"Even Microsoft, online extraordinaire, didn't account for the overwhelming number of consumers that logged onto Xbox Live during the holidays, thus rendering the service inoperable." So you're admitting that this is a general problem? Then why pick on Brawl? Of course the online play might be slow, because people know that this game is magnificent.

Dude seriously? i think ur playing too much Halo to think that such thing matters when you are playing super smash bros. button mashing? have you ever played any of the other games at all? thats what the whole game is, and it is still one of the best games i've played.. you dont play super smash bros to get a rank online or hear people screamin at you Mr buffa once again... Super Smash Bros. not halo, Super Smah Bros. get that into ur head man this has no compeling arguements whatsoever and such topic should even have existed in the first place... i rate this R for retarded...

You know, I find it very strange that one of the things this man is complaining about is really one of the strenghts of the Smash franchise, and that a bunch of the other ones are gripes about online-superiority idiocy that would really only lead to, in my opinion, an upleasant internet experience within the game. As far as "button mashing" goes, one of the most wonderful things about the Smash games is that they take no time to learn (I.E., you can mash buttons in the beginning and at least sort of hold your own) but that there are always new things to master-- ergo, I've been playing Melee since launch and there are still secret, game-mastering tricks I'm learning for the characters I don't play all that often. It's a great party game because it's such a wonderful balance of easy to pick up and hardcore mastery. As far as his opinions on how the online service should function go, I heartily disagree. I'm extraordinarily glad Nintendo is going the classier route for Smash. I don't want my online experience ruined by a bunch of stupid people screaming in internet-speak over voice chat, nor do I want to hear a bunch of 12-year-olds call me a ***** or whatever else they'd choose to say as a testament to their "maturity" and "hardcore-ness." I view leader boards in a similar light-- they really only foster needless competitiveness and animosity. They're only good for popularity-mongering idiots who can't get any attention in the real world. I'm really quite appalled that this collection of asinine complaints could be considered an "editorial;" this man was probably paid for this, and most of the comments posted freely by AOL members are more intelligent. I'm sorry sir, but how about you play a game before you pass judgement on it? One of my roommates (who is incidentally also the best Smash player I know) has played a bootlegged Japanese copy already and says that it's just as good as Melee and expects that once he gets a chance to really get into the new material, he'll think it's better. Mr. Buffa, don't try to garner popularity for yourself by ignorantly proclaiming you know better than the rest of the worlds' video game reviewers just by making an assumption thatsomething "sucks" because everyone else expects it to be good. Groundless cynicism is not a becoming trait.

Hahaha this post is hilarious! Smash Bros is the farthest thing away from a button masher in the entire fighting genre! In fact, button mashing gets you nowhere and usually jumping around aimlessly and flying off the edge. I would love to play the people who try to button mash in any smash game... it'd be a quick victory for any smash veteran. The connection speeds have been tested over and over again not only by nintendo, but by IGN and others in videos and it is nearly 100% lag-free. Why would I want to voice chat in this game? Frankly, i don't really care, it's too hectic to say anything about anyway. Fox and Falco have the same final smash because... dundunDAH, they're nearly the exact same character! They even do the exact same things in the games. Plus, technically they're not the same as they're different color and can do some different things. Nintendo hasn't shown any of the online except for battles, so there's no way to know if they have a leaderboard or not.

I'm sure this' been said already, but I'm too lazy to read all the comments. In any case, another negative point of not having a ranking system is new players being pitted against guys who've been playing for years. Oh and leaganl, although I completely agree with you, working on your spelling might help convince people that you know what you're talking about. tl;dr No ranks = noobs v. pros

some of you guys need to chill out a little. People are intitled to their opinion, weather you like it or not. I don't think this button mashing thing is particularly true, but I still think it's a good comment to put out. It comes to mind since it's such a simple control scheme (which is what makes it sweet) Now I know SSBM was no button masher. Sure, there were some matches where a not so bad guy can beat a good player because they weren't used to the level or got a foul card with items, but that's what makes the game great. It's so simple, a beginner can immediatly enjoy it AND it gives sporatic chances for even masters to trip up. -though a button masher, no. I don't think that it means you can mash buttons and win too many times. Not at all

I don't think it's a button masher. I mean I TRIED BUTTON MASHING in previous games and my friends still beat me, haha...

i think i'm more upset at how poorly written and badly thought-out this article was.

Sure, SSBB looks like it will have a few weak points, but this article is still dumb, and really should be saved for a full review once its been played.

Hey chris buffa. F*** YOU. You haven't even played the game. Dumbass. OMG. NO LEADER BOARDS. Leader boards just prove you as an idiot who has no life. :| And put a spoiler warning next time. That is, if you have a next time.