Super Smash Bros Ultimate has been 'built from the ground up'

Nintendo has confirmed that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is not just an updated version of the Wii U game.

Fans of Super Smash Bros. who were dubious about the newly announced title being a glorified Wii U update can rest easy. Nintendo's Nate Bihldorff, Treehouse localisation manager, has confirmed that the title is "a brand new game" and not an enhanced version of the Wii U game.

"It's definitely not an update," Bihldorff told US Gamer. "It's a brand new game built from the ground up.

"As far as it being a 'sequel,' I don't really think of Smash Bros. games as being sequels, they're just new Smash Bros. games.

"Everything has been built brand new. Of course you see returning characters and returning movesets, but that's sort of the nature of a fighting game.

"You obviously want to bring in new players, but you have to satisfy core players. If I'm playing Mario and I don't have a good Up and B, I'm going to be writing my local congressman to get it changed. It's a tough balance, but yeah, it's a brand new game."

Talking about the similarity of the stages to the those in the Wii U game, Bihldorff explained that that was unavoidable when bringing back stages, but points to the lighting engine, textures, and how the characters interact, to demonstrate the "tens of thousands of changes compared to the last game."

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was announced for the Switch during Nintendo's E3 Direct. The game features every Smash Bros character that has ever appeared in the series to date, making for one heck of a roster.

What's more, all existing amiibo will be supported, including those from different series, as long as the character is on the roster.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches on December 7 on Nintendo Switch.