So here we are,
Nintendo have released Super Smash Brothers: Ultimate,
the latest in their smash-hit, company-wide fighting game series.
The hype leading up to this game was intense, with this being billed
as the definitive game in the franchise, with more stages and
characters than ever before. This is also rumoured to be Sakurai's
last go with this particular property, his swansong, as it were.
So
whilst the Super Smash Brothers games
have always been high-quality, does this particular title live up to
the sheer amount of hype it generated?
For
the most part the answer is yes. There is a general air of quality
about this game, that right from the off, its one of those titles
that makes it seem like the Nintendo seal of quality actually means
something. The the opening cinematic, and the song that accompanies
it, sets a certain beautiful off; and even the main menu is bright
and dynamic. This is a game that is full of energy right from the
beginning, it kind of gets the blood pumping and makes you excited to
play it.
The
graphics are all rich and vibrant, being colourful for the most part;
but even in the darker areas the effect carries over, making even the
deep purples and black seem full of life. This works for the most
part, because of the wide variety of character types in play from a
variety of different series, each with their own distinctive
art-style. So the bright, almost unearthly quality of the visuals,
makes it seem like all the different looking peoples and objects
actually belong in the same world.
The
music is also really nice, being composed of tracks from all of the
games that have characters in the game, including some really cool
remixes; with more that are unlocked through playing the game. You
can also listen to the tracks in one of the menus in the Vault
section, and you also have the option to compose your own playlist
out of your favourite songs. A nice touch is that once the songs
start playing they will continue to play even as you leave the vault,
so you can keep listening to it even as you explore the rest of the
game.
As
is to be expected from previous games, the controls are tight and
responsive, allowing you to respond quickly to unexpected
developments; which is important, as the gameplay is usually manic,
and things can change very suddenly. The only thing I will say is
that sometimes the controls can feel a little too sensitive, making
it difficult to perform minute movements, and sometimes causing to
perform the wrong move. However, this is a minor complaint for the
most part, as it doesn't really impact proceedings too much.
Unfortunately
World of Light, which is the story mode for the game, is where I had
the most problems. Whilst it is certainly creative, and makes good
use of the various different franchises that go into the game, it
feels a little drawn out and long. Since you don't get the choice of
which character you start with, it can tale a long time for you to
unlock the characters you actually like, making the early game feel
like a bit of a chore, an impression not helped by the fact that
there is really no reason for them to force you to start with Kirby,
because there's nothing about the story that compels it. This is
great if your a Kirby fan, but otherwise can be annoying.
Not
to mention the way some of the matches can feel a little unfair,
given how the conditions of the match often effect you but not the
computer-controlled opponent. I personally enjoy challenging and
difficult games, but even I found myself grating my teeth at various
points.
All
of that said however, the the campaign is pretty good overall. There
is a certain amount of depth in how use different spirits to gain
advantages in different matches, and how you have to consider the
spirit's type, along with the actual abilities it has. Not to
mention the gameplay in this game is fun, it's just the extra
conditions around the matches that can be annoying.
Fortunately,
unlocking characters in the game mode has no bearing on unlocking
characters in the rest of the game, as such you can unlock characters
for multiplayer with ever touching World of Light. From what I could
tell there are no particular conditions for unlocking characters, it
mostly seems to be based on the amount of time you've invested in the
game, and the characters that appear seem to be entirely random,
which can be frustrating if you're hunting for a particular
character.
Still,
there is something oddly nice about having a fighting that doesn't
have the entire roster unlocked from the very beginning, like it is
rewarding you for playing. Although, perhaps that is just the
nostalgia talking.
Naturally,
the game also has plenty to do outside of the story mode too.
Classic mode is here, which allows you to take a character through
several stages; and importantly, allows you to choose which character
you play as. There is also the spirit board, which gives the player
a series of matches to choose from, each with their own special
conditions, and this mode gives you a reason to care about the spirit
mechanic outside of the story mode. On top of all that there is of
course, the basic smash mode.
Each
of these modes has extra stuff within them, meaning it does take a
little while in order to explore everything there is to see. This
along with all the stuff there is to unlock, lends the game a lot of
replay value, and combined with the addictive gameplay it means
you'll keep coming back to it.
So
despite a few little problems, this is a very good game with a lot to
recommend it, especially if you're a fan of any of the franchises
involved.
Until
next time ladies and gentlemen, take care of yourselves.
PhoenixAct.
No comments:
Post a Comment