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    Sora is the final 'Super Smash Bros

    Sora is the final ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter tech crunch – 2023

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    By on Marketing2Business

    Introduction

    On October 5, 2021, Nintendo announced Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series as the final downloadable content (DLC) fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during the last “Mr. Sakurai Presents” livestream. As the 82nd playable character and the sixth addition to Fighters Pass Vol. 2, Sora’s inclusion marked the completion of the game’s extensive roster. This article explores Sora’s addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, his significance, gameplay mechanics, and the broader impact on the game and its community, drawing on insights from TechCrunch and other sources.

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    Background on Sora and Kingdom Hearts

    Sora is the protagonist of Kingdom Hearts, a beloved action RPG series developed by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney, first released in 2002. Wielding a magical Keyblade with a Mickey Mouse logo, Sora navigates worlds featuring Disney and Pixar characters, battling the Heartless to restore peace. His inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as the first Disney-represented fighter, alongside Square Enix characters like Cloud, Hero, and Sephiroth, was a landmark crossover. Sora’s addition fulfilled a long-standing fan demand, as he topped the 2015 Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot, a fact kept secret until his reveal.

    Announcement and Release

    • Reveal Date: Sora was unveiled on October 5, 2021, during the final “Mr. Sakurai Presents” livestream, hosted by game director Masahiro Sakurai.

    • Release Date: He became available on October 18, 2021 (October 19 in some regions), as part of Challenger Pack 11.

    • Access: Players could access Sora via Fighters Pass Vol. 2 ($29.99 USD) or as a standalone purchase ($5.99 USD). The pass also included Min Min (Arms), Steve/Alex (Minecraft), Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII), Pyra/Mythra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2), and Kazuya (Tekken).

    • Development Context: Sakurai noted that Sora’s inclusion required complex negotiations with Disney and Square Enix, sparked by a chance meeting with a Disney executive at a game awards event. Fighters Pass Vol. 2 was expanded from five to six characters specifically to accommodate Sora.

    Gameplay and Moveset

    Sora’s design in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate mirrors his Kingdom Hearts playstyle, emphasizing aerial combat, combos, and magic.

    Key Features

    • Playstyle: Sora is a lightweight, floaty character with high jumps and slow descents, excelling in aerial combat but vulnerable to knockouts due to his low weight. His moveset is beginner-friendly, with straightforward controls.

    • Keyblade Attacks: Sora wields the Keyblade for rapid three-hit combos (e.g., neutral attack, forward tilt, neutral air, forward air), reflecting Kingdom Hearts’s combo system. His forward smash is a single Keyblade swing, while his up smash has a sweetspot for extra damage.

    • Special Moves:

      • Neutral Special: Cycles through three magic spells—Firaga (fireballs for pressure), Thundaga (electricity for edge-guarding), and Blizzaga (freezes opponents at higher percentages).

      • Side Special: A versatile move usable three times in the air, allowing precise recovery or pursuit.

      • Up Special: Provides excellent recovery, enabling Sora to return from deep off-stage positions.

      • Final Smash: “Sealing the Keyhole,” a powerful move inspired by Kingdom Hearts, delivering devastating damage.

    • Down Smash: Sora hops and slams the Keyblade, creating shockwaves and dodging low attacks due to its upward hurtbox shift.

    • Combos: Sora’s down tilt is a strong combo starter, leading into moves like forward air or up smash. His combos resist directional influence (DI) due to low hitlag, making them highly effective.

    Unique Traits

    • Animations: Sora’s moves reference Kingdom Hearts, such as his jumping animation from the original game and High Jump from Kingdom Hearts II. His wall tech mimics Flowmotion from Dream Drop Distance.

    • Costumes: Eight alternate costumes include designs from Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Kingdom Hearts III, and the monochrome “Timeless River” world.

    • Recovery: Sora’s combination of a double jump, up special, and side special offers one of the game’s best recoveries, ideal for edge-guarding and off-stage pursuits.

    New Content with Sora

    Sora’s inclusion brought additional content to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:

    • Stage: Hollow Bastion, featuring Maleficent’s castle, transitions to the “Dive to the Heart” stained-glass platform showcasing characters like Riku, Roxas, and Xion as battles conclude.

    • Music: Nine tracks from Kingdom Hearts, including “Night of Fate,” “Hand in Hand,” and “Hollow Bastion.” Players with Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory save data on their Nintendo Switch unlock a bonus track, “Dearly Beloved – Swing Version.”

    • Spirits: Thirteen spirits, including Sora’s default spirit (earned via Classic Mode or purchased for 300 Gold) and variants for his alternate costumes. Other Kingdom Hearts characters like Riku and Kairi appear as spirits.

    • Mii Fighter Costumes: Released alongside Sora on October 18, 2021, for $0.75 each, including Octoling (wig) and Judd (hat) from Splatoon, and Doom Slayer (gunner) from Doom.

    Significance of Sora’s Inclusion

    Sora’s addition was a monumental moment for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and its community:

    • Fan Demand: As the top-voted character in the 2015 Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot, Sora’s inclusion fulfilled years of fan anticipation, amplified by his status as a video game icon.

    • Historic Crossover: Sora’s presence bridged Nintendo, Square Enix, and Disney, a complex legal achievement described as a “miracle” by Sakurai, given Disney’s strict IP control.

    • Symbolic Finale: The trailer, showing Mario and Sora shaking hands, symbolized Sora as the final fighter joining the first (Mario), with Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura noting Super Mario 64’s influence on the series’ 3D gameplay.

    • Community Impact: Sora’s reveal sparked massive excitement, with X posts in 2025 reflecting on its cultural significance, describing it as a moment that “had the whole Smash community on 10.”

    Challenges and Community Reception

    • Challenges: Sora’s lightweight nature makes him vulnerable to heavy-hitters like Ganondorf, requiring skilled play to maximize his combo potential. Early competitive play showed mixed results, with some players noting his potential for advanced techniques like slingshot combos.

    • Reception: Fans celebrated Sora’s inclusion as a “poetic” end to Ultimate’s DLC, praising his faithful adaptation and vibrant moveset. Competitive players in Japan, like Kameme and Lea, achieved consistent results with Sora, though North American players have been slower to adopt him as a main.

    Tips for Playing Sora

    To master Sora, consider these strategies from community insights:

    • Leverage Aerial Combos: Use down tilt to start combos, chaining into forward air or up smash for damage.

    • Master Recovery: Combine up special and side special for safe returns from off-stage, and use side special to chase opponents.

    • Cycle Magic Strategically: Spam Firaga for pressure, use Thundaga for edge-guarding, and save Blizzaga for high-damage freezes.

    • Practice in Training Mode: Experiment with combos and movement, as Sora’s potential evolves with new techniques discovered by pros.

    • Follow Pros: Track players like Dusty Carpet_, Elegant, and NAKAT on X for advanced Sora strategies.

    Measuring Impact

    Sora’s addition can be evaluated through:

    • Player Engagement: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate logged 11.7 billion offline battles and 7.8 billion online matches by October 2021, with Sora’s release boosting playtime.

    • Community Buzz: X posts in 2025 highlight ongoing excitement, with fans noting Sora’s “terrifying” combo potential and cultural significance.

    • Sales: The game sold over 25 million units by October 2021, with Fighters Pass Vol. 2 contributing to sustained revenue.

    Conclusion

    Sora’s inclusion as the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter on October 18, 2021, marked a historic milestone, fulfilling fan dreams and uniting Nintendo, Square Enix, and Disney in a groundbreaking crossover. His floaty, combo-heavy playstyle, iconic Keyblade attacks, and vibrant Hollow Bastion stage make him a fitting finale to the game’s roster of 89 fighters. Despite challenges like his lightweight nature, Sora’s beginner-friendly controls and high-skill ceiling ensure broad appeal. By leveraging his aerial prowess and magic, players can maximize his potential, while his cultural impact continues to resonate with the Smash community in 2025. Sora’s arrival not only completed Ultimate’s legacy but also celebrated the power of video game crossovers.

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