E3 2018: Super Smash Bros. Invitational reveals and results

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Match 1: Mario (ZeRo) vs. Bayonetta (MkLeo)

MkLeo racked up some decent combos thanks to Bayonetta, but ZeRo brought the spacing game — although MkLeo took the first KO of the match thanks to some nasty edge-guarding. ZeRo quickly got his first KO, though. On the second stock apiece, MkLeo took the next KO, but ZeRo again was fast to bring the return KO. However, coming from behind doesn’t always work. MkLeo took the first match.

Match 2: Sheik (ZeRo) vs. Sonic (MkLeo)

This was a match of speedy characters, with MkLeo’s aggressive opening moves pulling some solid damage on ZeRo and a quick early KO on an up smash. Another edge guard got MkLeo the 3-1 stock lead, quickly dropped to 2-1 thanks to ZeRo’s payback. Down to his last stock, ZeRo made it really interesting and got it to 1-1, but was at high damage … enough to lose the KO and causing a bracket reset, bringing it back to a best of 3 match.

Match 3: Mario (ZeRo) vs. Sonic (MkLeo)

The crowd went wild to see this matchup, with MkLeo’s Sonic coming back with a vengeance in the early game, only to lose a stock thanks to some strong smashes from ZeRo. Even at high damage, ZeRo got a hang on MkLeo’s game, able to pull some solid throws and combos. Finally, MkLeo brought the pain and got a screensmash KO — only for ZeRo to quickly KO and bring him down to his last stock.

It came down to 1-1, but ZeRo had racked up some lead in the percentage, enough to take MkLeo down.

Match 4: Mario (ZeRo) vs. Sonic (MkLeo)

With some occasional platforms this time, the game changed a little. However, ZeRo landed a Super Jump Punch Up-B, building the damage and edge-guarding for the first KO. With some help from Sonic’s spring, MkLeo brought it back to 2-2, and another big smash edge guard got it to 2-1, MkLeo.

However, it came down to the last stock, as it so often does. MkLeo took an early lead damage-wise, and it was enough to bring it to game 3.

Match 5: Mario (ZeRo) vs. Sonic (MkLeo)

Back on the Final Destination, the first stock showed some circling, at least metaphorically speaking. Finally, a smash from ZeRo KO’d MkLeo. Throws, aerial attacks, and more all ruled MkLeo’s second stock, with ZeRo scoring another KO still on his first stock. MkLeo finally got that first stock from ZeRo.

Down to his last stock, MkLeo lost the damage battle — and ZeRo became the champion. Sakurai returned to award ZeRo with the trophy; both MkLeo and ZeRo also won medals.

The special events

During one of the breaks in tournament play, we had a free-for-all match among cosplayers who came dressed as Ness, Link, Pac-Man, and Mario … who played as the characters they came as, of course. Pac-Man got the victory!

The second break saw some celeb invites including Zelda Williams playing a free-for-all match. Villager, Kirby, Sheik, and Pac-Man came in to play, and Pac-Man won again.

The third break called in WWE star Ember Moon, Mike Daniels from the NFL, Olivia Holt of Cloak & Dagger fame, and Smasher Nairo. The three celebs got to play together to try and take Nairo down. Nairo brought out Snake to fight against Pikachu, Kirby, and Donkey Kong.

Yeah, Nairo won.

Some things we learned during the free-for-all matches:

Link doesn’t have his hookshot anymore, and now uses the Remote Bomb.
Alolan Vulpix is in the game as a Pokéball possibility, as is Solgaleo.
Ness pulled out his new Final Smash.
Arcade Bunny’s crane is wickedly powerful. He’s an assist trophy.
Bewear is an Assist Trophy.

Next: E3 2018: More of Smash Ultimate

What were your biggest moments of the Smash tournament?

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