We’ve had a few days to calm down from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s lengthy appearance in the Nintendo Direct, but in case you were looking for a quick guide to all the things we know about the game, here’s a list:
- The game features a roster of more than 60 characters.
- This includes EVERY character who has ever been in a previous Smash Bros. game.
- That even includes DLC characters.
- There are characters from more than 30 game IPs.
- That means this game is the biggest gaming crossover in history.
- Ridley is totally new for SSBU.
- Inkling is also totally new for SSBU.
- This is a completely new game developed just for Nintendo Switch.
- All moves have been retooled and tweaked, and all characters have been rebalanced.
- GameCube controllers are supported, and adapters and controllers will be re-released.
- All Amiibo figurines are compatible, too.
- Eight-player battles are back.
- Link has his Breath of the Wild costume, and Zelda has her Link Between Worlds costume.
- Super Mario Odyssey’s wedding and building costumes are available for Mario.
- Cloud has both his Advent Children and Final Fantasy 7 costumes.
- Lady Pikachu (and Pikachu Libre) have an adorable heart shaped tail.
- Star Fox and Wolf are now based on their Star Fox Zero appearances.
- Pokemon Trainer can change Pokemon freely and won’t be penalized for not switching (and you can play as a girl trainer).
- Characters with very similar move sets are now called “echo fighters.”
- Waluigi is an assist trophy, so he’s still not a playable character.
- Starting roster might be as small as original N64 game.
- The process for unlocking fighters has been streamlined and popular characters will constantly show up.
- Final smashes are much quicker.
- There are plenty of returning stages: Peach’s Castle, Spirit Train, Frigate Orphan, Green Hill Zone, New Pork City, Big Blue, Wrecking Crew, Mortimer Island and Shadow Moses.
- New stages: Moray Towers from Splatoon and Great Plateau Tower from Breath of the Wild.
- All stages have battlefield and Omega forms now.
- You pick the stage before you pick the fighter.
- Some of the new items: black hole, launch star, and a fake smash ball that will kill you if you hit it.
- In timed battles, the fighter in the lead will sometimes flash.
- You can do directional dodges in air, a feature from Melee.
- Excessive dodges will now make you vulnerable.
- Perfect shield happens when you release the shield button and allows you to counter attack.
- The number of lives left is displayed much larger on the screen.
- Charge attacks can be charged in mid-air, but it makes you vulnerable.
- Short hops can be executed by hitting the A button with your jump.
- You can attack while on a ladder.
- Bandai Namco is working on the game again.
- Available December 7th, 2018.
You can find out more about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate here.
