Super Smash Bros. is one of those series that has widespread appeal, from hardcore competitive players to casual ones. However, this means that sometimes these two crowds are going to end up in the same game — with predictable results. It’s no fun to get thrashed by a friend who’s been playing the series for a decade, and it’s not great to effortlessly trounce your pals either. So, if you’re an experienced Smash player, how do you convince your more casual friends that you can, in fact, be a fun guy or gal to play with?
Let Your Friends Learn the Controls
Practice mode is pretty boring, I’m sure everyone can agree on that. But if your friends aren’t going to beat on a dummy character for a bit while they learn the controls, you still have to give them a chance to figure things out in their first battle.
So hang back and let them flail around a bit. Don’t immediately go into battle swinging; chill out at the other side of the map and actually help by explaining some of the controls. If you ever want to play more than one match with your peeps, it’s probably a good idea to let them figure out what’s going on first.
Pick Stages That Aren’t Out to Kill You
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has a whopping 103 stages in the game, including Battlefield and Omega forms. There’s a lot to pick from, so don’t pick a stage that can just outright kill an inexperienced player.
These include stages that change forms in the middle of the fight, which can dump an unsuspecting fighter into the abyss when they least expect it. Auto-scrolling stages can also be a pain. And if you ever pick the Great Cave Offensive, everyone in the room gets to punch you in the arm.
While your friends are learning to understand the game, make sure to pick more traditional stages with fewer gimmicks. It’s enough having to deal with you and your years of accumulated skills, after all.
Keep Items On! It’s a Party, Not a Funeral
Items add a lot of the chaotic party game feel to Super Smash Bros. A timely Power Star or Assist Trophy can change the course of the match in a way that makes the game more Mario Kart and less Street Fighter.
Many veteran players understandably dislike items for this very reason — they get in the way of skill-based battles. And while that’s all fine and dandy for a tournament, guess what? Your living room isn’t an impromptu battle for the championship with your less experienced friends. The chaos of items adds a lot of fun to casual matches, so turn them on! Smash can be played a bunch of ways, and if you’re used to high-level one-on-one matches, you might actually have fun allowing yourself to experience the unbridled madness of a multiplayer items match.
Let Someone Land a Hit, You’ll Live
It’s cool that you know how to dash dance, really. But, most people don’t know how to even dodge, let alone pull off high-level techniques. So while you’re dodging out of the way and counter-attacking with ease, your friends are just trying to land a blow.
Do you know what you could do? Just… not dodge, every once and a while. Let someone land a hit! Let them feel better about their skills! Don’t punish every missed attack with a brutal combo! Being a nice friend goes a long way, as it turns out. You don’t need to letpeople win, but maybe ease up on some of the pro strats a little.
For the Love of God Stop Playing as Jigglypuff, Daniel
Okay, let’s be real here. Super Smash Bros. has been around since 1999. That’s quite a long time. We’re in a complete different millennium now! No one is impressed that you can pull off the sing and rest combo that’s almost a guaranteed kill, Daniel.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has 74 characters. Seventy-four. Just pick someone else for a change! Try out Ryu, or one of the mobs of Fire Emblem characters, or even get spicy and pick Olimar. Take it as an opportunity to try something new. Yeah, Little Mac is the worst character in the game, but you might have fun playing with him in a less-high pressure environment. Please pick someone other than your main. We’re just trying to have a good time, Daniel.
