Nintendo released its final video presentation for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate before the game launches for Nintendo Switch on Dec. 7. The 40-minute Nintendo Direct reveals many of the new modes, fighters, and gameplay features of the major video game crossover event.
Here are some of the highlights revealed in the video:
- HadoKEN!: Hailing from the Street Fighter series, Ryu’s rival Ken joins the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster as an echo fighter. This version of Ken is based on his appearance in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. While he has some similar moves to Ryu, Ken is a slightly faster fighter and has a different shaped Hadoken.
- Incineroar: Incineroar, the advanced evolution of Litten, is the final fighter to join the battle before the game’s launch. The pocket monster made his first appearance in the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Incineroar uses pro-wrestling moves, culminating in an epic Final Smash called Max Malicious Moonsault, based on his Z-Move from the Pokémon games.
- Spirits: In the world of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, many video game characters lose their forms and become spirits that serve as a power-up of sorts for a player’s main playable fighter. There is a massive number of wildly different spirits, including Chibi-Robo, Dr. Wily, Tails, Revolver Ocelot, and more. Players can equip primary and support spirits to power up or add additional abilities such as speed or strength to their fighter during battles. Mixing and matching spirits will help players get the upper hand against certain opponents, adding quite a bit of strategy to battles. Equipping a spirit is similar to equipping a charm or accessory in an RPG. It’s a way for players to enjoy a massive amount of additional video game characters outside of selecting them as playable fighters.
- Spirit Battles: The main way to acquire spirits is to win Spirit Battles. After winning a Spirit Battle, players will have to complete a roulette challenge to acquire that spirit.
- Leveling Up Spirits: Players can level up spirits when battling with them by their side, giving them extra power and sometimes unlocking enhanced forms. The more leveled up and trained spirits are, the more powerful and useful they are.
- Spirit Combinations: With a large amount of spirits in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, thousands of combinations can be formed. The game will offer recommendations for primary and support spirits, making the selection process a little bit easier.
- DLC: New fighters, stages, and music will be coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate through the end of February 2020 in the form of paid DLC. For $5.99, players can purchase one set, which includes a new playable fighter (not an Echo Fighter), a new stage, and a variety of music tracks. Or, with the purchase of a Fighters Pass for $24.99, players will get access to five not-yet-announced sets, which includes five new fighters, five stages, and multiple music tracks as they release. Players who purchase a Fighters Pass will also receive an in-game outfit based on Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 starting Dec. 7.
- Early Purchase Bonus: Piranha Plant, an enemy from the Super Mario series, is coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for early purchasers. Players can purchase the digital version of the game or register their physical game card on a Nintendo Switch device by Jan. 31 to gain access to this new fighter when it is available in February at no additional cost. Piranha Plant, together with a new stage and music tracks, will be available for purchase as DLC in the future. Fans can pre-purchase the game and secure the Piranha Plant reward starting today by visiting nintendo.com/buy/.
- New amiibo: All the new fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate—including DLC— will get their own amiibo figures. This includes Ken, Incineroar, and Piranha Plant, as well as the recently announced Simon Belmont and King K. Rool. The currently scheduled release timing is as follows, with details about future figures on the way:
- Inkling, Ridley and Wolf: Dec. 7.
- King K. Rool, Ice Climbers, and Piranha Plant: Feb. 15.
- Isabelle, Pichu, Ken, Young Link, and Daisy: 2019
- Adventure Mode: World of Light: Something has caused the numerous video game characters in the game to lose their bodies and transform into spirits but Masahiro Sakurai, the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, wants to keep parts of this new adventure mode secret until the game launches!
- Assist Trophies: In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, assist trophies assist players in battle. Each assist trophy is based on a recognizable video game character and unleashes a variety of different powers, both offensive and defensive. There are 59 assist trophies in the game, representing characters including Guile from the Street Fighter series, Isaac from the Golden Sun RPGs, the Fly Swatter from Mario Paint, and Spring Man from ARMS.
- Mii Fighters: When playing as a Mii Fighter, players can customize their outfits and voice options. Some new Mii Fighter outfits have also been added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- Wireless and Online Play: Players can battle together with friends and family members via local wireless or online. “For Fun” and “For Glory,” which existed in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, are no longer options. Instead, matchmaking is based on three factors: Preferred Rules, which lets players choose their rules for battle and pair up with others with similar preferences; Global Smash Power, an online leaderboard that pits players against others with a similar score; and Proximity, players who are close to each other geographically.
- Two-Player Co-op: When playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online, two players can team up on one Nintendo Switch system online and take on other teams with the same setup.
- Smartphone Features: Players can voice chat with others in battle arenas with the Nintendo Switch Online app on smartphones. A mobile service called Smash World is also being developed. Instead of focusing on stats, the new service allows players to post and watch videos, as well as other fun features.
- Elite Smash: Once a player’s Global Smash Power is high enough, she or he will be invited to compete in elite, VIP, super competitive in-game battles.
- Smash Tag: Everyone who competes online will need to create a unique Smash Tag. By beating a fellow fighter, players will receive their Smash Tag to display on their profile. Collecting a bunch of Smash Tags is a great way to show off high-level Super Smash Bros. Ultimate accomplishments.
- Short Messages: Players can select pre-determined short messages, assign them to the control pad, and send them to other players before and after battles. The game offers a wide selection of varied preset messages.
- Spectator Mode: As in previous games, players can watch other players battle in Spectator Mode to analyze battles and learn new strategies and techniques.
- Background Matchmaking: Players can play other modes while they search for an online battle. Not every mode will be available while waiting, but it’s a way for players to keep occupied between online battles.
- Battle Arenas: Players can create custom battle arenas when playing online that allow them to compete against other players in a more intimate setting. In a battle arena, there are options to join a battle, wait in line, or spectate.
My Nintendo members who pre-purchase the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game in Nintendo eShop or on nintendo.com will earn a bonus of 300, or double, Gold Points in the game, which will be issued on the game’s launch day. This limited-time offer runs now through Dec. 6.
Watch the full presentation below!
