I'm Worried About This One Inevitable Switch 2 Game

I think I'm in the same boat as a lot of other players when it comes to my overwhelming excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite its somewhat somber unveiling that was hampered by a plethora of leaks, I still had this giddy feeling watching the announcement trailer that I hadn't felt since the reveal of the original Switch. Even now, weeks after the Switch 2 trailer was released, my mind is still racing over what Nintendo's latest console will have to offer, especially when it comes to the games.

There's no doubt that Nintendo will be pulling out all the stops when it comes to the Switch 2's software lineup, with the company's most popular franchises almost guaranteed to make an appearance. It's not hard to see why: the original Switch managed to cultivate one of the greatest libraries of games in the company's history, placing huge expectations on the new console to maintain this quality. While I'm confident that Nintendo will achieve this, there's one series I'm concerned about making its way to the Switch 2, as it feels like the franchise has given everything it can offer.

Super Smash Bros. Is One Of My Favorite Nintendo Series

The Series Has Always Been Ambitious

My first introduction to Super Smash Bros. was on the Wii with the series' third entry, subtitled Brawl. Admittedly, I was drawn to the game based purely on the all-star roster that Brawl boasted, including the likes of Mario and Link. As a child, I was much more likely to go towards games that included characters I knew rather than for the contents itself, and Brawl was no exception. Yet, I don't think anything could have prepared me for how this game captivated me in the way it did, or how it would begin a lifelong adoration for the series.

What I've always admired about Smash Bros. is its ambition. This is most evident in how the series incorporates its star-studded roster, as almost every character is given a unique moveset, comprised of actions that hearken back to that character's respective franchise. Moreover, each game continuously expands on previous entries to provide a more substantial experience, whether that be Brawl and its thrilling Subspace Emissary campaign, or the Wii U title and its utterly chaotic 8-player battles. Smash Bros. consistently pushes itself beyond what players could expect, offering a diverse, creative experience that very few series can offer.

It quickly dawned on me that Smash Bros. was something special. It's a series that's always striving to expand and reinvent itself, with new modes, characters, and stages that give each game its own identity. From Brawl onwards, I would constantly be waiting for the next Smash Bros. game to make an appearance, following along with every rumor, leak, or announcement with a keen eye. I was ready for whatever Smash Bros. had in store, because I knew it would be something different and more ambitious than what came before.

Smash Ultimate Exceeded My Expectations

The Game Feels Like A Conclusion To The Series

Then came the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2018. The latest entry in the series is undoubtedly the biggest and most ambitious Smash Bros. game to date, serving as a celebration of the entire franchise up to that point. Not only does Ultimate's roster incorporate all fighters who have appeared in previous entries, but the game also includes beloved features from past titles, from an entirely original story mode to the return of 8-player Smash battles.

It's difficult to quantify just how much Ultimate means to me. While I was always confident that the game would continue to build on what previous Smash Bros. titles had established, I was completely blown away by the levels of passion and love that oozed out of every part of Ultimate, whether that be through gameplay or presentation. During countless hours exploring everything Ultimate had to offer, my love for the series only grew stronger, resulting in a truly unforgettable experience.

However, during my time with Ultimate, I found it difficult to ignore the underlying message that the game was trying to communicate. The gargantuan amount of content on offer, combined with the huge levels of fan service, mostly thanks to the inclusion of long-awaited characters such as Banjo-Kazooie and Sora from Kingdom Hearts, gives Ultimate this undercurrent of finality while playing. When all was said and done, I couldn't help but look at Ultimate as not just a celebration of the series, but also as a conclusion.

Ultimate feels like the game that the Smash Bros. series has built up to from the start. The game's incorporation of the best stages, modes, and features from across the series, alongside its new inclusions such as Spirits, are presented in such a way that implies Ultimate has reached the absolute limit of what Smash Bros. can offer. It's in the name itself: Ultimate is the quintessential Smash Bros. game, offering a substantial, complete experience that no other entry could provide.

I'm Worried The Next Smash Game Won't Be As Special

A New Entry On Switch 2 Couldn't Compete With Ultimate

Yet, with all this in mind, I highly doubt that a new Smash Bros. game won't be made for Switch 2 during its lifespan. Not only does each major Nintendo console receive its own entry, but with Smash Bros. being one of the company's most successful franchises, the Switch 2 will almost certainly receive its own title, regardless of how Ultimate may have presented itself. And that's what worries me.

The announcement of a new Smash Bros. entry for Switch 2 will still come with the same expectations given to previous games about how the latest title will expand the series. But with a game as complete and creatively exhaustive as Ultimate, I'm worried that this potential new Smash Bros. game will fail to offer anything new or inventive to the table. And if the game fails to live up to those high expectations, it could tarnish one of the most beloved series in Nintendo's catalog.

I have a huge amount of admiration for Super Smash Bros., and I will always be interested in what the series does next. That being said, Ultimate was everything that I could have possibly wanted out of a Smash Bros. game, and I no longer have that same excitement and anticipation over a potential new entry as I used to. While the inevitable next game on Switch 2 will still be entertaining, I'm unsure that it will possess the same spark that made the previous Smash Bros. games so special.

Source: The Verge