Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: A (Very) Brief Review
The simple yet complicated crossover fighting game for the Switch has a lot to offer. Let’s check it out.
Super Smash Bros. is arguably the best crossover video game in all of gaming history. It was (and still is) a legendary concept of a game that attracts all different kinds of players, from fans of certain franchises to gamers who enjoy fighting games in general. By having all these different kinds of characters from so many different franchises like Mario, Sonic, and Kirby, Nintendo created the perfect combination of fulfillment and mayhem. Battles can start gracefully yet quickly escalate into a full-on brawl (pun intended), making the game interesting. All of these reasons can probably explain the SSBU game series’ paramount popularity since the release of the original Super Smash Bros. in 1999.
Then, in 2018, Nintendo announced the fifth iteration of the game but for the Nintendo Switch console, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with the same concept. How much has changed? What hasn’t? Let’s find out.
The Characters
In SSBU, we get a lot more characters than we did for the 3DS/Wii U edition (or SSB4). Ultimate has 76 playable characters (+12 DLC characters), way more than the 51 (+7 DLC) that SSB4 had. New characters include additions such as Daisy and Dark Samus. Some familiar characters from SSB4 are also in Ultimate but in a different way. Charizard, for example, who was included in 3DS/Wii U edition, is now listed under Pokémon Trainer along with Squirtle and Ivysaur. The Trainer appears in the background while the player takes control of one of these three Pokémon, and as the player, you can switch between them while battling.
I appreciate the fact that there are three different kinds of Mii fighters in SSBU. While they were lumped together as just ‘Mii’ in SSB4, they are now listed as Mii Gunner, Swordfighter, and Brawler.
To see the character changes from the Wii U/3DS edition to Ultimate, check out this list:
World Of Light: Underrated or Underwhelming?
Also known as Adventure Mode: World of Light (灯火の星, The Star of Light), this single-player story mode in SSBU has gotten mixed reviews. I’ll do my best to not give spoilers here.
The premise of the game is, in my opinion, very interesting, albeit a simple one. A villain named Galeem has transported everyone’s spirits to another realm (thus taking them under its control) by vaporizing most of the galaxy. Kirby is the only one who survives, and they’ve been forced to land in the same location where all the spirits are sent. Now, you must free all the spirits (as Kirby). How do you do this?
All of these spirits are trapped within a group of ‘pawn fighters’. These fighters are all part of the SSBU roster, but their mannerisms reflect that of the spirit inside them (hence the name). By beating one of these fighters, you unlock the spirit inside that fighter, getting more as you go along (kind of like trading cards). You will have to utilize your spirits well to get through the game.
Overall, I thought this was a good game. While it isn’t the best story game out there (if you’re looking for a really good story game, you might want to check out Undertale), World of Light has a good plot and interesting gameplay. If you think the premise of the game is interesting and want to check it out, I highly recommend trying it.
I think that if you have a Switch, you should try out this game. It’s a really fun and versatile game that for many, never gets boring. There are so many things to experiment with and play, and it will be a great pastime for many hours.
From playing online to the story mode, this game has a lot to offer, and I think that it will go down as one of Nintendo’s greatest games.
Like what you read? Sign up for our newsletter below.
