Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters: Surprisingly Balanced According to Sakurai’s Data
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the popular Nintendo fighting game franchise Super Smash Bros., has revealed that the characters in the latest installment, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, have a surprisingly narrow range of win rates.
Win Rate Data Analysis
In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai presented data on online battle win rates for all characters in the game. The highest win rate was found to be 51.43%, while the lowest was 47.18%. This means that all characters have about a 50% chance of winning, with only a 5% difference between the top and bottom performers.
Emphasis on Character Uniqueness
Sakurai explained that he believes that characters should have unique strengths and weaknesses to make the game more interesting. He emphasized that balancing characters based solely on power can lead to them becoming too similar and ultimately boring.
Internet Echo Chamber
Sakurai also cautioned against relying too heavily on online tier lists, which often perpetuate certain characters as being overpowered or weak. He noted that the internet can create an “echo chamber” where opinions are amplified and biases can form.
Implications for Competitive Gameplay
The data presented by Sakurai shows that the overall balance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is very tight. This means that players can choose their favorite characters without worrying that they are at a significant disadvantage. It also suggests that competitive matches can be more unpredictable and exciting, as any character has a shot at winning.
Quotes from Sakurai
“This tells us that any fighter has a shot at winning a match. In fact, it would be difficult to make them much closer.”
“The internet can tend to be an echo chamber of sorts, so if people start saying something is strong or weak, that assessment will gain momentum and make people think it’s truer than it is.”
Conclusion
Masahiro Sakurai’s data on win rates in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveals that the game is much more balanced than many believed. It reinforces the idea that character uniqueness and an emphasis on gameplay variety are crucial for an enjoyable and competitive fighting game.
also read:What is the Win Rate Range of All Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate According to the Director?