Skip to main content

Joker from ‘Persona 5’ will take your heart in ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’

Joker, the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts from Persona 5, will arrive to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as its first DLC character.

Inspired by the lyrics of the RPG’s battle soundtrack Last Surprise, the shared message between gamers is “we never saw it coming” that the brawler will go out of the box right away in what Nintendo is calling Challenger Pack 1.

Recommended Videos

The announcement was made at The Game Awards 2018 in true Phantom Thieves fashion, with the lights cutting out before playing Joker’s trailer.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Take Your Heart - Nintendo Switch

The reveal of Joker as the first DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was a surprise, as the news comes just as players were getting their copies of the Nintendo Switch exclusive. The Persona 5 character was never part of speculations for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters, since the RPG is only on the PlayStation 4.

Unfortunately, the announcement video at The Game Awards 2018 does not reveal the gameplay of Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Based on his abilities in Persona 5, it is very likely that players will be able to summon personas with Joker, while wielding a sword and a gun.

Joker will be part of the first of five Challenger Packs for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Each Challenger Pack is sold at $6 each, or a total of $25 for all five, and will come with a stage and music in addition to a new character.

It is unclear when Challenger Pack 1 will be available, but is expected to arrive in early 2019. Piranha Plant will be offered to early buyers of the Nintendo Switch game, but will not be counted as a DLC character because it will be a free download.

Nintendo of America COO Reggie Fils-Aime told IGN shortly after the announcement of the worlds of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Persona 5 colliding that this is the type of character that players should expect for the brawler.

“It’s emblematic of the approach that Mr. Sakurai and the team are taking with the DLC,” said Fils-Aime. “He wants characters that are unique, different, to bring them into the Smash Bros. environment. So it’s going to be tremendously exciting.”

Fils-Aime, meanwhile, did not provide clarity on whether Persona 5 on the Nintendo Switch is in the pipeline.

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
It’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s subtle changes that make it special
The flagpole is knocked away in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

While I’m only partway through Super Mario Bros. Wonder, I’m already utterly in love with the game.

As our glowing review outlined, it’s a highly polished 2D platformer that’s approachable for anyone to play and elicits a joyous and vibrant sense of wonder. But for me, what makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder special aren't so much the wild Wonder effects or elephant transformations. It's the subtle touches. These elements might not be immediately noticeable or relevant to most, but they all work together to create an experience that’s a step above most other platformers.
Changes enhance enjoyment
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t afraid to show that it’s different from previous Mario games through small moments and changes. One instance that illustrates this early on is in one of the first Bowser Jr. fights. It starts like all his New Super Mario Bros. boss fights do, with him getting in his shell and spinning toward Mario. At first, I was disappointed that Nintendo was just doing the same thing again, but after the first hit, that changed. Bowser Jr. activates a Wonder effect and changes in size for the following two stages of his fight. It's a moment of surprise that subverts my expectations, which are based on decades of Mario games. This is a small moment and reference that many Super Mario Bros. Wonder players probably won’t even internalize. Still, it is a smart way to show how the platformer differs from what came before.

Read more
All Captain Toad locations in Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Toadette talking to captain toad.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is taking the series back to its 2D roots with a new and exciting art style and a ton of new mechanics. Alongside new power-ups and badges, this title has perhaps the largest amount of collectibles and hidden secrets of any game in the series. Between all the Wonder Seeds, Wonder Flowers, Flower Coins, and more, there's no shortage of things to do as you run, jump, and flip your way through all the various worlds. Among all the playable characters to choose from, one non-playable character makes his triumphant return. Captain Toad has managed to make his way to the Flower Kingdom, but this intrepid explorer is not so easy to find. Each time you interact with him, he will reward you with some Flower Coins and a hint at an upcoming world, so let's hunt down all his locations in Super Mario Wonder.
All Captain Toad locations

Captain Toad appears in five unique spots on the Super Mario Bros. Wonder world map. Talking to him at each spot will give you a little bit more of his story, plus the aforementioned rewards.
First Captain Toad location

Read more
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has some of Nintendo’s best online features
Wiggler in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

When it comes to multiplayer integration, Nintendo can be wildly unpredictable. Unstable online servers and disappointing co-op experiences built for young players can leave its games lacking. Thankfully, that's not the case with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. In fact, the new 2D adventure might just contain the best Nintendo multiplayer experience on the Switch next to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

At any point while playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder, players can bring their game online with the press of a button in the main menu. Doing so will unlock several multiplayer features at once. For one, there's traditional online multiplayer. Simply press a button to "play with friends" and you'll be able to explore both the overworld and levels co-operatively. Like the New Super Mario Bros. series, four players can work together to complete levels (which can be very hectic fun).

Read more