Metareview: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

We handed Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS four and half stars, calling it "the most feature-complete, compelling Super Smash Bros. entry to date," and setting it right alongside Fire Emblem: Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as a game that every 3DS owner should play.

Critics around the web seem to agree that Super Smash Bros.' first outing on 3DS is worthy of high praise, though experiences with online play seem to vary across the board. Our own experience was fairly positive, depending largely on the geographical proximity of opponents. One critic notes lag issues in local multiplayer, especially in 4-player matches.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS launches in North America on October 3.

• Polygon (9/10) - "But the fourth Super Smash Bros. is more than just brawling; a lot more, in fact. I've spent far more time collecting loot, doing Classic mode playthroughs, participating in Smash Runs and pushing my high scores in various minigames than I have actually fighting other people."

• Destructoid (9/10) - "I've grown attached to a number of newcomers, I've played more online matches than I ever did with Brawl, and I'll be tackling all of the single-player content for weeks on end."

• IGN (8.8/10) - "Smash 3DS is impressive and, for the most part, feels right at home on 3DS. The multitude of ways to play and awesome customization gave me many reasons to keep fighting - and I've been at it for more than 45 hours already."

• GameSpot (8/10) - "I found so much raw joy in my time with Super Smash Bros. 3DS. And even though I played to the point where I was literally in pain, I didn't have to keep playing Smash Bros. 3DS. I wanted to."

• GamesRadar (3/5) - "Knowing just how bad the local multiplayer can get, the value proposition here just doesn't add up. Smash Bros. on consoles (like, say, the upcoming Wii U version) requires one copy of the game and four controllers for flawless multiplayer fun. Smash Bros. for 3DS requires four copies of the game and four individual systems to create an inconsistent, and therefore far less fun, experience."