Ryu (Smash Plus)

Ryu is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Street Fighter universe, Ryu is listed as Fighter #78 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Heavyweight Fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus Mode or by surviving at least 5 minutes in a single round of an Endless Melee in the Smash Colosseum.
Coming from a more traditional fighting game universe, Ryu carries over some of the mechanics from that universe into Smash Plus. Many of his attacks gain some additional power or in some cases different hitboxes based on their input, with held button presses usually increasing the power and duration of the moves and tapped button presses having slightly greater combo potential. In addition, many of his special attacks gain additional power when input with special button commands. This makes Ryu a difficult character to master, even if many of his attributes are fairly average overall. His slow walking speed hinders what is otherwise an above average ground game, and many of his KO attacks require opportunity to land or setup time, giving inexperienced players difficulty to finish off foes. Despite these weaknesses, there is depth to Ryu's gameplay that makes him worth learning. Ryu has two normal jumps and no additional movement options.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- When tapped, Ryu unleashes a two hit combo of a short straight punch followed by a rising hook punch. When held and the opponent is far away, then Ryu performs a spinning hook kick. When held and the opponent is up close, then Ryu delivers a short powerful uppercut.
*Side Tilt- When tapped, with the opponent at a distance, Ryu hits a strong side kick at medium range that launches foes diagonally. When tapped with the opponent close, Ryu hits a quick inward hook punch that leads into most of Ryu's combos. When held, Ryu performs and overhead downard thrusting punch that comes out slowly but hits twice.
*Up Tilt- When tapped, Ryu performs a quick uppercut style elbow that can combo into itself chain-style, though it does very little damage. When held, Ryu performs a standing uppercut that is a reliable KO move at high percentages.
*Down Tilt- When tapped, Ryu performs a crouching shin kick that can be spammed, repeatedly linking into itself. When held, Ryu performs a stronger, lunching version of the tap version, that does far more damage but has strong endlag for a tilt attack.
*Dash Attack- Ryu performs a flying kick that has high base knockback and can reliably combo.
*Grab & Pummel- Ryu grabs and holds with both hands on the opponents neck, though his range is incredibly short. He pummels with a quick knee strike.
*Forward Throw- Ryu performs an overhead judo throw forward, that has decent combo lead-in potential.
*Back Throw- Ryu somersaults backwards and flips the opponent over his head. Ryu's most powerful knockback throw.
*Up Throw- Ryu tosses the opponent up and then knocks them away with an axe kick, dealing high damage to opponents.
*Down Throw- Ryu pins the opponent to the ground and performs a weak knifehand strike to knock them away.
*Neutral Air- Ryu performs a downward angled knee strike that has a lingering hitbox.
*Forward Air- Ryu performs a flying kick that is most powerful when it first comes out.
*Back Air- Ryu hits an outside crescent kick behind himself. Due to its fast startup time, it is Ryu's most reliable KO air move.
*Up Air- Ryu hits a rising uppercut that hits twice and is reliable at catching opponents off guard.
*Down Throw- Ryu performs a straight punch at a downward angle that can spike opponents if it sweetspots, but will sourspot if it misses too late.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Ryu lets loose with a standing side kick that moves Ryu slightly forward and has strong launch power right on the heel. However, despite its range and power, it does have high endlag, limiting its use somewhat.
*Up Smash- Ryu crouches down and then throws a rising uppercut. Despite lacking horizontal range, the move is effective as an anti-air tool due to it shrinking Ryu's hurtbox and its decently high launching power.
*Down Smash- Ryu performs a quick legsweep that hits directly in front of him. It comes out the quickest of all of Ryu's Smash Attacks, but is unreliable as a KO option due to its lack of knockback.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Hadoken- Ryu cups his hands to his side and then fires the iconic blue ki blast forward. The projectile does decent damage and has limited knockback overall. It also has three different variations. Simply pressing the special button fires a normal version of the move (with holding the special button causing it to travel slightly further). Entering a directional input (↓ ↘ → + attack or special button) creates a larger and more damaging version of the traditional blue fireball. Entering a different directional input (← ↙ ↓ ↘ → + attack/special) launches the Shakunetsu Hadoken, which is a red flaming variant that hits multiple times, doing far more damage if all hits connect.
*Side Special: Tatsumaki Senpukyaku- Ryu performs a jumping spinning crescent kick that moves forward and knocks foes away on impact. It can be utilized several different ways, as using it in the air will stall Ryu's fall, making it a good horizontal recovery move. Inputting traveling behind or forward with the move also changes its damage output. Holding the special button down during its run will give the move extra damage, length and launching power. Inputting a directional command (↓ ↙ ← + attack or special) increases its damage output as well as its knockback greatly.
*Up Special: Shoryuken- Ryu performs a leaping uppercut straight upwards, propelling his fist into the air while shouting the attack name. It has fast startup, and does far more damage if it hits opponents right at the beginning of the move. Inputting a directional command (→ ↓ ↘ + attack/special) greatly increases the damage and knockback and decreases the endlag as Ryu enters freefall.
*Down Special: Focus Attack- Ryu assumes a focused stance, gathering energy before unleashing a single short straight punch. While charging, Ryu gains heavy armor that grows in strength as the charge increases, allowing him to withstand attacks. At full charge, the Focus Attack is unblockable and will cause enemies hit by it to crumple to the ground, allowing for followup attacks. However it takes about 1.8 seconds for a full charge, making it hard to pull off.
*Final Smash: Shin Shoryuken/Shinku Hadoken- Ryu's Final Smash will depend on the opponent's distance from Ryu when it is launched. Up close, Ryu will use the Shin Shoryuken, an extended three-hit version of his Shoryuken used on one opponent that has a high KO potential. At a distance, Ryu will use the Shinku Hadoken, which launches a powerful ball of energy forward a good distance, bypassing walls and hitting multiple opponents before launching with a final explosion. The latter attack has more range, but far less KO power.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Ryu walks onto the stage from a misty background, readying in a fighter stance.
*Idle Animation 1- Ryu adjusts his gloves on both hands
*Idle Animation 2- Ryu crosses his arms and then pumps them in a defiant stance.
*Side Taunt- Ryu holds his fist forward pointing, uttering "Talk is Cheap."
*Up Taunt- Ryu pulls the ends of his headband taut while stating "Come on."
*Down Taunt- Ryu stomps the ground in a fighting stance and grunts, causing a small gust of wind around himself.
*Victory Animation 1- Ryu crosses his arms and then does a pose with a winding back punch, ending by saying "Give it Your All."
*Victory Animation 2- Ryu slings his band over his shoulder, turning his back to the camera while saying "The Journey has just begun."
*Victory Animation 3- Ryu punches once before doing a familiar victorious uppercut, saying "Your range is one fist short."
==How to Unlock==
Ryu can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Survive for at least 5 minutes during a single Endless Multi-Man Melee Round in the Smash Colosseum.
*Unlock him in the Finale of World of Light by defeating him.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where he can randomly appear (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters