Fighting games haven’t really ever gone out of fashion – just look at how well Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7, Injustice 2 and Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite have performed recently for proof of that. However, for all their success not one of them has felt quite as timeless as Super Smash Bros.
A fighting game with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach? If you’re not a fan of the series (yet) then it’s a pretty barmy idea at first glance, but spend a few rounds brawling your way through a four-player showdown and you’ll be forever convinced of its unique brilliance.
You can imagine, then, just how much the Super Smash Bros community wants a new entry in the series, particularly now that the Nintendo Switch is consistently proving itself to be a system worth investing in.
Super Smash Bros has featured on most of Nintendo’s major systems (including Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Wii, Wii U and 3DS) so it's nice to see that it's been confirmed for the Switch, especially with such potent eSports potential.
[Update: E3 2018 and Nintendo's big Direct are right around the corner and we know Super Smash Bros will be a big focus for this year. TechRadar will be reporting live from E3, so make sure you keep checking back for the latest and greatest news around Super Smash Bros as soon as it happens.]
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The highly anticipated fifth entry in the Nintendo fighting game series
- When can I play it? 2018
- What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch will be its next home, although a 3DS version could follow (as it did with Super Smash Bros 4)
Super Smash Bros – release date
Following the Nintendo Direct teaser, we know Super Smash Bros is coming at some point in 2018, though we can't be sure exactly when. It seems likely that we'll see more about the game at this year's E3 in June, before a release comes towards the end of the year.
We’ve already got Metroid Prime 4 booked for this year, so it would make sense for Nintendo to slate Super Smash Bros Switch at a reasonable distance from it to ensure the handheld/tabletop console can keep rolling out new games you won’t find on PS4, Xbox One or PC and massively bolster the console's second year.
Super Smash Bros – trailers
So far the only trailer we have is the teaser from the March Nintendo Direct but it's a good one. You can watch it below:
Super Smash Bros – news and rumors
Coming to E3
Good news for those excited about Super Smash Bros: it looks like the game will be the star of Nintendo's E3 show. Nintendo has confirmed that its annual E3 Direct will be taking place on June 12 at 9am PT/ 5pm BST and that Super Smash Bros will feature both in that and in the Treehouse Live gameplay demonstration that follows. Not only that, the game will be the center of Nintendo's show floor, where fans will get the chance to go hands on with it.
Marcus Sellars rumors
Now that Super Smash Bros has been confirmed the rumors about which characters will make an appearance are everywhere. The latest is from industry insider Marcus Sellars, who claims on Twitter that the Ice Climbers will return and that the game will include a two-player coop story mode.
Though we'd recommend taking these rumors with a pinch of salt, it's worth noting that Sellars has been on the money a few times recently, accurately reporting on Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and Dark Souls Remastered.
Masahiro Sakurai is on board
The series creator of Super Smash Bros, Masahiro Sakurai, has confirmed that he is working on the newly announced Nintendo Switch title.
Sakurai said in a tweet (via Siliconera) that he's been "quietly working on it day after day" asking for fans to "please wait until we can reveal its content, or until the time of its release!!"
Sakurai's involvement is unsurprising but promising given that he's been involved with every other Super Smash Bros release.
A confirmation
Nintendo confirmed that Super Smash Bros would be coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2018 during its March 8 Nintendo Direct. It didn't, however, give any more information than this.
A port or something more?
There are two schools of thought when it comes to what the next Super Smash Bros might be. One argument says the next entry will likely be a ‘deluxe’ re-release of Super Smash Bros 4 (the one that appeared simultaneously on Wii U and 3DS in 2014).
This is based on Nintendo’s decision to re-release Mario Kart 8 (which originally arrived on Wii U in 2014) as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch. The same thing happened with Pokkén Tournament, which debuted on Wii U in 2016 before dropping on Switch this year with a similar complete edition earlier this year.
Taking this approach would be an easier and faster way for Nintendo and developer Bandai Namco Games to release a Super Smash Bros Switch as the base game is already there. Adding new content would make the game seem fresh and exciting, and it'd also justify slapping on another big price tag.
Bundling in new characters and stages (much in the same way Nintendo included fresh racers for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) would be a great way to sell a remastered version, as would including new skins for the current 58 characters on the roster. Gearing these skins around recent Switch/3DS releases (such as Link’s new look for Breath Of The Wild and Mario’s revealing attire for Odyssey) would also make a lot of sense.
The other argument is that Super Smash Bros Switch would be a brand new entry, built from the ground up for Switch. The new console is the most powerful bit of hardware Nintendo has ever released, so offering a bespoke entry just for Switch would make the next Super Smash Bros entry extra special and a much more attractive sell to new and existing players.
The recent teaser trailer certainly suggests we're looking at a brand new entry rather than any kind of port, especially given new characters (the inklings from Splatoon and Link) appear.
At this point, though, we can't be 100% sure whether this is a re-skin or a brand new entry but we can't wait to find out.
Super Smash Bros Switch - which characters will appear?
As we mentioned, the previous entry in the series had 58 characters (including on-disc ones and DLC) so we'd expect to see a similarly big number this time around.
There are plenty of characters that have become staples in the series (such as Mario, Peach, Captain Falco and Kirby) and others (such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Ryu and Pac-Man) that have come and gone over the years.
After the recent trailer we know at the very least that the Inklings from Splatoon 2 and Link from The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild will appear. We'd also love to see Rex and Pyra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The meme-inducing popularity suggest Breath Of The Wild’s Prince Sidon could get appearance alongside Nipha. We’d love to see the new version of Zelda, too, considering how well-received her makeover was.
We could see some off-the-wall additions as well. Could Skyrim's arrival on Nintendo Switch mean we’ll see the classic look of the Dovahkiin in the new Smash Bros? Those dragon shouts would certainly come in useful.
Then again, now that we know Crash Bandicoot is coming to the console we'd love to see him appear in game. His wild spin is made for Smash Bros and we can see a TNT-themed special move.
We certainly wouldn't be surprised to see the Rabbid rabbits after the success of their joint venture with Mario in 2017.
Naturally fans have characters they'd love to see appear in the game. One character who's been a top request for years now is Dragon Ball Z's Goku and demands are making the rounds again. This time, however, Funimation is in on the act and the company has even sent a tweet to Nintendo asking when Goku will make his debut.
Another character request is a more recent one but we love it just as much - LaboMan. Inspired by the small cardboard man who appeared in the trailer for the upcoming Nintendo Labo accessory, Javed L Sterritt designed LaboMan and animated him for a Smash Bros appearance. His main move would be to sling the Joy-Con on his back at enemies but he'll also be able to transform into the Labo piano for a super smash. LaboMan would be a different addition to the roster but an adorable and on-brand one to be sure.
Will there be eSports?
eSports is an ever-growing field and Super Smash Bros would certainly be an excellent title for Nintendo to make a splash. The videos of fans screaming at the game's announcement make it clear there would be an audience for competitive Smash Bros and it'd be a great way to show what Nintendo's full online service can do when it launches in September.
More significantly, Japan has started to reduce the regulations around paid tournaments which has stopped eSports flourishing in the country so it's possible that Nintendo may warm to this kind of play.
However, Nintendo has historically been rather cautious when it comes to eSports and it's unlikely the company would wish to alienate the players who have no interest in the genre. However, times are rapidly changing and online streaming is becoming intricately tied with a game's success - just look at PUBG, Fortnite and Sea of Thieves. Super Smash Bros is looking likely to be the title that will see Nintendo to start taking the genre more seriously, particularly as earlier versions of the game are already being used in eSports in the US.
- E3 is the world's largest exhibition for the games industry, stuffed full of the latest and greatest games and gaming hardware. TechRadar will be reporting live from Los Angeles all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated E3 2018 hub to see all the latest news from the show.
June 05, 2018 at 07:59PM
Emma Boyle
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