Given how richly comprehensive Super Smash Bros proved in the recent 3DS version, you may be forgiven for thinking that the big-screen offering would have few surprises to offer. And, while it is true that the core cast of characters and moves are identical to the portable game, the Wii U title arrives crammed with more than enough exclusive content to warrant a separate release, and maybe even sufficient to tempt the double dip.

In boosting the multiplayer maximum to eight players, Nintendo has pushed the very limits of carnage that can be displayed on a single screen, while the 3DS’s smash run mode has been traded for the all-new smash tour, which is essentially a Mario Party-esque affair that has you power up your fighters on the board before a decisive smash bout. Complementing the series’ encyclopaedic penchant for figure-collecting are Nintendo’s real life Amiibo smart figurines – place them on to the Wii U GamePad and they bring your fighter to life onscreen where they can learn and level up.

SSB for Wii U is loaded, polished and mischievously fun. It is also hands down the finest game on the machine and a real contender for game of the year.