PlayStation All Stars - nothing but a clone?

[lindbergh]

I have played Smash Brothers ever since it was first released for the N64. I followed the series up to the Nintendo Wii. I enjoyed the gameplay back then and I thoroughly enjoy its gameplay up to this day. Then came PlayStation All Stars - a game that pits the most recognizable PlayStation characters against each other in a Smash Brothers style brawl. Now, I've got nothing against PS All Stars because it's a great game in its own right. But I do feel that Sony just cloned the Smash Brothers series. What do you think?

 

[TheViper]

Yeah. it looks like it just copied it and feels kinda generic. I was hoping they would do a little more with these character mash ups. They could have even had some kind of plot or whatever for each character. Though, playstation didn't capitalize and make some original.

This is why most people look to PC games more.

 

[DrRipley]

I haven't played it, but just from seeing clips online, I'd have to agree. I think Sony has gotten really lazy with trying to be innovative recently and have just been phoning everything in. And with this type of game it just confirms that theory even further. But it still seems fun though, I might pick it up if I find a cheap copy.

 

[BlackSolaris]

The problem is not being a clone. Damn, if it was a clone, it would be freaking awesome! But no, they would have to make a horrible "not-clone". Come on, Sony, everyone knew what you were trying to pull, why not just go full out with it and make an awesome game.

Also, how the hell that with so many great IPs under their belt, we see things like Zeus and Evil Cole?

 

[Ebib]

I haven't played it but as soon as I did see the announcement for All Stars I instantly though "so it's like SSBB?".
Nintendo had this idea back on the N64 and had made a game for each console (so one for Gamecube and then the Wii).
I bet they'll make one for the Wii-U too. This All Stars game did look like it was just copying Nintendo and didn't really
offer anything else apart from a fighting game. At least with the Wii version of Super Smash bros Nintendo had offered a
brilliant story mode and helped tie in all these Nintendo characters.

 

[Joker99352]

As soon as the game was announced, I knew everyone would compare it to Super Smash Brothers. I think Nintendo deserves credit for the initial idea, but they don't necessarily have exclusive rights to that style of game. Maybe some of the PlayStation "all-stars" aren't as iconic as Nintendo's stars, but as a younger player of the SSB games, a lot of the characters were pretty obscure to me too. I guess it just depends on whether you enjoy the game or not. If it isn't a flat rip-off, then it must have some merit. I haven't played it yet but it's on my list of games to play.

 

[TheCourier]

Well, first off I will admit that I am biased: I played Super Smash Brothers ever since the series started. And it got better and better as the series went on. That said, I wouldn't want to discourage Sony's creative efforts. SSB did it first and in many players' minds, probably best. Nostalgia has a lot to do with it too, especially for former Nintendo fanboys such as myself. I think Sony can hope for a modest success. Thing is, it needs something that will really distinguish it from SSB. Sadly (or not depending on your perspective) whoever does it first does it best. I'll give a Nintendo example that's kind of funny. There was a TMNT fighting game released for the Wii a few years back. It played exactly like SSB, which is to say it was great. But it was a clone, no matter how great it was. I really enjoyed it but I don't think it did well in the market. If TMNT had done that before SSB then things would be very different.

That game did not differentiate itself from SSB. It played like a clone game because it was. This is hard to do but ultimately there is no other way to prevent it from being passed over from being a clone.