In 2015, Kotaku reporter Nathan Grayson gushed about Rivals of Aether‘s Early Access mode. It does vary on the Smash model by replacing a dodge with a parry attack or making more use of enfeebling attacks, but in terms of its feel, Rivals of Aether offers a lower barrier to entry to a genre that’s felt overdetermined by Smash for nearly two decades. It’s fun as hell and fresh and a killer multiplayer to play at home with friends. But if you’re new to platform fighters, you’ll be satisfied just pelting enemies with her sling shot. Maypul the grass-type mongoose, for example, can mark opponents with seeds, lowering their defence, and then wrap them in ivy before smashing them off the map. Melee, but with gorgeous pixel art and more dramatic movesets that can alter the environment or other player characters. In its versus mode, playable locally or online through Steam, players battle it out with smash attacks, aerials and specials, all unique to a chosen character. They’re furnished with remarkably cute backstories, which Rivals‘ single-player mode details in between AI battles.
Rivals of Aether‘s character roster offers eight humanoid animal fighters, each representing earth, wind, water or fire. In a genre monopolized by an established AAA game, Rivals succeeds at nearly everything it sets out to do. Rather than relegating that throne to Smash Bros., Rivals of Aether guts the iconic Nintendo game while retaining the skeleton of its famous playstyle. Rivals of Aether, out today, wants to become every newbie’s first platform fighter.
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