I think Smash requires a good balance of new and old. Smash 4 might've had more newcomers than any other Smash game to date, but I also feel like it the weakest selection. We got so many new franchises (more than 10) that many of the old ones got neglected because of it.
Adding new franchises keeps the series fresh and opens up a lot of creative opportunities, but you can't neglect your existing franchises either. Even if some of the additions seem forced or repetitive, these franchises mean a lot to people too, and Smash wouldn't be where it is today without them.
I thought the newcomers for 4 were solid, but the game just lacked overall theme and purpose.
- Smash 64 was the first one, and set up the base for the series.
- Melee expanded the idea to be much closer to the games we get now with the extra modes and what not, and playable side characters and villains instead of just main heroes.
- Brawl has its iconic artstyle, the introduction of overdue characters like Meta Knight, Dedede, Diddy, as well as introducing the idea of third parties, and having the huge story mode which is still iconic for its cutscenes.
Smash 4 was just kinda “the next smash game.” It has new characters, a few of which were popular fan requests,, others were just popular games that came out since Brawl.
Besides introducing some big characters, it doesn’t really stand out that much in terms of identity. It doesn’t even have a real name.
The DLC was also all over the place and felt kinda like a separate entity. I don’t really know how to describe it.
Ultimate speaks for itself. It’s the ultimate Smash game for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Every past character returns, even ones thought to be lost to time. Most of the newcomers are big fan requests and the actual ballot toppers. It wore all of these points on its sleeve up to its release and beyond, solidifying it’s identity as the ultimate Smash game.
The DLC for this game feels much more organized and laid out. The Fighters Pass is being presented like a grand expansion that’s building up over time, unlike the disconnected series of characters and stages Smash 4 had.
Honestly, I think the difference between Smash 4 and Ultimate is one of the best manifestations of the change Nintendo has had between the Wii U era and now.