Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a game in the Super Smash Bros. series for the Nintendo Switch. The game was announced through a teaser trailer in the March 2018 Nintendo Direct, and was released on December 7, 2018.

Gameplay
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate retains the series' basic gameplay elements, with several new mechanics and changes. As with previous installments, the objective of the game is to launch opponents off the stage. Players build each other's damage percentage through attacks, and the higher the percentage, the farther they fly when they are hit. This time, the damage count is in decimal notation, adding a tenth to the number. Additionally, when an opponent is launched, their launch speed is the fastest at the start, unlike in previous games in the series. During 1-on-1 battles, all fighters' attacks deal 1.2x their regular damage and knockback, which is done to "increase gameplay speed." Additionally, characters can use any ground attack out of a run (e.g. standard attacks, tilt attacks, smash attacks), while any aerial attack can be used while climbing a ladder, officially known as a "ladder attack".

Three techniques are also introduced in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: the Directional Air Dodge, Short-Hop Attack, and Perfect Shield. The Directional Air Dodge, a technique carried over from Super Smash Bros. Melee, allows the player to dodge while moving at the direction they tilt, which can also be used for recovery. However, if a player dodges excessively - in the air or on the ground - they become more vulnerable to attacks, and their dodge range becomes shorter as well. The Short-Hop Attack is performed by pressing the attack and jump buttons at the same time, allowing the player to hop a short distance off the ground while performing an air attack; however, all short-hopped aerial attacks deal 0.85x their regular damage. The Perfect Shield can be performed by releasing the shield button just as an opponent attack lands, nullifying the attack.

During a match, the fighter that is in the lead occasionally emits a glimmer of light. If a match enters Sudden Death, unlike in previous games where Bob-ombs begin to drop after a period of time, the screen slowly zooms in on the center of the stage, shrinking the field of view and stage boundary and thereby making it easier for fighters to be KO'd. The Sudden Death mode is visually accompanied by flames that intensify as the screen zooms in on the stage.

As with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also supports Nintendo GameCube controllers.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available in 11 different languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean, all of which are fully voiced.

Smash
Before starting a match, the player can create their own preset rules, such as the number of stocks and time limit, which they can quickly select at any time. In addition to Time and Stock modes, Stamina mode is now a standard mode alongside the aforementioned two, and no longer a part of Special Smash. Stocks can also be added to Stamina mode.

8-Player Smash also returns from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and can now be played on any stage from the start.

A new rule option added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the Final Smash Meter, which appears below each fighter's damage meter and fills up as the player takes damage from opponent attacks, similar to Little Mac's Power Meter. Once it is full, the player can then use a Final Smash. These Final Smashes are weaker than regular Final Smashes obtained from Smash Balls, and like them, only one can be used at a time.

Squad Strike
Squad Strike (Japanese: 団体戦 Dantaisen, Team Competition) is an elimination-style battle mode added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The player can choose between 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 Squad Strikes, which can be carried out with one player on each side playing as three or five characters, or three or five players on each side each playing as one character. In a Squad Strike, both sides battle each other as the three or five characters consecutively in one battle.

Tourney
Tourney returns from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, allowing up to 32 participants to compete. After selecting the number of total participants, number of CPU players and tourney type, the game automatically generates a tournament bracket.

Special Smash
In a new Special Smash mode, Smashdown (Japanese: 全員バトル Zen'in Batoru, All-Members Battle), players enter a series of matches selecting a character for each one. After one match ends, however, the characters used in that match are no longer available for subsequent matches, forcing players to select a different character for the next one.

Classic
Classic mode returns from previous installments, returning to its original format last seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in which the player fights multiple opponents in a linear series of matches to reach the end. This time, each fighter has a set series of opponents to face. At the end of each path, the fighter has a specific boss they are required to fight.

Adventure
The Adventure Mode in this game is called World of Light. In it, a monster called Galeem defeats all the fighters except Kirby, imprisoning them in the eponymous World of Light, where they are cloned and their clones are possessed by spirits, which are the other victims of Galeem's attack. Other than this information, the story has been stated to be open to individual interpretation. It has a board game-like map, and elements and maps based off of various games have been shown; Warp Pipes and ! Switches are noticeable.

Training
Training mode lets players practice and experiment with characters' moves, items and the CPU as well as manipulate gameplay elements (such as game speed and damage), also returning from previous installments. The mode now features an exclusive numbered, grid-like stage, which allows the player to measure distances such as jump height and projectile range. In addition, attacking the CPU fighter with a strong attack shows the trajectory at which they are launched in the form of a green curve, compared with the trajectory if they were launched at 0% damage (a red curve) and 100% damage (a blue curve).

Playable characters
In addition to introducing new characters, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features every previously playable character in the series. Counting Pokémon Trainer and his/her Pokémon as a single fighter and the three Mii Fighter types separately, a total of 74 fighters, including 7 Echo Fighters (characters whose movesets and basic attributes are mostly identical to that of another character, and are represented by an epsilon symbol "ε"), are playable in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate base game. It has also been confirmed that 6 fighters will be released after launch as DLC. The number beside each playable character (excluding Echo Fighters) signifies the order in which they were announced to be playable in the Super Smash Bros. series; in the case of the unlockable characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee, their order is based on the number of Vs. matches required to unlock them in that game. The starting roster consists of the eight starting fighters from the original Super Smash Bros.; the rest of the roster needs to be unlocked.

Newcomers
Thirteen newcomers (five being Echo Fighters) have currently been confirmed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Characters marked with an asterisk (*) are downloadable content.

Stages
Unlike in previous installments, stages are selected before characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. All stages can not only be played in their Final Destination form (known as Omega (Ω) form) as in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, but also in a new Battlefield form, which adds three floating, pass-through platforms. Like the original Final Destination and Battlefield, in both forms for all stages, the stage is set on a large platform floating over an abyss, as opposed to a large pillar with walls leading down to the bottom as is the case with several Omega stages in the previous installments. The player is also given the option to turn off stage hazards.

A new feature added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is Stage Morph, which causes the stage on which players are currently fighting to transform into another stage in the middle of the match. The player can choose two stages for this function, and can also set the frequency at which they transform between each other.

There are 103 stages in the game, all of which are available from the start. The following list is sorted by the original Super Smash Bros. games in which they first appear.

amiibo
It has been confirmed that all previously released amiibo that relate to the playable characters are usable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In addition to this, more amiibo of fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are set to be released in the Super Smash Bros. line. Like in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, amiibo can act as Figure Players (FP) in battle, and amiibo data from the aforementioned games can be transferred to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Spirits can also be used on Figure Players. The following fighters are confirmed to have Super Smash Bros. amiibo based on them to be released:
 * Ice Climbers
 * Young Link
 * Pichu
 * Wolf
 * Inkling (Inkling Girl)
 * Daisy
 * Ridley
 * Simon
 * Richter
 * Chrom
 * Dark Samus
 * King K. Rool
 * Isabelle
 * Ken
 * Incineroar
 * Piranha Plant

Release
A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate-themed Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will be available at launch, which can be purchased individually or as part of a bundle that also includes the game and a black steel case with the flaming Super Smash Bros. emblem seen in the game's March 2018 teaser. A silver 1.5" coin will also be included in the bundle as a bonus item when purchased at.

A bundle containing a specially designed Nintendo Switch console and a download code for the game was released on November 2, 2018, though the download code can't be used until the game's release on December 7, 2018. The console features a design of the original eight Super Smash Bros. series characters on the front of the dock, as well as the Super Smash Bros. symbol printed across the Joy-Con. A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate-edition Nintendo GameCube Controller and the GameCube Controller Adapter previously released for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will also release on the same day.

Differences from previous Super Smash Bros. games

 * Players can now hold their smash attack much longer than in previous games.
 * Players can now select a specific character or Pokémon to emerge from Assist Trophies, Poké Balls, and Master Balls in Training Mode.
 * Palutena's Guidance now has new, unique dialogue for fighters who were DLC characters in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.
 * Pac-Man's Final Smash has been changed, moving continuously left or right while damaging opponents.
 * Bowser's Final Smash has been changed to Giga Bowser Punch, transforming into Giga Bowser and going behind the stage, hitting fighters with a big punch.
 * The textbox font from the previous Super Smash Bros. games is no longer used.

Stages

 * Final Destination in the E3 demo was simply the Omega version of Battlefield, as the final design was not revealed at the time.

Character select screen and alternate costumes

 * Ridley has two alternate costumes based off of Meta Ridley, but they were not present in the demo, instead featuring black and white recolored Ridleys as placeholders.
 * In the demo, Villager's seventh and eighth alternate palette swaps had light skin like in the previous game, while in the final game, they have dark skin. Similarly, the Pokémon Trainer's seventh palette swap had light skin, but was changed to dark skin in the final game.
 * In the E3 demo, Sonic's fourth alternate costume used a pale blue shade of fur rather than white fur like in the previous game. This has since been fixed.
 * In the E3 demo of the game, Mario, Pikachu, Villager, and Link's portraits used their in-game models as opposed to the renders made for them in the game. This has since been fixed.
 * However, Link's hat in the Tunic of the Wild costume was pointed toward the top right, while in his official render, it goes behind his head and is pointed to the left.
 * In the demo, the Ice Climbers on the character select screen always showed Popo in the front. The final game would show Nana in the front for the 5th-8th alternate costumes.
 * Wario's buttons on his overalls in the E3 video were gold, as opposed to their usual white. However, in his default overalls artwork, they are white.
 * A pre-release image of Luigi in his Waluigi inspired costume has the "L" colored green. In the final game, it is colored purple, just like Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Victory themes

 * Mario's victory theme used the full theme as with the previous games in the demo. In the final game, it is slightly abridged in the end.
 * Fire Emblem victory themes used the same tempo as the previous games in the demo. In the final game, it is sped up.
 * The Legend of Zelda characters, Pokémon characters and the Ice Climbers used their respective victory theme originating from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In the final game, they each receive new victory themes which are shorter versions of the originals (the Legend of Zelda characters' uses a new arrangement altogether).
 * Ness used his standard victory theme from Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, while in the final game, he and Lucas receive a new one based off of the final two of the Eight Melodies from EarthBound.
 * In the demo, Corrin used the normal Fire Emblem victory theme with Marth and Ike, while in the final game, they have a unique victory theme, based off of "Lost in Thoughts All Alone" from Fire Emblem Fates.
 * Ridley's victory theme sounds different in the demo compared to the final game.

Gameplay

 * In Rosalina's character showcase video, her Final Smash Power Star took on the appearance of a Power Star just like in the previous game. However, in the actual game, the Final Smash now uses a Grand Star.
 * In Pikachu's character showcase video, Mr. Game & Watch could be seen in normal form when using his forward smash based off of Fire Attack. In the final game, he takes on the appearance of the characters from Fire Attack just like many of his other moves.
 * This had the unintended side effect of attracting criticism for its portrayal of a Native American stereotype (itself sourced from the original version of Fire Attack). Nintendo of America responded to the criticism by removing the feather via an update patch, similar to a previous change in its re-release in Game & Watch Gallery 4.
 * During Olimar's character showcase video, his Final Smash End of Day did not show visible Bulborbs even though the chomping sound effects and visuals could be heard and seen. This was fixed in the final game.
 * In the E3 demo, Ike did not speak during his victory poses.
 * In Roy's character showcase video, he is seen with a new dashing animation, but in the final build of the game, he reuses his old dashing animation from the previous game.
 * During Luigi's character showcase trailer, Dr. Mario's Super Sheet uses Mario's Cape animation, rather than the new animation specific to Dr. Mario.
 * When King K. Rool used his Final Smash Blast-O-Matic in the early builds of the game, the target(s) would take damage before the laser actually hit Donkey Kong Island. This was later fixed.
 * King K. Rool's Super Smash Blog entry on the official website refers to his down special move as "Stomach Attack." This would be changed to Gut Check in the final game.

References to other games

 * Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong and Lady appear as a spirit. A new medley of songs from this game, "Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr.", is featured.
 * Donkey Kong Jr.: Donkey Kong Jr. appears as a spirit using his artwork from this game. A new medley of songs from this game, "Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr.", is featured.
 * Mario Bros.: Sidestepper appears as a spirit.
 * Donkey Kong 3: Stanley appears as a spirit.
 * Wrecking Crew: A new medley of the main background music and Golden Hammer theme from this game appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Eggplant Man appears as a spirit using its sprite from this game.
 * Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: One of Simon Belmont's teaser screencaps depicts him about to use his Axe special attack on Bowser, indirectly alluding to how Bowser in the classic games was defeated with an axe destroying the bridge. Piranha Plant's green costume resembles its appearance in this game. Additionally, its blue costume resembles its appearance in underground levels.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2: Wart and Mouser appear as spirits. An arrangement of the overworld theme is featured.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: Arrangements of the overworld theme, regular boss battle theme and Bowser's battle theme appear in the game.
 * Super Mario Land: Tatanga appears as a spirit.
 * Super Mario World: Chargin' Chuck appears as a spirit using artwork from this game.
 * Mario Paint: The flies and hand from Gnat Attack appear as an Assist Trophy.
 * Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3: Wario's Dash Attack that debuted in this game now appears as his new dash attack. Wario's down throw now reflects the animation of the Ground Pound that debuted in this game as well.
 * Donkey Kong Country: One of K. Rool's attacks involves throwing his crown as a boomerang, like in this game. A Klaptrap appears as an Assist Trophy, having the same behavior as in this game. It also appears as a spirit using its artwork from this game. A medley of "Bonus Room Blitz" (the Bonus Area theme) and "Simian Segue" (the map theme) and an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" appear in the game. In addition, King K. Rool's gameplay trailer's opening segment features him aboard a ship in a reference to Gangplank Galleon. Winky the Frog appears as a spirit, using artwork from this game. "Funky's Fugue" and "Ice Cave Chant" are available as tracks.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Bowser's appearance during his Final Smash is based on Baby Bowser's boss battle.
 * Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest: One of K. Rool's attacks involves shooting with the blunderbuss he has in this game, and when he does so he dons a pirate hat like in his appearance as Kaptain K. Rool. Rattly the Rattlesnake, Kaptain K. Rool, and Swanky Kong appear as spirits using their artwork from this game. Crocodile Cacophony (Kaptain K. Rool's boss battle theme) gets a remix in this game as well.
 * Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars: Geno appears as both a spirit and a Battle Arena counter icon.
 * Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!: One of K. Rool's attacks involves using his helicopter pack from this game. Artwork of Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong in the Hover Craft appears as Dixie Kong's enhanced spirit.
 * Yoshi's Story: Don Bongo appears as a spirit.
 * Mario Golf (Game Boy Color): Kid appears as a spirit using his artwork from this game.
 * Donkey Kong 64: One of K. Rool's attacks involves using his boxing gloves from this game, and his Final Smash recreates the Game Over scene involving the Blast-o-Matic being fired from Crocodile Isle at Donkey Kong Island. Tiny Kong and Lanky Kong appear as spirits using their artwork from this game.
 * Paper Mario series: Piranha Plant takes on the colors of a Putrid Piranha for one of its attacks where it spews poison. Additionally, Piranha Plant's black costume resembles the Pale Piranha and its blue costume resembles the Frost Piranha. Paper Mario and Kammy Koopa also appear as spirits.
 * Wario Land 4: Princess Shokora appears as a spirit.
 * Luigi's Mansion / Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon: Simon Belmont's debut trailer has Luigi being present in Dracula's Castle and attempting to ward off various ghostly creatures inside, alluding to the premise of the games. A new arrangement of the main theme from the former game appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Polterpup and Professor Elvin Gadd appear as spirits using their artwork from the latter game. The Poltergust 5000 from the latter game appears as a spirit.
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee: In the, Luigi is seen doing the Green Missile above the other characters, just like in the from this game. Yoshi's Final Smash is based on a scene from this game's opening.
 * Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3: Baby Mario appears as a spirit, using artwork from this game.
 * Super Mario Sunshine: An arrangement of Delfino Plaza's music appears in the game. Piantas, a Shine Sprite, and F.L.U.D.D. appear as spirits using their artwork from this game.
 * Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: Baby Mario and Baby Luigi's artwork is used for the Goo-Goo Buggy spirit.
 * Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: The Shadow Queen, in her form when possessing Peach, appears as a spirit.
 * Yoshi Topsy-Turvy: Tap-Tap appears as a spirit, using its artwork from this game.
 * Donkey Kong Jungle Beat: Donkey Kong's Final Smash is based on his combo punch attacks in this game. Karate Kong and Ninja Kong appear as spirits.
 * Donkey Konga: King K. Rool's opening animation is taken from this game.
 * Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix: Mario's down smash animation has been changed from the Sweep Kick move to his breakdance from this game.
 * Super Princess Peach: Perry appears as a spirit.
 * Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: Princess Shroob appears as a spirit.
 * New Super Mario Bros.: Lakitu and Spiny appear as a spirit, using their artwork from this game.
 * Wario: Master of Disguise: Count Cannoli appears as a spirit.
 * Mario Strikers Charged: Petey Piranha and Waluigi appear as spirits using their artwork from this game.
 * Mario Party 8: Daisy has a spirit using her artwork from this game. MC Ballyhoo and Big Top also appear as a spirit.
 * DK: Jungle Climber: Zinger appears as a spirit using its artwork from this game.
 * Donkey Kong Barrel Blast: Kip appears as a spirit.
 * Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2: A Grand Star appears in Rosalina & Luma's Final Smash. The Launch Star, which is renamed Super Launch Star, appears as an item. The music that plays in the Melty Monster Galaxy is playable. Piranha Plant becomes a Spiny Piranha Plant when using its forward smash. Rock Mario, Lubba, and the Starship Mario appear as spirits.
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Petey Piranha's appearance is derived from his appearance in this game, where he holds cages. Galleom reappears as a boss in the World of Light: Adventure Mode, while the Ancient Minister, the Fighting Alloy Team, Shadow Bug and a Primid appear as spirits.
 * Wario Land: Shake It!: Captain Syrup and the Shake King appears as a spirit using artwork from this game.
 * Bird & Beans: Pyoro appears as a spirit using his artwork from this game.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns: Rambi the Rhino, Cranky Kong, and Squawks the Parrot appear as spirits using their artwork from this game.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: Boom Boom and Pom Pom appear as a spirit using their artwork from this game.
 * Mario Kart 7: One of Daisy's taunts matches the artwork pose she originally had from this game. Metal Mario's B Dasher appears as a spirit.
 * New Super Mario Bros. U: Boo and Hammer Bro appear as spirits using their artwork from this game. Nabbit appears as a spirit.
 * Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: Antasma and Prince Dreambert appear as spirits.
 * Super Mario 3D World: Piranha Plant is in a pot for half of its costumes, resembling the Potted Piranha Plant. Cat Mario and Plessie appear as spirits.
 * Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: Dixie Kong and Lord Fredrik appear as spirits using their artwork from this game.
 * Yoshi's New Island: An arrangement of this game's main theme appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Yoshi carrying Baby Mario and a Mega Eggdozer, the Stork, and Little Mouser appear as spirits using artwork from this game.
 * Mario Golf: World Tour: One of Daisy's victory animations is inspired by her birdie animation from this game.
 * Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Luigi's Mach 8 appears as a spirit. The music for Ice Ice Outpost is available as a track.
 * Super Smash Bros. for Wii U: Big Urchin appears as a spirit using its trophy render from this game.
 * Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: Shy Guy appears as a spirit using its artwork from this game.
 * Mario Party 10: Yoshi has a new victory animation based on his 2nd-place winning animation from this game.
 * Yoshi's Woolly World: Yarn Yoshi and Yarn Poochy appear as spirits.
 * Super Mario Maker: Mario has a new costume based on his builder outfit from this game.
 * Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash: "Classic Tennis", a song in this game, is playable.
 * Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam: Paper Bowser appears as a Battle Arena counter icon. The papercraft battle theme also appears in the game.
 * Paper Mario: Color Splash: Paper Mario's spirit artwork comes from this game, albeit with the white outline removed. Huey also appears as a spirit. The battle theme from this game appears as a selectable song.
 * Mario Sports Superstars: "Kingdom Stadium: Night", a song in this game, is featured.
 * Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Rabbid Peach, Mega Rabbid Kong (named "Rabbid Kong") , and Rabbid Mario appear as spirits.
 * Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions: A song played during Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser battles is featured.
 * Super Mario Odyssey: Cappy makes an appearance as Mario's cap; one of Mario's new taunts features him tossing Cappy. Cappy also appears as a spirit. Occasionally, Mario's Super Jump Punch will feature the regional coins found in the Metro Kingdom in place of the standard coins, and plays the same sound effect as the one that plays when a new regional coin is collected. New Donk City Hall appears as a stage. Mario has a new costume based on his wedding tuxedo. The Odyssey and Bowser (wearing his wedding attire) appear as spirits.
 * Mario Tennis Aces: Luigi has a spirit using his artwork from this game.
 * WarioWare Gold: Wario, 5-Volt, 9-Volt, 18-Volt, Ashley, Dr. Crygor, Dribble and Spitz, Fronk, Jimmy T., Kat and Ana, Mona, Orbulon, and Young Cricket appear as spirits, using their artwork from this game.
 * Super Mario Party: King Bob-omb appears as a spirit using his artwork from this game.
 * Luigi's Mansion 3: Luigi's new Poltergust was first shown off during Simon and Richter's reveal trailer, boasting its new design and the ability to fire plungers, and is used in his grab and throws. It also appears as a spirit.
 * Yoshi's Crafted World: Yoshi has a new costume based on his appearance from this game.

Trivia

 * On the German cover for the game, Yoshi was omitted from the boxart in order to fit the USK rating in the bottom left corner, while Pikachu, who was placed lower than Yoshi, was moved up due to its greater popularity.
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the seventh Mario-related game to receive a PEGI 12+ rating in Europe, being preceded by the four prior Super Smash Bros. installments and the Virtual Console releases of Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros.
 * Decimals have always been used for damage calculations since Super Smash Bros. Melee, but the damage percentages were always displayed as an integer on-screen. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the first time that decimal notations are shown in-game.