The big news is out! The Nintendo Switch is coming, and if their trailer is any indication – the era of Nintendo esports is beginning.
With that comes Smash
The Smash community prefers in-person interactions online. Sure, it’s the fact that it is lagless experience, but being able to sit next to someone and talk and interact – it creates a fun environment that cannot be replicated easily.
The Switch really encourages that proximity with its mobile platform. Outside of being able to play friendlies easier – this is a TO’s dream.
No More Extra Lifting
The fact that we could potentially run tournaments on an all in one console makes for an optimized experience. We could add the extra work and bring the monitors if we want for pools, or we could just simply wait for the top 8.
It will be a nice convenience, where we could create put in the extra work if we want, not because we have to.
Can You Plug Me In?
Most of the smasher’s initial reaction would probably be the same as mine, “Where can I plug in my GameCube controller?”
My fears were eventually quelled when I saw there were two USB ports on the console. So if it is anything like the WiiU – it will have an adapter. At the very least it is money on the table for Nintendo.
But this also leaves questions for the games we love and have become a part of our competitive circuit.
Smash’s Switch
The first problem is the lack of Smash in the trailer leaves us hanging for how they will approach our beloved title. Will it be a port of Wii U? Will we still have the DLC characters that were licensed out? Or will it be an entirely new game?
The only thing that is for sure, every console Nintendo since N64 has released a Smash title, so we can expect something.
Smash 4 has finally started to piece together the meta and is starting to become exciting. Having to swap to a brand new title and rebuild from scratch would be pretty frustrating. But then again, this is something Call of Duty players have been doing – and mastering – for years. It could work for us.
Nintendo spent a lot of time and money into developing Smash 4, so I see a direct port likely, but with a few changes potentially. I could see the Smash 4 community adapting and swapping pretty easily, but Melee is a different story.
The Dream – Melee HD
This could be the perfect opportunity to bring Melee HD to the Switch and unify the community on a single console. But if I’ve learned anything about the community, it’s that they can be stubborn and unwilling to change.
I can understand why. There is a type of magic you get with fast, furious, fluid Melee that cannot be replicated easily.
If Melee HD were to happen, it would have to be just that: HD. Not a remake, rebalance, or a remastering. It would have to be the same exact game mechanically, flaws and all. The community has spent 15 years building towards the meta we have today, I can’t see them giving that up easily. And if the game is not exactly perfect, we will continue to be lugging the CRTs until our backs break.
People would also argue about which version would be recreated, NTSC or PAL? Most that I’ve spoken to would want to see NTSC, but ultimately it is Nintendo’s choice.
There Is Hope
All in all, things look good for Smash. The reception I’ve seen from smashers is mostly positive. Nintendo accepting esports may be the best marketing move they have done in years.
