Ten Biggest Changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Super Smash Bros Ultimate is just around the corner, releasing on December 7^th. As it stands, we’re incredibly excited for the massive overall that the ultimate entry in this storied series. While this is the 5^th entry in the long-running franchise, it looks poised to shake things up in a big way. Why is everyone so excited, you may ask? Well, let’s answer that by looking at the ten biggest changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate! These are the ten ways this new entry improves upon its predecessors.

Ten Biggest Changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Boss Characters

Photo Credit: Too Much Gaming

The first big change coming to the newest version of the game is the introduction of boss characters. While Brawl had boss characters in its single-player campaign, the Subspace Emissary, Ultimate has a different take. It seems like the boss characters can randomly appear on certain stages. Notable bosses include Rathalos, from Monster Hunter, and Dracula, of Castlevania fame.

Perfect Shield

Photo Credit: Smashpedia

A new layer of tactical depth is coming to the game by way of the Perfect Shield. This technique allows a defensive player to take an offensive player off their pattern. By releasing the shield button right as an attack lands, you’ll stagger your attacker. This gives you a second to really bring the pain!

Faster Duels

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One-on-one duels are rarely a quick affair in Smash. In fact, we’d go so far as to say, in previous games, they were sort of a slog. Thankfully, this time around the duels will be much faster. In one-on-one battles, damage and launch power will be increased. This allows for the fights to stay quick and tense without speeding up big, chaotic multiplayer battles.

Battlefield Stages

Photo Credit: Smash Bros

In the fourth entry, Smash Bros for Wii U, there was an option for “Omega” stages. Omega stages turn the stage into a version of Final Destination, the totally flat arena. Now, Omega stages are joined by Battlefield stages. Battlefield is a neutral stage that includes three platforms and a wide, flat plane. This game has something for everyone!

Directional Air Dodge and Short Hops

Photo Credit: Giant Bomb

New movement abilities are a win-win for a game like Smash. Introducing high-level concepts like movement manipulation and gap closing to more casual players is good for everyone! As such, the new directional air dodge mechanic is a huge step in the right direction. Likewise, short hops, which are fast, aerial gap closers that incorporate a short attack, have been baked into every character’s moveset.

Dash Canceling

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Another advanced movement technique that’s been baked into the base mechanics is dash canceling. This is the technique by which you cancel a dash with a smash attack on the move. It looks cool, saves you frames and puts you on the offensive!

Character Meters, etc.

Photo Credit: Smashpedia

A general quality of life update, this new feature is much requested. Characters’ unique meters and mechanics are being streamlined and added to their character portraits. Examples include Cloud’s Limit Meter, Shulk’s Monado Arts and Robin’s Spell Meter. These are neat, helpful little upgrades to the UI that make the more complex characters more easily visually identified. Great little touches, gang!

Lead Indicator

Photo Credit: Science Fiction

It’s often hard to tell who’s in the lead in a chaotic Smash battle. Between the flashy effects, crazy combat and wacky items, the leader can get lost in the shuffle. In Ultimate, however, that’s changing: now, the person in the lead will have a flashing golden symbol to indicate how they’re doing. This works like a target on the back of whoever is doing the best. If you’re going to be on top, get ready for the heat!

Stage Selection

Photo Credit: Reddit

This is a huge change! Stage selection comes before character select now! That’s a huge change from previous games. As you well know, different characters are stronger on different stages. As such, this change adds a huge amount of tactical depth to character selection. Do you go with your better character, or the one more well-suited to the chosen map? These changes have us itching to jump into the game!

Everyone is Here

Photo Credit: CNET

That’s right: every single character for each previous iteration of Smash Bros is here! That’s a huge roster of playable fighters. Wolf, Pichu, Snake and other characters from past games are making comebacks. Additionally, several characters with weird rights issues, like Mega Man, Pac Man and Sonic are back in the mix. We’re excited for this huge roster, which is joined by the likes of Ridley, King K. Rool, Simon and Richter Belmont and the Squid Kids from Splatoon! The list just goes on and on!