The slate of weekly Famitsu columns written by Masahiro Sakurai continues as we inch closer and closer to the release of Smash Ultimate. This time, the incomparable director focused in on the World of Light adventure mode and some of its core and peripheral aspects.
All thanks to Source Gaming for the translation. Here’s a rundown:
- For Ultimate’s main theme, Sakurai really wanted to outdo the past games’ title tunes. “Lifelight” was composed by Hideki Sakamoto (Yakuza 2 & 3, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers) and sung by Erina Koga, a 17 year old amateur who Sakamoto recommended to Sakurai. She was chosen in part for her “ageless voice.” (Note: While Sakurai omits mention of it, it’s worth acknowledging the English vocalist for the game’s theme, Abby Trott, who Nintendo fans may know as Nanna and Laegjarn in Fire Emblem Heroes and Maya Fey in the most recent Ace Attorney.)
- On why Kirby was the only one who survives as the beginning of World of Light, Sakurai claims it’s not due to any bias he may hold for the character, but rather via process of elimination. Of only a small handful of characters that had the plausible in-universe toolkit to escape Galeem’s light (he mentions Palutena and Bayonetta), Kirby was by far the easiest to pick up and play, given that he is widely regarded as the simplest Smash character to use. So those two factors led to Kirby’s playability.
- Sakurai mentions that the Japanese name for World of Light (Tomoshibi/Bika no Hoshi) when read backwards becomes Hoshi no Kabi/Kirby… the Japanese name for the Kirby series. “…but it’s just a coincidence,” he claims. “I noticed it, of course, but it’s not like I wanted to write a story about Kirby.” In this author’s personal opinion, the denial is starting to come across a bit strong…
- When you start World of Light for the first time, you’ll get one Advanced Spirit.
- The game will have a day one patch. Digital edition players shouldn’t need to worry, but physical edition owners should make sure it’s applied before they start playing.
That’s all for this week, but stay wired for more Super Smash Bros. Ultimate news as we approach the release date.
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Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
