A Theory on No Unlockable Characters

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

Still, I want to at least work to unlock every fighter. I just consider it to be VERY boring if everyone can be used immediately.

 

[Skyblade12]

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.

We know that they aren't releasing the full set of all characters at once, there's only like 10 amiibo in the original launch run. There's no way the amiibo will spoil people before the internet does.

 

[captainghost07]

Unlockables for the 3DS version
Everyone unlocked from the get go on the Wii U version.

Sounds logical to me.

i think that that is a great idea but i do think some people will get mad that they didn't have the excitement of unlocking the characters so i thought of something that there would be different starting rosters in each version

 

[Raijinken]

I imagine Amiibos will be released in sets, possibly themed. Starters (all defaults), or maybe the Original Eight (), or debut game (so release the 64ers first, then Melee newcomers, etc) or something.

I'd be pretty cool with the "Just unlock customizations" thing though. Simplifies a lot, even though it would take away that first-day rush of GOTTA DO THE MATCHES TO GET ROBIN type stuff.

 

[Luigi player]

Wasn't it already confirmed in some interviews that there will be hidden characters? I'm pretty sure I read that some time ago.

Anyway, I wouldn't like having all characters from the get-go. It just... takes away from the game experience.

 

[MBakhsh]

But that would be excessively BORING if you had all of the fighters available from the start. Where's the challenge and motivation?

Suiciding over and over again on one-stock matches is also pretty boring.

Similarly, if everyone is available right off the bat, then the single player game modes would practically be a huge waste of time to be making. Having unlockable fighters would at least give you a good reason to do the single player stuff.

If the single player mode is so boring that the only reason to do it is to unlock characters then there's no reason to have it anyway.

 

[Ehn Jolly]

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.

I'm not sure where this talk of "no unlockable characters" is coming from, Street Fighter 4 had unlockable characters (...Goken...) so they're not a thing of the past. Some may have done away with it, but it's still a popular convention.

 

[Canuckduck]

Suiciding over and over again on one-stock matches is also pretty boring.

That's why there are numerous options available for players to change the rules in their games.

 

[Princess Toady]

To be honest, I'd rather have everyone from the get-go thanks to an option.

There are people who find Single Player Modes boring, or don't want to go through the Subspace Emissary Mode because they find it bland and boring but have to because it's the fastest way to unlock characters.

On the other hand, unlocking bonus things such as attacks, trophies, stickers and customization options that aren't necessary is always fun.

But please, just make it possible to have everything unlocked as soon as you start the game. Like, an option or something.

 

[Aunt Jemima]

I think working a hard job for a lot of pocket money as a kid or teenager, is much more comparable to unlocking Smash characters.

I just read this as "hand job".

wtf

 

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

It just wouldn't be Smash Bros. without the old Challenger Approaching screen. That is what I know.

 

[Phaazoid]

Eh, if there are no unlockable characters, then how come we haven't seen most of the characters that are classically unlockable?

I mean Ganondorf, G&W, Falco, Ness, Jigglypuff, and then R.O.B and Wolf? Sure, we've gotten Lucario, Luigi, and Toon Link, but they could easily just be switching which characters are hidden. We haven't gotten some starters from brawl, namely Lucas, Ice climbers, Meta Knight, and Wario.

In Smash 64 and Brawl, Falcon and Ness were hidden characters. In Melee, they were starters. So it stands to reason character's roles can switch.

We definitely have enough room for everything on the website (minus third parties) to be our starting roster.

 

[Luigi#1]

Counting partner characters as 1, Brawl had 35. 14 were unlockable [I think] making 21 starters. We have 36 right now-3 for 3rd Parties. 33. BUT Sakurai said he was nearing the end of character trailers. So + At least 2.[If 1 he'd be at the end.] 35. We'll get atleast ONE vet. 36. Brawl ratio starters to unlockable was 21:14. 3:2. If we have a 52 roster, that's 36:16. 9:4. So that's 9:4 compared to 3:2, or for comparison's sake, 9:6. Not too far, so I think a 52 character roster isn't a crazy idea. But it's still possible we get lower.

 

[Phaazoid]

Counting partner characters as 1, Brawl had 35. 14 were unlockable [I think] making 21 starters. We have 36 right now-3 for 3rd Parties. 33. BUT Sakurai said he was nearing the end of character trailers. So + At least 2.[If 1 he'd be at the end.] 35. We'll get atleast ONE vet. 36. Brawl ratio starters to unlockable was 21:14. 3:2. If we have a 52 roster, that's 36:16. 9:4. So that's 9:4 compared to 3:2, or for comparison's sake, 9:6. Not too far, so I think a 52 character roster isn't a crazy idea. But it's still possible we get lower.

Melee had 25 spots, with 14 starters.

64 had 12 spots, with 4 unlockable.

It's not unreasonable to think the ratio could change again. 50:35 (not saying we'll have 35 starters, just using as an example)would make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

Oh for peak sake there will be unlockable characters

1. If the aiimbos have starters why is luigi nor toon link nor lucario in that bundle.
2. You can't play as the amiibos they are cpu controlled how can they be connect to banned unlockables?
3. For amiibos besides they can be connected to the same way as unlocking characters by SSE, (once you use the amiibo character that has to be unlocked then you can play as that character because it will unlock the character.)
4. If there are no unlockable characters why was game and watch shown in the pac-man trailer but yet has not ben confirmed yet, when that trailer pretty much locks him for smash 4
5. And I'm pretty sure the non third parties get the same treatment as 3rd parties shown before release but have to be unlock. Luigi = year of luigi. Lucario = smash bros brawl anniversary. Toon link = wind walker HD wii u package. Captain falcon = F-zero anniversary (but can go either way for falcon though.)
6. Some of the newcomers can get this as well shown before release but have to be unlock like Ridley = most wanted character with so much evidence for playable side and more likely for unlockable and king k rool as well with this, AND ESPECIALLY mewtwo he's the most wanted out of all characters and theres no question you would have to unlock him if shown before release.
7. And last but not least i already see stuff you have to unlock in smash 4

 

[Ryan.]

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.

This is what I think as well.

While it would be neat to unlock the equipment and stuff, it would kind of feel weird not being able to unlock some of the characters as well.

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

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.

Yes thats what i think is going to happen

Luigi, toon link lucario, and captain falcon all shown for special reason (and yes i know falcon could be a starter again.)

Luigi = year of luigi

Toon link = wind walker HD wii u bundle

Lucario = smash bros brawl anniversary

Captain falcon = f-zero anniversary (july 14th is Coincidently the f-zero anniversary same day as the lucina and robin trailer.)

 

[Luigi#1]

It's entirely possible there are switched roles. Luigi, Toon Link, Lucario, and Captain Falcon can be starters. Luigi sounds far fetched at first, but if Cpt.Falcon and Ness were starters in Melee, can't Cpt.Falcon/Luigi starters happen? [Cpt.Falcon/Jigglypuff starters confirmed for Smash 6] Plus Rosalina is on the cover, and Luigi is WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY more important then Rosalina in the Mario series. Meta Knight, Wario, and Ice Climbers, aren't announced, so...

 

[κomıc]

OP, I love your avatar with the fan-made Ness art and the included plaid background from Earthbound. Love it.

As for your theory, it's an interesting take but I don't think that'll be the case. I think with Smash for 3DS, you'll be given a month ahead to unlock all characters so by the time the Wii U comes out, you connect that profile/data over to unlock all characters you unlocked on 3DS on Wii U. Of course, if you lack a 3DS, you're not going to get that benefit.

Also, I love it when a notice pops up and the beautiful sound of a siren goes off with the message saying "WARNING! NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHING!!"

 

[Derekburn]

Blech no, I haven't played tekken tag 2 or tekken 3d very much for this very reason. I ACTUALLY ENJOY unlocking characters, its fun!

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

Unlockable characters are a staple of the Smash Bros universe. This game will not stray from that. It adds much more excitement and forces players to use other fighters before they get to their favourites. With everyone available form the start, it's harder to play as everyone if you have too many options at first.

It's like you're going out with a girl and she puts out right away. Sure it's great at the start, but where was the accomplishment in that? You had everything handed to you. But when you get with a girl who makes you work for it and go on a bunch of dates first, the satisfaction triples when you finally get that first kiss.
Nobody wants a ***** for a girlfriend who puts out the second they meet you.
They want a classy, respectable woman who is independent and makes you do most of the work.
Smash Bros. is a classy woman, who needs to be treated as such.
I don't give a **** how the other girls (games) put out as soon as you pay for them. Do you want something to be like everything else and be easy, or do you want something unique and exotic that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment afterwards.

If your argument is that other games have everything available from the start, then you are a lazy piece of ****.
It will take you one weekend of playing the game all hours of the day to unlock half the game, and that's what everyone was going to be doing anyways.
I will unlock everything on the 3DS version before the Wii U is released, and then go and unlock everything on there all over again.
That's how much I love the Smash Bros. franchise. Nothing in this game is a chore to me. Boss Battles and Multi Man Melee suck, but it's a way to find out more about the characters you are playing as.

Unlockable characters, costumes, moves, power-ups, trophies, stages, music, assist trophies and more will give you more of a reason to keep coming back and playing every inch of this game. Don't normally play as Fox? Well you just unlocked a new costume and move for him, better go and try him out. Oh you unlocked some quick power ups? Go put them on your slow Bowser to make him even more of a threat.

They are going to release Amiibos for the starting roster first, and then either gradually release the rest 1 by 1 or all at once. How hype would a new Amiibo Friday be?

What if I just want a **** buddy?

 

[Luigi#1]

Welp, if there's no avoiding unlockables then...
Battlefield 1 stock heavy bunny ears fight suicide over and over and over again.
Or look it up on Game FAQ the alt methods of unlocking.

 

[Jade_Rock55]

Both!I remember when I got a game there was this code on the manual to use the online fesatures.Do this for smash put a code on the back of the manual to
unlock characters whether or not you use it is up to you.

 

[Moldy Clay]

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

Not much evidence to back this theory. It's literally just "WELL, HERE'S AN IDEA I HAD"

As for the Amiibo, I hate to break it to you, but that's not how any of that works.

1. Amiibo doesn't come out until the Wii U version of the game, and will not be compatible with 3DS until 2015.
2. Amiibo do not unlock characters, so I don't even sort of know what the correlation was that you were trying to make.
3. The full cast is not available at launch. I don't know if you missed it, but there will only be, IIRC, like 14 figures when Amiibo launches. The final game will likely have tripled that number in characters.

If you wanted evidence towards no unlockables, there were more solid ways to do so.

1. Sakurai stated himself that he didn't like how people got spoiled for Brawl, so he was going to make various things "unlocked from the start". He specified movies, but this could easily extend.
2. Various characters who were previously hidden have been revealed, and are on the box art for both versions.
3. The amount of characters currently revealed.
4. The amount of Mario, Fire Emblem & Pokemon characters already revealed.
etc

However, these don't actually point towards "no unlockables", just moreso than your ideas. What it DOES point towards is the possibility that we have a Mario Kart 8 situation on our hands where they're just going to reveal everything so that someone on the internet doesn't do it instead. We'll still have to unlock them, but the surprises were the reveal videos as opposed to discovering them or someone posting pics.

 

[LF2K]

It literally was an idea I had.

 

[Saikyoshi]

This is what I thought was going to happen ever since Toon Link was revealed. It's going the way of PlayStation All-Stars.

While I understand not wanting to grind to set up for competitive practice, you have to admit that this will take away a lot of the solo play value.

 

[Pazzo.]

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.

This. Sakurai may reveal most of the unlockable roster.. despite them being locked when the game starts.

 

[LF2K]

Here's a secondary theory.

In Mario Golf for the N64, almost all the characters were unlocked in multiplayer mode. The others had to be unlocked through the game or imported from the Game Boy.

However, playing solo, you only started with 4 characters to play as when you play alone. You had to unlock the rest if you wanted to use them in single player.

What if Smash followed this same mold? All characters would be available from the start in multiplayer mode. That way when you're playing with your friends, everyone can play as who they want without them being locked away.

But when you play solo, some characters will be locked away. If you want to use them in solo mode, you'll have to unlock them the old fashioned way.

 

[tomvoxx]

I'm pretty sure that the amiibos all ready confirmed have all been starting characters with the exception of the newcomers.

 

[Derekburn]

I personally hope, that the game starts with the 14 characters that show up on the cover of the 3ds and wii u game cases combined, which include 7 of the original 8, marth(as a start up FE character), Pit(Start up Brawl character), Peach(start up melee), villager, wii fit trainer, little mac and rosalina. I thought that Brawl had too many characters from the start (22 slots out of 35slots), melee was fine in it's starter/unlockable ratio 14:26, but this game could have an even better ratio of 14:48-50something characters). Think about it, why would someone who hasn't even taken the time to beat the game, or even learn about it, want to play in tournaments, I say those people still need to invest more time in the game.
Here's the pic:

 

[SureNsync]

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.

Just because most games have done away with the idea, doesn't mean Smash has to. And if most fighting games really have done away with the idea, that's the less fighting games with unlockable characters you would need to worry about.

Unlockability in Smash is more important then you think.

 

[LoboRundas]

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.

Well, I do play single player modes just to have a good time when not fighting with friends, or turning with them. I also really enjoyed Melee's adventure mode, and still play it to this day.

As people said, I would be fine with unlockable items, custom moves, maybe even char costumes?

 

[Acadian Flycatcher]

What if I just want a **** buddy?

Wouldn't you want a respectable **** buddy you can tell your friends about?
Perhaps even take her to a wedding or other get together on short notice.

 

[TerminalMontage]

Here's a secondary theory.

In Mario Golf for the N64, almost all the characters were unlocked in multiplayer mode. The others had to be unlocked through the game or imported from the Game Boy.

However, playing solo, you only started with 4 characters to play as when you play alone. You had to unlock the rest if you wanted to use them in single player.

What if Smash followed this same mold? All characters would be available from the start in multiplayer mode. That way when you're playing with your friends, everyone can play as who they want without them being locked away.

But when you play solo, some characters will be locked away. If you want to use them in solo mode, you'll have to unlock them the old fashioned way.

Oh my, I would just never play single player. I dunno about any one else but I would hate that.

 

[Ehn Jolly]

Wouldn't you want a respectable **** buddy you can tell your friends about?
Perhaps even take her to a wedding or other get together on short notice.

Comparing people to a game mechanic is dehumanizing, I'd suggest not doing it.

For me, the 'Challenger Approaching' screen is too iconic, I can't imagine playing without it. I wish it was a worldwide release so we'd all learn how to unlock the characters together, but even still, it's fun to earn them, and it's a large part of Smash. I feel like Amiibos should unlock their character, but aside from that, I'm all for unlocking.

 

[Kaye Cruiser]

I'm just gonna say, I don't care about unlockables at all. The whole reason I liked SSE was because I could easily get all of the characters as I play without all of the bull**** requirements.

I like the Single Player modes just fine for what they are. Not for the characters you get with them. I always used to play Classic, All Star, Event and Multi-Man modes WAY more than I ever played the multiplayer modes.

Then Brawl+ and PM happened and it all evened out, instead. ¦D

 

[BridgesWithTurtles]

While I have a preference for unlockable characters, I don't really care what direction they go in. The current trend taken by most fighting games only really dissatisfies me because the unlockable content they do include (if they include any at all) never feels all that exciting or worthwhile. It's bad enough that single-player modes in fighting games are so barren, but it's even worse when the rewards you get for slogging through them amount to such minor things as costumes or concept art. I hated having the whole roster available from the start in PlayStation All-Stars. The single-player modes were incredibly boring, and all you ever got as a reward were Trophies and the underwhelming customization options. I would've rather unlocked half the roster, and had those customization options available from the start.

If Smash finally does away with unlockable characters, then all I ask is that they provide something worthwhile to unlock in single-player. Stages, music, additional costumes and/or color swaps, items, maybe even entire modes. That'd be fine with me.

 

[Derekburn]

While I have a preference for unlockable characters, I don't really care what direction they go in. The current trend taken by most fighting games only really dissatisfies me because the unlockable content they do include (if they include any at all) never feels all that exciting or worthwhile. It's bad enough hat single-player modes in fighting games are so barren, but it's even worse when the rewards you get for slogging through them amount to such minor things as costumes or concept art. I hated having the whole roster available from the start in PlayStation All-Stars. The single-player modes were incredibly boring, and all you ever got as a reward were Trophies and the underwhelming customization options. I would've rather unlocked half the roster, and had those customization options available from the start.

If Smash finally does away with unlockable characters, then all I ask is that they provide something worthwhile to unlock in single-player. Stages, music, additional costumes and/or color swaps, items, maybe even entire modes. That'd be fine with me.

I agree wholeheartedly, Not being able to unlock characters makes the game more boring and predictable. I want to be surprised to see who the first and last unlockable characters are.

 

[Deleted member]

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

Yeah, no one would pay that much on TF2, hahahahahaha...
*starts rapidly shifting eyes from side to side*

Anyway I don't think you'll be able to pay your way to unlocking everything, that just ruins some of the magic and excitement you get from unlocking a new character by doing some asinine thing like having to finish the first level of adventure with 2 as the second seconds digit on the clock and then having to beat him in battle.

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

While I have a preference for unlockable characters, I don't really care what direction they go in. The current trend taken by most fighting games only really dissatisfies me because the unlockable content they do include (if they include any at all) never feels all that exciting or worthwhile. It's bad enough hat single-player modes in fighting games are so barren, but it's even worse when the rewards you get for slogging through them amount to such minor things as costumes or concept art. I hated having the whole roster available from the start in PlayStation All-Stars. The single-player modes were incredibly boring, and all you ever got as a reward were Trophies and the underwhelming customization options. I would've rather unlocked half the roster, and had those customization options available from the start.

If Smash finally does away with unlockable characters, then all I ask is that they provide something worthwhile to unlock in single-player. Stages, music, additional costumes and/or color swaps, items, maybe even entire modes. That'd be fine with me.

Amen it would be boring if everyone was available from the start.

Thats why i felt that both versions of marvel vs capcom 3 was a little borning to me barely any unlockable stuff.

I would have loved it better if there was a lot more too unlock like in marvel vs capcom 2