Character Issues
Mechanics Issues
Lack of nontumble DI
Specifically because this leads to numerous “automatic” chaingrabs, such as with Dedede and Falco, among many others, and locks, most notably Sheik’s FTilt lock. I just feel that these detract from the game as a whole, as the game is essentially being controlled specifically by one person.
Grab Releases
In 64 this didn’t exist, grabs always resulted in throws, and there was no pummeling. In Melee, by holding up, you could choose to air release, and by not doing so you would ground release. This put control in the hands of both players. In Brawl, however, if you are being held off of the ground you WILL air release, and for some characters with easily abused Air Grab Release animations, such as Metaknight, Wario, and Squirtle, this can result in chaingrabs or free kills, especially so in Wario’s case, where he constantly has to play around the idea of 1 grab = free 20%-30%. Though ground releases are far less problematic, as for the most part you can escape into the air, you cannot air release while in hitlag or hitstun. Some pummels, such as Marth’s or Charizard’s, keep a character in hitlag or hitstun the entire time if buffered. In the case of Ness or Lucas, who have longer than average ground release animations, this means they can be instantly regrabbed, though in Lucas case you must move forward. Again, grab releases for the most part put all control in the hands of a single player, which I view as detrimental to the game.
Tripping as a whole, including tripping induced by moves
Most people simply have an issue with random tripping. I however view tripping in all its incarnations within Brawl as inherently anti-competitive.
Let’s start with what causes tripping.
1. A character has a 1% chance of tripping every time a dash is inputted. The dash animation does not actually have to come out, you simply have to have inputted a dash.
2. When hit with a move that does not move a character from the ground and does not cross the tumble threshold for knockback, there is an 11% chance of tripping.
3. Many moves have an additional set chance to trip, ignoring their knockback. Such moves include notably Zelda’s and Metaknight’s DTilts.
4. The item Banana Peels will cause a grounded player that comes into contact with it to trip.
Too lazy to finish atm. Need dinner.