MultiVersus is now in open beta, taking on all challengers while testing its characters, monetization, and general stability. Players around the world are sinking their teeth into this brand-new crossover platform fighter, and even with some regions temporarily unable to access the game, it's performing well. Combining Warner Bros.' enormous roster of franchises with smartly designed 2v2 platform fighting was a recipe for success.
Yet it's not hard to draw comparisons to the grandfather of all platform fighters, as MultiVersus is capitalizing on the end of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's life, and may supplant it as the leading competitive platform fighter for the foreseeable future. With all other efforts being either indie games, the years-old Brawlhalla, or the undercooked Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, MultiVersus has a good shot. Thanks to its availability on all platforms and free-to-play nature, anyone with even a remote interest in Super Smash Bros. or WB properties can try out MultiVersus. The only questions is how its balance and monetization will pan out, and how it compares to Super Smash Bros.
Smash Bros. and MultiVersus Approach The Genre in Different Ways
MultiVersus and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate have plenty of surface similarities. Both games feature stylized crossover rosters, with Super Smash Bros. pulling from video games while MultiVersus uses TV shows and movies. Smash Ultimate has a lot more characters thanks to its preceding four installments and multi-year DLC campaign, but MultiVersus’ roster will grow in time. The fledgling fighting game has already broken new ground with the inclusion of LeBron James, a real-life athlete in animated form from Space Jam 2. Accounting for the similar cartoon form of Game of Thrones’ Arya Stark, nothing in Super Smash Bros. has blended mediums so ambitiously.
Speaking of which, progression is different between the two games. After players unlock all of Smash Ultimate’s fighters, there isn't much else to find. Spirits can be equipped in certain match types, but they are a fringe attraction in a game that already has optional battle items. MultiVersus takes a different approach by making character progression a key motivator in playing online. Perks and alternate abilities can be unlocked through leveling up characters, and more characters can be bought with in-game currency. With the ability to mix-and-match generic perks, players are incentivized to try multiple characters for extended periods.
How MultiVersus and Smash Ultimate’s Gameplay Compares
Both titles revolve around fighting, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a great game for parties and tournaments, but playing by oneself is also an option. The World of Light story mode offers a large campaign that players can run through, unlocking and customizing their characters all the way. They can take what they learn into the Classic Mode, try out their skills in a few bonus modes, or become a game master in the stage creator. By comparison, MultiVersus has a tutorial that unlocks Wonder Woman, a training mode, local versus that unlocks all perks and characters for offline competition, and an online mode presented via a giant “Play” button in the main menu. While lacking compared to Smash, MultiVersus knows its strengths.
The core gameplay of simple controls with normal and special attacks are shared, but differences swiftly emerge. MultiVersus is designed around 2v2 matches, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is best for one-on-one duels or casual free-for-alls. Smash has competitive doubles, but it's not the main mode for most players. However, teamwork is deeply integrated into every character's moveset in MultiVersus, with many attacks serving a different function if an ally is nearby. This new dimension helps MultiVersus stand out, which is necessary when its movesets are often smaller than those in Smash. Arguably, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has more refined core gameplay, but MultiVersus’ free-to-play model and unique team-based approach will help it carve out a niche for itself.
MultiVersus is available in open beta on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
