Some rules that I
didn't apply when making the roster to give more freedom in choices:
1. Region-exclusives
2. Not allowing other characters that didn't appear on Nintendo consoles.
3. Not allowing non-videogame characters. (Goku is the only exception)
Some things that came to mind when I was making the roster:
1. Character rivalries. (Agumon vs. Pikachu vs. Jibanyan or Akira vs. Ryu vs. Heihachi)
2. Bringing in as many big third-party icons as possible.
3. Bringing in as many third-party characters that have a notably close relationship with Nintendo as possible. (Layton, Phoenix Wright, Scribblenauts, Cave Story)
4. Bringing back every veteran in the game.
5. Adding Nintendo characters whose game was critically praised by many. (Wonderful 101, Elite Beat Agents, Fire Emblem Fates)
6. Adding many very popular characters from established franchises whose importance in the main series is large and consistent. (Toad, Bandanna Dee, Meowth) (No spin-off characters like Waluigi or Daisy)
7. Completely filling in representation that match the success of the established franchise or represent the whole entity of the franchise. (Ninten, Ness, Lucas representing the whole Mother trilogy; Diddy, DK, Dixie, Cranky, K. Rool filling in the whole cast of DKC; Fox, Falco, Slippy Toad, Peppy, Wolf representing the whole Star Fox crew)
8. Historical importance. (Jumpman and Hanafuda character)
9. System representation. (Virtual Boy with Harry the Teleroboxer, DS with many of the Touch generation franchises like Brain Age, Nintendogs, Big Brain Academy, Gameboy with Prince Sable and Muddy Mole)
10. Adding in as many classic (retro) Nintendo characters as possible. (Balloon Fighter, Donbe and Hikari, Takamaru)
11. Representing each Pokemon generation. (Yeah I know. :L)
12. Adding as many popular Nintendo franchises as possible. (Pilotwings, Splatoon, Rhythm Heaven, Brain Age, Nintendogs)
Hope that clears things up.
I can't believe you guys were seriously discussing Goku's merits in Smash. His inclusion in Blue's roster pretty much discredits it.
If non-Nintendo characters get into Smash, they should be video game characters first and foremost. I don't need to elaborate on this.
Aside from that Blue's roster suffers from two major problems:
One is that his mission to try to please everyone has sacrificed the theming to Smash's roster, which is "Nintendo first and foremost, with incredibly notable third-party characters as guests." That should mean we don't have too many third-parties but Blue has 52 third-party characters in there, along with Goku. If a new Smash game came out with a roster like that, even a big Smash fan like myself would be pretty disgusted and call the game makers sellouts for straying really far from the "Nintendo" theme. I don't care that Blue's roster has a ton of my wants in there, I think most casual onlookers who suddenly come across this roster would be more amused than excited, laughing at its absurdity. There's an integrity to the inclusions and exclusions of characters in Smash rosters, and while some of them might have been debatable, it's undeniable that for the most part, being really selective with who gets in Smash has helped it command a sort of respect that would be lost by including everyone willy-nilly.
The second major problem is that I question whether Blue has played most of Nintendo's games, or if he probably just lurked in character support threads to learn about these potential choices secondhand, or ask who they would like to see with those little surveys he's been posting around the place. Firsthand experience with Nintendo's titles is ideal in thinking about who'd be fun or cool to see in Smash, and also determining who is okay to leave out. The latter point is saying that restraint is very important as well. Ignoring Blue's questionable size and choices for third-parties, Nintendo's roster seems like either a bunch of tokens (lots of retro characters that are otherwise not really noteworthy, like Bubbles) to fill in a believed niche in Smash rosters, existing franchise inclusions that feel forced to "complete" a set (did we really need Slippy and Peppy included JUST to finish the playable Star Fox team?), existing franchise inclusions that try to "complete" a series that will most likely continue to make new installments that will each keep introducing more characters (Pokémon and Fire Emblem's characters in Blue's roster probably won't completely satisfy everyone since both are ongoing series--what about characters from games after Pokémon X and Y or Fire Emblem: Fates?), joke inclusions (Jumpman? Really? Also Nintendog is just a regular dog), and despite the size of the roster trying to please everyone there's still a notable absence for many fan-favorites (Despite Dr. Mario being in his roster, Blue neglected other notable Mario spin-off characters like Paper Mario and Waluigi, Wario still has no extra characters from either Wario Land or even WarioWare like Captain Syrup or Ashley, and Metroid has no Prime characters, not even Dark Samus). I think every single one of these issues would have been solved if Blue got more firsthand experience with Nintendo's games and got a feel for himself, after getting some game experience, who feels "worthy" to be in Smash and who is okay to leave out with no real harm done. This is why I don't make too many rosters anymore because I know trying to make one with characters from games I haven't even played will make for some discrepancies among franchises and such. Instead I simply express my own wants and don't try to pretend I know better about a franchise's inclusions than someone who is actually a legitimate fan of that franchise. I know it's a leap of logic and a huge, most likely very mean assumption to say Blue hasn't played many of the games of the characters he has in his roster, but as fans of some of the series he included in playable character form, I can tell it was at least somewhat the case.
A lot of Blue's inclusions are really cool, I'll give him that. Quote, Shantae, Shovel Knight, Black Mage, Wonder Red, Blaziken, Isaac, Samurai Goroh, Ganon, Muddy Mole, and Prince Sable all would make me very happy. At the end of the day though, the roster feels like a mother who usually isn't home trying to make her kids happy for their birthday, but relying mostly on assumptions about their interests since she's been unable to spend enough time with them. It's completely understandable, since I don't expect everyone to play every Nintendo game ever made, but if your ultimate goal is to please everyone, the only way a huge goal like that is actually possible is to go and do that. Otherwise, don't try to please everyone, because that's probably impossible anyway.
This has been a review of BluePikmin11's roster by EdgeTheLucas. Carry on if you have no interest in what I said.
I have seen, known, played every Nintendo franchise imaginable, trust me on that. Thanks for the in-depth review!