Despite releasing in 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is arguably still one of the largest games on the Nintendo Switch. There hasn't been another recently that has generated the same amount of fan speculation as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate did with its guest fighters. Nintendo released two Fighters Passes, making spots for 11 DLC characters not exclusive to just Nintendo franchises. Fans thought Nintendo had already done the impossible by resurrecting Banjo and Kazooie and negotiating Steve from Minecraft for Smash, but the development team saved its greatest surprise for last: Sora from Kingdom Hearts.
Sora may also be the most thoughtfully designed character in Ultimate, at least as far as his alternate outfits are concerned. Going back to the original Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64, every fighter has had a handful of alternate colors to help delineate players who may want to use the same character. As the series continued, and especially into Ultimate, the alternate outfits became more inspired and started referencing back to the franchise where its characters were coming from, such as the inclusion of an Alex skin for Steve in Ultimate. Sora's eight alternate outfits come from throughout the Kingdom Hearts franchise, each bearing their own significance and context. However, Sora's proportions and hair do not change with each costume as in the original games, just his clothes do.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Kingdom Hearts 1 Sora
Sora's default appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is how he first appeared in the original Kingdom Hearts in 2001; outfit, pose, and all. This design set the standard for what the rest of Sora's outfits would look like: spiky brown hair, iconic crown necklace, a short sleeve top and shorts, with yellow shoes and gloves. The billowing red jumpsuit and large yellow shoes may look goofy, but this design was intentional so Sora would mimic the classic appearance of Mickey Mouse, Disney's mascot, as its worlds and characters are an integral part of the series. It is Sora at his most simple, and perhaps his most recognizable.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Kingdom Hearts 2 Sora
Kingdom Hearts 2 is the inspiration for most of Sora's outfits in Smash Ultimate. A lot happens between Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, but most importantly Sora becomes a year older and grows out of his clothes from the first game. This design is darker and more intricate, featuring a multitude of straps, zippers, and buckles, yet it still channels his original look with yellow shoes and red accents. These clothes are powered through Sora's connection with others, allowing him to change Drive Form and become more powerful when necessary.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Dream Drop Distance Sora
The third alternate costume for Sora is based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance. It may be difficult to tell from Sora's pose, but this design is a combination of his appearances in Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. This game has Sora visiting Disney worlds that are "asleep" and disconnected from the rest, in turn giving Sora an appearance that blends his previous looks. For example, the oversized shoes and pant legs have returned from Kingdom Hearts 1, but so has the intricate linework from his design in Kingdom Hearts 2.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Kingdom Hearts 3 Sora
Sora's fourth alternate costume is from his most recent appearance in Kingdom Hearts 3. While the trademarks of Sora's design are still present, this outfit evolves his Kingdom Hearts 2 design, being overall very dark with highlights of red and yellow. Also similar to Kingdom Hearts 2, these clothes are bestowed upon Sora by Yen Sid and the fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. They also have the ability to transform, though not through Drives. Players can change the form of their Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3 during combat, which in turn changes the design of Sora's outfit.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Timeless River Sora
The fifth alternate costume for Sora is based on his appearance in the Timeless River world of Kingdom Hearts 2. In Timeless River, Sora, Donald, and Goofy, take on looks as if they were in Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse's original cartoon from 1928. Naturally, the simplifed version of Kingdom Hearts 2 Sora is his Kingdom Hearts 1 design, but with larger eyes and a smoother face. As Masahiro Sakurai pointed out in the Direct, this Sora variant has special facial animations that reflect the old-timey look.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Valor Form Sora
Speaking of Drive Forms, Sora's sixth alternate costume is one of those; specifically his Valor Form. After filling up the Drive guage in Kingdom Hearts 2, players can activate Valor Form, changing Sora into a red-and-black outfit emblazoned with a fleur-de-lis on his sleeves and pant legs. This is the first Drive Form Sora obtains, and is his most offensively-minded one, as it enables him to move and attack faster while dual-wielding Keyblades, at the cost of being unable to guard or cast magic. Fortunately, using this skin in Ultimate does not carry over those effects.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Wisdom Form Sora
Like the last costume, Sora's seventh alternate skin is based on another Drive Form. In Kingdom Hearts 2, Wisdom Form is, for all intents and purposes, the opposite of Valor Form, having a stark blue-and-black design with blue flame patterns on his sleeves and pant legs. Rather than attacking enemies with his Keybalde, Wisdom Form Sora can only "shoot" them, firing a barage of magic bullets from long range while also increasing the power of his traditional magic attacks. The Wisdom Form design is being used on Sora's third costume, the Dream Drop Distance appearance, so it isn't as close to the original as the Valor Form costume.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Ultimate Form Sora
Sora's eighth and final costume comes from Kingdom Hearts 3's Ultimate Form transformation. After scrounging up enough Orichalcum+ and obtaining the coveted Ultima Weapon, Sora can transform into this white-and-black outfit, gaining three white crown insignias on his sleeves and a swirling pattern on his pants legs. In this form, Sora becomes practically unstoppable as he hovers off the ground, wields dozens of weapons at once, and can teleport around enemies. It is very similar to Kingdom Hearts 2's Final Form in design and mechanics, but is definitely more flashy and dazzling.
Sora will release in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Switch on October 18, 2021.