"Smash Bros." is the perfect franchise
By Andrea Andres | Nov 21 2018
Super Smash Bros has introduced an incredible range of characters who duke it out in a series of unique stages with constantly-changing items at their disposal. Players are spoiled for choice with the sheer amount of characters from both Nintendo and third-party franchises such as Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Street Fighter. This makes Smash the perfect franchise to allow your imagination to run wild with eccentric matchups. Any game that allows Donkey Kong and Pikachu to go head-to-head is an instant classic.Unthinkable characters like Isabelle from Animal Crossing and Wii Fit Trainer are somehow slotted into a ragtag cast of characters and are some of the most beloved
The creative team and creator of Smash, Masahiro Sakurai, is what helped Smash become a perfect franchise. The fruits of their labour are obvious from the polished stages to the creative move-sets they give each character, even characters that would never survive a fighting game. Unthinkable characters like Isabelle from Animal Crossing and Wii Fit Trainer are somehow slotted into a ragtag cast of characters and are some of the most beloved.Super Smash Bros has some obscure characters. Ever heard of Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles? Now you know through Smash. No idea who Marth from the Fire Emblem series is? It’s okay, Smash has piqued your interest now. Smash has saved some series from the depths of forgotten, virtually unknown franchises and put unfamiliar series in the limelight. A prime example is Pit from the Kid Icarus series. The first game was released to Nintendo Entertainment in 1986. Its sequel Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters was released in 1991 on Game Boy. After 1991, the franchise went into radio silence. Pit was introduced once again in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) with a major redesign for the modern era. Kid Icarus: Uprising was then created as the third instalment to the series, and garnered positive reviews. No other franchise can introduce unfamiliar franchises to a wider audience like Smash can.Smash has saved some series from the depths of forgotten, virtually unknown franchises and put unfamiliar series in the limelight
Another testament to the creativity of the game is its gameplay. Most fighting games require you to deplete an opponent's health bar. In Smash, players have a damage meter and inflicting attacks causes the damage meter to rise and once it is high enough you can launch your opponents out of the screen. This makes the gameplay more complex. You must think about combos to build up damage against your opponents, and you have to devise strategies as to how to get back to the stage if you are knocked off. It is an original concept within its genre and no other fighting game has come up with an idea as unique.Smash has room for everyone; whether you’re a casual, all-item, Final Smash kind of player; or a hardcore, no items, Fox only, Final Destination kind of guy. It has cultivated and sustained a competitive community ever since Melee. It is a widely played game in many tournaments such as EVO with its own top players. Smash, with its diverse cast, ability to rescue unknown franchises, unique gameplay, and accommodation for all skill levels, is a magnum opus. A franchise couldn’t get anymore perfect than Smash.