Eight Stages in Smash that I Really Don't Hate

Howdy hey, Smash fans. We had quite the Direct last Wednesday. I am stoked that King K. Rool is now a fighter! I also dig Chrom and Dark Samus as Echoes, as well as the newcomer Simon Belmont, complete with a Richter Belmont Echo.

Among the many things covered in the presentation was the fact that we are going to have a whopping 103 stages playable, all from the start.

With that in mind, I would like to cover eight stages that I enjoy playing on throughout the Smash series.

I should make it clear that I am a casual player, so you're bound to disagree with a few of my picks. Please be respectful of my opinions. :blush:

Let's get started!

All images are courtesy of SmashWiki.

1: Poke Floats

Starting off the list is Poke Floats, a stage that has only been seen in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

This stage is rather different from a typical Pokemon stadium, as players fight on large balloon models of various Pokemon. The action is changing constantly.

One reason why I like Poke Floats is due to its changing platforms; after fighting on it a few times, I got the hang of which Pokemon balloons to shift to.

Another reason is that Pokemon is my third favorite series, following Mario and Kirby. After getting back into Pokemon again, I recognized all of the Generation 1 and 2 creatures that appear as balloons.

I'm a bit sad that Poke Floats won't return in Smash Ultimate, but it will remain as a Melee favorite.

2: Onett

Onett, hailing from EarthBound, has been one of my favorite stages since its debut in Melee.

It's a compact arena featuring the occasional cars as stage hazards. They do a lot of damage, but are fairly telegraphed.

I dig the cheery aesthetic to this stage. The buildings are nice and colorful, the bright blue sky is inviting, and the music is enjoyable.

In Smash 4, I like using Onett as a stage for a Legendary Battle, or a battle that only uses the Master Ball to summon powerful Legendary Pokemon.

I can't wait to enjoy Onett in Smash Ultimate!

3: Mushroomy Kingdom

The first Brawl stage I'll mention is Mushroomy Kingdom. This is meant to be a desolate take on the classic 1-1 level from Super Mario Bros..

Normally, I prefer Mario stages to be whimsical and colorful, but I like the barren desert vibe here. It makes it look as if it was abandoned in the 23-year gap between SMB and SSBB.

I know that scrolling stages are unpopular among the Smash community, but I do love that you trek through the entirety of the first level in Super Mario Bros., complete with ? Blocks that grant items.

The music is also great. I particularly enjoy the Ground Theme 2 song that could be unlocked.

As can be seen above, there is a chance that 1-2 can be loaded in Brawl. One can guarantee either 1-1 or 1-2 through certain buttons on the controller.

I certainly hope that Ultimate allows 1-2 to be added; that was my only gripe about this stage in Smash 3DS.

4: Mario Circuit (Brawl)

Back when Super Smash Bros. Brawl released, just about everyone hated the Mario Circuit stage.

Personally, I have no issues with this arena. Yes, the Shy Guys are powerful hazards, but they're rather easy to avoid.

Similar to Onett, Mario Circuit is a small stage with a pretty color palette. I find the music selection to be great, with a rocking remix of Waluigi Stadium and medley of Mario Golf and Mario Tennis tracks being my favorites.

To be honest, I like this stage more than the new Mario Circuit from Smash 4.

The only thing I don't like is the name "Mario Circuit"; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will rename this stage Figure-8 Circuit, which is the track that it's based on.

5: Rumble Falls

Another universally hated arena is Rumble Falls, a Brawl stage based on Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.

I get it; the gimmick here is that the camera scrolls upwards, much like Icicle Mountain from Melee.

My defense for liking Rumble Falls is that you are given more real estate to fight on. Additionally, there's a notification alerting fighters when the stage will speed up, so it's not *completely* randomized.

This may come off as redundant, but the visuals in this stage are gorgeous. I am especially fond of the foliage growing in the background and the pretty waterfall.

I am not terribly surprised that Rumble Falls won't be returning in Smash Ultimate, but I will happily recall it as a Brawl favorite.

6: Hanenbow

The final Brawl stage covered here is Hanenbow from Electroplankton.

This...is a very distinct area. The action takes place on two trees with large bright green leaves. On the larger tree, attacks can change the colors of the leaves to yellow, orange, and red.

The main reason why I enjoy Hanenbow is that it's the exact opposite of the serious, gritty artsyle that Brawl depicts. I also like the ambient sound effects.

I am surprised that Hanenbow is coming back in Ultimate. Looking forward to playing on it once more!

7: Wily Castle

Wily Castle was one of the first new stages confirmed for Smash 4, being revealed alongside Mega Man at E3 2013.

This stage is rather unpopular due to the presence of the Yellow Devil stage boss. I'll be frank; he does take up quite a bit of real estate in this compact arena.

However, I generally have next to no problems with this stage boss in casual play. When Yellow Devil shows up, I typically defeat him before he becomes a big nuisance.

That said, the Yellow Devil is a bit more annoying in Smash Tour and All-Star mode, where the AI is more aggressive about fighting him.

I know that many will appreciate the inclusion of the hazard toggle in Smash Ultimate, where the Yellow Devil can be removed while keeping the base platform layout of Wily Castle.

8: Pac-Land

The final stage for this blog is Pac-Land, debuting in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

I never heard of the game Pac-Land prior to Smash 4, so this stage was a fresh slate for me.

Akin to Mushroomy Kingdom, this stage is a scrolling area. However, once you reach Fairy Land, you navigate back to Pac-Man's house, where Ms. Pac-Man awaits.

Again, I like scrolling stages in Smash. I am also a fan of the simplistic 8-bit artstyle and vibrant colors.

The stage features are fun. There are the Wings power-up that make characters jump higher, balloons that recover damage, a Special Pac that provides invincibility, and my favorite, pushable fire hydrants that make fighters Mega size.

Now, I was sure that Pac-Maze in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was the more fan-favorite Pac-Man stage, but Pac-Land is the one returning in Smash Ultimate. Strange...🤔

Anyhow, those are my thoughts on eight stages I like throughout Smash. I thank you for reading this blog!