Friday, January 12, 2018

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch?


This is a simple follow-up to my post about Super Smash Bros. for NX from September 2016. Nintendo keeps porting their games, so why should I not port some of my posts...?

With the announced Definitive Edition of Hyrule Warriors in mind, it becomes even more likely that Super Smash Bros. 4 will also see a similar "Definitive Edition" on the Nintendo Switch, which combines the contents of both Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. It's a no-brainer, really, and I already expected this last year during E3, where they might have saved this for 2018 instead.

The key points still stand:

  • All DLC included.
  • All Stages from both the Wii U and the 3DS version in HD graphics.
  • A new mode replacing the Smash Run & Tour modes, e.g. an Adventure Mode more akin to the Subspace Emissary.
  • Custom moves for the current DLC characters.
  • Expanded Stage Editor.

I would also expect a couple "new" characters added on top of that. Here are the likeliest candidates:

  • Inkling(s)
  • Ice Climbers
  • Wolf

The Ice Climbers were cut due to hardware limitations of the Nintendo 3DS, but those wouldn't apply to the Nintendo Switch version anymore, where the new characters most likely would become exclusives. Wolf would be a simple clone returner similar to Lucas. Nothing too special, but it would make the roster feel even more complete. And the Inkling(s) from Splatoon seem like a popular candidate, where it would be nice to have more than just Mii costumes, especially since Miis aren't a big feature on the Switch anymore.

Here are some more candidates, where some of them might make it into the port:

  • Captain Toad
  • Dixie Kong
  • Ivysaur
  • Rex (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)
  • Spring Man / Ribbon Girl
  • Squirtle
  • Sylux

They might bring back Ivysaur and Squirtle for the same reason as Wolf. Last year I already had Sylux in mind as a possible promotion for Metroid Prime 4. And the Metroid franchise certainly needs another character at some point, since Ridley never fit in.

Overall I wouldn't expect too much here, but it probably will be enough to the get most hardcore fans to buy the game for a third time. But I guess that there are several "interesting" additions that would be possible, e.g. Captain Toad, Dixie Kong or characters from ARMS.

Unlike with Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, there probably will be quite a few features that won't make the final cut: both the Smash Run and Smash Tour modes are likely to be replaced, the Street Smash mode will be gone, as well as all Miiverse functionality (but that's dead anyway).

2 comments:

Richie said...

See, I can meet you halfway here. Agree that they'll take Smash Wii U as a base, remastering 3DS-exclusive elements into the mix and filling the holes caused by DLC delivery, such as the missing custom moves, integration of the johnny come latelys into Event Match, or meatier trophy and music representation for Street Fighter and Final Fantasy (Bayo's fine in this aspect though).

But I predict they won't stop there. No, I foresee them including enough new content to make this THE Switch's Smash for its lifetime. For Smash Bros can't be compared to other Wii U ports coming, not even to Mario Kart, which previous to the Switch was also a One Per Console sorta deal. This is because, unlike the rest of the games returning, Smash thrives on reflecting the company's latest. It's a mirror to the present of Nintendo whenever it releases. Kart, DK, Bayo, Hyrule, Pokken...all get to stay in their own self-contained verseS, which Smash -feeds- from. This is especially true of the upcoming installment, because BOTW, Odyssey, and of course the Switch in general, have been so impactful as to give Nintendo the most mainstream recognition it's had since the Wii era! Realizing that, I just can't see Smash Switch ditching the opportunity to reference these newfound glory days. It will, I'm confident of it. We'll see.

Also, hell of a blog you got here. Consider me a regular from now on.

TourianTourist said...

Hey there, thanks for the input!

Anyway, I get your point and this is why I added the Inklings to my list in the first place. There need to be some new and up-to-date characters. I suppose, it's also possible to see a character from AMRS and/or Xenoblade Chronicles 2. And I updated my post accordingly!

However, that being said, Smash isn't exactly known for being always super up-to-date. Often the "new" content in a Smash game was from the previous generation. Plus, iirc, Sakurai is currently working on a different project, so such a port will most likely be done by Bandai Namco alone.