The character "Hero" from the Dragon Quest RPG series became available to download in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the evening of the 30th. The fighter, who actually represents several heroes from the series, hence the nonspecific name, is the third of five fighters downloadable through the Fighters Pass.
On the same day, Nintendo released a video explaining the character's—or characters'—gameplay in more detail, along with his stage and other new features coming to the game in the new update. Presented by director Masahiro Sakurai, the video uses a different format from the previous ones, as Sakurai comments on the character while playing as him. According to Sakurai, the format is more like a livestream.
The character has "skins" representing the protagonists of four games: Dragon Quest III, Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest VIII, and the recent Dragon Quest XI. Each incarnation of Hero also has an alternate color representing other characters in the series. In his Final Smash, Gigaslash, the series' other protagonists lend their strength to the fighter for a powerful sword attack.
Sakurai shows Hero's four incarnations
Hero's Final Smash, Gigaslash
The most original part of the character is how Sakurai and his team tried to incorporate RPG elements into his gameplay. His Smash Attacks have a chance to deal critical damage, and his Down-B opens a menu with four spell options to choose from. Each spell consumes MP, which recharges during the match.
Hero's spell menu
Although the move shows four options, they are selected randomly from numerous spells taken directly from the series. They can be offensive, defensive, or even harmful to the player, further increasing the element of luck involved in the fight.
The stage downloadable alongside Hero, Yggdrasil's Altar, takes place on a platform flying over the kingdom of Erdrea from Dragon Quest XI. Popular Dragon Quest enemies appear in the background, and chests containing items emerge throughout fights. However, those same chests can be Mimics that attack the players.
The platform layout changes throughout the match
The next Fighters Pass fighter, the duo Banjo & Kazooie, will arrive sometime from September through December.
