If you’ve ever spent a late night scrolling through fan-made fighting games, you've probably hit a wall of projects that look cool but play like a PowerPoint presentation. Then there’s Super Smash Bros Crusade. This isn't just another Smash clone; it’s a massive labor of love that feels like a fever dream crossover between Melee, Brawl, and a 90s arcade fighter. And sitting right at the top of the "most fun to play" list? Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros Crusade.
Honestly, playing Falcon in Crusade (specifically the latest v0.9.5 builds) feels like someone took the raw, unhinged speed of Melee and mixed it with the "everything is a combo" logic of Smash 4. He's fast. He's loud. And yes, the Knee of Justice is still the most satisfying move in the history of digital pixels.
What Makes Crusade Falcon Different?
Most people coming from Ultimate expect a certain weight to the Captain. In Ultimate, he’s got that weird initial dash turnaround and some "jank" with his raptor boost. In Super Smash Bros Crusade, Captain Falcon is a different beast entirely. He feels lighter on his feet, almost as if he’s gliding.
The developers (shoutout to the Project Crusade Team) clearly wanted a hybrid. You get the Melee-style Down Throw—which, for those who don't know, is basically a "free combo" button against most of the cast. In Crusade, this throw doesn't send people as far as it does in Brawl, meaning you can actually follow up with a knee or an up-air string without needing a degree in advanced physics.
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The Moveset Breakdown (The Fun Stuff)
- The Jab (Neutral Attack): It’s a standard 1-2-3 combo, but in Crusade, the "Gentleman" (the third hit) is incredibly reliable. You don't have to be a frame-perfect god to get it to come out.
- Up Tilt: This is a hidden gem. It’s an axe kick that meteors (spikes) opponents if you hit them with the heel. In Crusade, the hitbox feels a bit more generous than in the official games.
- Side Special (Raptor Boost): This is where it gets interesting. In Brawl, this move was kinda trash because of the lag. In Crusade, it’s a legitimate combo starter. If you hit it on the ground, you can often jump immediately and start a ladder combo.
- The Down Air (Stomp): It’s the stomp. We all love the stomp. In Crusade, it has that classic "nipple spike" property where hitting with the upper part of Falcon's body sends the opponent at a weird, lethal angle.
Why He Dominates the Crusade Meta
If you’re looking to actually win matches in Crusade, Falcon is a high-tier threat for one reason: speed. In a game that features everyone from Goku to Phoenix Wright, having the fastest run speed is a massive advantage. You can basically outrun most projectiles and punish characters for even thinking about missing a move.
Most players struggle against the "projectile hell" characters like Mega Man or Snake. But Falcon's Neutral B (Falcon Punch) actually has some decent armor or priority in certain versions of the game, though I wouldn't recommend throwing it out unless you're 100% sure your opponent has checked out of the match mentally.
The real "meat" of his gameplay is the U-air strings. You can basically juggle characters across the stage like it's 2001 again. Since Crusade uses a modified engine that allows for more hitstun than Ultimate, these combos feel "sticky"—once you get a hit, the opponent is stuck in your world for a good 40-50%.
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Common Misconceptions and Pro Tips
I see a lot of newer players trying to play Crusade Falcon like he’s in Melee. Look, you can't exactly "Wavedash" with the same frame-perfect sliding movement (though the game does have its own movement tech). Instead, focus on Dash Dancing.
The Dash Dance in Crusade is incredibly fluid. You can bait out an attack, zip back, and then zip back in with a Dash Attack or a Grab.
Expert Note: Don't sleep on his Back Air. It’s one of the fastest "get off me" tools in his kit. If someone is pressuring your shield, a short-hop Bair is usually the answer.
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Also, let's talk about the Up Special (Falcon Dive). In Crusade, the command grab range on his recovery is actually pretty huge. You can snag people who are trying to edge-guard you and stage-spike them before they even know what happened. It’s disrespectful, it’s flashy, and it’s exactly why we play this character.
How to Get Started with Falcon in Crusade
If you've just downloaded the game and want to main the Captain, here is how you should spend your first hour in Training Mode:
- Practice the D-throw to Knee: This is your bread and butter. At mid-percentages (around 50-70% for mid-weights), a down throw followed by a short-hop forward air (Knee) is a kill confirm.
- Master the Short-Hop Up-Air: You need to be able to do this while moving forward. It’s his best tool for catching people jumping or landing.
- Learn the Recovery: Crusade’s ledges can be a bit finicky compared to official Smash. Practice your Up-B angles so you don't accidentally "bonk" against the bottom of the stage.
Super Smash Bros Crusade is a weird, wonderful game, and Captain Falcon is its beating heart. He represents everything the project is about: taking the best parts of Smash history and mashing them together into something that just feels right.
To really take your Falcon to the next level, head over to the official Crusade Discord or the Project Crusade GameJolt page. There’s a whole community of people sharing frame data and combo videos that go way deeper than a standard guide. Start by testing your follow-ups against different weight classes—Goku and Donkey Kong react very differently to a stomp than someone like Pichu or Rayman. Once you've got the muscle memory down for the Down-Throw-to-Knee, start experimenting with edge-canceling your aerials on moving platforms to keep your momentum going.