Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch Game Review

How does the Switch's Smash Bros stack up?

Reviewed by Max C. on Dec 17, 2018

Rating:

The Nintendo Switch has finally gotten a Super Smash Bros. game of its own. Check out Kidzworld for our review of the latest mascot mashup, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate!

By: Max Cannon

Each entry in the Super Smash Bros. series is immediately essential for that console it's released on. If you have an N64, GameCube, Wii, or Wii U then you'll need to have that system's Smash Bros in your library. Of course, the Nintendo Switch's Smash Bros is fantastic but the massive collection of characters and stages makes this the best entry ever, easily.

World of Light drops players on a massive map.Courtesy of Nintendo

Starting Out in Smash

While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is definitely a fighting-game, Smash feels different to play than any other fighting game out there. When you're playing something like Dragon Ball FighterZ or Injustice 2 you'll be attacking your opponent until their health is empty but the standard mode in Smash has players knocking their opponent off of a stage. When you take damage your character's percentage rises, the higher the percentage then the further you'll launch when attacked. Each character has multiple jumps, attacks, and special moves to help you stay on the stage and push back against your opponent.

Smash Bros. at The Game Awards

What more immediately stands out to newcomers will be the available fighters to choose from. Super Smash Bros. is known for taking characters from video gaming -- mostly, but not exclusively, Nintendo -- and pitting them against one another. The hook of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is that every fighter from the series history is here, if you've ever been able to play as someone in a previous Smash game then they're returning in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Pair this up with the various items, Poké Balls, and assist trophies and Smash represents nearly every major franchise in video game history. That's not including the new characters like Simon Belmont, Ridley, Inkling and more.

Incineroar from Pokémon Sun and Moon joins the fight.Courtesy of Nintendo

The Single Player Story

Most players remember will turn on Smash to experience the game's fantastic multiplayer but the series still has some content for those looking to play by themselves. My favorite piece of solo content is likely Classic Mode which throws your character into a handful of battles before taking on a final boss. Sometimes that boss is simply the series staple Master Hand but other times you'll fight enemies like Ganon from the Legend of Zelda or Dracula from Castlevania. However, the most intriguing piece of single player comes from the game's adventure mode called World of Light or Spirits.

Kirby is the first fighter available in the game's story mode.Courtesy of Nintendo

The story begins with each of the game's characters, aside from Kirby, facing defeat at the hands of a giant monster. Starting out as Kirby, the lone survivor, you'll face off against various enemies in special circumstances as your progress through the giant world. This complicated mode lets you earn spirits, which are basically images of unrepresented characters that give your fighter strengths like stronger jumps or resistance to fire. The fights to earn these spirits fluctuate from overly easy to overly difficult. While the mode is fun, and the ending is pretty crazy, World of Light definitely stands out as the weakest offering in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Assist trophies and Poké Balls keep fights interesting regardless of skill level.Courtesy of Nintendo

Final Thoughts

While the single-player story won't be for everyone, each player can likely find something to love in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This is undoubtedly the best game in the series and an unmatched multiplayer experience. An instant classic and a game that should always be loaded on your Switch.