While the Wii has seen the release of new Zelda and Mario titles in the year and a half since its release, maybe the most anticipated title among the Nintendo faithful has been Super Smash Bros. Brawl. You need look no further than the GameCube sales charts as evidence of this, as Super Smash Bros. Melee is the GCN's best selling title by far, with over seven million units sold worldwide.

After a couple of delays, Super Smash Bros. Brawl has finally released in the U.S. and Japan. The game hasn't disappointed either from a critical or commercial standpoint, having received nigh universal praise and setting sales records. Super Smash Bros. Brawl's appeal to both core and casual gamers is a unique one that has not been fully captured in any other title.

We caught up with Denise Kaigler, VP Corporate Affairs for Nintendo of America, and talked about why this Nintendo mascot free-for-all prints money.

It's like playing a coins match there's so much money!
According to the NPD, Super Smash Bros. Brawl was by far the best selling game overall for the March period. The Wii title sold a staggering 2.7 million copies during the month. Combined with the game's great results from Japan, Super Smash Bros. Brawl may end up outdoing its predecessor Super Smash Bros. Melee, which was the GameCube's best-selling title.

"We knew Super Smash Bros. Brawl would do very well and its momentum is a testament to the tremendous talent from all over the world who worked on the project and the unique capabilities available only on Wii," said Kaigler.

"After just one week on store shelves, Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii has become the fastest-selling video game in Nintendo of America's history, including more than 874,000 on launch day alone and demand for the game continues," she continued. "Super Smash Bros. Melee sold 3.8 million in its lifespan [in the U.S.], so we'll have to see [if Super Smash Bros. Brawl eventually outsells it]."

Take that, Ice Climbers!
From a pure "fan service" perspective, it's really hard to trump Super Smash Bros. Brawl. After all, Nintendo fans (and fanboys) have a deep seated affection for Nintendo's pantheon of characters, from the famous (Link, Mario) to the obscure (Lucas, Meta-Knight). Whether you're an obsessed Internet forum poster or simply a nostalgic fan, Super Smash Bros. Brawl has enough content to make most players think wistfully of days gone by.

"First, there are numerous characters who typically would never appear together," describes Kaigler. "Some people might be fans of Mario, while others like The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon or Kirby. But in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, all those characters come together in one place. Some of these characters have been involved in fun, wholesome entertainment experiences for more than 25 years. Nostalgia certainly plays a part. Kids today love these characters, but people in their 20s, 30s and 40s grew up playing classic games with many of the same characters. Plus our game designers put a lot of work and love into creating fun and unique personalities."

Mario gives Link a taste of his fireball

Of course, nostalgia would only be able to carry the Smash Bros. series so far if the gameplay did not hold up. One of the universal appeals of the Super Smash Bros. series is the control scheme, which utilizes only a few buttons and control stick movements to perform moves. This set-up, which is universal to all characters, can be contrasted with the specific and complex controls of most fighting games and gives casual gamers a chance to pick up the mechanics while hardcore gamers tool around with the game's intricacies.

"The extensive new single-player mode is perfect for solo brawlers who want to hone their skills," commented Kaigler. "And, of course, there's the series hallmark: elaborate, action-packed battles that pit up to four players against one another in a brawl to see who's the last one standing. Still, another factor is certainly the fun of battling with your friends and family. The action is so frantic that the game has that 'one more round' feel that keeps people coming back for more."

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