Smash Bros. might not have a story mode per se anymore, but it doesn't need one. A special mode included in the Wii U version of the game more than makes up for it.
I've been having a lot of fun with the Wii U version of Smash Bros., and a large part of that has to do with a mode called "Events." Think of them as themed challenges, where a match is set-up with special requirements that you need to meet in order to win prizes, like trophies or coins.The more Events you play, the more you unlock.
What's so great about events is that they set up hilarious situations which pull from the lore of the characters involved. It feels like fan-servicey fanfiction, which I love. Best of all the mode prompts me to try new characters that I might not normally play, which helps keep things fresh and interesting. It's my favorite mode in Smash Bros. right now.
Here are some of the Events challenges that I've played through thus far—just reading the premise should be enough to understand why these are so great. Note that the character the Event makes you play as is denoted under the description for the event, and the characters you play against are shown in the box to the left. So in this one, titled "Fitness Junkie," you play as the Wii Fit Trainer against two Warios, all in the name of teaching two couch potatoes some fitness. Amazing.
Some more events:
I'm too bad of a Jigglypuff player to pull this off, but this is still great.
Appropriately, you play as classic green Yoshi.
The fact that the Villager has so many distinct costumes makes this event perfect.
I don't know what kind of garlic Wario ate that he now has a flower on his head, but OK!
No Mewtwo in here yet (obviously), but that's OK.
Everybody is at high damage!
Too Many Ganondorfs.
A good use for the eight-player Smash!
You know what they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Appropriately, this takes place on Little Mac's Punch-Out stage.
This one is probably my favorite so far, but I might be biased. I main Bowser Jr. Still, though, isn't this idea of father-son bonding time fantastic?