple Meta Knights finishing in the top places of ''Brawl'' tournaments is common, and some have complained that the omnipresence of Meta Knight and the lack of viable characters has made the game's scene less interesting to watch. | universally considered the best character in the game. Multiple Meta Knights finishing in the top places of ''Brawl'' tournaments is common, and some have complained that the omnipresence of Meta Knight and the lack of viable characters has made the game's scene less interesting to watch. | ||
The {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}' zero-to-death chain grabs have also been criticized for being overpowered, uninteresting to watch, and requiring little skill to use effectively, and many players believe that they are cheap and "ruin" the game, in a similar manner to [[wobbling]] in ''Melee''. Wobbling, however, is not seen as an overpowered tactic, as it is much more difficult for the Ice Climbers to land a grab in the faster-paced, more aggressive ''Melee'', but due to ''Brawl''{{'}}s defensive nature, Ice Climbers players have been able to land grabs with ease. Because of their strength, the Ice Climbers are ranked second on the tier list below Meta Knight. | The {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}' zero-to-death chain grabs have also been criticized for being overpowered, uninteresting to watch, and requiring little skill to use effectively, and many players believe that they are cheap and "ruin" the game, in a similar manner to [[wobbling]] in ''Melee''. Wobbling, however, is not seen as an overpowered tactic, as it is much more difficult for the Ice Climbers to land a grab in the faster-paced, more aggressive ''Melee'', but due to ''Brawl''{{'}}s defensive nature, Ice Climbers players have been able to land grabs with ease. Because of their strength, the Ice Climbers are ranked second on the tier list below Meta Knight. | ||
Due to his perceived brokenness, Meta Knight has been frequently | Due to his perceived brokenness, Meta Knight has been frequently banned from tournament play, especially in regions such as [[Texas]], leading to a greater diversity of characters earning top placings in MK-banned tournaments. The [[Unity Ruleset]] even attempted to implement a Meta Knight ban across the entire United States in early 2012, but this was met with resistance in many areas of the country, most notoriously in the [[Tristate Area]], home to both [[Apex]], the largest ''Brawl'' tournament series, and several of the world's strongest Meta Knight players. As a result of Tristate's opposition to the ruling, the nationwide ban soon collapsed, and after the ban was lifted, tournament organizers were once again free to ban Meta Knight at their discretion; Meta Knight remained legal at Apex, [[SKTAR]], and most other prominent ''Brawl'' tournaments for the rest of its popular competitive life. | ||
Many players have also supported a ban of the Ice Climbers in tournaments as well. While this almost never occurred during ''Brawl''{{'}}s competitive lifetime, it became common following the release of ''Smash 4'', with several of the few ''Brawl'' tournaments still hosted choosing to ban both Meta Knight and the Ice Climbers. | Many players have also supported a ban of the Ice Climbers in tournaments as well. While this almost never occurred during ''Brawl''{{'}}s competitive lifetime, it became common following the release of ''Smash 4'', with several of the few ''Brawl'' tournaments still hosted choosing to ban both Meta Knight and the Ice Climbers. | ||
Conversely, characters such as {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}} and {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} | Conversely, characters such as {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}} and {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}} are severely underpowered in competitive play; Ganondorf held disadvantageous matchups against every single character in the game (although his higher power is more debatable against other lower-tier characters around him), and high-tier staples of ''Melee'' such as Captain Falcon and Jigglypuff went from being some of the best characters in that game to being heavily nerfed in ''Brawl''. | ||
===Other criticisms=== | ===Other criticisms=== | ||