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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Super Smash Bros.
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 75 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: HAL Laboratory Inc.
Genre(s): Fighting, Action
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: April 26, 1999
Summary
Can Link beat up Mario? Can Yoshi deck Donkey Kong? Can Kirby punch out Pikachu? These and other age-old questions can finally be answered, because the first-ever tournament fighter boasting an all-star cast of Nintendo heroes (and one heroine) has hit store shelves with the impact of a Fox McCloud roundhouse. Crossing multiple universes and alternate dimensions, the most popular of Nintendo's characters grace this bare-knuckle Pak. The 12 superstars are Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox McCloud, Jigglypuff, Ness, Captain Falcon and Pikachu. This awesome lineup answers long-debated questions of the characters' comparative strengths, and the idea of a battle between Donkey Kong and Pikachu is downright hilarious. Each character has a specific 3D fighting arena, with power-ups and obstacles scattered throughout the areas. Two to four players can fight simultaneously on the same screen, or one player can battle through the tournament ladder to reach a secret boss at the summit. [Nintendo]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Super Smash Bros. Melee
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Gaming Maxx
A multi-player hit. Believe me people, you and your friends will spend hours on end battling it out to the very end. Whether it's 2 on 2 or if you think you're a badass 3 on 1.
Read Full Review >Nintendophiles
A highly addictive and satisfying game. Super Smash Bros. is a classic game for the Nintendo 64. If you haven't played it or its successor, and there certainly aren't many of you kinds of people, what are you waiting for? Do it!
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Grab three friends, then get ready for the best in multiplayer mayhem. [Jan 2004, p.189]
Nintendojo
Fast paced and accessible to everyone. Nintendo of America were mad to consider not releasing this game in the US. Any doubts about it's quality should be cast out of your mind. It's fun, addictive and it's got a superb multi-player mode.
Read Full Review >IGN
Imagine a hybrid of Mario Bros. and Street Fighter. The outcome is a refreshing multiplayer battle game that won't fix the gaping hole in the N64 fighting game lineup, but delivers a ton of fun and heavy dose of nostalgia.
Read Full Review >Hot Games
Simple, easy to pick up, but most importantly-fun. It's not a Tekken, but it is fun and has a long life through the insanely great four player mode. And who can resist beating up Pikachu?
Read Full Review >Game Critics
It'll never be confused with "Street Fighter" or "Tekken," but then again it was never meant to. Nevertheless, it’s the most original fighting game on the market and possibly the best multiplayer game on any system.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
Simple, intuitive, and very easy to pick up on! If you liked the multiplayer interaction of Mario Party, are eager to see classic Nintendo characters beat each other senseless, or are starved for a fighting game, then this is the one for you!
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Considering the state of fighting games for the N64, Super Smash Brothers is actually high in its class. While the single player mode gets tiresome, it's a fun multi-player game and is worth a look.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Easy enough for anyone to pick up, yet it has enough multiplayer appeal to stay interesting for a good long time. So, if you've got a crew of friends ready to pick a Nintendo character and throw down, then Super Smash Bros. is definitely worth a purchase.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
Low-grade crap pretending to be a Nintendo star-studded event. Even though it appears to be a culmination of many fantastic Nintendo games, it simply isn’t even close to resembling anything remotely good.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 75 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Max G gave it a10:
While the single player mode is lacking, that is not why you purchase this game; it would be akin to criticizing Sonic the Hedgehog for having weak puzzles. The game is a party title, plain and simple, meant to be played with a room as packed as possible. And in that environment, the environment for which it was truly made, Smash Bros excels.
Sam K gave it a9:
you would have to be an idiot to give this game a bad review there's no denying that there's evident entertainment value.
Phil da Skill gave it a10:
One of the greatest multi-player fighting games of all time. The simplicity is beautiful while the mastery is difficult. Wherever I go I still find many communities playing this game.
Matt H. gave it a10:
I just saw that this game got a relatively low critic rating while looking for SSBB ratings. Unbelievable. I can't even estimate how many hours (days) I spent playing this game. The bad reviews stemmed from complaints about single player issues - it's not made to be a single player game. If you have at least one friend, this game is fantastic. I still have my N64 hooked up specifically for SSB.
Axewhipe S. gave it a10:
One of the best N64 games. Great game you can play forever with friends or by yourself, This game started the Smash franchise that it is today & the original is great.
Markus E. gave it a0:
Gets old pretty quickly, and single player mode is shallow and uninspired. Limited selection of characters, modes, and stages.
Solomon R. gave it a10:
Still good, still entertaning, still brilliant! thats all.
