Super Smash Bros. is one of the most iconic video games of this century. Ever since it was first released in 1999, people all over the world have enjoyed playing it. Today, it still continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Through its 24 years of existence though, one question is continually debated by players: should you play with items on or off?
For those who do not know, items are objects that will spawn in game and will give the player who uses them an advantage (or disadvantage, depending on the item). Items can be turned on or off in settings, so players can choose whether or not to play with them. There is a wide variety of items that will spawn, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. Some of the most iconic ones are the Smash Ball, Home-Run Bat, and the Super Mushroom. A full list of smash items can be found here.
One of the effects of playing with items is that it makes games more random. This can be seen as either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you want to play the game. Since you do not know what items will spawn, or who will be able to get each of the items, it can allow for the each game to be really different. A lot of players may consider this to be more fun, as they do not know what will happen each time they play. Others may prefer it without items though for this same reason. When items are not used, the game becomes significantly less random, and flows at the pace of the players, rather than at the pace of the items that spawn and dictate the game.
Another effect that items can have is making the game less skill based. Some players may enjoy this, as it can level the playing field between more skilled players and those who are new to the game. While that is true, making the game less skill based has the effect of limiting the player’s ability to develop said skill. Items, when used, will often get in the way higher skilled techniques, such as combos and ledge trapping, resulting in players never learning them. Because of this, it is not the best idea to use items if you want to get better at the game. While they are perfectly fine if you want to play casually, they seriously inhibit your skills in the long run.
Both of these are important to keep in mind when you decide whether you should play with items or not, but those specifically are not all that you should think about. One of the big things that should go into your decision on whether or not to play with items is what you actually want to get out of playing Smash. Do you want to become a pro player or a streamer? Well then you probably shouldn’t be playing with items since tournaments do not use them. Do you just want to play the game to pass time and have fun? Then do whatever makes the game most enjoyable for you and whoever you are playing with. Regardless of how seriously you take the game and what you choose to play with, remember that Smash is still just a video game, and that while it may be better for you to play one way or the other, playing with or without items is not the end all be all.
We hope this article was helpful! Make sure to check out some of our other Smash content, such as our article on Young Link Tips!
