Character Profiles. (Nintendrone)
Character: MarioStatus: Veteran
Skill Level: Beginner
Brawl Tier Prediction: High
With his familiar red cap, blue overalls and bushy mustache, the world-famous "Mr. Video Game" is about to set foot on the Smash Bros. stage for the third time.
An easy-to-use character, Mario sets the standard for balance.
He overwhelms opponents with magnificent jumping action!
Easily the most famous Smash Bros. character, Mario is going to be much more than iconic beginner-trash this time around. My main character since Smash 64, Mario is easy to work with, and stylish in approach. In Brawl, some notable improvements include a faster fair, better combo ability, and improved edgeguarding technique. His tornado has become his dair, replacing his meteor smash, and has been replaced by FLUDD. FLUDD takes time to charge, and is difficult to control, and so far has posed more of a problem to use than potential to be worth using.
Final Smash: Mario Finale: You know how Mario can shoot little fireballs out of his hand? Well, imagine that, but a storm of it covering the whole screen. It's a tad on the slow side though...
Favorite Move: Dsmash (aka Breakdance): Speedy enough to get you out of a jam, and enough knockback to set you up for some badass shffling.
Best Alternate Costume: Fire Flower Scheme
Character: SonicStatus: Newcomer
Skill Level: Expert
Brawl Tier Prediction: Top
The one whose Smash appearance has been most desired dashes in from far away at supersonic speed.
Sonic the Hedgehog crashes headlong into battle!
Sonic is second only to Mario when it comes to iconic status in this game. The most requested character, his arrival is sure to create a huge buzz and please many fans. Although not very powerful, he is the fastest character in the game. He is hard to control, but it is well worth it. His dash dance is rivaled by no one so far, and his moves are dizzyingly quick. Although it's easy to avoid his neutral B, all of his spin dash moves have a satisfying contact about them. He is easy to combo with, and hard to take down once his momentum gets going. With his high speed and ability to turn entire matches with his final smash (Super Sonic), Sonic is easily a candidate for Top-Tier material when it comes to Brawl.
Final Smash: Super Sonic: Take control of Super Sonic. Just touching people is enough to send them flying! Beware of sensitive controls though...
Favorite Move: UpB (aka Spring Jump): Not only lifts you high, but can leave behind a useable spring for everyone to enjoy. Not only that, but Sonic can still airdodge OR do ANY attack afterward!
Notable: Dark Blue w/Red "Shadow" Scheme
Overall: Good
Character: FoxStatus: Veteran
Skill Level: Expert
Brawl Tier Prediction: High
Fox is just one of many so-called speed characters. His costume has been completely updated, so he’s full of fighting spirit.
Run! Fly! Move boldly! For such moves are the essence of Fox!
Fox represents an entire series: StarFox. Once the top-dog in Melee, he has been nerfed. Regardless of this fact, Fox is still one of the best characters available in the game. He's still quick, and he's still Fox. His waveshine isn't as good, and his laser has a determined distance now, even his Uair isn't as powerful, and STILL, Fox is great. That just goes to show how unbelievable he was in Melee.
Final Smash: Landmaster Tank: Take control of the Landmaster! Complete with barrel rolls. Shoot your laser at a foe for an almost guaranteed knockout. Be careful not to fall off the stage though...
Favorite Move: DownB (aka Reflector): Although not as good as before, the reflector is still a major part of Fox's armada. No pun intended.
Notable Alternate Costumes: "Wolf Tribute" Scheme
Character: Diddy KongStatus: Newcomer
Skill Level: Mid
Brawl Tier Prediction: Mid-High
Donkey Kong’s pal has finally joined the battle! Unfortunately, screenshots fail to truly capture the way he moves.
He scrambles around the battle, using whimsical fighting moves while wielding both his Rocketbarrel Boost and Peanut Pop Gun!
Diddy Kong was one of the most predictable additions to Brawl. He's iconic, and well-rounded. He was another one of the top-requested. One of his traits that is common in all games, is his speed. Brawl is no exception. His running attack is his signature cartwheel from Donkey Kong Country, and his DownB is to leave behind a banana peel! Quite handy. He's also got his peanut gun, which shoots farther and hits harder the more you charge it.No short-hop triple peanut, though, sorry.
Final Smash: Rocketbarrel Blast: Once you get a hang of the controls, this final smash is really good. You fly around and shoot peanuts at people. You can even eat the peanuts to restore health! Once again, be careful of sensitive controls though...
Favorite Move: ForwardB (aka Spider-Monkey): Diddy Kong runs toward the foe, jumps on him, and proceeds to maul his face. No kidding. Ricky Bobby would be proud.
Best Alternate Costume: Pink "Diddy" Scheme
Overall: Not Bad At All
Character: SamusStatus: Veteran
Skill Level: Mid
Brawl Tier Prediction: Mid-High (Due to ZSS)
Her name is Samus Aran. She joins us from the Metroid games.
Look at her Power Suit shine!
Her arm cannon is equipped with a variety of weapons.
Mastering all of them is the first step toward victory.
Ah, Samus. How I love you so. I used Samus a lot in both 64 and Melee, but I was never really fond of her cumberness. Sure, she had the power to make up for it, but I'm more of an instant gratification guy. Samus is a bit bigger in this game, but lighter, as all Brawl characters have proven to be. Her Fsmash is a lot quicker, but her charged shot is a bit weaker. Super missiles(Yes, the ones from Super Metroid), look super badass, but overall they have less knockback than seekers. Not to mention they hit upwards...in fact, most moves did. Anyways, her grapple beam is a lot quicker (good), but a lot shorter (bad). Samus has a lot of recovery potential, with tether recovery, bomb jumping, an improved upB, and the new airdodge. This is a major plus, and so is her improved Bair, which has a good KO ratio. And remember, the vertical knockback may not be a bad thing at all, with such aerial freedom. I can see Samus being really high up on the tiers if we find out how to effectively combo with her.
Final Smash: Zero Laser: Samus charges and fires a humongous charged shot that will send you flying and really rack up damage if you get caught in the midst of it. In fact, its so powerful, that her armor falls off!
Favorite Move: Dsmash (aka Breakdance): I can see this becoming a staple for combos in the future.
Notable Alternate Costumes: Tie between Fusion Suit and Phazon Suit.
Character: Zero Suit SamusStatus: Newcomer
Skill Level: Mid-Expert
Brawl Tier Prediction: Mid-High
When Samus destroys her Power Suit, she’s left with the Zero Suit. What she’s lost in power and weaponry, she makes up for in speed!
Once she turns that Paralyzer in her hand into a whip, she has quite a long reach as well! Not exactly the straightforward fight you thought it was, huh?
Zero Suit Samus is the only exception to the barren field of representation from the Metroid series. One of the earliest announced newcomers, her form and availablity were right in front of our faces, but many refused to believe it until it was confirmed. She reminds me of Shiek in more than one way, and she's quick. I mean really quick. Her whip will beat you back and forth and shes got so much combo potential its ridonkulous. Seems that turning into ZSS isn't so much an unwanted sideaffect as much as its a sought after effect. So far, the only way to play as Zero Suit Samus is to use Samus, and then use her final smash. So what happens when you use ZSS's final smash? Yeah, I've got the answer...
Final Smash: Crystal Flash: ZSS floats in that sort of way that happens in video games when some sort of entity in the sky is either embibing you with powers, or taking something away from you. Or you're sacrificing yourself. You know what I mean...right? Anyways, she gains a protective aura that does some pretty serious damage to anyone who touches it and once the flash is done getting brighter, out comes Samus with her armor back.
Favorite Move: DownB (aka Shiek a la Houdini): ZSS flips up, teleports, and then reappears several feet from where she was before.
Best Alternate Costume: Black Zero Suit Scheme
Overall: Good
