Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Ridley Me This)

It was a swerve that WWE would have been proud of, I don't think anyone expected it but for all the wrong reasons. I'd have to say I'm disappointed just because it's not an exciting reveal, I'm sure the character will be good to use but as already mentioned it's just not good for variety.

Cuphead as a Mii costume was great at least although they've missed a trick not doing a stage for it.

To really do a cuphead stage justice they'd have to put a filter or new look on the characters too.

JayMoyles wrote:

Ach, I think the character looks like they'll be fun to play and that's what counts at the end of the day, right?

I disagree, partly. With Smash I think there's a balance to be struck between the fan impact of the character and their playability, and I honestly think that it should skew slightly towards the latter. I suppose that's the difference between viewing the games from the perspective of Fighting Game Master Jay and Nintendo Funtime Fan Balla.

That said, with Olimar and such, you don't have to play as them (ignoring the fact that Olimar is interesting and different and I'm sure some people love his miserable style); whereas from a design perspective you can't avoid that, from playing against them casually online or with mates to tournaments. You will see that design. (That's why the 'you don't have to play as them' argument doesn't hold water from a design perspective for me, even if Random wasn't the best character anyway.)

Treesmurf wrote:

Cuphead as a Mii costume was great at least although they've missed a trick not doing a stage for it.

Same applies to Sans.

I think there's a middle ground, for sure, but I think a well made and fun to play character can trump them not being the most exciting reveal. For example, take Banjo - I really found Banjo to be a bit shite to play as all told, but I know the impact of that character means a lot to so many. However, I'd genuinely not miss him if he didn't turn up in the next Smash game because I don't find him fun to play. On the flipside, a character like Terry ended up being one of my favourites of the fighter pass even though he's not a massive gaming icon because of how fun that character was to play. I'd now miss him if he didn't make it to the next Smash game.

It's meant to be a game after all, not a series of reveals and moments. I think people sometimes put too much stock in the importance of having a big crazy reveal.

Mmm... nah, I'd still miss Olimar more than Lucas (my main). Smash has always been half-fighting game half-fanservice extravaganza half-party game (don't quibble about my maths, SSBU is definitely the size of one and a half games), and whereas you might see the fighting side more, I see the fanservice side more. Much like the memes help make Untitled Goose Game, the reveals do feed into the SSBU 'experience'.

I suppose I'd probably feel differently if I spent several thousand hours on the game (I originally had 'hundred' - I have definitely spent several hundred hours on the game ), and a fair proportion of them were spent either playing Olimar or gitting gud with a few 'mains'. I haven't done that since that days of Brawl though: instead I like to play through the Classics and one-player modes, and then have the odd showdown with mates. For that, having the ability to play as ZOMG BANJO definitely beats out Byleth.

Speaking of Untitled Goose Game in the Smash Bros thread... I'd love the Goose to be an assist trophy, it can just waddle about stealing all the items and then legging it away from the fighters.

Treesmurf wrote:

Speaking of Untitled Goose Game in the Smash Bros thread... I'd love the Goose to be an assist trophy, it can just waddle about stealing all the items and then legging it away from the fighters.

At the risk of artificially increasing my post count... this. That goose has transcended video games.

I have never bothered about this and you're both right. Much though I don't care for third-party contributions, I wouldn't mind seeing a few more indie references. Their characters tend to look more interesting to be honest.

Well Shovel Knight made it in there so there's scope for to to happen.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/no_smash_ultimate_dlc_expected_beyond_fighters_pass_2_no_future_smash_games_planned

That this is the last set of fighters for SSBU shouldn't be a surprise to anybody really. That it might be the last Smash game... well, that's something else. Or maybe they'll just finally allow Sakurai to work on a different project? Bane.jpg

There's no new Smash game being planned yet because we're nowhere near close to the Switch's successor.

I do genuinely think this will be Sakurai's last Smash game. We're definitely getting another Smash, but I think he'll be taking a break from the series.

Will he let them carry on without him, though? I'm a little concerned he'll try and throw himself back into the fray as soon as he gets the chance. Don't let him, Nintendo!

I hope he tackles another game in between Smash titles, at the very least. He'll have been working on Smash constantly for nearly ten years by this point. Get him on a Kid Icarus for Switch and give him a change of pace.