Little Mac (Smash Plus)

Little Mac is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Punch-Out universe, Mac is listed as Fighter #71 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Lightweight fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus Mode or by defeating at least 25 fighters in Multi-Man Melee in the Smash Colosseum.
Little Mac is the definition of a ground and pound fighter. His ground game ranks among the best in Smash, due to the powerful and quick combos he can unleash as well as his potent special moves. This ground game has been improved dramatically with the overhaul of his Star KO system, as Little Mac now stores KO Uppercuts by accomplishing certain tasks (Perfect Shield, Successful Counter, etc.) rather than just filling up a Power Meter. Of course, this ground game is offset by the fact that Little Mac has some of the worst recovery in the game. Despite having both a horizontal and vertical recovery option, Little Mac can be KO'ed fairly early if he is hit hard enough. It doesn't help that as a Lightweight, he is fairly easy to send flying as well. The key to Little Mac is to stay on the ground at all costs and force the advantage when you have it with lightning quick strikes and countering opportunities. Little Mac has two normal jumps and can wall jump.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Little Mac performs a three hit combo consisting of a left handed jab, right handed hook, and then a right uppercut. Rapidly pressing the button goes into a rapid jab of alternating blows, finishing with the uppercut.
*Side Tilt- Little Mac hits a 1-2 jab combo, with the first hit automatically linking into the second. One of Little Mac's better combo starters.
*Up Tilt- Little Mac launches an overhead arcing punch that hits both in front of and above himself.
*Down Tilt- Little Mac crouches down and hits a short range straight punch to the opponent's body. Comes out quickly, but has very short range.
*Dash Attack- Little Mac throws an overhead lunging punch. It comes out quick for a dash attack, and does decent damage and knockback
*Grab & Pummel- Little Mac holds opponents with both hands and pummels with a quick body blow.
*Forward Throw- Little Mac sets the opponent up and hits a strong right cross to knock the foe away. Launches at low angles, but acts as Little Mac's strongest throw.
*Back Throw- Little Mac appears behind the opponent and knocks them away with an uppercut punch. Does slightly less damage than his forward throw.
*Up Throw- Little Mac tosses the opponent in the air and delivers a rising uppercut overhead. Has a bit of endlag on the throw, leaving Little Mac open in multi-man melees.
*Down Throw- Little Mac smacks the opponent with a double axehandle, popping the opponent back into the air for followup attacks.
*Neutral Air- Little Mac executes a weak jab with a slightly downward angle. It doesn't do much damage, but do to its quick execution is a great combo breaker.
*Forward Air- Little Mac fires a horizontal hook punch to knock foes away. It can do impressive damage, but only if it hits squarely on the small sweetspot, instead of the two sourspots right above or below Little Mac's fist.
*Back Air- Little Mac fires an spinning backfist directly behind himself. Comes out far quicker than his forward air, but does less damage even if it sweetspots.
*Up Air- Little Mac hits an overhead hook punch that knocks foes straight up into the air. Despite its quick execution, it severely lacks damage potential.
*Down Air- Little Mac hits a falling downward punch towards the ground. Can spike foes, but only at the very beginning of the move.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Little Mac rears back and unleashes a powerful straight punch forward. The punch can be angled slightly up or down depending on controller input, with the up punch being an uppercut and the lower angle being a body blow, though the forward punch has the highest knockback scaling while the body blow has the most damage.
*Up Smash- Little Mac throws a powerful arching uppercut, with the hitbox starting at ground level and rising up to just slightly over his head. If Mac connects with the move right at startup, the move will have a significant power upgrade and send foes flying. It does still do decent damage even if it connects late, though, making it arguably Mac's most reliable KO move outside of his Star KO punches.
*Down Smash- Little Mac sweeps on both sides of himself with a low right hook punch, starting in front and then firing one behind himself. Both punches come out quickly, and both do the same amount of damage, but even fully charged neither will manage to score a Star KO style punch, making this move better as a get off me tool.
===Special Moves===
*Special Gimmick: Star KO Punch- Little Mac can accrue special punches known as "Star KO Punches." These punches do a massive amount of damage if they connect, and Little Mac stores them for use whenever he needs to. The punches are earned either by successfully countering a physical attack with his Slip Counter move, executing a perfect shield, or scoring a hit with a Fully Charged Smash Attack (or an attack that does more than 20% of damage). Little Mac can have up to 5 Star KO punches stored at any time.
*Neutral Special: Star KO Punch/Combo Rush- The Neutral Special will vary depending on whether or not Little Mac has any stored Star KO punches. If he does, then pressing the Neutral Special Button will unleash one of the KO punches, which is a jumping uppercut. The punch does great damage and knockback if it connects, however it's attack sweetspot window is somewhat short and there is a bit of endlag if it misses, so the punches have to be timed perfectly to take full advantage of their power. If Little Mac has no KO punches stored, then he will instead fire a short range jab. If this jab connects, then he will immediately move into a command grab where he hits 4-10 punches (depending on damage when the opponent entered the move) in rapid fire succession, always finishing with a left hook to knock foes away. Opponents can button mash out of the Combo Rush.
*Side Special: Jolt Haymaker- Little Mac makes a desperate forward leap and delivers an overhead haymaker punch to knock foes away. Pressing the Special Button again right after initiating the attack will cause it to be unleashed early, allowing for differing ranges on the punch. This move also serves as a horizontal recovery move. Though Little Mac doesn't enter freefall after using it, it can only be used once in midair.
*Up Special: Rising Uppercut- Little Mac jumps straight into the air and delivers a flurry of punches, finishing with a rising uppercut to launch foes away. As an attack it does decent multi-hitting damage, though it lacks horizontal range and can occasionally lose opponents in the combo chain if they are not hit squarely by the attack. As a recovery move it is severely lackluster, and should only be used as a last ditch effort, as it will send Little Mac into freefall after use.
*Down Special: Slip Counter- Little Mac will assume a defensive pose and flash for a moment. If attacked, he will dodge out of the way quickly and deliver a counter punch attack with significant power. Successfully dodging an attack with this move is one of the ways to garner a Star KO Punch. It does send Mac forward slightly, giving it some utility as a situational recovery option off stage, albeit only in limited form.
*Final Smash: Giga Mac Rush- Little Mac transforms into his over-muscled form of Giga Mac. He rushes forward, delivering an uppercut to any foe nearby. Anyone hit is then beatdown with a flurry of punches, before being launched with the final punch. It does a massive amount of damage if it connects, even for a Final Smash, and will KO most players if it hits in its entirety.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Little Mac walks onto the stage, throwing a few punches and then discarding his hoodie and assuming a fight stance. If his pink hoodie alternate costume is being used, it will still remain on despite the discarding animation.
*Idle Animation 1- Little Mac shuffles his feet back and forth as if dodging blows.
*Idle Animation 2- Little Mac bobs and weaves with his head, mimicking a boxer's movements.
*Side Taunt- Little Mac pulls the string on his right boxing glove tight and assumes a fighting stance, as Doc Lewis says "Let 'Em Have It Mac!"
*Up Taunt- Little Mac crouches down and then pumps his fist into the air in victory.
*Down Taunt- Little Mac faces the camera and performs a few punches, as Doc Lewis says "Show 'Em What You've Got Mac Baby!"
*Victory Animation 1- Little Mac does a fakeout punch against Doc Lewis, who stumbles a bit and laughs and poses with him, saying "You win Mac!"
*Victory Animation 2- Doc Lewis chest bumps Little Mac, knocking him backwards, before holding up his arm in victory as saying "You Got What It Takes Mac!"
*Victory Animation 3- Doc Lewis rides his bike into frame as Little Mac runs in following, delivering a few punches before posing as Doc says "Ahh, winnin feels good, don't it Mac?"
==How to Unlock==
Little Mac can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Play Versus Matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Score at least 25 KO's in a single 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