One version of Kapp’n drives a boat, which lets you cross small bodies of water after you acquire him. lets you blow up boulders blocking access to things like treasure chests. Reese & Cyrus repair bridges, giving you access to areas that you couldn’t otherwise reach. I also loved how some Spirits have additional functionality. It lets you plan for situations you think you might be in and maybe turn them to your advantage. When I use my Mii Swordfighter, which is often, I like to have Leif from Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, to boost his sword attacks and Yakumen Player, so the Critical-Health Attack is boosted. Kaitlin & Katie, after you get them, remove fog. The Roy Campbell Spirit, after acquired, can dispel a nasty stage effect that will the controls intermittently switch during a match so that left becomes right and right is left. You can exploit the attack, shield, and grab triangle to make your team stronger against an enemy’s telegraphed weakness. Lots of characters you collect will be able to negate negative stage or status effects, like floors that will put you to sleep or having a chance to negate the power of fire before heading into a fight with someone like Charizard. The Spirits themselves also allow you to get creative ahead of fights. It is so much fun seeing how things are pieced together to try and foster a connection between the Spirit that is supposedly possessing the character. Fatal Frame II’s Mio & Mayu Amakura fight has a Daisy and Peach in matching outfits constantly running away from you on the Luigi’s Mansion stage. Getting the Kaitlin & Katie Spirit has you fight a normal-sized Isabelle and tiny Isabelle.

The Lon’qu Spirit fight has you face a Chrom in a dark outfit who is also wielding a Killing Edge and has more powerful slash and stab attacks. For example, there is a fight to get an Ashley Spirit that pits you against a Mii Swordfighter dressed Ashley and a miniature Ridley that is supposed to remind people of Ashley’s demon minion Red on the WarioWare stage. Each battle has matches that try to grasp the feel of a character, if not the actual person. In Super Smash Bros Ultimate World of Light, players take a growing party of characters around a worldmap that gradually opens up and unlocks as you face new fights.

Smash bros complete world of light map