How a game like Smash Bros. managed to become one of the most popular fighting games in the world isn’t hard to understand. Just like Nintendo’s sports titles and Mario Kart, the Super Smash Brothers series has built itself on accessibility paired with great gameplay and tons of fan service.

Super Smash Brothers for Wii U was developed at the same time as a 3DS version. Yet somehow neither game feels rushed. In fact Smash Bros for Wii U is without a doubt the largest Smash Bros. game ever. Everything you know and love is back but it is now bigger and better than ever before. The classic mode now has branching paths and an adjustable difficulty slider. Stadium modes, including the new ones, feature mulitplayer. There are 437 songs in the soundtrack and well over 600 trophies. Oh, and 8-player local multiplayer.

Perhaps the greatest feature of all is a functional online multiplayer mode. Assuming you’re working with a decent Internet connection you can finally bring this great multiplayer experience beyond the reach of the couch. Considering the fast pace action of the Smash Bros. series, this performance is extremely impressive.

Finally, this iteration of Super Smash Brothers features a fantastic character lineup. The classic characters have all been rebalanced lovingly. The new characters are some of the most interesting additions to the series we’ve ever seen. Characters like Sheik and Zero Suit Samus have been given their own place on the roster and flushed out as characters. New competitors like Little Mac, Villager, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Shulk, and Wii Fit Trainer each feel completely unlike any other character in the game and are an absolute joy to play as.

Sakurai seems unsure as to whether or not he’ll be able to survive the creation of another Smash Bros. game. It seems unlikely that he’ll be done with the series here, but if this were to be his final Smash Bros. game, it would be a fantastic closing act. Super Smash Brothers for Wii U makes a very strong case for being the best Smash game in history.