Last Friday, middle school students gathered to watch an exciting event: Super Smash Bros–a match between Grade 8 English teacher Mr. Kim and student Kei S (Class of 2029). This was match up was to determine who was better at Super Smash Brothers!
Since childhood, Mr. Kim has been passionate about gaming. He organized this event as part of a special learning event. Often, teachers bring origami, traditional card games, art, and stories. Still, he chose to share his enthusiasm for gaming, explicitly sitting on a couch with a comprehensive TV, playing cooperatively and competitively, and sharing the same screen. Mr. Kim explained that rather than online games, offline games allow face-to-face interactions, cooperation, and more laughter.
Mr. Kim and Kei Sasaki (’29) playing an intense match
Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros is a fast-paced fighting game that students and teachers love. Mr. Kim and Kei battled using their favorite fighters in a best-out-of-five match. With a close score of 2-2, Mr. Kim and Kei went to the final set. Every set required a different character, on Mr. Kim’s side was Dark Samus, Link, and Pikachu, while Kei displayed his talent on an exclusive character, Kazuya. Narrowly, Mr. Kim won with the final score 3-2.
Mr. Kim explicitly expressed his appreciation for Kei’s sportsmanship and his excitement about reconnecting with students over a shared interest. “Gaming is one of the best ways to connect with people,” he said. Regardless of age or background, everyone can enjoy it together.” Mr. Kim hopes everyone views gaming as a way to connect and help students develop skills such as strategic thinking and respect for opponents.
A frame of the gameplay
VIDEO REVIEW
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a game with more than 80 fighters. The characters are from famous game franchises such as Super Mario, Pokemon, Street Fighter, etc. Every fighter has a unique skill set, and it is up to the player to choose their favorite fighter. I often debate with my friends about which fighter is the strongest.
Some characters from the game
The game was first introduced in 1999 and had four other series until 2018 when the newest version was released on the Nintendo Switch platform. The game is around $40 (5,600 yen), including in-game purchases. I highly recommend buying the game since the price is reasonable. It offers the best graphics and a story mode that entertained me for hours. The game can be played by up to 8 players simultaneously. Playing online even allows you to play with your friends, even overseas! Each game typically takes 8 minutes max, depending on the setting of the match.
It is one of the best games released on the Nintendo Switch and a must-play. I highly recommend it and would rate it 5/5.
