Though there's a good chance we'll never get to play it

Super Smash Bros. Brawl was not the game that the competitive scene had been hoping for when it released, so the fans took it upon themselves to create their own version of the title with a mod called Project M that would change the gameplay to work more like Melee.

Now over a decade later, it appears as though at least one modder is continuing that initiative in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with a brand new project.

The 'work in progress' was originally known as Project Ultimate, but it has since changed its name to Project NX likely a reference to the Switch's in-development code name and the developer's screen name of NyxTheShield.

Nyx posted his first proof of concept clip on January 4, 2019 where he showed off Smash Ultimate running with more true to form wavedashing and lowered landing lag with Falco being able to do a range of movements that would be impossible in the base game that quickly.

Other aspects of Smash Ultimate have also been shown off to be altered to be more like Melee with faster directional air dodges, DI and dash dancing, but the musician turned modder says that the current changes rely on parameter and hex editing of existing code meaning nothing brand new has been added to the play. He does hope to more directly modify the game's engine in the future to gain those potential abilities.

Nintendo is known, however, for aggressively pursuing fan / unofficial projects that use their licenses, so questions immediately arose as to Project NX's legality or the possibility of a cease and desist. Nyx originally stood by his project's public release despite the risks, but he has more recently posted that the mod will 'never release to the public' and will only be used for personal educational purposes — so we may never get to play it even if Nintendo doesn't step in.

Time will tell if anything more substantial and tangible will come of Project NX, but until then we can follow Nyx's advancements and see if it is indeed something the wider community wants. You can check out the original proof of concept clip below plus a more in-depth video from CLASH Tournaments going over every development thus far after the jump.



Click images for animated versions