Super Smash Bros Ultimate

As series director Masahiro Sakurai has said, it's a miracle Super Smash Bros. Ultimate exists. Bringing together characters from Mario, Zelda, Street Fighter’s Ryu, and Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud, all on a battlefield inspired by Metal Gear Solid, is an astonishing feat. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the series, blending chaotic fun and competitive depth like never before.

The Ultimate Roster

Ultimate's character roster is nothing short of extraordinary. Featuring 74 fighters, including new additions like Simon Belmont and King K. Rool, it’s a veritable who’s who of gaming history. The inclusion of both Nintendo and third-party characters makes it a digital action figure toy box overflowing with the memories of countless gamers.

Echo Fighters, essentially reskinned versions of existing characters like Daisy and Dark Pit, are labeled explicitly, making the roster feel diverse without fillers. The decision to bring back every fighter from previous games was ambitious but has paid off handsomely, offering something for everyone.

Combat Mechanics and Accessibility

Smash Bros. has always catered to both casual players and competitive enthusiasts. It lets you experience the pure, chaotic joy of an eight-player brawl or enjoy tense matches requiring high-level skill. Whether you’re looking for fun with items and stage hazards or intense no-item, flat stage matches, Ultimate delivers on both fronts.

One of the great strengths of Smash Bros. Ultimate is its accessibility. With a simple control scheme that combines the control stick and two buttons, even newcomers can pick up and play. Additionally, instead of traditional health bars, the game uses a percentage system; the higher the percentage, the easier it is to knock your opponent off the stage.

New Mechanical Twists

In one-on-one battles or when only two fighters remain, Ultimate introduces a dramatic freeze-frame zoom effect for a hit that will almost certainly result in a KO. This makes big smash attacks more satisfying and transparent.

Many Final Smash attacks have been made more reliable, along with the introduction of an optional Final Smash Meter. This meter fills up over time, allowing for a weaker but still exhilarating version of the move, thereby adding a new dynamic to gameplay.

Customizable Rulesets & Stage Morph

The custom ruleset feature is a welcome addition, allowing players to save various configurations and make quick changes based on their mood or the audience. This small but impactful quality-of-life improvement makes it easier to switch between different gameplay styles.

Stage Morph is another standout feature, allowing the stage to transform from one map to another during a match. It creates even more dynamic and engaging gameplay, letting you experience more of the 108 maps Ultimate has to offer in a single match.

Stage Variety & Design

The game includes an extensive array of stages, though not every stage from past games made the cut. Some levels, such as the previously 3DS-exclusive Tortimer Island and Paper Mario, feel fresh and exciting on the Switch.

However, the level selection interface could use some work. It's a giant grid of thumbnail images arranged by release date, making it a bit cumbersome to navigate. Despite this, having so many levels keeps the game varied and engaging.

Item Assortment

A plethora of new items, like the Beastball and Rage Blaster, have been added to the mix. However, some less popular items, such as Boss Galaga and Gust Bellows, have also made a return.

While these items can be switched off in the ruleset customization, their existence points to a slight focus on quantity over quality in this department. Nevertheless, the sheer variety keeps each match unpredictable and exciting.

Single-Player Adventure Mode

Into the core of this massive brawler lies the single-player Adventure mode, which offers an engrossing 24-hour journey. This mode involves collecting nearly 1,300 Spirit characters, adding unique challenges and dynamics to the game.

The Spirit mechanics bring depth and layering to the gameplay, rewarding persistence, and strategy, but they can sometimes feel a bit too extensive. Pruning away some of the more redundant elements could have tightened the experience.

Graphics and Aesthetics

Visually, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a treat. The stages, especially ones like Fourside and Corneria from Melee, have been beautifully touched up, enhancing their visual appeal.

Each fighter and item in the game looks polished, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. The graphical updates breathe new life into returning characters and stages, making them feel brand new.

Online Play and Community

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate supports robust online play, facilitating a broad playing field where gamers can test their skills against a global audience. The netcode has been improved, reducing latency and providing smoother matches.

The community around Ultimate is vibrant, with frequent tournaments and events showcasing the game's competitive and casual side alike. Nintendo seems more supportive of the competitive scene this time, which is promising.

Soundtrack and Audio Design

The game’s soundtrack is another highlight, featuring a vast array of memorable tunes from the various franchises represented. Each stage comes with its own set of tracks, enhancing the overall experience.

Audio cues, like the freeze-frame zoom effect during critical hits, also add to the game's immersive quality. The sound design ensures that the action feels impactful and engaging.

Replayability and Longevity

With the huge roster of characters, numerous stages, and various gameplay modes, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers endless replay value. Each match feels unique, thanks to the ability to customize rules and stages extensively.

Moreover, forthcoming DLC characters and stages promise to keep the game fresh and exciting for both new and returning players. Ultimate sets a high bar for its genre and consoles.

Conclusion

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a tour de force in both the Super Smash Bros. series and the fighting game genre. The enormous roster, varied gameplay styles, and deep mechanics make it appealing to gamers of all types. While some elements may feel superfluous, the game’s strengths overwhelmingly overshadow these minor issues.

It celebrates the rich history of video games while delivering a fresh, dynamic experience that’s hard to put down. Whether you're in it for the chaos or the competitiveness, Ultimate is a must-have for any Nintendo Switch owner.