A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sequel Must Better Justify One Feature

A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sequel Must Better Justify One Feature

As a seasoned gamer with a lifetime of Smash Bros experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Echo Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate were a fun addition to the roster, but they could use some tweaking if they return in the next game. While Daisy’s flower motifs and Dark Samus’ Phazon effects were cool, it often felt like I was playing with slightly different-looking versions of Peach and Samus.


In the potential next installment of “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”, a particular feature might require additional refinement if it’s included again. It’s important to note that “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is the largest game in the series thus far, boasting every character from previous games and more. However, with the series known for continuous development, there are specific areas where growth could be emphasized in the next game. Despite being in its fifth iteration, “Super Smash Bros.” still has potential for enhancement, and the upcoming game could focus on improving one aspect that was present in “Ultimate”.

Following Sora’s addition to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster as part of the Fighter Pass, the game boasted a grand total of 86 playable characters, outshining its predecessors in this aspect. The diverse array of fighters ranged from swift and agile to powerful and heavy-handed, catering to an extensive range of playstyles. This extensive roster also welcomed characters from a vast array of franchises, enhancing the game’s overall appeal. It remains challenging for the upcoming Super Smash Bros. title to replicate Ultimate’s roster in terms of size. Given the series’ history, it’s tough not to anticipate that the next Super Smash Bros. installment could outdo itself once more.

Super Smash Bros.’ Echo Fighters Need More of an Identity In the Next Game

Echo Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Mimic Existing Fighters

Incorporating Echo Fighters into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate introduced a fresh element to its growing cast. Echo Fighters are characters whose move sets are primarily borrowed from another similar character on the team, such as Daisy being an echo of Peach, Dark Samus being an echo of Samus, and so forth. Upon release, Echo Fighters were met with some controversy because they don’t make significant changes to their base characters despite occupying individual slots, leading some to view them as redundant. However, with seven Echo Fighters in the game, they represent less than a tenth of the roster overall.

In the initial game, Luigi’s moveset bore a striking resemblance to Mario’s. Over time, it has developed distinctly from Mario’s, and characters like these who emulate another character’s moves could be considered as predecessors of the Echo Fighters.

Echo Fighters Can Feel Too Derivative of Their Inspirations

The most prominent issue with Echo Fighters is one of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s bigger roster flaws. Since Echo Fighters play so similarly to the character that they’re based on, they can feel like glorified skins. There are some mechanical changes, like Lucina and Chrom not sharing Marth and Roy’s sweet spot mechanic. However, the movesets themselves are typically near-identical outside of some aesthetic differences, such as Daisy incorporating flower motifs into Peach’s moves. The next Super Smash Bros. can do a lot more to make these Echo Fighters more distinct from the originals, hopefully turning them into even more exciting combatants.

Most Echoes Have Pools of Inspiration to Draw From For More Moves

It’s great to see that many of the Echo Fighters in Ultimate already have paths for evolution. For instance, Dark Samus’ moves in Super Smash Bros. are visually influenced by Phazon, suggesting that future games might diverge from Samus’ standard moveset and instead focus on creating entirely Phazon-themed moves. Similarly, with Richter hailing from the Castlevania series, which boasts a wide variety of subweapons, it would be fitting to modify some of his moveset to set him apart from Simon. Ken is already heading in the right direction by offering several command moves to distinguish himself from Ryu; however, it’s crucial to prioritize even more unique moves for the Echo Fighters in Super Smash Bros.

In the game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Echo Fighters offered valuable additions to the roster, yet they could benefit from additional features. The upcoming Super Smash Bros. is certain to present challenges, and creating the roster will be one of them, particularly following Ultimate’s impressive lineup. This might put the Echo Fighters in a challenging situation. To ensure their return appearances, it may be crucial to add more distinct characteristics to the Echoes. Doing so could provide the next Super Smash Bros. with a reason to solidify the position of Echo Fighters on their own terms.

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2024-10-27 17:09