Smash Bros Ultimate Review

IS THERE SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH HYPE?

Ultimate Box Art

SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE IS TOO LIT

A REVIEW OF SUPER SMASH BROS ULTIMATE

BY PALMER GAMBLE

Hype. Defined as “extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion” hype, is the reason you know about certain movies, games, or that crazy new episode of that tv show you’ve been watching. Hype is a double edged sword, with the immense amount of attention that comes with it, being too hyped for a game can often lead to disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, its okay to be excited for things that are coming out. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was one of the most hyped games set for release this past year. But Ultimate didn’t let the hype get to its head.

SO MANY CHARACTERS!

Now… I have to try and not get too hyped while writing this, but the fact that there are 70+ characters in this game blows my mind to a certain extent. Fighting games have usually always had a large amount of characters on their roster, usually around 20 or 30 depending on what game of course. Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the Super Smash Bros. games looked at those games, and spit in their faces with this release. Smash Bros. is a game where you can add any character from any universe, and the fans would say “Oh sweet they added *whoever* to Smash!” Fans, and myself included, have wanted Goku added into Ultimate for years. In fact just a couple days ago, Nintendo showed us the first character in their fighter pass (DLC). Joker the main character from Persona 5, a niche series of both games and anime. This has myself saying, well if Joker made it in… why not Sora from Kingdom Hearts? This is what sets Smash Bros. apart from every other platform fighting game that has ever existed. They don’t limit themselves by a set universe of characters. Look at Mortal Kombat. Which also released a brief look in to MK 11 a couple days ago. You’ll see the same 20 or so characters from every other MK game ever made, with a few even being left out like they did with 10 (unless they prove me wrong and pull what Ultimate did and add everyone in). Nevertheless, NetherRealm Studios has gone and limited themselves to which characters they can add in based on the universe which they themselves have created. You aren’t going to see an anime character added into Mortal Kombat. But you will in Smash Bros.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS GAMES?

Smash 4 for the Wii U was considered by many to be one of the worst installations of the Smash series. Mainly for how long it took for someone to get KO’d and for how ‘floaty’ the game seemed. Hardcore fans wanted something closer to what Melee had brought to the table all those years ago, a fast paced, competitive game that was also friendly enough for everyone to pick up and play. However it seemed Sakurai wanted the game to be accessible to even MORE people, so they slowed the gameplay down and made it harder for someone to get knocked out. Definitely the wrong move Sakurai… So this is why you still see Melee being played at big esports competitions it’s fast and entertaining to watch, more so than Smash 4. Now, Ultimate isn’t as fast as Melee but it certainly makes up for it in variety of playful characters and a skill cap I can see being as big as a game like Melee. Ultimate is pure fan service, but not just for those who want a fun party game, I can still plug in my Gamecube controller with my friends and whoop some ass and feel like a god like I used to in Melee. Of course there are things i wish were still the same from Melee, like Fox… my dear Fox. You got thrown through the ringer my friend. But that’s another story for another time.

WHAT SETS ULTIMATE APART

Smash Bros. Ultimate is the game fans have been waiting for, for a long time. There have always been people wanting more out of Smash Bros. and this installment is nothing shy of the complete package. 70 plus characters, all the maps you could ever want, and on the brilliant system that is the Switch no less. Pick up and play has never been more true, with the Switch allowing players the freedom to plug in to the tv for a party experience, or lay down with console and hand and play causally. Smash Bros. couldn’t be in a better place right now, with fan service that hits from every angle and a design fit for a next generation of game. With several new fighters slated for release via fighter pass, the future looks hype for this titan of a game.

SCORE: 9.5

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a colossus of a game, with what seems to be endless amounts of characters and combo possibilities, it delivers on it’s promise of being a family friendly pick up and play fighting game and still manages to be a layered experience that still maintains a high skill cap and competitive play. It’s a must own if you own a Switch, and if you don’t, well maybe you should get one so you can catch these hands.

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