Presented as a big what-if scenario from Nintendo's halls of heroes, the essence of "Smash Bros. for Wii U" boils down to one simple question -- when the dust settles, which character reigns supreme? The game is a massive fan service nod with mascots and characters from the spectrum of gaming's best and brightest.

Fans got a bit of the taste in the appetizer sized 3DS version in October, but now it's time for the main course on the Wii U. So how does the bigger brother stack up against its smaller sibling?

It's Got Bigger Brawls

"Smash for 3DS" did its job very well. Throwing down on-the-go proved to be a pretty fun way to experience the manic battles that the franchise has offered. But let's not kid ourselves, "Smash Bros. for Wii U" was always going to outmatch its little bro in nearly every way. The essentials remain the same: the character line-up and basic mechanics are identical; but the Wii U version is the definitive version.

For one, it looks way better. Not to jab at the 3DS, but the Wii U is pushing more robust animations and effects. Every character is rendered and animated with moves and powers that perfectly capture their respective franchises. Of course Mario and pals are well represented, but newcomers, Mega Man and Pac-Man, have been practically snatched from Capcom and Namco's archives. There's also a ton more options -- which we'll get to later -- that really open up the game in a few new ways.

Manic Melee

The spirit and gameplay of "Smash Bros." is really one of pure fun. Choose your character and fight it out with friends, or the AI in interactive arenas. The idea is to knock the opponents out of the ring by inflicting damage represented by a percentage number. As that percentage increases, so does the knock-back effect. Rules might vary from match to match -- you might have lives or it may be a timed match -- but the mechanics are the same.

Additionally, items and power-ups appear at intervals that can used to lay on the hurt. The items are themed from all over the Nintendo-verse such as Fire Flowers, Pokemon, Magic Mushroom, etc. Clever and brash tactics will keep you on top of the game and the struggles can be quite thrilling.

Go Multiplayer

While you can play "Smash" alone -- there's a bunch of single player challenges and events to keep busy -- the real game starts and ends with a group of friends.

If you're lacking a few buddies, you can always go online for your brawling needs. Full disclosure: we haven't been able to try online much, but the few battles we've had have been fairly lag free with connections running decently stable. As the game launched today (November 21), there may be some muddy connections but so far it's been smooth.

The one big disappointment is that there isn't much single player content. Yeah, there's a bunch of challenges and various modes to try out, but the Subspace Emissary adventure from the Wii U has been cut entirely. Having a decent single player portion really added to that title, and it's a shame it doesn't make a return.

Eight Is Great

Among the new features is an enormous eight player melee mode. It's the first time in the series that this many players can rumble at once. The battles even take place on larger level variants that support the full roster. While this mode is a welcome addition, it's almost too chaotic as keeping track of your character takes as much concentration as avoiding attacks. Otherwise, it's a wonderful way to blow off some steam, and just play a few rounds when things get a bit too real among friends.

Level Creator

There's also a simple level creator if you want to test your design abilities. You can choose the size of your level -- small, medium, or large -- and then use a pen to draw in shapes for land and platforms. You can also select from a few levels backgrounds, assign level music and then test it on the fly. With some time and talent you could create some fairly unique arenas. It's not nearly as robust as we'd like -- more options and perhaps a way to edit existing levels -- but it's nice to have the ability to make your own content.

The Power Is Yours

One big thing that many "Smash" vets will love is the return of the GameCube controller. With an adapter, you can use your reliable GC controller -- or purchase the new "Smash Bros." one -- and jump right into the fray. We'd argue the fact that this is the "correct" way to play, as the GCC feels perfect for massive battles. If you're not keen on picking up the adapter, the Pro Controller and GamePad work just as well. Coming up last is the Wii Remote -- it just feels too mushy -- so you probably want to steer clear unless you have no other option.

Level Your Amiibo

We already talked a bit about Nintendo's new line of figurines, amiibo. "Smash Bros." is the first major game to incorporate the toys by allowing you to level up your character linked up to the Wii U. The set-up is simple enough -- just tap it on the GamePad when prompted -- and you're good to go. Basically, you level the amiibo by pitting it against other CPU or amiibo characters and watch it grow from chump to champ. You can then use it to battle friends like some kind of weird "Pokemon" variation.

Amiibo figures are chained to the character they represent -- a Mario amiibo only works with Mario -- so if you're planning to have a version of each character, you better start saving. The first wave is out now with follow up characters appearing in the coming months. Eventually, every character in "Smash" will be represented. Expect to wait a bit if your favorite isn't out yet.

Final Thoughts

"Smash Bros. for Wii U" is a fantastic addition to the franchise. The hypothetical schoolyard fights can now be fully realized as you choose your favorite Nintendo mascot -- and the beat the ever living tar out of the others. The overall visuals are nice and crisp with energetic brawls and lovely animations and effects. It's the visually best looking and smoothest "Smash" to date, and should have fans lapping it up.

The controls are simple enough that newbies will be able to brawl with the best in no time flat. The only real let down is that the Subspace Emissary mode has been removed for more generic challenges, and we wish that the level creator had some more heft to it. Still, those gripes shouldn't affect the overall fun you're having with friends. "Smash Bros. for Wii U" is must play for any and all Nintendo fans!

"Super Smash Bros. for Wii U" and "amiibo" are available today (November 21) for Wii U.