This is the ultimate Smash Bros. How will they ever top it? [Issue #37 – January/February 2019, p. 65]

Don't ask me how Nintendo managed to put more than 35 years of experience and love into one product, but they succeeded. Smash Ultimate is not only the ultimate Smash game, the ultimate fighting game, the ultimate party game, and the ultimate collection of videogame nostalgia: it's the ultimate video game. I will continue to play this forever. At least, until Nintendo delivers another sequel.

This is the ultimate Super Smash Bros. With an abundance of fighters, stages and modes there is always fun in fighting friends. Even when you're playing by yourself thanks to Classic Mode and World of Light if you play the second one in bite-sized chunks.

For the first time, we could almost say that the Nintendo brawler has reached the saturation point, beyond which it is really difficult to think about what future episodes might hold.

An inconsistent online mode and situational downers don't stop Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from shining as a flexible multiplayer game that can be as freewheeling or as firm as you want it to be. Its entertaining single-player content helps keep the game rich with interesting things to do, as well as bolstering its spirit of loving homage to the games that have graced Nintendo consoles. Ultimate's diverse content is compelling, its strong mechanics are refined, and the encompassing collection is simply superb.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is more than best-of-hits collection of Smash games past. It’s a tightly woven experience that deftly combines the old with the new and manages to meet the lofty expectations placed on it. It’s incredibly easy to pick up and play, with enough depth and nuance to keep players engaged. It’s the best Smash Bros has ever been.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is equal parts greatness and lacking. The sheer wealth of content and great gameplay is commended but there are big holes in what could be a great game.