We're on to the new IP now, Inkling. Messiest character yet~
Here's my picture of the categories I'll use for assessing characters again again...
These points are for making a best estimate of their chances, although the weight of each category is still unknown at this time. Other unforeseen factors could keep the character from being added. I'll likely post this at the start of all my assessments.
Inkling
Popularity
The Inklings of Splatoon are riding the high of having an imminent game release, being cool and interesting looking, being unique, having no preconceptions weighing them down, and making sense from a marketing standpoint to become DLC. Most polls I've seen, they're often top 5 newcomer material. People are really just starting to believe they'll get in too, even if they're not huge supporters. The theory is that Nintendo would try to cash in on what they expect to be a big franchise. The jury's still out on the game, but we can't deny they're putting a lot of marketing effort into Splatoon. People like fresh faces too, and the Inklings seem like they could be it.
Importance
The Inklings are a kind of "squid children" that represent Splatoon's brand, but no one Inkling is a main character or anything. This does open up the possibility for several alt looks a la Villager however. The most recognizable Inkling is arguably the default female Inkling. Lots of people instantly feel in love with her design specifically, but even more so just to concept of the characters. It terms of what they mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, they're relevant, but they have no history and haven't even proved to be the next big property of Nintendo's although they're being pushed that way.
Uniqueness
The Inklings could really present some very unique characters. Not only are they diverse in a appearance, but they're weapons of choice could potentially introduce a whole different appearance to the game... quite literally. It's hard for me to wrap my head around how they'd do this, but Inklings use paint guns and their weapons imply an ability to paint opponents at the very least. Could we really see a whole new texturing algorithm added to Smash for the Inkling weapons? Would be pretty awesome to see Mario completely covered in yellow paint or something. I imagine it wouldn't be too far from what they do for metal characters, except the colors and texturing would be different obviously. I don't see painted characters getting partially covered since that would require a bit much game coding to do and it just seems too busy of a feature to toss in the game for a single character. Partial painting of stages seems unlikely too unless it's something a single move could do in a specific way, although I could see a Final Smash completely covering every texture on screen in paint. Beyond the main gimmick of Inkling's weapons, we have a variety of ways to attack. I could see Inklings having paint pistols, paint bombs, paint mines, paint rollers, paint brushes, paint buckets, paint anything really being a tool for attacking. It's definitely a unique gimmick to base a moveset around that no one comes close to claiming too.
Relevance
Inklings are relevant. Or, at least, they're on the brink of relevancy. They've appeared in many directs and advertising for Nintendo, and the company thinks they could be the next big thing. They're arguably relevant even pre-release simply because Nintendo has been doing well to give them exposure. Nintendo's been pushing them so hard in fact that some believe the next logical step from the company would be to push them into the Smash roster. Whether the Inklings will get such love remains to be seen. As it is, it appears they're relevancy is only going to get greater until the day their game releases, at which point they'll be moving into the realm of increasing importance and perhaps even more popularity.
Representation
Inklings are part of a new IP that may or may not be a franchise title. They are the face of this new IP though and assuming it continues on to success, they're the only choice for representation of their game. I'm undecided on whether Inkings are ready though. I'll just say that,
yes, they could use the representation if they live up to their hype.
Limitations
The only thing really limits Inklings is that they're an untested property. Some say they push from Nintendo and marketing opportunities overshadow this, but it truly remains to be seen what risks Nintendo is willing to make. They're popularity isn't Isaac and K. Rool levels either so assuming we get very little DLC it could be a lot of competition for them to get in past other "best of the rest" contenders. Many see Inklings as having an edge even if they're popularity isn't as big as Isaac or K. Rool because relevance and marketing opportunities though, and there's a belief out there that whether we want them or not doesn't matter because we might just get them anyways. I don't think it's that clear however.
Final Assessment
Chance: 55%
They're popular enough and I think there may be enough of a marketing opportunity there to get a little boost. The risk involved in backing an untested property prevents me from bumping their chances as high as the marketing opportunity alone would. I think a character like Wolf is a much much safer and more obvious marketing opportunity in the near future, and Krystal may qualify along with him. Still, 55% is not bad odds by my standards. Nearly as good as Krystal and Isaac who are from tested properties that are either just as popular or more so than Inkling.
Want: 35%
I'm just not quite sold yet. I think this character needs more of a chance to prove itself. I like the possibilities though.
~~~~
Here's how I think the thread will vote for Rayman...
Prediction for Rayman
Chance: 15.1%
Want: 51.5%
~~~~
2 Points to Snake~
2 Points to Sceptile - (that one's for you Delzethin!)
1 Point to Bayonetta?
I don't want to pick Wolf because I don't think it would be interesting even though I really want him too.
But I dont enjoy every Nintendo game as much as I do say, Zelda or Pokemon~
