Smash Starting on the NES?

[Depressed Gengar]

A new game I'm starting!
Here's the basics: 8 people will be putting up rosters of characters they think would have been in Smash if it took place on that said system on a certain year. Four other judges and I will rate the rosters. Whoever wins will return as the champion for the next system and make a roster for that system as well. We will have a tournament grid.
Rules:
1. DON'T SPAM!!
2. Post rosters with those you think WOULD get in, not those you would have WANTED.
3. Rosters with characters that did not exist at the time will not be excepted.

Judges: KingShadow, BigAxle, BridgesWithTurtles, Keybladeguy, lonekonwolf
Competitors: ThatWasPeachy, Tepig2000, Tetra's Tracker, Guybrush20X6, Fortanono, chaoswaflez04, Arcadenik, ScatmansWorld25
Spots for competitors and judges are closed!

 

[Gunla]

I'd totally love to be a judge!

 

[Depressed Gengar]

I'd totally love to be a judge!

OK. Please spread the word.

 

[Guybrush20X6]

What about third parties?

 

[Depressed Gengar]

What about third parties?

You can add them, but you're not likely to win if you do, at least until the N64 era.

 

[Gunla]

You can add them, but you're not likely to win if you do, at least until the N64 era.

Though back in the NES era, there were characters like Simon Belmont and Megaman on Nintendo consoles. Options will be limited.

 

[Depressed Gengar]

Though back in the NES era, there were characters like Simon Belmont and Megaman on Nintendo consoles. Options will be limited.

Good point, LOL.

 

[Ridley_Prime]

Alas, the only time period where Kraid would be equally viable as Ridley for Smash, going by their NES sprites.

 

[Starbound]

I'll enter.

Assuming that the game is the last game released for the console though. That way I'll have the widest assortment of characters available.

 

[Starbound]

Whoops, double post.

 

[Depressed Gengar]

I'll enter.

Assuming that the game is the last game released for the console though. That way I'll have the widest assortment of characters available.

Funny thing is that was the plan. 0_0

 

[Tepig2000]

I want to play. Can I post my roster right now?

 

[BridgesWithTurtles]

I would like to be a judge.

 

[Depressed Gengar]

I want to play. Can I post my roster right now?

You may play, but you'll have to wait until 4 other competitors arrive to post your roster.
EDIT: Never mind, you can post it.

 

[Gunla]

Little Update: For characters, we're assuming that the whole library of characters is usable for that Console Generation.
Additionally, Shadow, I was thinking the Generations could be like this:
-NES + Game Boy
-SNES
-N64 + Game Boy Color
-GCN + GBA
-Wii + DS
-Wii U + 3DS

 

[Capybara Gaming]

i'd like to judge.

 

[Depressed Gengar]

i'd like to judge.

OK, but you'll be the final judge.

 

[YoshiandToad]

Okay, this actually does sound like a really neat idea. I'd enter myself if I wasn't busy for the next few days.

 

[Tetra's Tracker]

Interesting question...

This pic here (bonus screen from the NES Tetris) pretty much sums up who were Nintendo's biggest stars at the time:

Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus and Pit would probably be a given. That would probably have been it, a diverse 6 character roster for an 8-bit console would've been pretty impressive. If there were any more then they could just've thrown Bowser and Peach in, I doubt the developers would be that concerned about over-repping Mario.

Kirby I'd rule out, by the time his first game came around the SNES was out. I'd like to think Little Mac would have the biggest chance of getting in, Punch Out was a very strong brand for Nintendo at the time. Takamaru, Ninten, characters from Famicom Fairytales/Detective Club and Marth were stars in their own right, but their Japanese exclusiveness would possibly scupper their chances. Beyond that, there is a slew of 'black box' Nintendo characters to choose from - Balloon Fighter; Bubbles; Ice Climbers; Excitebiker; Tamagon, to name a few, but it's hard to determine which one stands out enough to deserve a spot.

I'll go for this, I'd like to add more characters, but his is what I think is the most realistic:

 

[Guybrush20X6]

I wanna play too.

 

[Fortanono]

I wanna join! Here's my roster:

 

[Depressed Gengar]

We just need ONE more competitor to start.

 

[Gunla]

So, will the first round be Specifically the NES Era?

 

[Depressed Gengar]

So, will the first round be Specifically the NES Era?

Yes.

 

[Guybrush20X6]

What would you say a reasonable roster size is?

 

[Gunla]

Reasonable roster size is anywhere from 6-15. The NES has it's limits.

 

[Guybrush20X6]

Ok then, here's my no-third party NES roster with 6 starters and 2 unlockables.

If it was released near the end of the NES's cycle and Hal was still making it I'd say Kirby would be in, albeit without hats as this was before Super Star. And DKJR as opposed to his old man because I think he'd be seen as a boss type character.

Limitations:
No-One has grabs except Kirby's swallow
Camera is static
Due to Limitations no mirror matches are allowed.
No alt colours
Luigi's only two differences are his anti-gravity fireball and Super Jump Punch
Shield is activated by pressing down

 

[BridgesWithTurtles]

Also keep in mind that the N64 had trouble handling more than 12, so a 15-character roster on an NES Smash Bros. would probably require much simpler gameplay, probably with far less attacks than we're used to seeing.

 

[chaoswafflez04]

Here it is in all of its old-school glory.

 

[Arcadenik]

If "Smash Bros." came out on the NES on November 21, 1989 (one full year before the SNES came out in Japan), I think there would be only 8 playable characters at that time due to limited memory size. The characters I think would probably be in the roster are:

Mario (Super Mario Bros.)
Luigi (Super Mario Bros.)
Donkey Kong Jr. (Donkey Kong Classics)
Link (The Legend of Zelda)
Takamaru (The Mysterious Murasame Castle)
Samus (Metroid)
Pit (Kid Icarus)
Little Mac (Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!)

For the SNES sequel called "Super Smash Bros." on June 23, 1995 (one full year before the N64 came out in Japan), there might be 16 playable characters at that time... the 8 veterans return along with the 8 newcomers who might be:

Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong Country)
Peach (Super Mario All-Stars)
Toad (Wario's Woods)
Marth (Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem)
Yoshi (Super Mario World)
Kirby (Kirby's Adventure)
Wario (Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3)
Ness (EarthBound)

Then the N64 sequel titled "Super Smash Bros. 64" is basically a revamp so it cuts half of the roster... and due to complaints about too much focus on Mario characters and lack of new franchises, it basically keeps Mario, Luigi, Link, and Samus from the first game and Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Kirby, and Ness from the second game and adds 4 newcomers who are:

Fox (Star Fox 64)
Captain Falcon (F-Zero X)
Pikachu (Pokemon Red & Blue)
Jigglypuff (Pokemon Red & Blue)

 

[Depressed Gengar]

If "Smash Bros." came out on the NES on November 21, 1989 (one full year before the SNES came out in Japan), I think there would be only 8 playable characters at that time due to limited memory size. The characters I think would probably be in the roster are:

Mario (Super Mario Bros.)
Luigi (Super Mario Bros.)
Donkey Kong Jr. (Donkey Kong Classics)
Link (The Legend of Zelda)
Takamaru (The Mysterious Murasame Castle)
Samus (Metroid)
Pit (Kid Icarus)
Little Mac (Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!)

For the SNES sequel called "Super Smash Bros." on June 23, 1995 (one full year before the N64 came out in Japan), there might be 16 playable characters at that time... the 8 veterans return along with the 8 newcomers who might be:

Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong Country)
Peach (Super Mario All-Stars)
Toad (Wario's Woods)
Marth (Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem)
Yoshi (Super Mario World)
Kirby (Kirby's Adventure)
Wario (Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3)
Ness (EarthBound)

Then the N64 sequel titled "Super Smash Bros. 64" is basically a revamp so it cuts half of the roster... and due to complaints about too much focus on Mario characters and lack of new franchises, it basically keeps Mario, Luigi, Link, and Samus from the first game and Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Kirby, and Ness from the second game and adds 4 newcomers who are:

Fox (Star Fox 64)
Captain Falcon (F-Zero X)
Pikachu (Pokemon Red & Blue)
Jigglypuff (Pokemon Red & Blue)

Sadly you're too late. Unless if someone else wants to join, we'll have to include you next round.

 

[Arcadenik]

Ahh, too bad.

 

[FlareHabanero]

Reasonable roster size is anywhere from 6-15. The NES has it's limits.

Actually, it was possible to have over 30 characters on a NES as shown in Joy Mech Fight. But the catch was that game had a very gnarly case of clone characters, which again might be because of limitations with the hardware.

So if you wanted a game with distinctive characters, 8 is generally the safest bet. Also keep in mind that some ideas, like Ice Climbers, would of been impossible.

 

[Autumn ♫]

Sadly you're too late. Unless if someone else wants to join, we'll have to include you next round.

I'll join, just give me a minute to think of a roster.
Here is mine

 

[Fortanono]

I'll join, just give me a minute to think of a roster.

You just quoted the post that is pretty much your answer... -_-

 

[Depressed Gengar]

Ahh, too bad.

Actually, you're in now!

 

[Tepig2000]

My roster. The first four are starters and the bottom ones are the unlockables. I included retro DK instead of the "normal" one because at the time he was a different character. He was an evil monkey that kidnapped girls. Now he is a monkey that lives in a three-house and has a family.

 

[Depressed Gengar]

Just so everyone knows:
Round 1: Guybrush20X6 VS Tetra's Tracker
Round 2: Fortanono VS ThatWasPeachy
Round 3: chaoswaflez04 VS Tepig2000
Round 4: Arcadenik VS ScatmansWorld25
Whoever wins the first 4 rounds will go on to the final round.

 

[Gunla]

Actually, it was possible to have over 30 characters on a NES as shown in Joy Mech Fight. But the catch was that game had a very gnarly case of clone characters, which again might be because of limitations with the hardware.

So if you wanted a game with distinctive characters, 8 is generally the safest bet. Also keep in mind that some ideas, like Ice Climbers, would of been impossible.

I was working myself, I landed a roster of 10 characters: 8 being starters, 2 being bosses. Yeah, I remembered Joy Mech Fight, I really don't count it because HALF OF THE CAST WERE COPIES OF EACH OTHER!

 

[Tepig2000]

Just so everyone knows:
Round 1: Guybrush20X6 VS Tetra's Tracker
Round 2: Fortanono VS ThatWasPeachy
Round 3: chaoswaflez04 VS Tepig2000
Round 4: Arcadenik VS ScatmansWorld25
Whoever wins the first 4 rounds will go on to the final round.

How did you decide the match-ups?