Edie:
The build we got to play was the E3 version, meaning that the newly announced Simon Belmont and King K Rool was not on the playing roster. That said, new arrivals to the franchise, Inkling and Ridley, were a joy to experience. Ridley was a big brute that hits hard, but is also an easy target if you’re not careful. Inkling’s attacks quickly splatted the battleground with colourful ink. Both character presented their own unique benefits and challenges.
The gameplay changes to Ultimate are largely subtle, and I imagine that casual fans may not notice much change from Smash Bros WiiU and 3DS. Movesets remain largely unchanged, making it super easy to pick up and play right away: no need to relearn your favourites. Character animations and portraits are more detailed than ever, making everyone look full of energy and, more importantly, personality. The new items and assist trophies are great fun and made for some truly insane matches, and the final smashes have a grandiose flare that was lacking in previous games. The redesigned UI is great too – the menus and text animations are sleek, smooth, and fast, making the downtime between games shorter.