Perhaps you are not the target audience for this kind of game? Maybe you should ask a few pre-teen boys [just guessing] what they think about the features/lack of features that annoy you so much instead of judging it by your own Xbox-blighted experience.

Granted I don't know many pre-teen boys, but most people I know who's buying Super Smash Bros. Brawl are in their 20s..

most of the kids i know that still play mario anything are in their mid to late 20s. they were the kids that played THE FIRST mario games and love the franchise. thing is, with so many other systems being so interactive, and with the game being set up for great interaction, but not acheving it on the level of EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE PLANET, i can see there being some VERY VALID complaints. i love the wii, i REALLY do, but if i can get a better gaming experience by playing my new best bud in china online with an xbox and get to talk to her and everything, then don't you think i might be a tad disappointed by not being able to have the same type of experience with my best friend who's across town on the wii?