Being born the same year as the original Smash Bros came out, I was just a little boy when Smash Bros Brawl was revealed. The excitement leading up to the game's release, particularly online, coincided at the exact same time I first discovered RU-vid. It was an incredibly formative experience during my life, not only introducing me to so many new characters, but bringing an unparalleled mood of excitement for new reveals. The Smash Dojo was, as far as I know, the first game to market itself through the internet in such a major way. I styled my 3rd Grade School Journal like the Smash Bros Dojo, drawing and writing about new characters, stages, and modes that would somehow magically appear, like Spongebob Squarepants or Lego Bionicles. It really felt like anything was possible and made me think creatively like never before. Smash Bros Brawl remains a highly misunderstood game by some people. With Melee being such a monumental leap from 64, it is astounding how much of a leap was then able to be made from Melee to Brawl. Online play, Subspace Emissary, Assist Trophies, My Music, 3rd Party Characters, and creative choices like Lucas, Pokemon Trainer, and ROB are just a few of the many, many, many things that Brawl added to create something bigger than just a game. Especially with additions like Chronicle and Masterpieces, this was now a full celebration of the entire gaming industry. In a generation in which Nintendo was going back to basics in its design philosophy, having something like Super Smash Bros Brawl stood out so much, and it made me and millions of other kids, like Melee and 64 before, completely fall in love with the series.
