How to describe Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Well, as noted gamer Maximilian stated, Smash Ultimate is basically “video games the game”. Far from being just a simple platform fighting game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a celebration of gaming, both classic and current. With a massive roster of characters and a large variety of modes to choose from, there is something for everyone here.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate carries on from the Wii U and 3Ds entries by being bigger and better, but it is also far deeper in terms of gameplay. Smash 4 attempted to find middle ground between casual and hardcore play, but Ultimate actually succeeds at that goal. Some parts are very casual oriented, and matches can be made for players who don’t have much experience. On the other hand, there is a lot in the game that is geared to hardcore fighting game fans, and the mechanics they like. Wavedashing from melee has returned for instance, albeit in a modified form that is toned down this time. From 1v1 screens before a fight, to intense combos, there is definitely something for the fighting game community here.
The character roster is both Smash Ultimate’s big strength and its largest weakness. It is a strength because of the large variety of iconic characters you can select from and play as, but the weakness is that you have to unlock almost all of them first. You start out with the characters from the initial roster of Smash 64 and must earn characters via fights, beating classic mode, or in the adventure mode. This is a long grind and easily the most frustrating part of the game for me. There have been steps taken to alleviate the frustration, such as a rematch option and the recent patch toning down difficulty in unlock fights, but the grind is still there for most characters.
Fortunately, the rest of the game is excellent. Online had a matchmaking issue that was resolved with the recent patch, and now I have found it to work smoothly. It is the best online Smash experience I have seen thus far and the game has come a long way since Brawl. Smart choices were made about how to set up rules for matches and I have had a very pleasant time playing since the correction patch went out. Adventure mode is handled very interestingly in this game, and I have to say that I prefer it to the Subspace Emissary from Brawl. World of Light may see tedious to some, but I found it to be both a great way to learn new character and have great creative fights while advancing on. The story is much more subdued but did take on a much more epic feel as it continued. I will not give spoilers here, but it ended on a major high note and I had a big smile on my face the entire time it happened.
A variety of other modes like All Star Mode return, but what had caught my attention the most is actually classic mode. Each character has a unique classic mode tailored to them and some just amazed me. Some will use certain characters as stand ins for bosses from the home series of the character you are playing for instance, and there is clearly a lot of love shown. I admit some of the choices don’t fit as well, but some are perfect. Bayonetta for instance fights characters that resemble the ones she would fight in her series and the final boss for her is different than other characters. Indeed, some bosses are rather unique and must be carefully fought. Simon’s final boss fight should be very obvious but it was an excellent homage to his home series.
Other characters like Pac-man worked differently, facing mainly retro themed characters and I was not expecting his final boss to be who it was. The one that stood out the absolute most however was Ryu. I saw a playthrough by Maximilian of Ken’s classic mode, and so was not expecting much. Ryu’s was completely different however, and ended up being a tribute to Street Fighter II. There were stamina battles on flat stages to better resemble that game, and characters that made perfect sense, stood in for some of the sub-bosses (even using the same music). I was not expecting this level of depth in single player mode, but I instantly wanted to play each character’s classic mode after that.
Sakurai did a very good job with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and created a game that transcended its beginnings. No longer a platform fighting crossover as I said above, this is now a playable video game museum that allows you to see the best of what gaming has to offer. If you have not checked out Super Smash. Bros. Ultimate yet, I urge you to do so. This is one of the best games that Nintendo has ever published.