Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Inherits Kirby's Iconic Damage System

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the popular crossover fighting game, has a unique feature that sets it apart from other fighting games: its damage system. This innovative approach to character health has its roots in Kirby's Dream Land, a classic game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo in 1992.

In traditional fighting games, characters have a fixed health bar that depletes as they take damage. Once the health bar is empty, the character loses the round. However, in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, characters accumulate damage in the form of a percentage. As this percentage increases, so does the likelihood of being knocked off the stage, which ultimately results in a loss.

This damage system was first introduced in Kirby's Dream Land, where the titular character had a percentage-based health bar. As Kirby took damage, the percentage would increase, making it more challenging to recover from attacks. This innovative approach to character health was well-received by players and became a signature feature of the Kirby series.

The inclusion of this damage system in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate adds a layer of strategy and unpredictability to the gameplay. Players must not only focus on dealing damage to their opponents but also be mindful of their own damage percentage. The higher the percentage, the more vulnerable a player becomes to being knocked off the stage by powerful attacks.

The decision to incorporate Kirby's Dream Land's damage system into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate highlights the game's dedication to its roots and its commitment to providing an engaging and unique gaming experience. This innovative approach to character health adds depth and excitement to the gameplay, ensuring that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate remains a standout title in the fighting game genre.