Henry Fleming chances:
0.15%
Copy and paste:
A new IP from Nintendo which doesn't look like it is intended to be promoted to one of Nintendo's flagship series. I mean, compare this game's promotion to Splatoon... and it's extremely rare that IPs like this get playable representation in Smash Bros. Not to mention I doubt we'll ever get a playable representative from a tactical series from IS that isn't the much more established Fire Emblem, especially if Advance Wars never got one. His support also seems to be lacking.
Last time I gave him 0.45% chances. But with how the game did overall, even then I think it may be too high.
Henry Fleming want:
5%
My interest in Codename S.T.E.A.M. admittedly decreased over time, plus he's born after Smash itself... though it'd be cool for him to be an Assist Trophy in the next gen Smash.
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Malon chances:
0.01%
Sure there's that "farmer moveset" thing but even then I'm not even sure it may save her. Malon herself and the ranch thing are overall a minor part in the grand scheme of things in the Zelda series to warrant playable representation. She could also permanently ride Epona, one of the last major icons of the series who have yet to be playable, which imo is her main selling point as a contender. Anyway, the lack of support she gets means she will most likely not even be considered.
Malon want:
If she rides Epona:
70%
Otherwise:
0%
So overall I'll give her a want score of
55%
Basically if I want Malon in Smash I want her as a rider for Epona who isn't a third Link. Epona imo is the last TLoZ character to be enough of a timeless icon representative of the series to make me confident she's qualifiable for Smash, but at the same time I've tried to think about a moveset for Epona on her own and no matter how I thought about it it never felt right. As such I've thought to add Link to ride her thus making her easier to design a moveset for and feeling more faithful to the source series... but there's one single problem... it would add
A THIRD FREAKING LINK to the roster.
As one of the two characters strongly associated with Epona in TLoZ alongside Link himself it would make sense for Malon to ride her in Smash, borrowing fighting techniques Link himself used in those games such as horse archery (her Romani counterpart used a bow in Majora's Mask after all), or even making a big poe appear from afar and the first player who kills the big poe gets a temporary boost in power or speed, and I think she would be okay to use a sword of some sort to emulate Link's horseback swordplay. Epona herself could also be involved in many moves, being a unique mount who relies on her massive physical strength rather than the Koopa Clown Car's various and crazy accessories.
And for the "side character who doesn't fight" thing, well...
just saying. Though you may argue that Rosalina is more important to Mario Galaxy than Malon is to the Zelda games she appears in.
I overall gave her a want score higher than 50% because I think she's most likely to ride Epona if she becomes playable, but if she fights on her own then my want becomes a flat zero. That said, I'm kind of worried about Malon herself being too anecdotal in the grand scheme of things for the series as a whole to warrant playable representation even if Epona is the main star of the show, thus preventing me to want her more than that. I hope she will appear in the new Zelda for Wii U, which would be her first reappearance in a 3D Zelda title, so she can confirm herself to be the second character strongly associated with Epona alongside Link, which would increase my want for the idea. Her being added in Hyrule Warriors and able to ride Epona would also cement that.
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John Raimi prediction:
0.38%
Very obscure, not released in Japan. Ouch.
Endou Maroru prediction:
1.38%
He's lacking Layton's international fame or that Yokai Watch craze in Japan.
Nominating:
(Rerate) Playable newcomer: Rayman x4
Concept: ballot runner-ups as SMM costumes x1