BRAWLHALLA
SLEEPY GAMER
Brawlhalla may lack the Super Smash Bros. franchise's polish, name recognition, and generous content offerings, but it’s still a worthwhile entry in the platform fighting genre that you can enjoy for free.
It’s tempting to view Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. franchise as one of a kind. But recently, other games have attempted to capture that same accessible blend of platforming and fighting. If you enjoy Smash Bros. gameplay, but for some reason dislike Nintendo characters, you have options. Originally released in 2017, following a beta in 2015, Brawlhalla remains the alternative platform fighter with perhaps the most staying power. The free-to-play game sports a unique and approachable, if unpolished, set of fighting mechanics that appeals to even veteran Smash fans. Nintendo Switch owners should still stick to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as that game doesn’t lock the bulk of its content behind paywalls. However, as a crossplay-friendly console, mobile, and PC game, Brawlhalla is the platform fighter for the rest of us.
Upon startup, you’re given a daily login bonus, which is mostly coins. This gives Brawlhalla an almost mobile gacha feel, as earning and collecting currency allows you to purchase “Legends” – Brawlhalla’s fighters. For additional items, such as new skins or taunts, you’ll either need to crack open your wallet and spend some real life money, or in typical ‘freemium’ fashion, grind. This may seem tedious and downright baity at times, but additions are cosmetic and optional, removing any worry of ‘pay-to-win’. Everything relies on your skill with the legend you pick.
In terms of the Legends themselves, there are over 40 to pick from, if you decide to pay. If playing for free, you’re limited to a rotating eight-character roster that refreshes every week. This is great for variety, as you’ll be able to play almost all of the Legends, but it can be a little off-putting if you’ve been learning and playing a certain character all week, only for them to not be available a week later.
Brawlhalla is the sort of game that appears to be extremely simple when first starting out, but putting in more time slowly reveals how much more is going on beneath the surface. Each fighter shares the same basic moveset, with one button being dedicated to light attacks and another for chargeable heavy attacks; to get your character to do different special moves, you need only to input one of eight directions and press either the light or heavy attack button. Though every character shares this moveset, there’s considerable diversity in the roster in terms of how that attack plays out; a forward light attack from one character may result in a quick shot from a pistol while another character swipes with sharp claws instead.
Despite a similar control scheme for each character, your choice still makes a difference to gameplay and strategy. For instance, while some characters’ heavy attacks have you swinging your fists wildly, sending your enemy soaring off into the air, others can call forth a massive wolf that knocks you clean out of the arena if you’re hit. Available attacks are also dependent upon which weapons you equip, with various swords, axes, guns and more available to choose from. Usable items, including spiked balls, bombs, and war-horns, also mean that careful strategy is required, as they can give you the winning edge over your opponents.
Characters in platform fighters tend to have simpler movesets (you won’t be doing any fireball or dragon punch motions), which gives them a reputation for being more casual. However, they also give players far more expressive movement options, akin to running and jumping in 2D platformers. The stages feature platforms that encourage a more kinetic playstyle. Instead of whittling down health bars, you defeat opponents by knocking them out of the arena, sumo-style. The more damage you take, the easier you become to knock out.
All of this is true in Brawlhalla, and as a longtime Smash Bros. All of this is true in Brawlhalla, and as a longtime Smash Bros. devotee, I immediately clicked with its fundamental combat mechanics. You have a light attack and heavy attack that change depending on direction. There are no grabs, outside of character-specific command grabs, but you do have a brief shield that transitions into a dodge, I immediately clicked with its fundamental combat mechanics. You have a light attack and heavy attack that change depending on direction. There are no grabs, outside of character-specific command grabs, but you do have a brief shield that transitions into a dodge.
Link to the game is here: