Tag: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

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Super Smash Bros. creator starts YouTube channel about game development

Legendary game developer Masahiro Sakurai has started his own gaming-centric YouTube channel.

As the name suggests, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games” follows the Super Smash Bros. creator as he explores the ins and outs of game development in both Japanese and English (subtitles). He says the channel is intended to be approachable for both game developers and fans alike, and each video will be ad-free and roughly two to five minutes long to offer easily digestible “bite-sized” explainers.

In his videos, Sakurai will draw from his extensive portfolio, including the Smash Bros., Kirby and Kid Icarus series, as well as a slew of other games from across the industry. Notably, Sakurai says he’s been given permission by Nintendo to include design documents from his work on Super Smash Bros., although the Japanese gaming giant is otherwise unaffiliated with the channel.

At the time of writing, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games has already hit 170,000 subscribers with three published videos. The first introduces the channel, the second unpacks his creative works and the third focuses on the concept of “Hit Stops” (using delays like slow-motion to enhance the impact of specific gameplay moments).

Since December 2019, Sakurai has been using his personal Twitter account to share entertaining images from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that were taken with a special developer camera. With the last of these photos being posted on August 22nd, Sakurai has decided to launch the YouTube channel.

It’s certainly a tantalizing project. Over the past few decades, Sakurai has become a beloved figure in the gaming industry, with fans especially loving his passionate and charming fighter breakdown videos for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. With those coming to an end last October with the game’s final DLC character, Kingdom Hearts‘ Sora, Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games offers a new way for fans to engage with the prolific game developer.

Image credit: Nintendo

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s final DLC character is Kingdom Hearts’ Sora

Nintendo has unveiled the final downloadable fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Sora from Kingdom Hearts.

was revealed during an ongoing ‘Mr. Sakurai Presents’ stream hosted by Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai.

The reveal event for the final DLC character was first teased during the September Nintendo Direct, leading speculation to run particularly rampant in the weeks since. Sora had been trending for days since that first tease, and Sakurai confirmed that he was one of the most requested characters from the ballot for the fourth Smash Bros. on the Wii U and 3DS.

In terms of gameplay, Sora sports moves from several of the Kingdom Hearts‘ games, including his classic three-hit Keyblade combos, as well as special moves like Sonic Blade for horizontal and vertical thrusts and magic spells like Firaga and Thundaga.

His stage, meanwhile, is Hollow Bastion, which featured Beauty and the Beast characters in the original games but doesn’t here (presumably due to licensing with Disney). Sora also has alternate outfits based on his looks from Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts III and more. Meanwhile, he’ll come with 9 songs, including “Night of Fate,” “Hand in Hand” and “Destati.”

And, of course, here’s Kirby’s look when he absorbs Sora:

Sora will release on October 18th alongside three Mii Fighter outfits: Doom‘s Doom Slayer, Judd the Cat and Splatoon‘s Octoling.

Sora rounds out Ultimate‘s Fighters Pass Vol. 2, which costs $37.79 CAD and includes Min-Min (Arms), Steve (Minecraft), Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII), Pyra and Mythra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2) and Kazuya (Tekken). Meanwhile, the first Fighters Pass is priced at $31.49 and includes Joker (Persona 5), Hero (Dragon Quest), Banjo-Kazooie (Banjo-Kazooie), Terry (King of Fighters) and Byleth (Fire Emblem: Three Houses). A 12th DLC fighter, Mario‘s Piranha Plant, is sold separately for $7.55.

Since launching in December 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has gone onto become the best-selling fighting game of all time and of the Switch’s flagship titles. Therefore, Sora marks the end of a quite the era.

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How to watch the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter reveal

After nearly three years, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is set to receive one last downloadable fighter.

The identity of this character will be revealed today at 7am PT/10am ET in a “Mr. Sakurai Presents” stream on Nintendo’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.

Altogether, the presentation will run for about 40 minutes and feature Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai as he details the fighter’s moveset and release date, as well as the last wave of Mii Fighter costumes. On Twitter, Sakurai teased that Smash Bros. players and general gaming fans alike should tune in.

With Ultimate‘s extensive representation of both first-party Nintendo properties and third-party franchises, the game has been viewed as a “celebration of gaming” by many. It’s also the best-selling fighting game of all time with over 20 million copies sold. Given all of that, it’s quite possible that Sakurai or Nintendo will have some sort of special video or other surprise beyond the final character and Mii Fighter outfits to formally send off the game.

As for who the final character might be, it’s completely unknown at this point. Some of the most commonly requested characters include Kingdom Hearts‘ Sora, Halo‘s Master Chief, Crash Bandicoot‘s Crash and Nintendo’s own Waluigi, among other options.

Who are you hoping to see as the final character? Let us know in the comments.

Image credit: Xbox/Disney & Square Enix/Nintendo

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The final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter will be revealed on October 5

Nintendo has confirmed that the final DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be revealed on October 5th.

While some fans expected for an announcement during the September 23rd Nintendo Direct, the company used the presentation to tease a dedicated Smash reveal stream in two weeks. Nintendo said this will be the final Ultimate presentation.

As with previous Smash streams, the upcoming showcase will be hosted by game director Masahiro Sakurai and offer a breakdown of the character’s moveset.

The stream will take place at October 5th at 10am ET/7am PT on Nintendo’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

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Next Nintendo Direct to be held on Thursday, September 23

Nintendo has confirmed that its next ‘Direct’ presentation will be streamed on Thursday, September 23rd at 3pm PT/6pm ET.

Altogether, the event will run for about 40 minutes and be “focused mainly on Nintendo Switch games launching this winter,” according to Nintendo.

Given that wording, we have some idea of what to expect. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Mario Party Superstars, Metroid Dread, Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp and Shin Megami Tensei V are all coming out by the end of the year, so some (or even all) of them are logical assumptions. The final DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also planned for the rest of the year, so that may also make an appearance.

Meanwhile, rumours have suggested that Nintendo is working on a new Switch controller and, potentially, an expansion to Switch Online that adds Game Boy games. Official confirmation could come at the Direct.

However, “focused mainly” on holiday 2021 games leaves the door open for games coming out later down the line. In addition to games Nintendo has confirmed, like the Breath of the Wild sequel, Splatoon 3 and Bayonetta 3, we may hear about the long-rumoured Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

In any event, we’ll have to watch to learn for sure. Nintendo will stream the Direct on its Twitch and YouTube channels. This is Nintendo’s first Direct since June.

Image credit: Nintendo