I feel like one weird thing about MultiVersus is specifically Ben 10. I've been thinking about this for a while, but the new news article thing has inspired me to finally put my ideas into writing.
Is it cringy that I just wrote so much on funny smash bros website about funny alien teenager? Maybe. I don't care though LMAO - I hope this was at least a good read!
So, first of all I think it's important to ask the question - how would Ben's primary mechanic, his aliens, work? This might sound like an odd question to start with, but if the gameplay we've seen of MultiVersus so far is anything to go by, I feel like it's unlikely they'd give a menu like Shulk's Monado Arts to him to allow him to play as like, multiple different aliens. It seems like it'd be too complex to code - especially when you consider that the F2P model means they'd need fairly quick turnarounds for character reveals and the like. So, that's off the table - what's the alternative?
I see one of two things happening. See, characters like Finn and Jake have been seperated out into their own character slots, so the first plausible thing is that each alien transformation has it's own roster slot... but I feel like that would miss the point of Ben 10 as a concept - that is, being able to switch between unique aliens to solve problems in a unique way. Here's a few ideas.
Aside from that, it's also possible that they'd take inspiration from Punch Time Explosion, having Ben as the playable character as certain attacks change his model into that of an alien, then changes him back into Ben afterward. Personally... I'd prefer this, as it'd really lean into ways we could make Ben unique from the rest of the cast - though implementing alternate costumes might be difficult with a style like this.
On that, his visual style is a little complex to try and work out. My own suggestion is that his base appearance is his Omniverse self (a fairly recent and well-recieved series, which also canonically has Ben with the highest number of aliens in the franchise) but with other appearances, perhaps based on the classic series and Alien Force, as alts.
I see one of two things happening. See, characters like Finn and Jake have been seperated out into their own character slots, so the first plausible thing is that each alien transformation has it's own roster slot... but I feel like that would miss the point of Ben 10 as a concept - that is, being able to switch between unique aliens to solve problems in a unique way. Here's a few ideas.
Four Arms is going to be my suggestion for the first playable single alien. He's been a notable part of both the classic series and the reboot, would be fairly simple to implement with a fun grappler/brawler style, and is incredibly recognisable unlike some of the more obscure aliens.
Heatblast was, of course, Ben's first alien and somewhat of the "poster child" of the original series, and whilst there's a lot of potential for his moveset given his ability to both control fire and abilities seen by other Pyronites like stone manipulation, I feel like Four Arms is way more recognisable.
Upgrade would probably be by far one of the most unique characters in the entire roster, especially if various pieces of technology were implemented into his moveset, like cannons and the like. Even so, I feel like he's not as overtly recognisable as other picks, and his liquidy appearance might be more difficult to animate compared to human frames.
Cannonbolt is a really interesting pick because he's really popular, notable for being the first "new" transformation after the original 10, and has a really cool design and premise, but I feel like "funny roll" wouldn't lend much to a moveset that Brawl Sonic didn't already do.
Swampfire seems like probably the second most likely to me aside from Four Arms, mostly because of his really unique design and abilities combined together. I only suggest Four Arms simply because of his role in the original 10, as Swampfire was more so the "poster child" of Alien Force, but Swampfire would still be a pretty neat alien to see here.
Humungosaur seems to me like a bit of a boring pick when you consider some of the potential for a character with a similar style and build - Godzilla. Sure, he'd be cool to see, but he's not really as recognisable as other picks.
Big Chill is probably like, an underrated pick at this point given they're quite a popular alien in the fandom, but as with someone like Upgrade, I feel other aliens are just more recognisable overall. Even so, ice manipulation is a pretty interesting thing to work with here.
Feedback has a really unique set of powers, but I feel like his role as the poster child in Omniverse doesn't make him as instantly recognisable as Swampfire or Heatblast. Whilst he has a really cool design, and electric manipulation could make for a really fun moveset, he doesn't seem as feasible as other picks here.
Overflow would work well to represent a unique alien as part of the reboot timeline, but when you consider that more popular aliens like Four Arms, Heatblast and Cannonbolt are also in the reboot's "base playlist," it seems a little less reasonable to suggest him. Water manipulation would be fun to work with, though.
Heatblast was, of course, Ben's first alien and somewhat of the "poster child" of the original series, and whilst there's a lot of potential for his moveset given his ability to both control fire and abilities seen by other Pyronites like stone manipulation, I feel like Four Arms is way more recognisable.
Upgrade would probably be by far one of the most unique characters in the entire roster, especially if various pieces of technology were implemented into his moveset, like cannons and the like. Even so, I feel like he's not as overtly recognisable as other picks, and his liquidy appearance might be more difficult to animate compared to human frames.
Cannonbolt is a really interesting pick because he's really popular, notable for being the first "new" transformation after the original 10, and has a really cool design and premise, but I feel like "funny roll" wouldn't lend much to a moveset that Brawl Sonic didn't already do.
Swampfire seems like probably the second most likely to me aside from Four Arms, mostly because of his really unique design and abilities combined together. I only suggest Four Arms simply because of his role in the original 10, as Swampfire was more so the "poster child" of Alien Force, but Swampfire would still be a pretty neat alien to see here.
Humungosaur seems to me like a bit of a boring pick when you consider some of the potential for a character with a similar style and build - Godzilla. Sure, he'd be cool to see, but he's not really as recognisable as other picks.
Big Chill is probably like, an underrated pick at this point given they're quite a popular alien in the fandom, but as with someone like Upgrade, I feel other aliens are just more recognisable overall. Even so, ice manipulation is a pretty interesting thing to work with here.
Feedback has a really unique set of powers, but I feel like his role as the poster child in Omniverse doesn't make him as instantly recognisable as Swampfire or Heatblast. Whilst he has a really cool design, and electric manipulation could make for a really fun moveset, he doesn't seem as feasible as other picks here.
Overflow would work well to represent a unique alien as part of the reboot timeline, but when you consider that more popular aliens like Four Arms, Heatblast and Cannonbolt are also in the reboot's "base playlist," it seems a little less reasonable to suggest him. Water manipulation would be fun to work with, though.
Aside from that, it's also possible that they'd take inspiration from Punch Time Explosion, having Ben as the playable character as certain attacks change his model into that of an alien, then changes him back into Ben afterward. Personally... I'd prefer this, as it'd really lean into ways we could make Ben unique from the rest of the cast - though implementing alternate costumes might be difficult with a style like this.
On that, his visual style is a little complex to try and work out. My own suggestion is that his base appearance is his Omniverse self (a fairly recent and well-recieved series, which also canonically has Ben with the highest number of aliens in the franchise) but with other appearances, perhaps based on the classic series and Alien Force, as alts.
Is it cringy that I just wrote so much on funny smash bros website about funny alien teenager? Maybe. I don't care though LMAO - I hope this was at least a good read!
