Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.0 Update – Reactions

EDITS:10:27 AM EST: Added written reaction from Spazzy. 11:37: AM EST: embedded the video itself, which we neglected to include.

Joker! Morgana! Mementos! Reused DLC Mii costumes…? Stage Builder! Nintendo’s video on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s 3.0 update – releasing today as of this publication and tomorrow as of this typing – falls into their list of shocking, exciting, out of the blue updates. It’s a sizable increase in the game’s content, adding substantial new modes along with the game’s anticipated downloadable fighter. So, here’s everything.

Fighter Pack #1 (Joker from Persona 5)

NEWCOMER: Joker, previously announced at the Game Awards. He carries adaptable and multifunctional special moves: Gun, the damage-racking Eiha, Grappling Hook, and the unique counter Rebel’s Guard. The latter can help fill up a damage meter that lets Joker summon the persona Arsene, altering his moveset and special moves dramatically for a time. His fellow Phantom Thieves of Heart help out with Joker’s Final Smash All-Out Attack, and his taunts bring out Morgana.
NEW STAGE: Mementos, the recurring dungeon in Persona 5. It features the game’s iconic and hyper-stylized “red on black” art direction, and several of the Phantom Thieves show up on the background.
Music: the game features eleven tracks from Persona 5, 4, and 3. Notably, the music alters the appearance of Mementos, and even Joker’s victory screen, based on its game of origin:
- “Last Surprise” (Persona 5)
- “Beneath the Mask (New Arrangement)” (Persona 5)
- “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There” (Persona 5)
- “Rivers in the Desert” (Persona 5)
- “Our Beginning” (Persona 5)
- “Reach Out to the Truth” (Persona 4)
- “I’ll Face Myself (New Arrangement)” (Persona 4)
- “Time to Make History” (Persona 4 Golden)
- “Mass Destruction” (Persona 3)
- “Battle Hymn of the Soul” (Persona 3)
- “Aria of the Soul (New Arrangement)” (Persona 3)

Downloadable Spirits: The 3.0 update will also add a second specialized Spirit Board, exclusively for spirits added along with downloadable characters. All the ones Joker brings come from Persona 5: Ann Takamaki, Haru Okumura, Morgana, Ryuji Sakamoto, Yusuke Kitigawa, Caroline & Justine, Futaba Sakura, Goro Akechi, Igor (specifically in his P5 art), Makoto Niijima, and the Phantom Thieves. These spirits do not get switched out after a loss or win, possibly suggesting fighters may get their own unique boards so their respective spirits are easier to attain.

All-Out Attack.

Downloadable, paid Mii Fighter costumes are also returning under the name “Extra Mii Fighter Costumes.” Wave One includes:

Morgana Hat (Persona 5)
Persona 4 Protagonist Costume (Persona 4) (Swordfighter)
Teddie Hat (Persona 4)
Persona 3 Protagonist Costume (Persona 3) (Swordfighter)
Tales Costume (Sonic the Hedgehog) (Gunner)
Knuckles Costume (Sonic the Hedgehog) (Brawler)
Pricing for each costume is $0.75 USD
Notably, the Tails and Knuckles costume were paid downloadable costumes in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U. In addition, all the characters on which these costumes are based are owned by SEGA.

Stage Builder returns, usable in both TV and handheld modes (the latter providing access to the touch screen used in Smash for Wii U). There are a variety of new features which differentiate it from the versions of the mode in games past:

Movable parts, as terrain can now turn, flip, and move all in predetermined systems. All of these mechanics have a wealth of options for controlling and manipulating each piece.
A significantly greater array of options for texturing each piece, allowing for much more visually distinct terrain
More stage hazards and parts, at least one of which – a two-way Warp Zone – is unique to Stage Builder out of the regular multiplayer stages
Multiple layers, allowing stages a much more tangible sense of visual depth
At least some (possibly all?) of the backgrounds of the preexisting stages are available to use
A neat random option when choosing amongst custom stages

A Video Editor is also included in the update, bringing with it a fairly good number of options for editing video, sound, music, and subtitles. This connects to an additional mode called Shared Content, a space in which users can now post, look at, and download online material made from other players. These include stages, replays and edited videos, and Mii Fighter designs. Finally, the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app will be launching a new service called Smash World, announced in the November 2018 Direct. It will provide recommended and searchable videos and stages for viewing or downloading onto the game proper.

Video:

Reactions:

I was actually working when the trailer dropped and I got the Twitter notification, immediately blurting out to everyone in the room (90% of which are avid Smash fans) that it dropped. Despite this, I wasn’t able to look at more than a couple photos for a solid hour or two. Having actually watched the 3.0.0 video, I have to say I’m really impressed and excited. Those of you that saw the Joker in Smash discussion I did with Nantenjex and RelaxAlax know that I’ve been incredibly excited for Joker, AKA my most wanted newcomer. I’m really interested in his gimmick and I can’t wait to try him out. I love all of the included references to Personas 3, 4, and 5. The music selections are great, Mementos as a stage looks lots of fun (and changing color schemes based on the music is a nice touch), and the victory animation replicating Persona 5’s is such a great reference! It feels like so much love and attention was put into Joker’s inclusion, and that makes me really happy to see. As for the rest of the update, I’m rather fascinated by the video editing feature, and the stage builder may just be the best we’ve had in Smash yet. Overall, it’s very exciting, and I’m looking forward to getting to play around with everything. If only this wasn’t right around my finals and graduation.

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I DEFINITELY DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! I literally made a meme about it saying Joker wouldn’t come out tonight, but we definitely got news tonight! Joker really reminds me of Bayonetta in terms of gameplay; he looks simple to play but very difficult to master. However, certain aspects of him like his Rebel Guard makes him seem very broken. He’ll probably be very good for 3.0 and then get patched later, or if enough early uproar occurs… His stage, Mementos, although the red messes with my eyes a bit the fact that it changes color based upon the music being played is crazy! Speaking of music, that new “Beneath the Mask” remix is beautiful! I can’t wait to hear the new “I’ll Face Myself” remix and to constantly hear “BABY, BABY, BABY” when listening to “Mass Destruction” from Persona 3. New Mii Fighters are here, but I’m very disappointed in Nintendo for reselling the Tails and Knuckles Mii Fighters that were already DLC in Smash Bros. For. The video editor and stage builder modes, although really cool, I don’t think I’ll use them much. However, I can’t complain about convenience! If you were interested in seeing me scream, I actually did a reaction to the update trailer. After you’re done reading my coworkers’ reactions, check out my video maybe?

What, ya couldn’t get “Life Will Change?”

But I kid. Joker is…he’s almost like a collection of “firsts” for Smash. He’s the first fighter to use a realistic (okay, albeit plastic) gun, he features entirely different kinds of “limit” power and transformation, his gameplay is complex in a variety of ways…even his victory screen is filled with unique details. As much as players (justifiably) dislike Mementos within Persona 5 itself, looking at it makes it clear why Sakurai chose it: he was able to make a stage that was a paean to the striking art style he loves so much. Both of these are seeping with incredible detail, and I think we can suspect Ultimate will be continuing (if not even furthering) the attention to detail Smash For gave to its new content. Persona was given the deluxe treatment, another sign that what new stages and fighters we get will also be bursting at the seems with personality.

Beyond that…? I’m mixed on the Tails and Knuckles thing. The new stage builder looks incredible, though it’s hard to be as excited about it compared to the latest lovingly produced stage. I’m more than happy to be getting additional spirits, both so the DLC fighters can potentially be part of those spirit battles and so we can get more pieces of gaming history. Overall, though, I appreciate the jump to 3.0 being a justifiably huge thing. I can’t imagine future updates being as additive, but it shows how big this game is – and suggests it can get even bigger.

Stage builder is everything. Joker looks alright, I’m not a big Persona fan so I don’t have much attachment to the character, but his mechanics seems interesting, and his style is undeniable. I am a bit worried that he looks like Smash 4 Cloud and Bayonetta has a baby, but I’ll wait to see him in the hands of the players before I start to panic. Mementos looks REALLY cool though. It’s got just the right amount of hazards while maintaining a simple layout…and those sorts of stages tend to be my favorite. Speaking of stages though, stage builder looks so great. I can’t wait to see what sort of creative levels the community comes up with, and I will personally recreate the Dracula’s Castle stage from PM as soon as I get my hands on this. Using actual stage background and having layers changes so much. I just wish we had ice and spike options on top of everything else. Overall, I am super happy with what 3.0 is offering.