It takes elements from others games to create its own satisfying formula mixed in with an artstyle that looks like a long lost spinoff of the Jet Set Radio series. Lethal League is widely regarded as some of the better local/online multiplayer games to come out this generation.
Each player has a life bar for each player and it keeps going down whenever someone gets hit. It feels like a game of tennis with the continuous ball hitting, even though its taking inspiration from batting in baseball. Anytime the ball is hit, it goes faster bouncing around the arena and will continue to bounce until someone falls victim to a hit. The big difference is the ability to slam the ball to use it as a projectile and the opponents can hit the ball back if they time the counter correctly. It’s like Smash by allowing the player to freely explore the environment by walking and jumping around. The match keeps on going until the ball knocks out someone and then the next round starts. The goal is to hit a ball at the opponent within an arena. It’s a multiplayer fighting game where its set in a futuristic urban setting and players could choose between 6 characters.
Developed by Team Reptile, Lethal League actually started out as a flash game, but soon eventually got an official downloadable release in 2014 on PS4 and Steam (Windows and Linux). The first game on this article is perhaps the most different to Smash out of all the games that will be included here, but it definitely has hints of Smash in its gameplay. I’m gonna take a look at many different indie platform fighters, released or not, and looking at exactly how they play compared to amongst themselves and to Super Smash Bros. Some are simply trying to create their own Smash Bros gameplay wise, but others are throwing in their own ideas to the genre to make their games stand out. Whether they are borrowing gameplay elements of Smash itself or putting their own ideas in, many different Indie studios have either produced their own platform fighters or have games that are currently in develepment. While AAA games haven’t live up to Smash status as platform fighters, Indie developers have been hungry to create their own takes on the genre for years.
But many have failed to replicate the same experience that Smash delivers to Nintendo fans.
Other AAA titles have tried to capture that Smash magic like PS All Stars Battle Royale and the Japan Only Dream TV World Fighters.
But overall what makes Smash such a distinct game is that it pits Nintendo and other well known characters in a free for all fight to see who will survive in a platforming/fighting game hybrid. Of course there’s items if you want to create some chaos, but you can always disable those if you’re not in the mood for an assist trophy like Waluigi hitting opponents with his tennis racket. There’s also an emphasis on beating up on the opponent because while there’s not a health bar in default Smash, you can pound on your rivals for a higher % to create a better chance at knocking them off the stage. This gives players opportunities to explore and even use to their advantage. Each character has a distinct fighting moveset that they can use, but the stages are normally set up like a platforming level rather than a traditional fighting game arena. People have claimed Smash Bros is responsible for creating the genre platform fighters. But the gameplay is what gives Smash its identity as a blend of a fighting game and 2D platforming. Its already a big draw amongst Nintendo’s IP’s because it has an increasingly large roster of either Nintendo icons or other game characters battling each other to no end. If there is something that is undeniable about the series’ legacy, is it has created a local multiplayer experience that feels unique to its own. Say what you will about Super Smash Bros, whether it’s a fighting game or not.