Review: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” Is The Definitive Smash Bros. Experience
The latest entry in the “Super Smash Bros.” series has arrived with “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” While anticipation has always been high for the title, this latest crossover fighting game has easily lived up to the hype to be the best “Smash Bros.” game yet.
The game features every character to appear in the series up to this point as well as a host of new fighters such as the Inklings from “Splatoon” and Simon and Richter from the “Castlevania” series. The roster includes long-requested fan favorites such as Ridley from the “Metroid” franchise alongside new favorites such as Incineroar from “Pokémon Sun and Moon.”
Through new mechanics revolving around fighting “spirits” and downloadable content planned for the game through 2020, yet more new characters such as Mario’s “Piranha Plant” enemy and Joker of the acclaimed title “Persona 5” are set to make their debut in the game. With a new story mode known as the “World of Light,” the series has made one of the most fulfilling story modes the series has seen yet. It’s no cakewalk either: even when playing on easy mode, it can take many hours to unlock everything to complete the game’s story.
The crossover fighting element is as strong as ever, with the gameplay being once again simple enough to pick up and play but tough to truly master. The use of “spirits” provides a surprisingly complex and addictive element to replace the trophies from previous games. The graphics are some of the best the series has ever seen, with the framerate having very little slowdown in both home and portable mode and every stage being full of great details. Some returning stages are depicted exactly as they are in the original Nintendo 64 game, and new stages are built from the ground up to take advantage of both the new console and the crossover potential of the game. One standout is Dracula’s castle, which has been given the same gothic atmosphere and catchy music that made it so memorable with its appearances in the Castlevania series. Though online play currently has some issues to be ironed out, this game is easily a must-own for any fan of multiplayer fighting games. Whether it’s mainstream icons like Mario, Pikachu, Link and Samus Aran or characters from cult favorite games such as “Earthbound,” the series has released what’s arguably the definitive “Smash Bros.” title.
With the game continuing to shatter critical and commercial records, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” lives up to its title. “Everyone is here” for what’s easily the best “Smash Bros.” game to date, and is a must-buy for any Switch owner.
Verdict: 5 out of 5 Stars
Review by Steven Pryor
At a Glance:
Publisher: Nintendo
Develper: Bandai Namco/Sora Ltd.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: E10+
