Is this the ultimate cross-over fighting game so far?
Characters
Although Super Smash Bros series director Masahiro Sakurai warned fans not to expect that many new characters following this year's E3 presentation, the new Nintendo Direct dedicated to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate revealed a couple new playable characters and echo fighters from the get-go:
New Characters
- Simon Belmont (Castlevania series)
- King K. Rool (Donkey Kong series)
- Richter Belmont (based on Simon Belmont)
- Dark Samus (based on Samus)
- Chrom (based on Roy)
Stages & Music
Sakurai mentioned that there will be a total of 103 stages that can be accessed from the start. If Omega and Battlefield versions of every stage are taken into consideration, the number of stage varieties bump up to more than 300. In addition, players now have the option to turn off Stage Hazards and the ability to select 2 stages that can morph into one another mid-game.
Similar to Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, you can use headphones on your Switch to turn it into a music player. This allows you to play the 900+ music tracks (amounting to about 28 hours) that are featured in the game, while the screen is off in handheld mode. Other improvements include organizing music tracks by series instead of by stage, ability to select how often music tracks play on each stage, and many more.
Quality of Life Improvements
Ruleset
This will be the first selection that you will encounter. You can create multiple rule sets that you will be able to easily access later on.
Stamina Battle
Stamina is now treated as a standard Smash mode alongside Time and Stock. It is more akin to how most fighting games behave: every hit to the player depletes HP until it reaches 0. You can still KO players by knocking them off the stage through normal means.
Stage Selection
Stage Selection now comes before you pick fighters. Several options have also been added that can allow players to set several stages in order or to let the loser pick the next one.
Sudden Death
The screen now zooms in to the center of the stage during Sudden Death. This also shrinks the blastlines of that particular stage.
Final Smash Meter
An option to perform a weaker version of a Final Smash without the Smash Ball item has been added. If enabled, the meter fills up while you are engaged in battle similar to Little Mac's KO Gauge.
Battle Modes
Squad Strike
A 5-on-5 or 3-on-3 elimination-style battle mode. Each player can use all 5/3 consecutive characters but multiple people can take turns in battle as well.
Tournament
You can set the number of participating players and CPUs in this mode and the game will automatically create a bracket for the tourney. A total of 32 participants can be added.
Smashdown
A special Smash mode wherein previously selected characters can't be used in succeeding battles so players need to select a new fighter everytime.
Training
Grids and launch distance have been added in the special stage for Training Mode. This will help players determine measure distances and trajectory while performing combos.
Classic
The Single-player Classic Mode returns. Players must face a specific set of fighters and stages in succession.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct
