The Boxing Ring stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best stage for any type of Smash player. The video board and the atmosphere of the crowd heighten the competitive energy felt in the ring, and the forgiving side areas and light fixture shenanigans can make a casual Smash player feel at home. There is something for everyone in this stage.
It is hard to find that balance with most Smash stages. Some competitive SSBU stages like Battlefield can be unexciting and boring for casual players, but other stages like Hanenbow are too extreme in the other direction and often unplayable for competitive Smash fans. A simple idea of a boxing ring finds this balance, but why does fighting on this Smash Bros. stage feel satisfying every time?
With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Boxing Ring, simplicity is key. Nintendo did not try and go over-the-top with too much going on at once. One ring, two entrance platforms, and a light fixture make up the entire Smash stage, with ropes on both sides of the ring which can launch players upwards if they land on them. The main fighting usually happens in the ring, where players try to launch their opponents like in any other Smash level. A fun minigame of king of the hill is usually played between the ropes, while others fight on the side platforms. Unlike most Smash stages, however, there is no area to fall off. This makes the side areas very forgiving to players who just got launched from the main ring. The entrance platforms offer a unique, sometimes hidden, secondary fighting area. The simple design of Boxing Ring allows for multiple fights to be going on simultaneously with ease.
Smash Bros. Boxing Ring Is Great For All Players
There are many great stages in Smash Ultimate, but not many are suitable for 2-8 players. Some Smash stages are great just for duels, while others cater specifically to full-game mayhem. The Great Cave Offensive is a fun Smash stage that fits in all eight players, but often feels too big and separated. With four playable areas, Boxing Ring can easily provide room for a full game with independent battles. However, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Boxing Ring shines in duels, and the immersion of a boxing fight really only kicks in when it is one-on-one. The cutthroat battle under the lights is enhanced by the crowd cheering for a K.O. champion. Battling in the Boxing Ring stage is truly the best way to compete in Smash.
Nintendo's inspiration for this stage comes from the Punch-Out!! series. The videoboard in the background keeps track of stats and often shows a live camera spotlight, while the aesthetics of a boxing ring provides a fun and competitive atmosphere. Boxing Ring effortlessly blended into the game when it was first introduced in Super Smash Bros for Wii U. Sometimes fighting in an arena under a spotlight is needed. Other times, that spotlight needs to be dropped on everyone in the game. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Boxing Ring offers solutions to both situations in one electrifying stadium.