Just my Two Cents on the issue of Ridley as "Samus' Villain" for the game. Both sides have made good points; he is large and has exceptionally strange physics, even by the standards of Smash. However, people have been resized and given toned-down flight capabilities in order to fit into smash. A notable example of both is Kirby, who was up-sized and given a flight limit.
However, it is also necessary to point out that they absolutely NEEDED to do those things to Kirby. He was one of the Original SB64 8 characters. His existence in the game practically defines it as Smash, it would have been a grievous error to do it without him.
Ridley on the other hand, is merely a villain, not usually a final boss (in my recollection not EVER) and most importantly, there is a far more sensible choice if one is to include a villain from the Metroid franchise. Why not include the Metroid Prime itself?
Not in its insane form of course....I was thinking of a character much more in line with the usual size, shape, and physics of a Smash Brothers character: Dark Samus. Fighting against her multiple times has proven that she/it could be far more than a Samus clone; she floats along much more like Mewtwo, and is much more physical in her attacks. Indeed she does have a gun-arm that could be used, but the way she moves, acts, and fights leads me to posit that she could be a separate character, and fill the void of Metroid villain in the series.
The greatest argument against Dark Samus is that it will more than likely make 3 characters with the same general look, based on the same person. Zamus, Samus, Dark Samus all have roots in the same character, and extreme care would have to be taken to separate out their movesets and physics. For example, we will assume that Samus herself will be in the game, and will remain the same in her moveset and weight/speed. We will further assume that Zamus, being minus one suit, will pack a bit less of a punch in her physical moves, but will compensate with a nice energy sword, and a great deal more speed. I would also assume a vastly different moveset, involving the sword, and much more shiek-like moves. Similarly, I would expect Dark Samus to be a bit heavier, be more physically powerful, and be floatier, despite her increased weight. Her moveset would also have to be changed substantially from the original Samus.
Hah, congratulations to anyone dedicated enough to read all that.
Lazy Person's Summary: My 2 cents: Ridley out, Dark Samus in.
