Oh boy this thread is obnoxious :{
To me, series representation has to do with the following factors, in order:
SALES PROFIT for Nintendo
number of games
impact the games had on the company/video games
----------also--------
fame (how much do nongamers know it?)
characterization of players
uniqueness of characters
That in mind- of course how many a series gets is dependent upon the number of characters in the game. (since here, representation is characters, not items, stages, ATs, music, trophies, or stickers).
Mario could use a few more than it currently has, seeing as it has an incredible number of games, fame, impact on Nintendo, and of course- a few more iconic characters (plus the widest variance of any franchise in all of gaming. Dude is a part of every genre but first person shooter, which parts of other games arguably are.) To deny Mario this right, the fact that all of his games, worlds, characters, and experiences are so VASTLY different, and to lump them all together simply because he is in them, is ignorant. It is also in complete disregard for what Mario did for Nintendo. In the simplest breakdown, he easily has five separate franchises- Super Mario Platformer, Mario Sports, RPG Mario, Mario Party, Mario Kart-. without the spinoff character games (I mean, what the hell does Warioware have to do with Super Mario Land 2? A Character? The IP then is all that matters?
Not counting Yoshi, Wario, or DK series, I'd say it should have seven or eight.
I'd love for Yoshi and Wario to each get two. DK Three or Four. This is mostly because the iconography of the characters is insurmountable. But If between the three they only got five characters, that would be fine.
Pokemon is not all that different. Six to eight, though frankly I find it repugnant that solely Pokemon seem to be playable, as that poorly represents the wonderful world of Pokemon (it cuts out all the ways people are involved, and that which makes all the games so very different). 6-8
Kirby I could see getting four, considering the significance it has with Nintendo. But three feels fine.
Metroid is a super seller for Nintendo. Three or four easily.
Fire Emblem is also becoming quite popular, and could use at least 3, but until it grows more, that is good for now. Very vast universe, too, meaning more unique characters of significance.
Zelda could get a few, it is well known, a huge seller. The only issue with Zelda which makes it difficult is the non-vast universe, most unique characters are not recurring. So, I'd say five. Six could be merited, and I would choose Zelda, Link, Ganondorf, Impa, Vaati, and Toon Link only because... why not.
Icarus really shouldnt get more than one until it has more games, but as it likely will, two is great. Maybe even three by next game.
Pikmin is approaching two, but until it breaks a few more barriers, one is dandy.
Starfox is pushing it with two. If Krystal were instead of Falco, Id think it would make more sense. It does in no way merit four.
The rest.... really, one. Earthbound maybe two, simply for Japan. And if so, not Lucas. FZero is great with one.
Honestly, if there were any other plausible character for Game and Watch series, it deserves two. As there is no other unique character I can think of, one is fine. But it helped launch Nintendo games, and a ton of the characters we know now, and was revolutionary.
Super Mario : 5-6
Pokémon : 5-6
The Legend of Zelda : 5
Kirby : 3
Donkey Kong : 2
Metroid : 2 (I count ZSS a character)
Fire Emblem : 2-3
Starfox : 2-3
Kid Icarus : 1-2
Mother : 1-2
At least that's how I see it.
Sounds like you agree with Sakurai.
It's the only one of the franchises seen in Smash 64 to still only have one character and that's kinda depressing. At least Metroid has ZSS.
Yoshi, which has more games, and more current games, only has one.
I don't think star fox is overrepresented, sure it's not as popular as mario or zelda which I believe both franchises need at least 6. Anyways star fox is fine with 3 and I think deserves Krystal, it might have been awhile since a star fox game but they actually go into more story with their characters than any of the other franchises, it might not be all good but at least they try.
They go into more story with their characters than anyone else? Really? Lies. And how does that even matter for the series representation? There are only five starfox games, if I'm not incorrect. Pikmin is catching up on it!
If Sheik (a character that appeared in only one game) was not cut even with the transformation cut, I can't see any meele rep being cut.
But Starfox is not over-represented. We have Falco, the the main wingmate, and Wolf, the feral rival. Both are amazing. And the Starfox series are back with the remake, and will probably get a new title. I can see Wolf keeping.
The validity of the character doesnt really equate to me to being a good number of reps. Even if Falco and Wolf are both important to Starfox, what makes Starfox so important to Nintendo?
