Brawl Stage of the Week: Airborne Arena
by Candace Savino 
{ Jul 1st 2008 at 3:30PM }
This stage was submitted by Wii Fanboy reader K2J, who's been busy making lots and lots of Brawl stages. He let us know his favorites, which were the ones we tested out for ourselves. So, why did we end up choosing to feature Airborne Arena? Well, to put it in gamer terms, the stage completely owned us.
Airborne Arena by K2J
We know what you're thinking: If you're going to play a Nintendo game that makes you curse out loud, why not just play Mario Kart? Well, we're never ones to shy away from a challenge, so Airborne Arena suits our style perfectly. K2J explains that he made the stage for all-purpose battles, but we like that he added some well thought out gimmicks to up the difficulty.
Take the ice blocks, for instance. Yes, we've seen plenty of those before in custom stages, but these ones are placed strategically on the sides to prevent grabbing. Therefore, in order to make your way back onto the stage, you have to aim for the lower spikes and hope you can launch yourself upward. Ouch. Also sadistic are the spikes up top, which end up making a lot of items irrelevant. The difficulty is just part of this stage's charm, though, and ends up adding to the fun.
If you want more details before you decide to download, though, just check out the stage walkthrough below.
We know what you're thinking: If you're going to play a Nintendo game that makes you curse out loud, why not just play Mario Kart? Well, we're never ones to shy away from a challenge, so Airborne Arena suits our style perfectly. K2J explains that he made the stage for all-purpose battles, but we like that he added some well thought out gimmicks to up the difficulty.
Take the ice blocks, for instance. Yes, we've seen plenty of those before in custom stages, but these ones are placed strategically on the sides to prevent grabbing. Therefore, in order to make your way back onto the stage, you have to aim for the lower spikes and hope you can launch yourself upward. Ouch. Also sadistic are the spikes up top, which end up making a lot of items irrelevant. The difficulty is just part of this stage's charm, though, and ends up adding to the fun.
If you want more details before you decide to download, though, just check out the stage walkthrough below.
1. Download this file
2. Save it to an SD card in the following location:
- US versions of Brawl: \private\wii\app\RSBE\st\st_2094_2094.bin
- Japanese versions of Brawl: \private\wii\app\RSBJ\st\st_2094_2094.bin
- EU and PAL versions of Brawl: \private\wii\app\RSBP\st\st_2094_2094.bin
4. During the stage selection, click "Melee Stages" in the bottom-right corner
5. Then click "Custom Stages" in the bottom-right corner and choose the custom stage you want to play on (this particular stage is called "")
Still don't get it? Not sure how to send in your own creation? Other questions on the stage feature? Just email smashsubs@nintendowiifanboy.com
You've just read our Stage of the Week feature, in which we showcase some of our favorite user-created Smash Bros. Brawl stages. If you're interested in seeing previous Stage of the Weeks, just click here and browse through!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
numbat820 @ Jul 1st 2008 5:32PM
My review:
When I first saw this stage, I thought, "Oh no, another one of THOSE stages." THOSE stages are stages that over use spikes, fall blocks, ice, and other hazards. I had never downloaded a stage of the week and wanted to really bad. I had swore I would download this weeks, so I misreably popped the SD card in my laptop. The download was quick, and in a matter of minutes, I selecte my character and was going. I chose Lucario even though I never play as him, and put the CPU on a level 7 Diddy Kong, and we were off.
First of all, I'd like to say, great choise in music. Sets the mood well for a great surprise. Now, I don't play with items, so hecticness isn't my ideal thing. When the battle started, I was already in awe. The layout was fantastic, making great use of the slopes, almost setting up your leaps to the floating platforms. The falling platforms became a way of life. Use them to your advantage, or perish. I forgot about the edges, and even that you could grab edges in the game, it was so well put together. If you could grab these ledges, this stage wouldn't be what it is. The ceiling was a nice touch, too, making most of the K.O.s through the floor and they stooped opponents from flying out the top. The spikes are also nice on top of them, making sure of no camping up on top of the stage. Match one was over, with many more following. I was addicted. I was making strategies. (Runa and use Sonic's U-Smash at the bottom of a slope and you'll land on the ice!) And trying characters. I loved it, It was the perfect gimmick stage.
The stage had a few problems, like it's extremely hard for characters that are heavy with bad recovery (Bowser, DK and more) but people need to look pass that, and see the gem this stage is. I give it a 9.5 out of 10.
skins21 @ Jul 1st 2008 8:56PM
You are pathetic for taking this so seriusly.
numbat820 @ Jul 1st 2008 10:13PM
Really, I'm pathetic? I write my opinion then you bash me by sayin I'M pathetic? So writing a review of a stage is pathetic, but bashing other people for doing so ISN'T? I have one thing to say, and it's I'm glad I'm not as ignorant as you are.
Candace Savino @ Jul 8th 2008 12:46PM
Well I, for one, appreciate your input on the stage, and I'm glad that you also thought it was fun to play on :). Thanks for the comments!
K2J @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:15AM
You need Mario Kart to start swearing? Brawl's Solo modes should have you yelling "CHEAP!" at the screen with more explicitives than I ever thought I knew.
Thanks for the comments, guys. I actually based the stage around the music, believe it or not.
mikia @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:54AM
i did the same thing with rainbow road song. amazingly it works great.
i need to send it in sometime.