Let's make one thing clear right away: I an one of those North American Super Smash Bros. fans who reacted to Terry's reveal with a "...What?" It wasn't that I didn't know Terry Bogard or King of Fighters. It's that I played one of the games maybe once. After some quick research, I discovered a huge outpour of love from the fighting game community. Also from Latin American gamers, who apparently hold a nostalgic love for King of Fighters similar to what I feel for Pokémon or Mortal Kombat. It made sense then. Terry isn't for me. But I can still appreciate how well he was integrated into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Terry The Character
My initial theory was that Terry was throwing a bone to a different audience. If the Latin American audience had to put up with Banjo-Kazooie so I could be happy, and the Dragon Quest Hero for the sake of Japanese fans, it was their turn. That's only part of the story, of course. The Fatal Fury series played an important part in the early '90s arcade scene. That scene created lifelong gamers and likely inspired some of the people who became developers. We might not even have had Super Smash Bros. as we know it were it not for Fatal Fury.
Sakurai and the Smash Bros. team pay Fatal Fury its due respect through Terry's design. Much like Ryu and Ken, Terry's movement and moveset come from his fighting game roots. He has that nice detail where he always faces the opponent in one-on-one fights. Just like in 2D fighters. Terry is more combo-based than most Smash fighters, which again is perfect given his roots. He also has the ability to change his moves if they're input with special joystick maneuvers. This gives Terry a special kind of accuracy and lets fighting game fans use quarter circles for once.
As a fighter, Terry is shaping up to be solid. He doesn't possess overwhelming power, but he does have more bulk than many thought he would. It's always nice to see more Smash fighters that weigh in on the heavy side. It also lends itself well to his defining gimmick. Once Terry takes 100% damage, he gets access to two Super Special Moves. These signature attacks do some massive damage and can be combo'd in to. The potential for Terry mind games will no doubt excite his fans.
King Of Fighters Stadium
Terry's stage is King of Fighters Stadium. It's mostly a no-frills, flat arena with no holes in the ground. That means the only way to send opponents is up or through either side. That's where the stage's unique feature comes into play. Hitting an opponent off the side of the stage will cause them to smack into a barrier. This barrier will prevent side KOs unless a great deal of force is applied. It's a simple but fun idea that turns Smash into a bit more of a traditional fighting game. There will be no cheap Bowser KOs or accidental suicides in this arena. The only way to win is by racking up enough damage, like in the old days.
Despite having a simple design, King of Fighters Stadium still packs in some great references for fans. A handful of characters, with 20 possibilities, from Terry's games will spectate the fight. There are also 50 new songs that span the history of the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series that play on this stage. One can fight on this stage many, many times before seeing (and hearing) all it has to offer. It might not have as much life in the background as, say, Banjo-Kazooie's Spiral Mountain stage, but it's still a treat.
Another Job Well Done
I can't name all of the characters who appear in King of Fighters Stadium. I certainly can't name the songs that play there, or say what games they're all from. What I can say is that I know Sakurai and the crew did another fantastic job with Terry. His fighting game-based moveset and bulk help him stand out, giving both longtime fans and newcomers a lot of options to delve into. His stage plays tribute to his series with a wealth of content. It might not be as dynamic as the past DLC fighter stages, but its barrier gimmick is a great idea. I'm not a fan of Terry yet, but I'm glad he made it to Smash in style.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass was purchased by TheGamer for this review. Terry is available as part of the pass or as standalone DLC on the Nintendo Switch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The first appearance of the crossover-filled platform fighting game series on Nintendo Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was the biggest edition yet when launched. It features 89 fighters, upwards of 100 stages, and both single-player and multiplayer modes.