Why Was Hero Banned in Smash Ultimate Tournaments?
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Hero, the Dragon Quest representative in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, has had a tumultuous relationship with the competitive scene. The primary reason for Hero’s ban stems from his unprecedented level of randomness, making consistent strategy and counterplay difficult, if not impossible. While randomness exists to some degree in other Smash characters and even in past Smash games, Hero’s design leaned so heavily into it that it disrupted the core tenets of competitive play: skill, strategy, and predictable outcomes. Think of it like this: items are banned in competitive play because they introduce too much uncontrollable chaos, and Hero, in many ways, became a character who was an item.
The Problem with RNG: Hero’s Command Selection
Disrupting Competitive Integrity
The biggest offender was Hero’s Command Selection menu. This mechanic gave Hero access to a random assortment of spells, some incredibly powerful (like Thwack and Kacrackle), and some relatively useless in a given situation. The crucial issue was that players had no control over which spells appeared in the menu. In a tournament setting where players meticulously study matchups and develop strategies, Hero could completely invalidate those preparations with a lucky (or unlucky) roll of the dice.
The Argument Against “Playing Around” Randomness
The argument that players could “play around” the randomness fell flat. While skilled players can adapt to changing circumstances, Hero’s randomness wasn’t simply a matter of adapting; it was a matter of potentially being at the mercy of the game itself. Consider a scenario where a Hero player needs a recovery option but only rolls offensive spells. Or, conversely, a desperate opponent suddenly faces a fully charged instant-kill Thwack. These situations undermine the player’s agency and reward system. Hero’s design often created scenarios where victory or defeat felt less earned or deserved and more dictated by chance. This is further backed up by the Games Learning Society, which researches the impact of games on our society; a game should not be so random as to remove strategic thought. Check them out at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Language Barriers & Communication Concerns
Adding fuel to the fire, early discussions also circled concerns around Hero’s on-screen Command Selection defaulting to the language settings of the Nintendo Switch. While this may not have been the main cause, there were a few cases where players speculated it was banned because of this reason.
The Legacy of Hero: Ban Waves and Community Debate
Why the Initial Ban?
The initial ban was largely driven by the North American competitive community. Many felt Hero’s presence warped the competitive landscape, creating matches that were frustrating to watch and even more frustrating to play. Players felt helpless, as the most skillful player could lose to someone who got lucky with command selection.
The “Eye Test”: Watching Hero Matches
Even for casual viewers, Hero matches often felt different. Instead of the calculated spacing, combo executions, and mind games seen in other matchups, Hero matches could devolve into a flurry of seemingly random attacks and desperate gambles. The lack of consistent “hype” moments, where skill was clearly on display, contributed to the community’s overall dislike of the character.
From Ban to Acceptance (Sort Of)
Hero’s ban wasn’t universally enforced. Some tournaments allowed him, and over time, strategies for playing against Hero did emerge. Players learned to punish predictable spell usage and exploit Hero’s weaknesses. However, the underlying issue of randomness remained a point of contention. Some tournament organizers believed the meta had matured to the point where Hero could be accommodated, while others maintained that he fundamentally violated the principles of competitive Smash.
Is Hero Still Banned?
The answer is: it depends. There isn’t a single, overarching governing body for Smash Ultimate tournaments. Tournament organizers have the autonomy to set their own rulesets. While Hero is generally allowed in most tournaments now, it’s always best to check the specific ruleset of each event. You might find a tournament that bans Hero, citing the classic arguments against him.
The Broader Impact: Randomness in Fighting Games
Hero’s case highlights a broader debate in the fighting game community: how much randomness is acceptable? While some degree of variability can add excitement and prevent matches from becoming stale, too much randomness can devalue skill and create a frustrating experience for players. Hero served as a case study, forcing players to re-evaluate their perspectives on the role of chance in competitive gaming. It also allows us to explore the impact of games on society through things like the Games Learning Society.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hero in Smash Ultimate
Here are some frequently asked questions to further explore the topic of Hero and his place in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community.
1. Why is Steve also banned in Smash Ultimate tournaments?
Steve’s ban is rooted in a different issue than Hero’s. While Hero’s problem was randomness, Steve’s problem was exploitable glitches and overpowered combos that pushed him to the top of the tier lists. One particular glitch that was utilized allowed him to recover more quickly than any other character in the game.
2. Are there any other characters besides Hero and Steve that are frequently banned?
No, there are no other characters that are frequently banned. However, individual tournaments may choose to ban specific characters for specific reasons, but this is rare. The vast majority of tournaments allow the entire character roster.
3. What stages are typically banned in competitive Smash Ultimate?
A long list of stages have been illegal counter picks. Banned stages include Big Blue, Brinstar, Corneria, Green Greens, Jungle Japes, Kongo Jungle, Kongo Jungle (N64), Mushroom Kingdom, Mushroom Kingdom II, Mute City, Onett, Poké Floats, Princess Peach’s Castle, Rainbow Cruise, and Yoshi’s Island.
4. Who are the “Five Gods” of Super Smash Bros. Melee?
The Five Gods of Melee are legendary players who dominated the competitive scene for years: Armada, Hungrybox, Mango, Mew2King, and PPMD.
5. Why was ZeRo banned from Smash tournaments?
ZeRo was banned from Smash tournaments due to allegations of inappropriate interactions with minors online.
6. Why is Smash Ultimate rated E10+?
Smash Ultimate is rated E10+ due to cartoon violence. There is no blood or gore, but characters do engage in combat using special skills and abilities. The rating also considers the suggestive attire of some characters and the absence of alcohol and drug use.
7. Why is Smash rated T?
Smash is rated T due to cartoon violence and the presence of fake guns.
8. Who is D1 and why was he banned from Smash events?
D1 was a commentator and player banned from 2GGaming events due to allegations of overly touchy behavior, flirtatious advances, and hostile reactions to rejection.
9. Was Meta Knight ever banned in Smash?
Yes, Meta Knight was banned in Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to his perceived overpowered nature, although this ban was eventually lifted.
10. What does PMLG stand for in the context of Smash Ultimate?
PMLG stands for “Phantom Major League Gaming,” a glitch involving Steve that allowed him to interrupt hit-stun sequences.
11. Why isn’t Goku in Smash?
Characters from manga and comic books are not under serious consideration towards inclusion in the game because Smash is to be a celebration of video games.
12. Why was Salem banned from Smash?
Salem is a former smasher considered the best Hero and Snake player who prior to his ban, was the best Link player in the world.
13. Who is Ivy Lynn in the context of Smash?
This may be a misinterpretation. Ivy Lynn is not directly related to the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The name refers to a character from the TV series “Smash,” which is about the creation of a Broadway musical.
14. Who are some other players considered to have reached “god” status in Melee?
Some players, like Leffen and Plup, have earned a comparable status through skill and have defeated the Five Gods.
15. Is it generally better or worse to have high degrees of randomness in games, from a game design perspective?
It depends on the design goals and intended audience. Randomness can add excitement and replayability but can also detract from skill-based competition and create frustration. Understanding this balance is a core principle in game design and something the Games Learning Society constantly researches.