BonafideFella
Smash Journeyman
This isn't necessarily a dissertation thread - I think anybody taking a passing glance at Ultimate's roster can tell there's a glaring lack of diversity on the roster. However, in the intermediate position between retrospectives on Ultimate and speculating about the upcoming entry, the community's in a unique position to really consider the nature of how such a problem can be addressed! In my opinion, at least-
Hence, the purpose of this thread is to highlight characters (as the title states, predominantly first-party but if anyone wants to discuss third-parties too, more than welcome!) who could bring their own gameplay identity to the table while diversifying the roster. Only rule is no avatars with customizable skin palettes, at least for this post.
I think that's primarily because everybody is clamoring for a playable Octoling that features a different set of subweapons after Side Order (which Marina played a PARTICULARLY prominent role in) - that, and the musician lore of Splatoon is inarguably one of that series' best pieces of flavor. The idols themselves are practically brands in and out of Splatoon's universe so there's absolutely precedent for them! She's also a stunning mechanic who is indicated to use Brellas most often (although employing weapons from 2/3 onward works as well if you're not EXCLUSIVELY sticking to the idol theming for her moveset.)
DOC LOUIS!
Ideally if Doc was included, it'd be with a Little Mac more representative of that series' gameplay, but I'd argue Doc is Nintendo's most iconic character of color. The former heavyweight champion who taught Mac the techniques he's used THROUGHOUT the Punch-Out!!! series and debatably in Smash himself, there's more than enough precedent for his inclusion.
The reason I'm highlighting Doc above, say, Sandman is because the concept of a proper trainer character intrigues me. Imagine a counter with punching pads that, with successive inputs, allows you to EVO Moment 37 a Bayo combo. Imagine a move like Wario's Bike, but instead of trampling opponents, passing them forces them to dash and trail behind you. Doc should be a character that encourages the opponent to be the BEST they can be. Promoting aggression and gaining more from drawing opponents in by punching, and properly counterpunching himself!
The fundamentals of Punch-Out!!! incarnate - and he'd also have the best voice lines.
However, a character with time manipulation abilities who fights primarily with ginormous cudgeling punches is already a niche covered on Smash's roster. Strangely. So...
MISANGO!
WOO! If you're at all familiar with ARMS, be it in lore or gameplay, you know how cool Misango is even on a conceptual level. His background is tied to the ARMS lore fundamentally, more so than any character who isn't associated with the League/LABS divisions. All three of his primary arms inflict poison damage, AND he has a rocking mask totem that imbues himself with THREE separate stat boosts as the match progresses. He's badass if I may say so myself.
If you were to include him, as with Min Min, you'd have to reconsider how an ARMS character functions in Smash (WHY ARE THEY DISJOINTS) but all three of Misango's ARMS interact with physics and platforms in an interesting way. Perhaps instead of loadouts, each ARM is correlated to a different direction and changes like Pit's bow/blade (??)
TIMERRA & FOGADO!
The reigning regents of Solm in Fire Emblem: Engage - the sibling duo of Timerra and Fogado both portray very distinctive classes of weapons that no other character in Smash really focuses on yet. Timerra focuses on lances, whereas Fogado is an archer through and through. Both have classes specific to them where these skills are honed, which I think makes them particularly brilliant examples of those archetypes. From a cursory wiki glance, I'm more curious to the kind of gameplay Fogado would bring, but Timerra's personality would be more fun to see expressed in gameplay, analogous to Ultimate's interpretation of Zelda almost!
TAION!
Admittedly I have yet to indulge in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, so just from reading their entry on the appropriate wiki, I can't speak much to Taion's role for fear of accidentally spoiling something I'm unaware is a spoiler. However, I can say with confidence he has the most ROCKING concept for a character of his tactician archetype - he wields the Katashiro which is an ORIGAMI SWORD. Beyond the inherent radness of that concept, I think its demonstrable of the stat effects he could deploy on opponents - like putting them to sleep for instance! If Ourobros is also a mechanic you'd like to see reflected in his moveset, Taion can also cover that pretty handily.
JOHN HENRY & CALIFIA!
Similarly, I've yet to play Code Name S.T.E.A.M. - and while these characters are entrenched in the public domain, I'm suggetsing them more as ambassadors for S.T.E.A.M's aesthetic and combat system to be represented. Both have access to pretty impressive pyrotechnics though, be they missiles or bombs respectively.
While John is effectively the second main character of the game behind Fleming, and thus would have a higher chance of getting in if any, Califia is equally as cool with her Rhino Launcher, her royal distinction, and in a game with an ensemble of fictitious American symbols, you're best off discussing as many options as possible - (SHOUT OUT, TIGER LILY TOO!)
IBIS!
This is my dream pick. My never-ever, as Nintendo hardly ever acknowledges the cast of Pilotwings 64 - however, the various forms of locomotion in Pilotwings would genuinely be the most fun I could imagine having in a platfighter. Imagine the Jumble Hoppers, pairs of springloaded shoes, deploying for long-range kick attacks! Imagine the Birdsuit for quick successive wing slashes, or Rocket Belt as a hover, or Gyrocopter as an alternative form of recovery. There's potential for ANY Pilotwings 64 character truly, but again, when you're highlighting an ensemble, you have a distinct opportunity to raise the profile of bit players too! (and Ibis' lanky frame could potentially balance out her supreme aerial ability!)
Hence, the purpose of this thread is to highlight characters (as the title states, predominantly first-party but if anyone wants to discuss third-parties too, more than welcome!) who could bring their own gameplay identity to the table while diversifying the roster. Only rule is no avatars with customizable skin palettes, at least for this post.
MARINA!
Arguably the most likely character out of the assemblage featured in this post, Marina in and of herself is a very fascinating case! While my ideal is her acting within an idol duo between her and Pearl, I think a solo appearance is equally likely, more so than if you split up Callie or Marie.I think that's primarily because everybody is clamoring for a playable Octoling that features a different set of subweapons after Side Order (which Marina played a PARTICULARLY prominent role in) - that, and the musician lore of Splatoon is inarguably one of that series' best pieces of flavor. The idols themselves are practically brands in and out of Splatoon's universe so there's absolutely precedent for them! She's also a stunning mechanic who is indicated to use Brellas most often (although employing weapons from 2/3 onward works as well if you're not EXCLUSIVELY sticking to the idol theming for her moveset.)
DOC LOUIS!
The reason I'm highlighting Doc above, say, Sandman is because the concept of a proper trainer character intrigues me. Imagine a counter with punching pads that, with successive inputs, allows you to EVO Moment 37 a Bayo combo. Imagine a move like Wario's Bike, but instead of trampling opponents, passing them forces them to dash and trail behind you. Doc should be a character that encourages the opponent to be the BEST they can be. Promoting aggression and gaining more from drawing opponents in by punching, and properly counterpunching himself!
The fundamentals of Punch-Out!!! incarnate - and he'd also have the best voice lines.
TWINTELLE!
Oh, Twintelle. How we hath forsaken thee. She's arguably as popular if not more so than Min Min (pre-Smash signalboosting at least) and she's also one of the most captivating characters in the ARMS series! She's distinct in that she still has access to her regular appendages, meaning she can function better as a hand-to-hand brawler in a way the rest of ARMS' cast simply cannot.However, a character with time manipulation abilities who fights primarily with ginormous cudgeling punches is already a niche covered on Smash's roster. Strangely. So...
MISANGO!
If you were to include him, as with Min Min, you'd have to reconsider how an ARMS character functions in Smash (WHY ARE THEY DISJOINTS) but all three of Misango's ARMS interact with physics and platforms in an interesting way. Perhaps instead of loadouts, each ARM is correlated to a different direction and changes like Pit's bow/blade (??)
TIMERRA & FOGADO!
TAION!
JOHN HENRY & CALIFIA!
While John is effectively the second main character of the game behind Fleming, and thus would have a higher chance of getting in if any, Califia is equally as cool with her Rhino Launcher, her royal distinction, and in a game with an ensemble of fictitious American symbols, you're best off discussing as many options as possible - (SHOUT OUT, TIGER LILY TOO!)
IBIS!
And that's all for now! There's probably some major Pokemon character I neglected or other, but please! To reiterate I think the community is in a position to really raise the profile of some of these starlets, and I think Smash's environment would benefit from it wholesale! :>
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