3 important things to know about Super Smash Bros.

VGW's Will Harrison: Saying that Super Smash Bros. is a crucial release for Nintendo in 2014 may be an understatement. With fan service, a wonderful multiplayer component, and the ability to push Wii-U hardware sales past their recent slump, SSB could very well be the most important release of a first-party game that consumers have ever seen.

Here are three things that stand out after this past week's Nintendo Direct video event on Super Smash Bros.

[LOL_WUT]

Its nice that Nintendo is looking into competitive play with this game but having to buy more peripherals like a LAN adapter or an external HDD is really pushing it when it should've been included from the get go. ;)

[EyePawd]

Baby steps with Nintendo in regards to hardware. We should just be glad that the Wii-U even has wifi capabilities. =P

[randomass171]

You don't have to use a LAN adapter. Sakurai just recommended it for the best connection. Also HDDs are pretty cheap. My PS3's external 300GB HDD was cheaper than most of the Vita's memory cards.

[bobacdigital]

The lan adapter is 10 to 15 bux on amazon and you can still find them at gamestop for 12.99 used. Also if you were hardcore Brawl you can use your previously purchased adapter which is 0 cost to you....It isnt really a big deal because it isnt required... If you are a casual player you will be fine playing it over wireless because the Wii U is Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n.. If you have an N router it will be more than enough to keep a consistent fast connection (100mbts + connectivity).. If you are hardcore you can buy the lan adapter..

Every single person and their mother most likely has a portable harddrive sitting somewhere... it isnt a huge deal and they are so freaking cheap now it isnt a huge deal.

[NihonjinChick]

The LAN adapter isn't required.

[EyePawd]

True, but there is nothing more painful than playing a fighting game on an unstable connection.

[Foraoise]

"Handheld versions of console games have had a history of being inferior. Nintendo looks to be subverting this trope and providing as much content in the 3DS version of the game as it’s Wii-U sibling."

Sony's already been doing this with many games. Sly 4, PSASBR, etc, without limiting anything.

[randomass171]

I think that's a little different. That's not an independent experience, that's a cross-compatible/cross-buy port from PS3 to Vita. Smash Bros. for 3DS is not the exact same game ported over. It has different modes and a different graphical style.

[EyePawd]

And, to your point, those ports HAVE been lacking: Sly 4-in my opinion- is almost unplayable because of load times and frame rate issues.

Don't even get me started on how terrible the Vita version of the last Ratchet and Clank game, Full Frontal Assault. It is, in spots, literally unplayable.

[Skate-AK]

Not a fan of the competitive nature of the game but will play a lot of offline.