Going hands-on with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The latest Super Smash Bros. is the ultimate love letter to longtime fans and series newcomers
WELCOME TO THE PARTY
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sports the biggest roster of brawlers to ever appear in Nintendo’s fan-favorite fighting franchise. In fact, the upcoming Switch entry features every character that’s ever appeared in the series. The tally, counting new and returning fighters, totals a whopping 68. What’s more, Nintendo’s estimating Ultimate will see some 10,000 changes to the series tried-and-true template, from major inclusions to minor gameplay refinements. Our recent hands-on session didn’t let us take the entirety of those tweaks for a test drive, but we did let loose as a couple of new characters, allowing us to get a feel for the refined mechanics and polished controls.
A FIGHTER FOR EVERY FAN
There’s no denying the appeal of Ultimate’s massive roster of fighters. In addition to the expected mainstays, like Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby and a couple of members of the Kong family, it’s also bringing back all the quirky cult-favorites, like the Ice Climbers, R.O.B., and Ness. All previous DLC characters are also on board, so Bayonetta fans, for example, can look forward to kicking butt as the hair-whipping heroine. Ultimate’s also introducing “Echo” fighters, which are essentially new characters that share similar move-sets with another brawler. Of course, the game’s also inviting some brand new brawlers to the battle, such as both male and female Inklings from Splatoon, as well as iconic Metroid menace Ridley.
FAN-SERVICING STAGES
Much like Ultimate’s definitive cast of characters, the game’s including enough stages – over 60 of them – to satisfy fans of all stripes. Seemingly every Nintendo world and universe, from the Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong’s stomping grounds to Metroid’s Brintstar and Yoshi’s island, are accounted for. A new pair of stages, based on Splatoon and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, also welcome players to join the fight. The former, dubbed Moray Towers, showcases the series’ iconic evening skyline – complete with bright lights and, obviously, vibrant paint – while the latter unfolds on Breath of the Wild’s Great Plateau Tower.
EVERYTHING… AND THE KITCHEN SINK
Our brief hands-on demo barely put a dent in all the new content, features, and refinements coming to the Super Smash Bros. Switch debut. On top of all the characters and stages, the game will introduce some new costumes for returning fighters, such as the mustachioed plumber’s wedding attire from Super Mario Odyssey, and Link’s Champion tunic from The Breath of the Wild. Brand new Assist Trophies – those coveted items that let you temporarily tag-in an ally – include the Squid Sisters from Splatoon, Bomberman and even the Burrowing Snagret baddie from the Pikmin franchise. New game-changing items, like the opponent-immobilizing Black Hole and life-giving Healing Field, also promise to turn the tables when you’re close to being counted out.
INITIAL VERDICT?
The Switch won’t be getting a standalone Super Mario Bros. or Legend of Zelda entry this year, but characters and stages from both franchises – and over three dozen more – will come together in what’s shaping up to be the biggest, best, most ambitious Super Smash Bros. game to date. Based on our time behind the JoyCons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a love letter to fans that should make them feel both right at home and charting some unfamiliar territory. We look forward to reacquainting ourselves with its more familiar elements – and mastering the fresh ones – when it hits like an opponent-crushing hammer on 7 December.
