LogFAQs > #967386733

Duck Hunt - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

I cant say Ive had enough time with Duck Hunt to perfectly justify whether I prefer their Smash 4 or Ultimate incarnation. Both are simply a style of zoner that I do not have the patience for. I think the big thing holding me back are their Smash Attacks - its a great concept, bringing in the zapper to do the heavy lifting, but I always feel the triple shot forward smash lacks a lot of impact and oomph. I know that doesnt always have to be the case, but even looking at Mii Gunner, theres a really satisfying oomph to the end of that Forward Smash that Duck Hunt is missing. You either have to be really dedicated to the can-target-gunman game and link off of stuff or the character doesnt land. But dang, its a fun idea. I LOVE the use of Hogans Alley as Duck Hunts stand, combining for a Final Smash thats just everything and the kitchen sink. Its a very peculiar niche, but its done really well, with the dog and duck cute enough to make up for their annoying history (that sound they make when you Star KO them is so sad). With that said, theyre missing THE LAUGH as a taunt. I understand not wanting to bully kids online with it, but youre already banning taunts online so give me THE LAUGH in THE POSE. None of this victory screen or on their side stuff either, I want to mock kids with a shame that transcends generations. B-

Best Non-Smash Appearance: Duck Hunt - I think it is cool that the second player can control the ducks. Makes more sense than controlling the other boxers in Punch-Out (which is still really cool, dont get me wrong), keeps for a fun little mini-game of trying to out-juke your opponent. Slightly inferior version of a couple Mario Party mini-games of a similar nature.

Isabelle - Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Honestly, I think Isabelle wears the Animal Crossing moveset a lot better than Villager. Theres nothing necessarily wrong with Villagers moveset, and they have the funny tree and bowling ball so thats fun, but everything feels so incidental with Isabelle. She gives off the same feel as a B.B. Hood or Roll - kind of just incidentally causing harm with innocent moves that you HAPPEN to get caught in the middle of, just with less secret firearms. Stage control just makes sense as an archetype for Animal Crossing, and fishing rod is a braindead easy move to throw out and catch new players with. Even a dummy to zoning like me is able to pick her up and play her as a yeah Elite Smash isnt too hard to get level with her, and she has that great gloating factor of winning with cute dog that was just trying to do gardening and direct traffic. Id prefer her to come back over Villager, as I think everything fits her super well, and theres really little I would change about her. Cute dog does cute things good. A

Best Non-Smash Appearance: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - I mean when your other options are Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival and a Taiko no Tatsujin game, you might as well settle for the 3rd best kart racing series in recent years (not even shade on MK8, its really solid, but Crash Team Racing and Sonic All-Stars are just ridiculously good at both their fanservice elements and elevating their turbo boost systems). Apparently shes low tier because of her weight class? Thats too bad. Some day, a Mario spin-off will come out with a roster thatll make me go wow, so many cool characters, I wont play as Donkey Kong every time this time! That hasnt happened since Mario Kart Wii had Funky Kong and Dry Bowser as rad pulls, but it could happen! Tennis Aces was close!

Steve - Super Smash Bros Ultimate

As far back as the start of this year, I wouldve told you Steve was one of the best characters in Ultimate. A ridiculous amount of work went into the guy, and it absolutely shows in the best of ways. Steve has a ridiculous amount of creativity thrown into him, from figuring out nasty set-ups with anvil and minecart to giving your opponent an L or middle finger to send a message. There is a joy to the possibilities that Steve gives off that is so strong. But most importantly, he just has the spirit of a true shitter. Like, Steve feels WRONG in how he animates, so carefully crafted to look janky and awkward. His moves never really deviate from the idea of slash, slightly stronger slash, and slash but Im running at you, and it looks like the guy is giving 20% of an effort every time. There is real kusoge energy coming from Steve in the best of ways, and his insane contrast to the high polish of every other character on the roster makes him stand out even more. Hes a character that SHOULD be upsetting to lose to, and I do, sincerely, think that every cast needs one of those.

the issue is that hes really good. And thats a problem. The joke only really lands if youre making a statement with him. Imagine if Steve were an incredibly rare character, and someone brought out some ridiculous tech with blocks that upset a favorite and made a deep cinderella run, and they kept Minecraft t-bagging on them. Would be one of the most delightful, disrespectful things in the world. Instead, hes tuned so that block isnt even a game changer in his moveset - its, like, his 10th best tool or something. Optimal Steve play does not exude the BM energy or creativity of his design, its just kind of straightforward and works too well for how little set-up is required? And due to the difference in animation, well, you dont have to have me tell you that Steve combos are a lot less impactful than Falcon, or Fox, or even someone like Joker or Diddy. Like, Steve is, conceptually, similar to Phoenix Wright in Marvel 3, but compensates for his weaknesses WAY too well, gets his resources easily enough in a way that naturally creates pressure, and then he gets to just win.

So I dont know where I land with Steve. It took a solid year and a half to really wreck the character, and at a casual level, I think that kusoge elements are incredibly strong. But the fact that this character is as good as he is, rather than a rogue strategy, is really frustrating and goes against the spirit of the thing. But hes not SO ridiculously good at the moment as to be immediately banworthy, like a Tekken 3 Gon situation. I am VERY interested to see where the meta develops with Steve, if he ends up getting banned, if some other playstyle will eventually emerge if he ends up staying that ends up better. But his current optimal playstyle is a poison to interest, and even his players seem to know it. I dont think hes as damaging as characters like Bayonetta and Meta Knight were, hes not dominating representation yet, and I do think that his natural for fun tools are tempting that hes not ruined at his base like, say, Sonic. Consider this a temporary rating that could go up or down depending on decisions made in the future. B

Best Non-Smash Appearance: Minecraft?? - Like I guess? Is it not the point to immediately remove Steve and replace him with Vegeta or Conker or a Vtuber? I feel like the character exists more in memes of Minecraft than he does in Minecraft itself. Im not a huge fan of pure survival games to begin with, and I got past my modding phase by the time Minecraft came out. Smash is kind of emblematic of that memetic personality, so I guess that's gotta be the best use of him AS Steve?