Smash Bros. for the Rest of Us

     Being raised on the PlayStation consoles, for most of my life I've dreamed of having a PlayStation equivalent to Super Smash Bros.  And now we have precisely that.  While I was initially sceptical about PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale due to the health/damage system, in which a player's attacks are used to build up a super meter of sorts which is then used to unleash the only moves capable of knocking out opponents, upon further review, I welcome the idea.  One of my main complaints with Smash Bros. was that the percentage system led to players camping to avoid being knocked out.  Since PAS doesn't have health per se, I believe the game will end up being based more around offense, because only then can you build up your meter to unless an attack that can knock out opponents.
     Another issue that I have always had with Smash Bros. is the lack of a combo system.  The attacks never really were able to be chained and most players would simply mash buttons to use the few attacks that each characters was able to perform.  The other day I discovered PAS would solve that problem, introducing a Marvel vs. Capcom-esque combo system into the game, allow for the game to involve more skill and strategy than Smash Bros., as demonstrated in the clip below:

     With both of these elements in place, along with the obvious CHARACTERS THAT I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT BECAUSE I NEVER LIKED NINTENDO, I am optimistic at this point that the final product will be great.  Now just get Crash Bandicoot on the final roster.  Please?

More info after the jump...



     They did announce Jak and Daxter and Cole (from Infamous) at Comic-Con a few days ago, bringing the current roster to 12.  Here's some gameplay from an early build featuring the two newly announced characters along with Sly Cooper and Big Daddy from BioShock.  While it's early footage and still clearly rough around the edges (no music, lack of items, some animation, along with a debug menu even  being shown at one point)  it looks promising so far and I hope it can deliver the dream I, along with what I assume to be many others weaned on the PlayStation brand, have had for years.