Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: DLC Review of Joker Challenger Pack

By Brendan Graeber

If anything becomes apparent with the DLC guest fighters appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series, it's the unreal amount of care and detail put forth to make them feel like home in the fighting game of Nintendo. The Joker of Persona 5 is no exception.

The first of the five packs Ultimate Challenger Super Smash Bros. expected, which are available at a price of $ 6 individually or $ 25 for the five, Joker may seem a little odd at first, since his native JRPG is not even available on the Switch (for the moment ?). But between the noisy fighting thief and his explosive scene, the choice is surprisingly appropriate. And even if you're not familiar with Persona 5, its sleek and present design is present and catchy in almost every aspect of Joker's content.

As a fighter, Joker's moves translate extremely well into the realm of Smash Bros. -Out Attack is only icing on the cake. Even his victory screens take perfect cues from his source material, and yet, never feels out of place.

Joker's fighting style is not the most technical or complex to integrate, and his movements are highly individualistic and make him an interesting fighter to learn and learn. He is fast, but not the fastest, and his gun shots and his special side can be used inventive ways to reach places where his short-range dagger can not. Joker really appreciated Joker's extra movement abilities when I used his gun to give him some interesting options compared to other fighters – for example, being able to easily avoid the back or jumping around – an opponent while firing to hinder attacks. The gun itself does not have too much power or speed, but the compromise of its mobility mitigates this blow.

The big thing in Joker's sleeve is the ability for him to raise his "Rebellious Nature" counter, which happens more quickly when he is dealt damage or when he uses a special blocking move. Filling this counter will make his character, Arsene, a ghost ally who increases his damage and adds fun twists to his special moves. For example, his Grappling Hook recovery is relatively limited in its use and reach – but with his Persona propelling him upward, Joker is able to fly at a much higher speed while avoiding imminent attacks, which can annihilate the plan of an opponent to keep the edge of the stage.

That said, I'm not quite convinced by the Joker's Rebellious Nature counter that wakes up slowly, even while standing. Of course, it takes three full minutes for a full charge if you do not do anything else, but being able to play away from his opponents while the last of your counters fills up is at odds with the "nothing ventured, nothing was won". mechanic to absorb the incoming damage in order to increase them faster. Having to put yourself in danger was a good way to control the even more powerful impact of Joker on his Persona.

Joker's Challenger Pack also comes with its own scene, Mementos, which must be one of the most fascinating arenas in Smash Bros.'s history. The scene is full of small details to appreciate and references to its sources, subtle purple sparks that fly along the feet cameos friends of Joker and subway cars that roar and threaten to hit the opponents who fall below the surface. step. The Persona 5 acid jazz melodies might not be perfectly synchronized with the more hectic battles of a Smash Bros. battle, but there is something awesome in a 1v1 match on "Rivers in the Desert" of Persona 5. bright red to blue or cool yellow as a reference to Persona 3 and 4 when one of their songs is played on the 11 new music tracks is another really fun touch.

I was also very happy to see a special DLC dashboard included that allows you to conduct 11 Persona-themed battle battles, which present great difficulty and can all be replayed. It is easy to say that the creation of Joker was thought of as rigorously as to structure these fights, as if each of the spirit-figures was helped by an immense ally acting as Persona. And of course, the spiritual battle of Futaba would be represented by an Inkling that looks like him.