Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- 20 May 2011, Friends Matches #04

Well, take heart, brave viewer! We're already past the halfway point from the final session of brawling that took place last month! Don't let that make you complacent, though, since this final stretch proves to be the most vicious and cutthroat of the bunch, as all players were sufficiently warmed up and ready to direct their violence and comic mischief squarely at those who would seek to destroy them. --- Match #1 -- Battlefield Zelda (Joou) vs. Luigi (Syl) vs. Link (EEL) vs. Ganondorf (GOLD) You know, I could be imagining this and all, but I swear Battlefield is like the single stage I see the least of...which is a shame, because I'd take it over Final Destination any day if the goal was to have a more "fair" stage with no gimmicky interference...if you're into that kind of thing. Final Destination is too flat, meaning projectiles and attacks which follow the ground are made that much more powerful...so, while it's by all means the simpler stage, that doesn't make it the most balanced stage. Battlefield is able to place key emphasis on a smaller horizontal area and a taller vertical area. The only reasonable complaint about Battlefield (and any stage like it, incidentally) is that the two side platforms are incredibly vulnerable to attack from the ground level while offering little in the way of retaliatory measures besides "get off the platform" so that you can mount an offensive of your own. In short, I love Battlefield, comparatively speaking...Battlefield does not love me. Probably because I never think of it, it being unfortunate enough to bear the "gimmickless" stigma of Final Destination, but without the enormous following the other one has. --- Match #2 -- Norfair Captain Falcon (Joou) vs. Ike (Syl) vs. Sonic (EEL) vs. Captain Falcon (GOLD) In a more actual rather than simply relative sense, I love Norfair. And, I mean, the gimmicks are very manageable, and in fact, I find people tend to overreact to them and you are able to either completely concentrate on avoiding them or even capitalize on the panic that has ensued. You'll also see from several of the players at work here that the emergency capsule is totally overrated...and in fact, it's probably more detrimental to your health than that from which you're using it as a means of escape. Anyway, I randomly drew Captain Falcon, and it seems GOLD had designs of his own towards bounty hunting and F-Zero victories. C'mawn! Let's show some moves! ...is what I'd say, but it's quite clear that GOLD has done the appropriate homework and preparation, whereas I'm just playing with fire. --- Match #3 -- Big Blue Link (Joou) vs. Ike (Syl) vs. Bowser (EEL) vs. Ike (GOLD) Actually, I might have to apologize to Battlefield, because while it just gets neglected, I'm almost positive that people are inclined to actively avoid going to Big Blue instead. It's a wonderful stage, actually...I'm hard pressed to imagine a more wonderful and chaotic place to do battle, although I am able to sympathize that maybe one wouldn't want to be subjected to it continuously...and other people would probably hold a grudge for every time they are kicked to the road and swept away. Oh, and is it just me, or is this a selection of some of the characters you'd least want to have at your disposal on a stage like this? Swap an Ike for Ganondorf (neither GOLD nor Syl would particularly object), and we'd have the full assortment of characters who would rather be someplace a little less demanding for the sheer amount of traversal required compared to their somewhat limited aerial prowess.