Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch is the biggest crossover in gaming history, with an incredible number of franchises included. Pokémon is especially well represented, with more Pokémon fighters, stages, and homages than ever before.
Every fighter in Super Smash Bros. history returns to the fray in this impressive installment, and the series’ colorful cast of Pokémon is no exception. Alongside series mainstays Pikachu and Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Pichu, Lucario, Greninja, and Pokémon Trainer—who can send Squirtle, Ivysaur, or Charizard into battle—all make their return, and newcomer Incineroar enters the ring to outwrestle the competition! Striking a pose after successful attacks, the ferocious Fire- and Dark-type Pokémon gets up close and personal to unleash moves like Darkest Lariat, Cross Chop, and Revenge.
Nearly every Pokémon-themed stage makes its return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, too, including Saffron City, which hasn’t been seen since the original Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64. The main area of this stage is nestled between two skyscrapers, and Pokémon appear from the doorway of the Silph Co. building at the center of the level. Other returning locales include the Spear Pillar level, making its first appearance since its debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and both Pokémon Stadium stages.
Spirits
New to the series are spirits—game characters that can be equipped to your fighter before battle to enable special powers and give your fighter a boost. There are over 150 Pokémon spirits to discover in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, each offering an enhancement derived from that Pokémon’s signature abilities. Defeating a given character-themed challenge will unlock the spirit that inspired it, or you can scan compatible amiibo figures (such as the oversized Detective Pikachu amiibo) to obtain select spirits. You can even unlock a Partner Pikachu or Partner Eevee spirit by having save data from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! on your Nintendo Switch. Level up certain spirits to unleash their hidden potential—such as Kangaskhan, which can be enhanced into Mega Kangaskhan—and tinker with different spirit combinations to develop supereffective strategies.
As with previous entries in the series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also includes a number of Pokémon that emerge from Poké Balls and Master Balls that players can pick up and use in battle. Over 50 can appear this time around, and Pokémon originally discovered in the Alola region as well as Alolan regional variant Pokémon make their debut. One example is Alolan Exeggutor, which will divide the stage with its long neck. Also watch out for Mimikyu, which will snatch and engulf a nearby opponent with its Let’s Snuggle Forever Z-Move. If the victim ends up with enough damage after the attack, they’ll be instantly KO’d!
The game also features a myriad of music tracks from throughout the Pokémon video game series. Jam out to arrangements of iconic tunes as you face off with your favorite fighters!
Whether you’re a veteran Super Smash Bros. player or this is your first foray, this entry in the popular series is the ultimate one so far for a Pokémon fan.
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