Smashboards

This might also part of why movesets can get so complex nowadays: Every move not spent on an overt reference to the source game is now less references for the series that can only represent itself in a character, stage and handful of spirits. Personally, this approach has contributed to my perception that newcomers aren’t primarily added for their character, but moreso for their series, which the cynical part of me (and some parts of speculation) interprets as going down the list of most sold video games or “most iconic left“ and adding them as vessels of that game. There’s no breathing room anymore, everything must represent maximally in as little content as possible before we move on to the next company in the little licensing disclaimer.

Yeah that sums it up well. Especially comparing it to movesets for older characters like Luigi or Marth who tend to have more original moves worked into their movesets.