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Is Smash 2018 a port, or a new game?

Yesterday we had a whole slew of new games revealed on Nintendo's latest Direct, but the title that stood out as the presentation ended, was Super Smash Bros.

One thing Nintendo conveniently forgot to mention or hint at in any way; is the game a port of the WiiU Smash, following the trend of a lot of the current AAA Switch library? Or is it an entirely new Smash, just for Switch? Or maybe it's a mix of the 2, a DX version?

We've already had a ton of theories in the Super Smash Brothers announce thread - but here, we would like you to cast a vote!

 

[MikaDubbz]

Nobody can know for sure, since Nintendo voluntarily left it vague, but I'm really hoping for a 4.5 with Smash Run and Adventure mode.

I think it will be a new game in the same way that Splatoon 2 is a new game. Clearly built on the game that came before it, but with enough changes and additions and UI differences to really make it stand out as an entirely new separate title, even though at its core it was built upon a port of the Wii U version.

Smash Run definitely should make it to the Switch version, that's a great mode reminiscent of City Trial in Kirby Air Ride which is a mode in a game that I still love to play to this day. They could really work with that and expand the idea and options of Smash Run.

I also really want a proper adventure mode, and think that's likely as well. And bringing back things that were dropped due to 3DS restrictions: Ice Climbers and the ability for certain characters to transform being the most obvious.

Finally beyond more fighters and stages, one thing I'd love to see is a new mode called something like 'Rotation Smash'. The idea is simple, based on your final battle in Smash Tour (which sure bring that back to the Switch version too even if it was no one's favorite), where each one of your stock was a fighter you had acquired during the game. In Rotation Smash, you choose how much stock you're fighting with, and you get to choose a fighter for each stock. You could choose the same fighter every time if you wanted, or a different one for every stock, or alternate between the same 2 or 3 fighters, whatever you choose. I think this is a great idea and something they already gave us a taste of with how Smash Tour would end.

 

[deinonychus71]

I think it will be a new game in the same way that Splatoon 2 is a new game. Clearly built on the game that came before it, but with enough changes and additions and UI differences to really make it stand out as an entirely new separate title, even though at its core it was built upon a port of the Wii U version.

Smash Run definitely should make it to the Switch version, that's a great mode reminiscent of City Trial in Kirby Air Ride which is a mode in a game that I still love to play to this day. They could really work with that and expand the idea and options of Smash Run.

I also really want a proper adventure mode, and think that's likely as well.

Finally beyond more fighters and stages, one thing I'd love to see is a new mode called something like 'Rotation Smash'. The idea is simple, based on your final battle in Smash Tour (which sure bring that back to the Switch version too even if it was no one's favorite), where each one of your stock was a fighter you had acquired during the game. In Rotation Smash, you choose how much stock you're fighting with, and you get to choose a fighter for each stock. You could choose the same fighter every time if you wanted, or a different one for every stock, or alternate between the same 2 or 3 fighters, whatever you choose. I think this is a great idea and something they already gave us a taste of with how Smash Tour would end.

That's what I'm thinking as well. It would be a waste that all that work from Smash 4 goes to waste because people a-bso-lu-tely want the number "5".
Seriously, more characters, more stage, the awesome smash run, and an adventure mode? What else can this game do after that? (well yeah, bayonetta balancing OBVIOUSLY)
The problem if they don't announce it as a DX port, is that they're free to scrap all the content they want from 4. Unless they come with an hybrid concept where they turn smash into a game as a service (that would be awesome for a game like that).

And very selfishly, I don't want to have to kick one of the fighters off of the shelf of my smash amiibo collection
... but Ice Climbers would certainly fit there!

 

[TotalInsanity4]

no, the previous ones look a lot different

Alright, excluding N64 now that I'm actually looking at it again. Every logo since Melee has been effectively the same font-wise, but with a varying degree of curve at the bottom

 

[KingVamp]

DLC or Overwatch style lootboxes?

 

[weatMod]

i know i am about to get flamed but i could really give a shit i hate the franchise
but i think it would not bode well for the switch if it is port
too many ports already ,i would have rather seen MK9
but i can understand why they would not want to release a new MK after they just released a port and before a new SSB
even though i don't play it i really hope that it is a new game
if it is not my confidence in the switch and Nintendo will drop even more

 

[DarkWork0]

I'm guessing it's a port due to how they announced it. The Smash Bros symbol in the back on fire was used for ssb WiiU/3ds

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I'm guessing it's a port due to how they announced it. The Smash Bros symbol in the back on fire was used for ssb WiiU/3ds

That's a stretch

 

[Psi-hate]

I personally think it's a new game built off of Sm4sh's core features. I don't expect a completely new engine or updated physics, but I'll guess that it'll combine both versions of Sm4sh together and also have an abundance of new content enough to merit it as a "new" entry.

I'm keeping it vague but I have no reason to believe that it's just an enhanced port. From Sakurai's statement about his team working on it rigorously for god knows how long (not needed for a port, even with a few new characters and stages), to the new logo and the exclusion of company copyrights - I am putting my bets on a new game.

 

[MikaDubbz]

That's what I'm thinking as well. It would be a waste that all that work from Smash 4 goes to waste because people a-bso-lu-tely want the number "5".
Seriously, more characters, more stage, the awesome smash run, and an adventure mode? What else can this game do after that? (well yeah, bayonetta balancing OBVIOUSLY)
The problem if they don't announce it as a DX port, is that they're free to scrap all the content they want from 4. Unless they come with an hybrid concept where they turn smash into a game as a service (that would be awesome for a game like that).

Well it'd be weird if they called it 5 at this point anyway considering they've never named a Smash title with a number before, and I'm sure that's not going to change any time soon especially with this entry. Plus I think they are making some changes. It appears that Link is based on BOTW Link, and that likely means some changes to his moveset as well, and I'm sure Mario will see a Cappy move or two as well. So, I think its fair to say that it wont receive that DX label because there will be some differences beyond things just getting added. I do think the bulk of what they did on the Wii U/3DS will be ported over, but they'll make changes, clean up that UI, and round out things that they only kinda touched on. Stage design mode alone could be something they could really make much more robust. Perhaps they'll go in and give each fighter their own proper individual target smash (not holding my breath on that one, but they'd have plenty of extra time for these kinds of things if they made work easier on themselves by working with all the groundwork they laid out on the Wii U), and maybe we'll be able to transform as fighters like Zelda and Samus again. Its just not hard to see what kind of game this, and while I do believe it will stand on its own as its own Smash title, it will also clearly be built upon the base of the Wii U version. It just wouldn't make sense to waste time building so many fighters, stages, and physics all over again from the ground up.

 

[Deathscreton]

I personally think it's a new game built off of Sm4sh's core features. I don't expect a completely new engine or updated physics, but I'll guess that it'll combine both versions of Sm4sh together and also have an abundance of new content enough to merit it as a "new" entry.

I'm keeping it vague but I have no reason to believe that it's just an enhanced port. From Sakurai's statement about his team working on it rigorously for god knows how long (not needed for a port, even with a few new characters and stages), to the new logo and the exclusion of company copyrights - I am putting my bets on a new game.

I love it when people use logic. Gets me hot and heavy. Talk more sense to me.

 

[MikaDubbz]

I love it when people use logic. Gets me hot and heavy. Talk more sense to me.

Consider that Link appears to be based on BOTW Link. Surely that will come with a few differences in his moveset as well, right? That alone would make this more than an enhanced port, because this would be an actual difference between the two games, and not simply just an "in-addition to" kind of feature. I think that right there is enough proof for me, that this game will not have Deluxe or DX in its name.

 

[Kioku]

Consider that Link appears to be based on BOTW Link. Surely that will come with a few differences in his moveset as well, right? That alone would make this more than an enhanced port, because this would be an actual difference between the two games, and not simply just an "in-addition to" kind of feature. I think that right there is enough proof for me, that this game will not have Deluxe or DX in its name.

I hope it's a new Smash game with "Deluxe" in the title. I'd die laughing.

 

[DarkWork0]

That's a stretch

Not really since it was the very first thing you see in the 3ds/WiiU announcement back in 2013. The only difference was the cross was on fire not the circle.

 

[MikaDubbz]

I hope it's a new Smash game with "Deluxe" in the title. I'd die laughing.

If it didn't carry so much weight with it, I actually would really like the name of Super Smash Bros. Deluxe (definitely better than 'for Switch'). But I both believe this game will be, and want this game to be more than just the typical DX-fare we've seen from Nintendo's Wii U ports to the Switch. But really though, I just hope that the game has a more clever name than Super Smash Bros. for Switch.

 

[Deathscreton]

Consider that Link appears to be based on BOTW Link. Surely that will come with a few differences in his moveset as well, right? That alone would make this more than an enhanced port, because this would be an actual difference between the two games, and not simply just an "in-addition to" kind of feature. I think that right there is enough proof for me, that this game will not have Deluxe or DX in its name.

obby. Sakurai, eat your heart out.

Seriously though, changing movesets doesn't feel like a "DX" change to me. What they did to MK8 was evidence of a enhancement. They didn't add any new mechanics(purple boost was an enhancement of an existing mechanic), they added someone new to the roster, but didn't give them any type of game changing differences, and the added some new stages and a powerup that only functioned in one mode. They DID add a new mode, but again, these were all additions. What they're doing to Smash seems more like what modders would consider an "overhaul". That to me is a new game.

 

[MikaDubbz]

obby. Sakurai, eat your heart out.

Seriously though, changing movesets doesn't feel like a "DX" change to me. What they did to MK8 was evidence of a enhancement. They didn't add any new mechanics(purple boost was an enhancement of an existing mechanic), they added someone new to the roster, but didn't give them any type of game changing differences, and the added some new stages and a powerup that only functioned in one mode. They DID add a new mode, but again, these were all additions. What they're doing to Smash seems more like what modders would consider an "overhaul". That to me is a new game.

Exactly, that's my point. If all they do is take the base game and only add features, modes, characters, stages, etc. to it, then that's an enhanced port, a Deluxe version of the game you know and love. The moment any changes (not additions) to that base game take place (beyond UI changes), that change in any way how a part of the game plays, is the moment you deviate your game from what it was, and its no longer an enhanced port but something new. This is clearly what happened with Splatoon 2, they took the base of Splatoon for the Wii U, added a bunch to it, and then started to make changes to what they already had, some big, some small, the sum total of all the changes and additions left you with an entirely new game in Splatoon 2, despite it clearly starting as a port of the OG Splatoon.

 

[jt_1258]

could you add the option to say we think it's a combo DX port of both the wii u content/features & smash 3ds's too?

 

[Der_Blockbuster]

Why is this still being discussed?
On the Nintendo Germany Website it does clearly state that this is a new one.
"Der nächste Teil der „Super Smash Bros.“-Reihe erscheint 2018 für Nintendo Switch. Im Ankündigungstrailer waren viele bekannte Gesichter zu sehen, darunter Mario, Link und die Inklinge aus der „Splatoon“-Reihe."
"The next part of the "Super Smash Bros.." Series will be released in 2018 for Nintendo Switch. The announcement trailer featured many familiar faces, including Mario, Link, and the Splatoon Inklinge.

 

[MikaDubbz]

Why is this still being discussed?
On the Nintendo Germany Website it does clearly state that this is a new one.
"Der nächste Teil der „Super Smash Bros.“-Reihe erscheint 2018 für Nintendo Switch. Im Ankündigungstrailer waren viele bekannte Gesichter zu sehen, darunter Mario, Link und die Inklinge aus der „Splatoon“-Reihe."
"The next part of the "Super Smash Bros.." Series will be released in 2018 for Nintendo Switch. The announcement trailer featured many familiar faces, including Mario, Link, and the Splatoon Inklinge.

I think its just kind of an interesting discussion. What exactly constitutes an enhanced port or an entirely new game? If the game started as a port of the game before it, bringing over physics and character models, but then things are not only added, but things within all that code are tweaked and changed. Is all of that still an enhanced port, or is it a new game, or does that deserve a different label entirely?

 

[Deathscreton]

Why is this still being discussed?
On the Nintendo Germany Website it does clearly state that this is a new one.
"Der nächste Teil der „Super Smash Bros.“-Reihe erscheint 2018 für Nintendo Switch. Im Ankündigungstrailer waren viele bekannte Gesichter zu sehen, darunter Mario, Link und die Inklinge aus der „Splatoon“-Reihe."
"The next part of the "Super Smash Bros.." Series will be released in 2018 for Nintendo Switch. The announcement trailer featured many familiar faces, including Mario, Link, and the Splatoon Inklinge.

Because everything is a rumour until it's confirmed.