The 'Shroom:Issue LXI/Brawl Tactics

Brawl Tactics by

What's up, Brawlers? Brawl Tactics turns up the heat this month as I look at the Metroid stage Norfair!

Norfair is a medium-sized stage with deep sides. It's made up of five floating panels that are also fall-through panels, so be careful when you're coming down. Oh, yes, and the whole thing hovers above a sea of lava. No pressure.

The panels are the enemy of Pokemon everywhere. It's almost impossible to throw a Pokeball and land it successfully. Throw it up, down, or go to the edge of the top set and try it. Pokemon that don't need much room do well here. Assist trophies will also struggle if they aren't characters smart enough to move around, like Knuckle Joe or especially the Metroid. You can get the panels and the stage to work for you, however, if you get your opponent down to a low health level so you can launch them easily. If you can knock them off the top panel as far as you can, it will often be enough to send them falling to a KO in the lava below. If they try to make a grab for the bottom panel, knock them off for good. The size also makes this stage favorable for screen-clearing Final Smashes like Mario or Samus's. The stage really gives you no place to hide, so pick a side that you like, fire away, and watch your opponent scamble to get back on after taking so much damage.

The lava can be hard to maneuver around. Besides being a river flowing below the stage, it will also rise up periodically on either side of the stage, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right. Sending an opponent flying into either of these is a good idea, since they do a good bit of damage and pack a wallop of launch power. There's no going through these either, so when they engulf half the stage, don't try to touch them.

Besides the twin waterfalls on either side, there is also a huge waterfall that comes in from the back of the stage. This is the big one that's almost impossible to avoid. There will be one hatch that you can hide in, so keep your opponent out of it and keep yourself inside! I usually find that some type of power up hits whoever's in this hatch. Whether it is food or a Mushroom, it will help you out. So take advantage of it! Getting out of a beating while your opponent takes it. Who wouldn't like this option?

That's all for me this month, Brawlers! Good luck surfing the lava, and see you next month on Brawl Tactics!