Introduction to Smash Character Review

Welcome to the Smash Ultimate Character Review. In this series, brought to you by no one because who would sponsor this, Bloggin Hood will review each character in Smash Ultimate, a daunting task for anyone without a crippling addiction for Nintendo products. This series will review important topics like best costume, taunt, and the most stylish moves in the character’s arsenal to embarrass opponents. It’ll also discuss less important topics, like best moves, character strength and weaknesses, and overall play style. If you survive the boring stuff, you’ll know just how to play to be the biggest baller online with a Kill Death Ratio at -3.

This all comes from a casual player’s mindset. While I’m not a button mashing new player with no concept of the shield button and I understand what profession players are talking about, I myself am not a professional. In fact, I’m all thumbs. I can’t input a combo, a combo breaker, or even a C stick Smash. It’s not pretty. Therefore, don’t expect these to be a technical discussion, or a high level player giving tips and tricks. I’m writing these for the people who follow-up their Kirby Rock Form with a second Rock Form. I’m writing to the players that go out of their way to pick Star Fox and say “Pew Pew Pew” as he slams the B button like it owes him rent money. And yes, I write to you, the heavyweight characters who spam smash attacks hoping for the best. There may be some real content in here, but only because I back doored my way into it.

Before we begin, I’ll like to list what categories we’ll be covering for each character, so there’s no questions from the audience after the first entry is released.

Who am I kidding, there will definitely be questions about what I’m talking about. I’ll blame the reading comprehension.

Character Gimmick – After our introduction to the character, we’ll discuss if said character has a gimmick. This could be character defining (Inking’s Paint, Cloud’s Limit Meter), or somewhat irrelevant (King K Rool’s Crown, Link Recovering his arrow). If someone doesn’t have a gimmick, which is a lot of the veteran cast, I might pitch an idea, or just complain about it and other things. I mean, baseball is coming up. Plenty to complain about.

Playstyle – The general way to play a character. There’s a little leeway, but most fighting games, Smash included, have archetypes that they fall into – Speed, rush down, Projectile, Aerial, Ground and Pound, Heavyweight, ect. You get the idea. Some characters fall into multiple categories, but the vast majority of the cast all has a specific style.

Costumes – I’m not going to go through 8 costumes because nobody got time for that. Instead, I’m going to talk about the best costumes available. Some characters have great costumes. Shulk doesn’t wear a shirt in one of his for some reason. I think they forgot to design it. For those into Smash for the fashion, and I know there’s at least three of you, here’s the section for you.

Taunts – Did you know taunting is banned in on-line play? Disgusting and offensive! Taunting was used in the vast majority of my Duck Hunt Dog Combos.

Like before, I’m not going in detail about each taunt. Just the standout ones, in both directions. If a particular taunt, sucks a fat one, I’m going to make sure you all know about it. God forbid you actually get a kill, and then taunt something embarrassing. You might as well put the controller down and leave at that point.

If you’re playing in your own house, this is a serious issue. You could lose your deed Don’t take taunts lightly.

Speed & Mobility – I decided to cover these in the same category because they are closely related. A character like Wario and Jigglypuff are great examples. Neither character have much ground speed, but in the air, they move around much quicker, especially Jigglypuff, covering up their slow running speed. Some characters have attacks that cover a ton of ground and make up for bad foot speed. This is why you can’t just rank speed, otherwise we wouldn’t need to talk about anyone but Sonic. Nobody wants to talk about Sonic.

Projectiles – Sounds pretty basic, but it’s important to discuss not just shooting projectiles, but defending against them. Characters who pack reflectors and counters can manuever around a barrage of them make up for not having a good one. Characters with a bad projectile are worse off here than those with a reflector of sorts. Lord help the characters without either. We’re looking at you Donkey Kong.

Recovery and Edge Guarding – In Smash 4, unless you were Ike, Ganondorf or Little Mac, you made it back to the stage unless you hit the blast zone, or got spiked. In this game, recovery is not guaranteed. Most characters recoveries were nerfed, which I think was a change for the better. Having a good recovery, with more options than just Jump, Up B, and hope, is crucial.

Equally crucial is defending against recoveries. Quick aerials, projectiles and spikes are incredibly important. Pushing back characters just a tiny bit can have an impact, whereas in Smash 4, it was a minor convenience. The edge game might be at its biggest importance since Melee, so having tools here makes for a strong character.

Ground Game – Straightforward, but how good are the character’s tools on the ground. Let’s put it this way – you probably aren’t beating Little Mac on the ground, but how far off his tool kit is the character in question.

Air Game – Also straightforward, but how good is the character’s tools in the air. Let’s put it this way – you can’t physically lose to Little Mac in the air, unless your controller is unplugged and your character actively dives into his flailing arms. But, just how much better is the character tool kit than Little Mac in the air?

Power – How much effort does it take to kill with your character if you land smashes and powerful aerials. Forget practicality – we just want pure, unabated strength. Typically, this is where the heavyweights reign, in an attempt to balance getting juggled from 0-95% by most of the viable cast.

Most Stylish Move – I don’t care if it’s impossible to hit, this is the character’s coolest move. It could very well be viable, but this is discussion for the move that when you hit, you have to taunt the opposition. Use liberally, unless you’re some kind of loser who likes to win games.

Moves to Focus On – This will be a rapid fire listing of the character’s best five moves. Rapid fire is always in the eyes of the beholder of course. This can be any of the characters 5 moves – jab, tilt, aerials, smashes, and specials.

Overall – The big summation. Not just do I believe the character is good, but is he or she fun? Isn’t that the point. Shouldn’t the character be fun to use? Now, my opinion on a character wo n’t mirror yours. There are characters I might deem “meh” that are quite fun for you. That’s ok. We’re allowed to have different opinions. You’re also allowed to flame me in the comments.

Look for Smash Character Reviews to drop periodically on the site. I will not hold to a schedule, but this should have regular updates in between the “reflections” Series and other spur of the moment posts that come to me. I can say the first entry will arrive soon.

No, this doesn’t count as the first entry.