Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Castlevania)

Richter Crosses Over! Simon Lashes Out!

NA release: 7th December 2018
EU release: 7th December 2018
JP release: 7th December 2018
Developer: Bandai Namco, Sora Ltd.
IGN Review: 9.4/10
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Switch
Version Played: Switch

A game as big as Smash Bros deserves a lot more attention to review the whole game, which is something I don’t really have time for at the moment, especially without being able to play online or with more than one other person, which is really the backbone of Super Smash Bros. As a result, I will essentially be giving a brief overview of the Castlevania portions of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, with the franchise getting two characters: Simon and Richter Belmont.

The two characters are almost identical. They use their whips for the main attacks and the axe, holy water and cross for their special attacks, with an uppercut for their upwards special attack, giving them lots of height. It’s a shame that Simon and Richer are so similar, as it would have been nice to have two significant fighters – with this route they should have done a Koopaling style character and let you choose between many different Belmonts. Not having Alucard as a playable character (he’s an assist trophy) seems a bit strange.

They also come with their own stage, Dracula’s Castle. It’s a flat surface with a few floating platforms and some stairs and is rather dull, dark and boring. Some monsters and villains will jump around in the background, but it’s a very static stage, and barely needs to be altered for the “competitive” battlefield variant. However, the stage comes with a ton of music options, with some fantastic remixes of classic tunes.

Late on in the adventure mode, you’ll get to explore a version of Dracula’s Castle, although it seems more like walking around a photo of the castle. You have to collect cannonballs to blow up ghosts and battle Dracula at the end. Classic mode is interesting for the Belmonts, as you’ll fight a bunch of enemies in stages that best fit Castlevania, using music from the series, with Dracula at the end.

The Dracula fight takes place in a more enclosed version of Dracula’s throne room, and he uses his classic moves and you’ll need to hit him in the head to take him out (the axe move is great) – only for him to transform into his second form. It’s pretty neat to see a fight like this in 3D graphics.

One issue with Castlevania being added to this Smash Bros is that Ultimate is just so massive, so it feels like a rather minor addition for the most part.

Fun

The standouts for me are undoubtedly Simon Belmont from Castlevania (and his Echo, Richter) and King K. Rool from Donkey Kong. Simon’s abilities feel extremely true to his game, throwing axes, boomerangs, and explosive vials of holy water, with whip-based smash attacks that reward precision and careful timing.
Tom Marks, IGN

Remake or remaster?

A complete edition would be wonderful, with the entire game on cart.

Official Ways to get the game

Super Smash Bros Ultimate is available on the Nintendo eShop.