Jack Mitchell – Google

If you're looking for a game that has lasting value, this is the one for you. Smash Ultimate, although costing 60 USD, provides hundreds of hours of gameplay with which you "ultimately" hone your skills. The game just doesn't get old. There's always some way to get better. And even if you aren't looking to play professionally, it's a pretty fun party game for casuals. With so many characters, rulesets, and stages to choose from (and let's not forget the vast array of music!), this game is likely to please you, no matter who you are. Consider buying the DLCs if you like the game, since adding more stages, music, and characters (to the already-massive pile of them) only enhances the experience further. The only thing I would complain about is the online service. Believe me, I'm all for competing against players from around the world. And considering the measly 20 USD that it costs to have the online membership for an entire year, I'd be perfectly happy buying it. However, it really feels like a missed opportunity. Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. You want to play against people of your skill level, so you go into the "solo quickplay" category of the online section. You choose your fighter and head straight into a battle, looking to raise your GSP (stands for Global Smash Power, and it serves as the ranking system of Ultimate's online gameplay (higher GSP means higher rank)). Even here, there may be some issues. For one, you may be matched up against someone whose GSP is nowhere near yours, resulting in an extremely lopsided match. For another, you could be matched up against someone whose GSP isn't reflective of their skill at all (so you could be destroyed by someone with the same GSP as you, or could destroy someone who has the same GSP as you). This concept that GSP isn't indicative of skill is a very evident problem. I suppose if you reach high enough GSP, people are generally more skilled. However, that leads right to my next complaint: lag. I know a little latency here and there is to be expected of a worldwide online system, but when it's so laggy that you're getting one frame per two seconds, that's definitely a problem. In fact, this lag makes so much of a difference in gameplay that some players are helpless. One could argue that you should just "get used to it," but that isn't the point. The main issue here is the online system, not the players. It isn't even really the game's fault, either (I guess I blame Nintendo most of all). The online system has flaws that aren't easily fixed, and that has led to an awful online experience. Tips for playing the game: -Invest in a Pro Controller or a GameCube Controller, depending on which you prefer. They're far better for playing Ultimate than using dual JoyCons or the horrendous sideways Joycon. -Keep your cool. I, for one, get really mad playing this game. It's one of my greatest downfalls. Raging isn't fun for you or anyone else. If you're feeling yourself starting to tilt, step back and calm down. -Mess around with different characters. They all play pretty differently, so find who's right for you so you can have the best experience. -Have fun. Another cliché, but it's really important. Make sure your 60 bucks goes to good use. All in all, this game is phenomenal. Final rating from me: 10/10. There are things that can be improved, but it's definitely worth 60 bucks. I know I complained about the online system a lot, but I don't consider that the game's fault. So go show Sakurai some love and buy this game. Kudos to the devs.