A Theory on No Unlockable Characters

[LF2K]

With all past Smash games, you had to go through and unlock additional characters. However, I feel that this time, there will be no characters hidden behind the veil. All characters will be available from the start; here's my theory.

As shown here, Mario is being customized. But as we all know, Mario has always been a starter. However, I think all the characters will be available from the get-go. They will all be "blank slates" by default (as in, no customization). Instead of unlocking new characters, you'll be able to unlock parts to deck them out with. So that way, everyone can play as their favorite characters from the start, but you're still encouraged to play the game and unlock things for them. There's still unlockables to go after, just in a different way.

Another reason; these guys. Why lock characters away if your consumers can buy figurines of them?

 

[Malle]

I don't know about your theory, but honestly, get that Anthony out of that signature, shameful!

 

[LF2K]

You got no style!

 

[CroonerMike]

I believe all the characters will be shown in the game, it's just you'll have to unlock a number of them even though they are revealed on the website. Sort of like how Sonic and Snake were revealed in the brawl days but you had to unlock them.

 

[Malle]

You got no style!

I got style, and Ridley too!

Anyhow, I do think there will be unlockables, it is sort of the part of progressing in a game. Fighting the fighters to unlock them is sort of a tradition, and nothing bets the "Challenger Approaches!" feeling. They may be all revealed before the game release, but certainly they will be unlockable.

 

[GunGunW]

It wouldn't surprise me if there's no unlockable characters this time around. I think there will be, but there might not be.

With the amibo figures, I would guess it's a possibility that if you buy the figurine it could unlock the character right away if you use it, but it also might not.

 

[TJ-Works]

I think there will be unlockable characters. It's just tradition for Smash Bros.

Speaking of Amiibo figures, if there are unlockable characters that weren't revealed pre-release (let's say, for example, Mewtwo) they would most likely get an Amiibo figure in future as to not to spoil hidden characters for those that avoid spoilers.

 

[Admiral Pit]

It ain't Smash Bros without unlockables. I'm sure there will be unlockable characters, but it's likely we'll be shown most if not all of the cast due to newcomer trailers. Heck, even some of the ones we've seen now may be unlockables, especially Lucina, Megaman, Sonic, and Pac-Man. Lucina for various reasons and the last 3... let's face it; Sonic and Snake in Brawl, being 3rd party, were unlockables despite being shown early, so it's likely the same will happen to this game's 3rd parties (despite Sonic being on Nintendo consoles more frequently these days or whatever.).
As for the Amiibo thing, I assume we'll get a few characters now, some of em later after the game's release.

 

[MasterOfKnees]

It does bring up a good point with the Amiibos. What's the point of having unlockables when stores all around the world spoil them? Say I'm going out to buy the game, and whoops, there's a Mewtwo figurine! I guess he's in. Oh, and Falco too! Actually, they're all here! It makes no sense to distribute them later either just for them to be a surprise, that's unfair for the people who want those characters and makes a mess for Nintendo too since they have to delay certain figurines. Heck, even if they are delayed people that go to buy the games later will be spoiled anyways.

We already know you'll have to work to unlock customization parts for all characters, you could find special move variations in Smash Run in the demo already, so your theory does hold ground. We'll see though, they have to pick up the pace a lot if they are to reveal all characters before the Japanese release, or maybe just dump us in the head with a **** ton of information, maybe in the form of another Smash Direct.

It's not like unlockables are that important anyways, most of us will have the entire roster unlocked at least 48 hours after release anyways, and the information will spread like wildfire throughout the internet regardless.

 

[Deleted member]

I think there will be unlockable characters, it's always been that way, but it's hard to guess. Since users are browsing the Smash Bros. website, they already know all the characters, so in this case, they shouldn't be unlockable.

 

[Malion]

unlockables extend the life of a game to be sure. they also force you to get used to a certain number of characters before slowly giving you more that you grow to enjoy playing. If you got them all right off the bat I feel it would be overwhelming and you'd likely only be able to master a couple characters at best without it feeling like a chore.

 

[Gravitational23]

If there isn't any unlockable character in smash 4 i be very upset. unlocking character is what make smash bros even more fun so not being bad i hope your theory is wrong.

 

[Renji64]

This is a good theory but i do want to see that challenger screen. But it does make sense at the same time.

 

[Chimera]

I hope there are no unlockable characters. Unlocking characters in Melee is annoying. Brawl was a little better because of Subspace, but I'm not a huge fan of having to complete chores to have a full featured multiplayer.

 

[Saint Johns]

I don't think that the Amiibo theory will apply for the 3DS version since it will come out first and the 3DS won't have support for Amiibos until 2015. However, I think that all of the Amiibos will be out for the Wii U version's release, but we will know the entire roster after playing the game on 3DS.

 

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

What's the point of having a single player mode if there are no unlockable characters? There has to be unlockables, so that way, players would at least play the single player game modes.

Even Mario Kart 8 has unlockables, despite having the whole roster revealed to us.

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

I'm more curious about why it says "Sell Equipment" on the bottom of that screen shot.

 

[Ehn Jolly]

While I know some people don't like them, I just can't see Smash without unlockables, like they're so iconic at this point that It'd be a huge departure. As long as they're not crazy (400 vs matches online) or anything, I'd be fine. I'd actually like it if we could get them through the 'challenge' feature shown on the side, maybe beat them in event matches and unlock them so it's easy, but at the same time, there are still unlockable characters.

 

[Canuckduck]

If there are no unlockables, then most people would just play the game for a month at most.

 

[Pyra]

I'm more curious about why it says "Sell Equipment" on the bottom of that screen shot.

Coins return from the previous games, and can be used to buy equipment, probably from a gachapon machine like before except with gear instead of trophies.

Probably. I don't know.

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

Coins return from the previous games, and can be used to buy equipment, probably from a gachapon machine like before except with gear instead of trophies.

Probably. I don't know.

How about buying characters?

 

[Canuckduck]

Coins return from the previous games, and can be used to buy equipment, probably from a gachapon machine like before except with gear instead of trophies.

Probably. I don't know.

Or players can "trade" or "sell" equipment online, similar to trading in TF2 and Dota 2.

 

[LF2K]

I did say that the unlockable parts would still encourage players to keep playing. Coming from the Smash site...

"You collect equippable items in the various game modes. The items may have the same name, but their performance will be slightly different."

See? You're encouraged to keep playing to get the parts that suit your needs.

 

[Canuckduck]

I did say that the unlockable parts would still encourage players to keep playing. Coming from the Smash site...

"You collect equippable items in the various game modes. The items may have the same name, but their performance will be slightly different."

See? You're encouraged to keep playing to get the parts that suit your needs.

Even so, I doubt that the majority of players would find more than a few different equipment combinations to be useful in-game.

 

[Pyra]

How about buying characters?

That would be cool, too.
Buying your way through unlockables is an interesting idea.

I feel like there should just be a inputable cheat code to unlock everything for the people who don't want to deal with the "chores" or whatever they want to call it.

 

[Canuckduck]

That would be cool, too.
Buying your way through unlockables is an interesting idea.

I feel like there should just be a inputable cheat code to unlock everything for the people who don't want to deal with the "chores" or whatever they want to call it.

Yeah, you pay $59.99 for the actual game, and then pay an additional $29.99 to literally get all of the unlockable characters at the start.

While some people will actually do that, I'd rather spend the time and work to unlock the characters/stages.

 

[Ryuutakeshi]

I'd say it's more likely that we will see all the characters in advance but will still need to unlock them.

 

[HipsandChips]

If there are no unlockables, then most people would just play the game for a month at most.

Wait what.
The only reason people have been Melee for over a decade was unlock able characters!?

 

[JabbatheHutt]

Taking away unlock able characters and having everyone available at the start ruins the fun!

 

[dezeray112]

I'm not entirely too sure about the theory, but I'm still thinking that unlockable characters will still happen in SSB Wii U/3DS.

 

[Aunt Jemima]

I really hope this theory is wrong. I mainly like the unlockables because when you see that "Challenger Approaching" silhouette, you get that feeling that you've accompalished something. I just really love the feeling when you're playing and it's just like BOOM! CHALLENGER APPROACHING, GET READY! You get excited, and then you start it up. When I'm battling these characters from the "Challenger Approaching", I can really feel and imagine playing them as I beat the living **** out of them. I just get super hyped and excited to beat them and start playing, and that's the first thing I do when I finish up. I beat them, then I start getting excitement when I select them, then start the match playing as them. You get to try out new content you haven't before in the way of a whole entire new character, and that's huge. Stages are fun and all, but unlocking a character is far more exciting.

 

[Pyra]

Yeah, you pay $59.99 for the actual game, and then pay an additional $29.99 to literally get all of the unlockable characters at the start.

While some people will actually do that, I'd rather spend the time and work to unlock the characters/stages.

Oi, I meant with the in game coins. Nobody is stupid enough to do that, Duck.
Context is important, man.

 

[Canuckduck]

Wait what.
The only reason people have been Melee for over a decade was unlock able characters!?

Read again.

MOST people would just play the game for a month at most if the unlockable characters and stages were available at the start.

Oi, I meant with the in game coins. Nobody is stupid enough to do that, Duck.
Context is important, man.

If you haven't, go and look up the "Mann Co. Store". You will be shocked.

 

[Aunt Jemima]

Wait what.
The only reason people have been Melee for over a decade was unlock able characters!?

Yep. Some people just suck at getting Mewtwo.

 

[LF2K]

Hey, it's just a theory ...

A GAME THEORY! (Sorry, had to say it. )

Unlocking characters just feels archaic now. Almost every modern fighting game has it's cast (except the ones you have to pay for, of course) ready from the start. Hell, even Project M has them all unlocked!

 

[JabbatheHutt]

exactly what made melee and braw besides local multiplayer so damn fun was the unockables. If you had no friends, the unockables were all you had

 

[Oatmeal.]

With the "Challenger Approaching" sign in Mega Man's trailer and the strong hint in the pic of the day which revealed Luigi, I'm seriously doubting that there won't be unlockables. Good theory, though.

 

[Canuckduck]

Hey, it's just a theory ...

A GAME THEORY! (Sorry, had to say it. )

Unlocking characters just feels archaic now. Almost every modern fighting game has it's cast (except the ones you have to pay for, of course) ready from the start. Hell, even Project M has them all unlocked!

Then again, the developers of Super Smash Bros never envisioned that the game would be played at a competitive level.

 

[Pyra]

If you haven't, go and look up the "Mann Co. Store". You will be shocked.

I love TF2. I know what you're talking about.
I was saying nobody is stupid enough to pay that much money to unlock everything in Smash Brothers, haha.

HEY MAN I'LL TRADE YOU A NAMETAG FOR A PAINT BUCKET AND A HAT LOLOLOLOL

 

[pizzapie7]

I dislike unlockable characters for the reason that most fighting games nowadays have done away with the idea. I don't want to grind to be able to play the whole game. It's not really important because I'd just do it anyway, but I'd be happier if what's in the past is kept in the past.