7th Best Fanfic of All Time- The Game by MouseMaster42

7. The Game by MouseMaster42

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: Friendship, Humor, Romance, occasional Thriller
Rating: Usually for everyone- Mouse deliberately avoids even the slightest of language but some of the romance may be a tad too heavy.
Type: Episodical fic, 40 episodes, 139,000 words
Status: In progress
Started: January 11, 2011 (1-11-11)

Starring Characters: Marth, Ike, Zelda, Sheik, Samus, Link, Roy, Red, Pit, OC Nya, OC Dr. Stoelhart

You ever watch one of teen shows on Nickelodeon, Disney or anywhere else and bury your head in your hands because they’re so clueless? So many stereotypes and clichés- there’s always the lame friend who’s socially inept, the best friend of the main character who secretly loves him/her and will eventually start dating the main, every man who dates the main character is a total cheating d-bag (unless the main is a man, because we can’t have cheating women on that kind of TV), there’s a wackadoodle Tshirt, and every single other character is a stereotype. It’s clear that the people who create these shows almost always have NO idea what teens like or are like without having to bump it to a TV14 rating and STILL not do it right.
I really wish MouseMaster could write one of those shows for real life.

Until then, though, we have The Game, which is not so much a fanfic as it is an TV show in writing. And it’s like “Lo and behold she did it right!” And it’s true- Mouse creates a show with young adult smashers (some ages have been slightly modified but it’s not like she made Ganon a teen so) that is entertaining, funny and engaging while being entirely real. You can’t trace any of the characters to a real stereotype- they’re fleshed out with different assets of their personality shown at different places.

Okay, I know that I usually have quotes that represent the story here, but it is near impossible; no, impossible, to go into a 40 episode fic and find one defining quote. Just read the dang story! XD

As for clichés, there are admittedly a few, typically concerning romance, but they’re integrated subtly enough and sparsely enough that it’s not much to complain about. She does handle the romance quite nicely as well- instead of the sudden, unrefined rush that the TV shows harbor, she takes things slowly and when things happen, they’re quite poignant.

But The Game as an entire TV show in all facets is quite simply a lot of fun. There’s rascally escapades of some irresponsible behavior, but it’s not as deprecating on teenkind as TV usually has it. There’s those nice days where all the friends have a good time, and you enjoy their interactions and how well she manages more than ten active characters. And most powerfully of all, occasionally there is a serious arc where it looks like things are taking a turn for the worst. It keeps a bit of weight on the fluff and in and of themselves are truly thrilling and keep your attention from beginning to end. It’s a versatile, lovable show that you grow to enjoy like a true TV show, only better.

Also, it should be noted that Mousey has the best fan interaction I’ve seen, replying to every review with a thank you and a sentence or two to answer their questions or just talk with them. Mouse is definitely a voice for her generation and has talents that could make her a leader for youth everywhere, even in something as subtly engaging as this.

15th Best Fanfic I've Ever Read-Wounded by PitFTW

15. Wounded by PitFTW

Section: Super Smash Bros
Genre: War, Angst, Comfort, Alternate Universe
Rating: Teen for violence, language and emotionally painful scenes.
Type: Full Length Story
Status: Four Chapters In
Last Updated: March 5, 2011

Starring Characters: Link, Mario, Zelda, Ike, Pit

Description: The story takes place in a war zone- our favorite Nintendo characters against the alloys. A look mostly outside the battlefield on the effects of war and death on the soldiers of the war.

Review: PitFTW is probably one of the most legendary authors of the Smash Brothers Section. More than 80 different people have favorited her works all over the sites, and her stories usually have a lot of people flocking to them with rave reviews. For good reason- she's an incredible author. All around, her work is solid, intelligent and remarkable.

Wounded sticks with me because of the frank, painful look it takes on war. You don't see many anti-war stories taking place in a war- at least I don't, but she accomplishes it with raw emotions, deft writing, and immersing detail of the psyche of the soldiers and the events. What is probably the most remarkable part is that she does not preach in the story- she lets the events speak for themselves. And it's truly haunting.

"I used to read about how people would look like they were sleeping peacefully when they died.

Today, I learned that in reality, they don't look like they're sleeping.

They just look dead."

Truly not an easy read- a lot of parts are hard to stomach. But if you are brave, your reward will be great. Wounded is the kind of story that leads by example, and you are drawn to follow.

Unfortunately, work has been delayed for four months, but hopefully with some projects nearly out of the way she will resume work on her brilliant fic.