Let us have a bit of fun. Make a tier list representing your favorite DLC fighters thus far! Not in terms of competitive viability, simply how much you like the fighters and their inclusions. Mine is seen in the spoiler above.
S TIER -
While I think BK's overall package left a
bit to be desired (could've used more music from Tooie, and the lack of any Rare Mii costumes was a travesty), their inclusion meant
everything to me. My brother and I cleared Smash 64 when I was nine, sat back, and asked "Wait, where's Banjo and Kazooie?" So seeing an updated model finally make it was honestly the last possible thing I absolutely
needed to see in Ultimate. And the fact that their moveset is so accurate to the moves in their games is nothing short of awesome for me to experience even now, over a year after their announcement.
I only ever played maybe two hours of Minecraft (I fortunately never fell down the YouTube let's play/meme rabbit hole, so I didn't find him as annoying a pick as a lot of others), but that was more than enough for me to
get it. The game was and still is an enormous milestone for modern gaming and it more than earned a spot in Smash, I believe. While I wished they had done literally
anything to his character model, I think his moveset and stage are absolutely remarkable efforts. (Plus I'm glad the BK/Steve feud is finally over.)
I had a lot of mixed feelings when Sephiroth was first announced. I didn't love how the Pass was double-dipping into a game that was already represented. But once I saw Sakurai's presentation and how much access he/Sora Lt. finally had to Final Fantasy VII, the negative feelings straight up evaporated. The music, stage, spirits, victory screens, Mii costumes...just.. yes. It helps that his design is so killer and I love how his playstyle gave us another glass cannon.
A TIER -
Okay, I'm man enough to admit it: I initially believed in The Grinch Leak. So that last Smash Direct before the game's launch didn't really scratch me where I itched. Seeing Piranha Plant get announced was
exactly the type of Wii Fit Trainer-level of bizarre that my brain needed. Lo and behold, it's actually stupidly fun to play and it's one of my mains to this day. I'm all about the left-field additions that most fans rage over, so this troll pick was a breath of fresh air.
Speaking of rage, I love Min-Min for all the reasons everyone else hates her. I love how she doesn't play like any other character. I love how she's not the box mascot of her game. I love how she's a promoted Spirit. I love how ARMS was given a proper spot on the roster despite the game not being a runaway success. I love how angry people get when they can't adapt to her playstyle. I love her chaotic stage. I love the music. I'm genuinely happy she's in.
I have zero connection to Terry. The only SNK games I ever even touched were the Metal Slugs (which didn't even get a Mii Gunner costume?? Come on, SNK...), so Terry's leak/reveal was very "meh".
But then he was released and hot damn, he's pretty fun to play. Obviously the music we got with him was bonkers. And the absolute best part of his Pass was the stage. That stage, guys...it's one of my most used stages in the entire game. I really hope we get more like it.
B TIER -
I was
way too out of the loop to appreciate Joker's surprise reveal at TGA, and I just don't know if Persona 5 is my type of game because trying to get past the first few hours feels like such a chore to me. His playstyle in Smash doesn't really jive with me either, so there's not much I have to say about him. I do
really love his stage and music, though.
It's funny, I remember before Joker was announced how many people wanted a Three Houses rep as DLC. She (I never acknowledge male Byleth) was just the victim of absolutely terrible timing. Frankly, I think she's pretty fun to play. Her stage and music left a lot to be desired though. I can see Nintendo keeping her around as a FE rep in the next game, along with Robin and Marth/Lucina. They're from the most popular games and feel unique enough that they could get rid of the remaining series reps and maybe erase the FE stigma.
Hero should've happened ages ago. Dragon Quest is so crucial to Nintendo and Japanese gaming in general. I unabashedly love all four designs, and I admire incorporating the RNG menu, but I'm not kidding when I say that their horrible music selections
really dampened their entire package for me. I can barely appreciate their stage because it forces me to pick from some of the worst music in the game.
Honestly, call me simple, but there hasn't been a Super Low Tier DLC for me yet. Considering how many uninspired or cringey video game characters have a chance, I think we've gotten pretty damn lucky so far.