Super Smash Bros: Why We Love It

Special thanks to Curmudgeon Film Talk for providing the drawing

Super Smash Bros (1999-) is a franchise that is quite hard to explain to some people (specifically people called The Curmudgeon). It’s both a fantastically designed fighting game and a subliminal marketing ploy to endear you to more Nintendo franchises. Nonetheless, with my belated acquisition of a switch, Smash Bros Ultimate (2018) has been a real comfort during these trying times. With this and Animal Crossing (2001-), Nintendo’s an undisputed master of comfort games. After The Curmudgeon’s piece on New Horizons (2020), I thought I’d talk about a Nintendo franchise that has brought me such joy.

So. Many. Characters!

The Super Smash Bros franchise is basically the answer to “who would win in a fight? Nintendo franchise A or Nintendo franchises B-Z?” All of Nintendo’s mascots and their entourage are at your disposal with one goal in mind: Death! 

Or just...defeat in friendly combat...

As of the N64, there’s been a Smash game for every generation of consoles. It started with just 12 characters and grew, bringing in side characters, outside guests, obscure gems and upcoming franchises. Smash Ultimate brought back every character that ever featured in the franchise, no matter how small or disposable they were.

How many are there now?

Only 72 are shown here, but more are coming... Much more...

At the very least, it provides a sense of wonder that there are loosening limits on who can be added to the game. You’ve got the classics like Mario, Link, Pikachu, Samus Aran etc. However, it’s opened the gates for more overlooked franchises like Fire Emblem (1990-) and Earthbound (1994). It served as a gateway to introduce these franchises to most of the West. Even franchises like Metal Gear (1987-), Bayonetta (2009-), Castlevania (1986-), hell, even Animal Crossing get in on the action.

Smash, like Nintendo as a whole, recently embraced DLC. Smash's DLC provides new characters, typically from outside franchises or forgotten classics. The 7 of you who have read my FFVII (1997) review know that Cloud Strife joined the roster, but other positive examples include Joker from Persona 5 (2017) and the iconic Banjo Kazooie (1998) duo. Of course there have been some that have received criticism, such as Corrin and Byleth, the protagonists of the recent Fire Emblem games Fates (2015) & Three Houses (2019) respectively. This led to criticism from the community as it made Smash seem less like a Hall of Fame of Nintendo’s best characters and more of an advertisement for new releases. Smash was already like that to an extent, but this felt like it was pushing it since they were so recent. But in the grand scheme of DLC blunders, this is relatively minor and works well in building excitement for the possibilities. Everybody has their own opinion on who they want to join Smash next.

Personally I’m banking on Professor Layton (2007-). 

Make it happen Nintendo! If they can put Phoenix Wright in Marvel vs Capcom (1996-), you can put Layton in Smash.

You can also turn your Miis (your Nintendo avatars) into playable characters with customisable move types. Some have complained about them since their customisable movesets make them less predictable, making them unfair to go against them. However, none of their moves are particularly outlandish from one another. You can naturally presume the Mii Gunner class will use ranged moves and the Mii Brawler will be close quarters. Plus it’s always a laugh to see the Mii fighters people create. While playing online I’ve fought Naruto, Donald Trump and a man with a gaping anus for a face. Ah the imagination of our generation. They weren’t too popular for a while until their outfits can now be customised to look like a select amount of indie darling characters, from Cuphead (2017) to Sans from Undertale (2015).

I do find it strange that I am the only person who enjoys playing as themselves, but that’s NPD for you.

Does it sound like too many characters? Don’t worry - you only need to learn about 2 to get the gist. The characters in Smash play with the same controls, just with different special abilities. Each character has a smash attack (“A” button) and special attacks (“B” button). Smash attacks are always the same: you hit or charge up a powerful attack in the direction you want. Specials vary from character to character, - for example, Mario throws a tiny fireball and uses F.L.U.D.D from Super Mario Sunshine (2002) to push enemies away, while Link makes use of his bows, bombs and boomerangs. Then there’s the legendary Falcon Punch from Captain Falcon, memified to the point of internet immortality. 

We salute you, cap.

You’ll get used to them all as they’re easy to pick up, especially in comparison to other fighting games. You learn the basics of one character, you learn essentially all of them. Some can jump more, some can counter and reflect, but the essentials are the same from character to character. While most fighting games might condition you into specialising in a single character - Mortal Kombat (1992) is guilty - Smash encourages experimentation and variation with its uniform controls throughout a wide plethora of fighters.

To compare, the process for a new character in MK is:

1. Pick a character.
2. Practice for a while, get used to the special attacks and button sequences.
3. Look online for common combos.
4. Spend days learning off by heart.
5. Fight online only to die instantly.

Meanwhile, Smash’s process is:

1. Pick a character.
2. Try out their smash attacks and specials. 
3. Fight online only to die instantly.

It's much simpler and provides a quicker pathway to dying instantly. Yay!

The Percentage Mechanic

I’ve heard befuddlement at the game’s percentage mechanic that it uses instead of a health bar. For those unaware, the aim of the game isn’t to deplete the opponent’s health bar as it would be for MK, Street Fighter (1987-), Injustice (2017-) etc, but to knock your opponent(s) off the screen. With that you have a percentage value that increase with every hit you take. A higher percentage means that attacks will make you fly further back. 

Then you’ll get to a point where your percentage is so high, even a tiny flick will send you flying across the screen. What this enables is for a greater range of tactics. Take the aforementioned slow characters, for instance. They may move at a reduced pace, but they also have a higher chance to knock opponents off the screen with their attacks. Additionally, it means players have to account for the environment, utilising areas of the map that are away from the edge, or cordoned-off so even if you get hit with a high percentage, your chances of flying off are reduced. It’s a unique integration of the maps themselves into the experience.

We can also observe how the percentage system affects tactics with individual characters. For example, take Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles (2010). Shulk's neutral-special move has him equip a temporary buff, each with strengths and drawbacks.

One will deal more damage but won’t push the enemy further, and vice-versa for the other. The percentage system allows for the creation of unique combat abilities like this.

The Niggles

There are flaws to the franchise of course. Many have said the tiny characters can be difficult to see, especially with the game’s frenetic pacing. This can be amended through several means, you can choose to play on smaller stages (or what are coined “Omega stages”), limit the amount of players or if push comes to shove, choose a distinct colour option for your character. You’d be surprised how distinctive your tiny character can be with a good colour makeover.

Love the yellow cape. Matches his eyes.

There’s also the issue that some characters are just clones of others. Given the possibilities for new characters to add to the game, having characters that are basically identical to the ones that already exist seems like a waste. They would fit better as a character skin instead of having a whole slot in the character roster dedicated to them.

Bunch a’ posers.

To Conclude

It’s undeniable; Smash is crazy and hectic with its sheer quantity of characters, environments and items, but in a good way that’s hard to get out of once you’re in. And aside from those few fans that inevitably take it too far, you’ll have a great time with friends and even bond with your family, once you smash them off the screen. So enjoy it in any way you see fit. If it’s not your thing, it's not your thing. But if you’re just looking for a calamity of a game to get into, Smash is a good place to start.

Seriously though Nintendo, you put Wii Fit Trainer in before Professor goddamn Layton?

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Did someone mention Animal Crossing? Well yeah, I did. 

If you're interested in it, then have a read of Animal Crossing: A Kids' Game for Adults by The Curmudgeon!

Or, another suggestion, check out more of Green Ornstein's content.