Born to run
Played side by side, its difficult for the 3DS version of Smash Bros. to keep up with the Wii U iteration. Smashing on consoles means HD visuals on a large screen, all playable with multiple controller types. Despite the advantages of portability, how can the 3DS release even compare? Well, at E3, the handheld iteration of the fighter is easily the most fun to play in single player.
Beating up enemies earns boosts to stats like strength and speed, making your fighter uniquely skilled by the time they reach the end of Smash Runs five minute time limit. At that point, your uniquely skilled version of Fox McCloud or whoever faces off against other altered characters in a brief battle with somewhat random rule sets. The previous exploration defines your character and makes you extra invested in the outcome but even if you lose, Smash Run is still great solo fun for the time invested. Smash Run is exclusive to the 3DS version, so it looks like youll have something beyond multiplayer to keep you company while waiting several weeks for the Wii U version.
