I think I’m in the same boat as a lot of other players when it comes to my overwhelming excitement for theNintendo Switch 2. Despite its somewhat somber unveiling that was hampered by a plethora of leaks,I still had this giddy feeling watching the announcement trailer that I hadn’t felt since the reveal of the original Switch. Even now, weeks after the Switch 2 trailer was released, my mind is still racing over what Nintendo’s latest console will have to offer, especially when it comes to the games.
There’s no doubt that Nintendo will be pulling out all the stops when it comes tothe Switch 2’s software lineup, with the company’s most popular franchises almost guaranteed to make an appearance. It’s not hard to see why:the original Switch managed to cultivate one of the greatest libraries of games in the company’s history, placing huge expectations on the new console to maintain this quality. While I’m confident that Nintendo will achieve this, there’s one series I’m concerned about making its way to the Switch 2, as it feels like the franchise has given everything it can offer.
Super Smash Bros. Is One Of My Favorite Nintendo Series
The Series Has Always Been Ambitious
My first introduction toSuper Smash Bros.was on the Wii with the series' third entry, subtitledBrawl. Admittedly, I was drawn to the game based purely on the all-star roster thatBrawlboasted, including the likes of Mario and Link. As a child, I was much more likely to go towards games that included characters I knew rather than for the contents itself, andBrawlwas no exception. Yet,I don’t think anything could have prepared me for how this game captivated me in the way it did, or how it would begin a lifelong adoration for the series.
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What I’ve always admired aboutSmash Bros.is its ambition. This is most evident in how the series incorporates its star-studded roster, as almost every character is given a unique moveset, comprised of actions that hearken back to that character’s respective franchise. Moreover, each game continuously expands on previous entries to provide a more substantial experience, whether that beBrawland its thrilling Subspace Emissary campaign, or the Wii U title and its utterly chaotic 8-player battles.Smash Bros.consistently pushes itself beyond what players could expect, offering a diverse, creative experience thatvery few series can offer.
There are a few select characters across theSmash Bros.series that have similar or nearly identical movesets.Super Smash Bros. Ultimateaddressed these similarities, labeling certain characters with similar movesets as Echo fighters.
It quickly dawned on me thatSmash Bros.was something special. It’s a series that’s always striving to expand and reinvent itself, with new modes, characters, and stages that give each game its own identity. FromBrawlonwards,I would constantly be waiting for the nextSmash Bros.game to make an appearance, following along with every rumor, leak, or announcement with a keen eye. I was ready for whateverSmash Bros.had in store, because I knew it would be something different and more ambitious than what came before.
Smash Ultimate Exceeded My Expectations
The Game Feels Like A Conclusion To The Series
Then came the release ofSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatein 2018. The latest entry in the series is undoubtedly the biggest and most ambitiousSmash Bros.game to date, serving as a celebration of the entire franchise up to that point.Not only doesUltimate’s roster incorporate all fighters who have appeared in previous entries, but the game also includes beloved features from past titles, from an entirely original story mode to the return of 8-player Smash battles.
It’s difficult to quantify just how muchUltimatemeans to me. While I was always confident that the game would continue to build on what previousSmash Bros.titles had established,I was completely blown away by the levels of passion and love that oozed out of every part ofUltimate, whether that be through gameplay or presentation. During countless hours exploring everythingUltimatehad to offer, my love for the series only grew stronger, resulting in a truly unforgettable experience.
I couldn’t help but look atUltimateas not just a celebration of the series, but also as a conclusion.
However, during my time withUltimate, I found it difficult to ignore the underlying message that the game was trying to communicate. The gargantuan amount of content on offer, combined with the huge levels of fan service, mostly thanks to the inclusion of long-awaited characters such as Banjo-Kazooie and Sora fromKingdom Hearts,givesUltimatethis undercurrent of finality while playing. When all was said and done, I couldn’t help but look atUltimateas not just a celebration of the series, but also as a conclusion.
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Ultimatefeels like the game that theSmash Bros.series has built up to from the start. The game’s incorporation of the best stages, modes, and features from across the series, alongside its new inclusions such as Spirits, are presented in such a way that impliesUltimatehas reached the absolute limit of whatSmash Bros.can offer. It’s in the name itself:Ultimateis the quintessentialSmash Bros.game, offering a substantial, complete experience that no other entry could provide.
I’m Worried The Next Smash Game Won’t Be As Special
A New Entry On Switch 2 Couldn’t Compete With Ultimate
Yet, with all this in mind, I highly doubt that a newSmash Bros.game won’t be made forSwitch 2 during its lifespan. Not only does each major Nintendo console receive its own entry,but withSmash Bros.being one of the company’s most successful franchises, the Switch 2 will almost certainly receive its own title, regardless of howUltimatemay have presented itself. And that’s what worries me.
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Details of what the Nintendo Switch 2 can actually do are somewhat scare at the moment, but there’s one thing it could do to surpass the first Switch.
The announcement of a newSmash Bros.entry for Switch 2 will still come with the same expectations given to previous games about how the latest title will expand the series. But with a game as complete and creatively exhaustive asUltimate, I’m worried that this potential newSmash Bros.game will fail to offer anything new or inventive to the table. And if the game fails to live up to those high expectations,it could tarnish one of the most beloved series in Nintendo’s catalog.
In an interview withThe Vergeback in 2021,Smash Bros.series director Masahiro Sakurai stated that the next Smash Bros. game would need a smaller roster compared toUltimate.
I have a huge amount of admiration forSuper Smash Bros., and I will always be interested in what the series does next. That being said,Ultimatewas everything that I could have possibly wanted out of aSmash Bros.game, andI no longer have that same excitement and anticipation over a potential new entry as I used to. While the inevitable next game on Switch 2 will still be entertaining, I’m unsure that it will possess the same spark that made the previousSmash Bros.games so special.
