#ThankYouSakurai for Smash Ultimate, now he should choose his own path

This week, Masahiro Sakurai gave his last character introduction for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with interest and expectation for the final broadcast reaching a fever pitch. With more than 24 million sales in last count And substantial acceptance of DLC thanks to the many and varied guest fighters, it’s a game that has contributed a lot to the success of the Switch. More than that, however, few games can have a nearly three-year streak of big headlines in the modern industry, and the unique cultural impact of Smash Bros., and its outrageously diverse roster, really can’t be overstated. It’s a giant.

Now that a game is over, the conversation will quickly change to “what’s next.” Questions will arise alongside speculation as to whether future hardware will get a brilliant port of this all-in-one show, or whether Nintendo will hold the record for one Smash per generation that it has had since the late ’90s. It is often assumed that this is completely dependent. from the show’s designer, for better or for worse.

Sakurai-san is indelibly linked to the IP: it is his brainchild and he has been creatively in command from the beginning, with the first prototype being produced together with the late Satoru Iwata. He’s been involved in notable games outside of the franchise, but since GameCube Super Smash Bros. Melee took the franchise to a new level that he alone led one project that was not part of the franchise: Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Masahiro Sakurai seemed like his usual joke and fun throughout the entire stream, and he was deservedly proud of his team and the incredible collection of content that was created in Ultimate. There was no talk that it would be his last Smash Bros., or allusion to a great farewell beyond the end of this project. It was all very positive and suitably festive.

Fans will scan interviews and comments he shares, because there have been multiple statements in the past where he has talked about retirement. Sakurai-san has spoken publicly in the past about a high stress workload and repetitive strain injuries. He has now devoted more than a decade to the continuous and seemingly uninterrupted development of Smash Bros., and the concept of Ultimate has been just that: a latest version of the game to beat everyone else. From all the modes and features to the dizzyingly large list, it’s hard to see how you can beat it without the game getting too big.

And here’s the thing: Masahiro Sakurai is an exceptional game designer. His attention to detail, work ethic, intrigue in the general industry and assorted games all make him a singular creative force. So maybe, Just maybe, it’s time to see him do something else. Yes he want, of course.

The aforementioned Kid Icarus: Uprising is a good (and the only) relatively recent example. Its control scheme was divisive, to be sure, but the experience it provided on the humble 3DS was unique and very impressive. For this scribe, even when struggling with the control scheme, it was impossible to put it down. A good point we’ve seen elsewhere is that it’s a game that just wouldn’t get the green light today as it’s the antithesis of modern trends and provides accessibility at controls. However, as a product of its time, it is fascinating.

Let’s also consider what Sakurai-san’s leadership and talents have done for Smash Bros .; has evolved from a rudimentary yet intriguing version of the fighting genre in N64 to an integral part of the gaming scene. Even on systems that have struggled to sell like the GameCube and Wii U, their tickets have nonetheless continued to change millions of copies and delight fans. If Sakurai-san has unfulfilled creative ideas, love to see them become a reality, as it could undoubtedly produce something special outside of the platformer fighting game arena.

And as for Smash Bros.? He could continue with a new creative team and, if Masahiro Sakurai wishes, he could be a consultant. The original creative minds in franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda et al they are now all retired or doing other work in a more non-intervening capacity, with Nintendo finding young talents who have taken on project leadership. A similar approach could be taken if Nintendo and Sakurai-san agree that Smash Bros. continues, even if he is no longer in command.

And new leadership can also bring freshness, respecting the principles of a franchise when trying new things. Watch the evolution of some of Nintendo’s other major franchises and the emergence of younger IP’s like splatoon, and it’s clear that Nintendo still fosters a brilliantly creative development culture. Not only can Sakurai-san spread her wings with creative startups, but a new version of Smash Bros. could get away from the focus of each entry getting bigger and turning things around. When there is change, there is also potential.

Super Smash Bros. is a remarkable franchise, and Masahiro Sakurai is the creative force that has led various teams to create iconic entries. Perhaps now, after the definitive entry, the maximum expression of the potential of the series, it is time for bold new projects of the latest game maker.

It is entirely your decision; At the very least, you’ve earned the right to choose what to do next. Perhaps what you really want is even more development from Smash Bros. We’ll see.

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Further reading of the final presentation of Smash Bros.