One of the best parts of the Smash Bros games has been the final smashes. These were intended since the first game, but only implemented since Brawl, and have been accepted as a satisfying addition by fans. However, not everyone who plays Super Smash Bros will end up using the final smashes due to needing to use the smash ball to access the move. In addition, many like to play with items off, which naturally takes away the smash ball and final smashes, and they are often removed from most forms of tournament play. This has led some to wonder if there should be a change in how the movie is done.
I am not saying that final smashes should be removed, or that the smash ball should be dropped. Instead, I am of the opinion that a second option should be added in addition to the smash ball. The smash ball has some flaws that go beyond just being an item that often gets disabled for tournaments. The actual smash ball system is not exactly fair to all characters, since heavy characters have a much better chance of getting the smash and some may just not be able to get to the smash ball due to their stats for various reasons. Perhaps for other players, a second option can be added to give them an alternative way to perform the final smash. Smash Bros already has a variety of modes, so an alternate final smash mode would feel natural.
A super meter of some kind would be the best option for this mode, where players could slowly build a smash meter and when full, unleash their final smash via a unique input. This hypothetical alternate mode would also enable the final smash use in most forms of tournament play, as well as giving matches much more depth for everyone in general. Super Smash Bros. is an amazing fighting game series, and I feel that it only needs minor tweaks to reach its true potential and even get the melee fans to move on. More options are always good, and they can only help the series without dropping established conventions of the series.
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of ROG or its staff.