Owners of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Fighters Pass can download the Challenger Pack 2 DLC now for free, while those without it can purchase the latest pack for $5.99 USD.
Original story follows.
Nintendo has announced that The Hero from the Dragon Quest series, as part of Challenger Pack 2 DLC, will be available today, July 30, in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alongside the Version 4.0.0 update.
This release date was accompanied by a 22-minute video with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game director Masahiro Sakurai that dives deep into this newest character added to the massive roster of fighters.
Sakurai further explained how The Hero would work, as players are able to choose from the Heroes from Dragon Quest XI, Dragon Quest III, Dragon Quest IV, and Dragon Quest VIII as alternate appearances.
Each Hero has a unique name – Eleven (DQXI), Aursu (DQIII), Solo (IV), Eight (VIII) – a unique color variation that is based on characters from their respective series, and a different voice actor.
Each will play similarly, and The Hero has much more energetic movements than other swordfighters as to match the style of Akira Toriyama.
The Hero’s neutral attacks are Frizz-type spells – Frizz, Frizzle, and Kafrizz – and can be charged up and stored to be released later in a fight.
Side Specials are Zap-type – Zap, Zapple, and Kazap, Up Specials are Woosh-type – Woosh, Swoosh, and Kaswoosh, while Down Specials are Command select.
Command Select allows players to choose one of four random spells from a traditional turn-based JRPG menu. Using your shield will cancel the Command Select, allowing The Hero to try again for a particular spell. All spells, including those above, require MP, and some are more powerful depending on how much MP is left.
The list of spells detailed are below;
- Oomph: Raises attack power for a short time
- Psyche Up: Increased power of The Hero’s next attack
- Bounce: Reflects projectiles, and can be bounced off others Bounce spell for increased damage
- Heal: Restores health
- Flame Slash: Wide sword attack
- Kacrackle Slash: Freezes opponents
- Accelratle: Become very fast
- Kaboom: Explosive spell
- Snooze: Puts opponents to sleep, delivers a critical attack when hitting said opponent
- Thwack: Can sometimes KO an opponent in one hit. Percentage change is based on opponent’s damage
- Zoom: Recover to the stage from anywhere
- Kaclang: Stay in place and become invincible
- Metal Slash: Can One-Hit KO a metal opponent or one using Kaclang
- Hocus Pocus: Random effect, could be good or bad
- Kamikazee: Powerful explosion that results in self-destruct
The Hero’s Final Smash is Gigaslash, where all past Dragon Quest heroes combine for a powerful attack, that is similar to Mega Man’s Final Smash.
All these moves and more make The Hero the fighter with the most moves in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The Challenger Pack 2 also includes the Dragon Quest XI S inspired Yggdrasil’s Altar, which has fighters battling on a platform that flies through the air and features many callbacks and Easter Eggs for DQXI.
The Hero from Dragon Quest was revealed at E3 2019 alongside Banjo-Kazooie, and joins Piranha Plant and Persona 5’s Joker as DLC fighters added since Ultimate’s launch in 2018.
Alongside The Hero and Yggdrasil’s Altar, there will be new Dragon Quest Spirits. a special Dragon Quest Spirit Board, and eight songs from Dragon Quest’s history – Adventure – DQIII, Fighting Spirits – DQIII, Battle for the Glory – DQIV, Wagon Wheel’s March, War Cry, Marching Through the Fields, The Hero Goes Forth with a Determination, and Unflinchable Courage.
There will also be Dragon Quest Mii Fighter costumes, which will also be available today for $0.75 each. They include Dragon Quest XI’s Veronica (Swordfighter), Dragon Quest’s Erdrick (Swordfighter), Martial Artist (Brawler), and a Slime hat.
Version 4.0.0 will also be released today, and includes a new Final Smash time limit that will feature a dropping meter under each character portrait to let them know how long they have to use a Final Smash before it is gone, a new Very Easy Adventure Mode difficulty, new spectating features that allow players to predict the winner of a fight and redeem points earned for items/Spirits, and the ability to use screenshots in video and also play videos consecutively.
Lastly, Version 4.0 will add the Online Tourney mode that will feature pre-set rules and conditions that will change periodically, and there will also be Special Event Tourneys from time to time.
Challenger Pack 2 will be available later today for $5.99 USD, while those who have the Fighters Pass will have The Hero and all the above added as soon as its available.
This newest fighter arrives a little less than two months before the release of Dragon Quest XI S for the Nintendo Switch on September 27, 2019.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can’t wait to learn all about these heroes before DQXI S. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.
