This is (mainly) and an opinion article.
Hello people, I’m Troykv, an user from SmashBoards..
I’m here to talk about something that many people either ignore or is against: the Fire Emblem’s presence in the Smash Ballot.
Maybe you ask: “Why is this exactly?” Very simple: The Representation.
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U is perhaps the game of the franchise that has benefited this franchise the most, mainly for things like a lot more trophies compared with the last entry (the 3DS version get the new ones, in the Wii U version the trophies are pretty much the same), two new stages (one for each version), being one of the few franchises that got new original characters (alongside Mario, Kid Icarus and Pokémon), and also get two extra characters for special reasons; Lucina (
the most popular character in Awakening and one the most popular in the whole franchise) formerly was a Marth’s Custom and Roy (one of the Melee veterans) got massive support (Mostly in Japan).
It might seem that Fire Emblem has received a lot of things and looks bizarre that the number of characters is the same as Zelda. But actually this “special treatment” can be explained.
Fire Emblem has a lot of characters that are the main ones, unlike other franchises, FE doesn’t have an actual “main character” or a main group of characters, we can find many characters with their own personalities and abilities.
- Fire Emblem was “lucky” to get two clones for convenient reasons: Roy is like the other Melee clones, characters planned with intention to expand the game’s roster; and Lucina is practically an effortless “free dessert”. The series has technically 3.5 original characters (the “.5” are Roy’s and Lucina’s differences).
Also, Fire Emblem gets representation in a very specific way: the new character for game and the clones. Otherwise the franchise has a similar (or even in some cases, inferior) representation. For example, Zelda has in the CSS the same characters that Fire Emblem, but, unlike the latter, Zelda’s clones are particularly special (Ganondorf and Toon Link not only
are the Melee Clones with more differences in the moveset, but also the ones with more differences in the aesthetics… Just look how different is the Toon Link’s model compared with the Regular Link’s), and also, Zelda get a lot of side content (specially in this game), with 4 Assist Trophy (Tingle, Skull Kid, Midna and Ghirahim), and 8 Items (5 of them are new inclusions from Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U) and the biggest variety in the Stage’s Selections (A Castle, a Temple, a Bridge at Twilight, a Pirate Ship, a Sky Town and a Train).
Fire Emblem isn’t exactly “over-represented” is more like “represent in a weird way”. Many franchises has a specific “thing” that they can represent. Fire Emblem is one of the few franchises that is mostly focused in it’s characters and whatever to do with them (and they are many).
Now that I already explained the Fire Emblem situation with the representation, I will explain the chances for all the viable characters that could appear in the game as Smash Ballot’s options based in
some special guidelines that Sakurai’s himself gave.
1. The Character must display personality in their game.
2. It’s important to have something only that character can do.
3. Potential development issues, and game balance is also taken into some consideration.
4. Distribution among the franchises is also taken into consideration.
Surely you’re thinking: “Oh! But Fire Emblem already has better representation than many other series. If you add another character would destroy the distribution’s balance”.
Again I refer to what I mentioned earlier and I'll also add… This can or can't be true depending on how much importance is given to the clone’s presence (usually I only count Roy because he is a Semi-Clone, Lucina is a free character practically). Otherwise, I will not mention the fourth criteria because it would be the same comments apply to every character; also, this criteria depends (in some extent) of personal ideas of “representation” and distribution.
In addition I will also mention other special guidelines based on popularity and other aspects that have to be mentioned (as possible “advantages and disadvantages” in their creation as playable characters).
Fire Emblem characters aren’t especially popular characters in the Smash Ballot (with a few exceptions that have descent support), but I want to explain it all the circumstances that could make or not more likeable one of these characters. In the end I will put a “Ranking” with the best chances in my opinion. If you want you can do your own ranking based on your ideas and expectations.
Now with all that said, I'll start with the second part of the article.
Discounting the Fire Emblem Characters already in Smash (and Chrom, because he was deconfirmed for
actually explained reasons), we have as main characters and other recurring characters these ones:
Tiki (from Akanea’s Games)
Anna (the general cameo character)
Alm and Celica (Fire Emblem Gaiden)
Sigurd (Fire Emblem: Genealogy of Holy War)
Leif (Fire Emblem: Thraccia 776)
Lyn, Eliwood and Hector (Fire Emblem)
Eirika and Ephraim (Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn)
Micaiah (Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
Kamui/Corrin and Azura (Fire Emblem If/Fates)
Note: I'm sure that any possible Fire Emblem newcomer is a "front-runner" (the best ones has probably "decent" support).
Note 2: I don’t see so much reason to comment Alm and Celica’s Chances since their game is so neglected that even the Japanese themselves seem to ignore them sometimes. So I automatically assume that they are at the bottom of the ranking with a somewhat abysmal difference. I also I won’t comment about Seliph and Leif because they look like potential Marth Clones (in fact, some of his moves in their games, belongs to Marth in Smash Bros, like the Dolphin Slash)
Note 3: “
The Character must display personality in their game.” This Sakurai’s guideline it’is difficult for me to explain properly, because the perception of a character’s personality touches points too subjective. You can put your own opinions about this aspect.
General Pros and Cons (Applies with almost every character here):
Pros
Sakurai is a big Fire Emblem fan, this makes easier to him create fun and interesting moveset, because he has a bigger connection with this games.
Cons
Any of these characters has a particularly great Support (mainly because Robin and Roy are already in the game).
Any of these characters are great icons in the Nintendo Games (but many of the most recognizable Nintendo Characters are already in the game).
Any of these characters has a likeable future (with Anna and maybe Tiki as the only exceptions).
The majority of these character has Awakening DLC and their most recent game (except Anna and Tiki again; the Fates characters too for obvious reasons).
Tiki
What can she offer exactly?
The Manaketse are a recurrent aspect in Fire Emblem franchise. She can use powers related with her Manakete form, like flames, flame orbs attacks (like the one that uses in Awakening) and other dragon-like attacks. The manakete form could be used as a summon or as an actual transformation during her attacks.
Pros
She is the playable character with the most apparences storywise in the series: Three (Five if you count the Remakes, Six if you count Genei Ibun Roku #FE), this make her one of the few Fire Emblem characters that actually has “likeable future” in the series.
She is a fan favorite, one of the most popular characters in the overall series, even was capable to get a good place in the
Awakening’s Popularity Contest.
She isn’t a sword-user.
She is a female character… this always is an advantage.
Cons
Her Ballot Support was Small.
Possible issues with transformations (it depends on how exactly this works).
She could over with other dragon-like characters (Bowser/Charizard) in some moves.
The Awakening version Tiki could have a design too “sexy” for the game, because she has a big a noticeable cleavage and use garter straps (in the 3DS Trophy model isn’t really notable any of these aspects).
The Akanea/Ylisse games already has 2 characters (3 if you count Lucina)
Chances: Possible, but don’t really in the “descent” side.
Anna
Anna is a character that has appeared the most through the franchise (Except for Gaiden) with many different uses in the series, the most usually is as a merchant but also appears as a cameo, a guide, etc.. She is mysterious and loves money (Apparently there are lots of Annas which explains all her appareances in the franchise).
What can she offer exactly?
Anna is portrayed in many ways, that include using weapons out of nowhere. It’s probably the most open character to use different things.
Pros
Anna is the only Fire Emblem Character that has a confirmed future, she’s a character that will mostly come back in some way.
She has the biggest variety to use as weapons and other things.
Anna has probably the biggest Smash Ballot Support of all the Fire Emblem characters in Western Sites.
She is a female character.
Cons
It could be difficult to find a focus for her character.
She lacks relevance in the game’s story (is an optional character in Awakening and Fates).
Chances: Descent.
Sigurd
What can he offer exactly?
Two things, a horse-riding and a spear-user (at least in some moves).
Pros
He represented one of the greatest moments in the Fire Emblem’s Story, the SNES games and Genealogy of Holy War, one of the most popular Fire Emblem Games in Japan.
The Horse-Riders are common units in Fire Emblem, and like Manaketes, it isn’t already used in Smash (the same with Spears).
Cons
Possible issues with horse-riding.
Sigurd looks like an older Marth (this is make it worse what you know that Project M did a Marth’s Costume based in Sigurd).
Genealogy of Holy War is a Japan-Only Game.
His Smash Ballot Support was Small.
He is still mainly a sword-user.
Chances: Unlikely
Lyn
What can she offer exactly?
She is usually is described as a light and fast sword-user, a rush-down style, and she is capable to use bows too.
Pros
She is one the most popular character in the overall series (in fact, she is the First Lord that Western Fire Emblem Fans met).
She was (formerly) one of the most wanted characters in Super Smash Bros Brawl and still had a decent support in the Pre-Smash 4 Speculation.
Her Smash Ballot Support was (at least) decent between the other wanted Fire Emblem Characters.
She is a female character.
Cons
Outside of the different style, she is still a character mainly focused in swordplay.
She already has a role in the game (Assist Trophy).
Chances: Unlikely (but only because of the Assist Trophy problem).
Eliwood
What can he offer exactly?
Eliwood, like Sigurd is a character that use a horse (in FE6 and post-promotion in FE7) and he is both a sword and spear user.
Pros
Like Lyn, he is a well known character in the Fire Emblem series.
Like Sigurd, he a horse and spears
Cons
Eliwood is heavily overshadowed by Lyn’s and Hector’s Popularity.
He looks like a red-haired Marth or an older Roy.
He is still mainly a Sword-user.
The possible horse issues.
Chances: Unlikely.
Hector
What can he offer exactly?
He is a Armor Knight-like Lord and an Axe User (one of the few lords that doesn’t have as his main weapon swords). As a curious fact, many games in the franchise has “boomerang-like” axes (Hand Axes).
Pros
Hector is a popular character in the Fire Emblem Franchises.
He could perfectly be a Heavyweight character.
He isn’t a Sword-User
Cons
He is overshadowed for Lyn’s popularity
Ike already fills a similar niche in the game.
Niche Smash Support, but probably better than other characters because his high popularity.
Chances: Possible.
Eirika
What can she offer exactly?
Well… Only the horse.
Pros
She represent a different continent (Magvel)
The horse is (like I already explained with Sigurd and Eliwood) an unused element that is common in the Fire Emblem Games.
She is a female.
Cons
Everything else in her design looks like a character that could be a Marth clone (already her basic attack in Fire Emblem looks like the Marth’s).
She is a sword-user
She is overshadowed for Ephraim’s popularity (the other Magvel’s Lord)
Her Ballot Support is Small
If you count the horse, like with Sigurd and Ephraim, this could have issues.
Chances: Unlikely
Ephraim
What can he offer exactly?
A complete Spear-User Character (and the horse if you want)
Pros
Completely unique moveset guaranteed with the spear.
Like Eirika, he comes from a different Continent without representation (Magvel).
Ephraim is a popular Fire Emblem Lord.
He isn’t a Sword-user
Cons
Niche Smash Support, but probably better than other characters because his high popularity.
Overlap with Bandana Dee as a Spear-User, one of most wanted characters in the Japanese Smash Fanbase, and also popular in some western communities.
Chances: Possible.
Micaiah
What can she offer exactly?
Micaiah is an full magician character (unlike Robin that also uses swords in his/her moveset), with access to light magic and staffs, this latter is one of the most common elements in the Fire Emblem Series unused in Smash.
Pros
Micaiah is confirmed as the Fire Emblem character with the
loudest (
and likeably biggest) Smash Ballot Support in Japanese Media. In Western Communities she is more a niche choice, but still one of the most popular between Fire Emblem Characters.
Staffs are interesting options to a moveset, and magic isn’t still used in it’s full potential in Smash Bros.
She isn’t a Sword-user
She is a female character
She was formerly controversial character in the Western Communities, that includes Fire Emblem Discussions and Brawl’s Days Predictions (even if her game doesn’t sell a lot, this helps her popularity in some way), and also one of the few Fire Emblem Characters in the Pre-Smash 4 with some actual support (because Chrom took all of the attention in the actual Speculation).
Cons
Her game is one of the worst sellers in the series (Ironically, its main characters are popular, especially Ike).
Micaiah is one of these character that had a mixed reception with the Fire Emblem’s fanbase (already mentioned her “controversial” side in the Pros); with many lovers and many haters.
Chances: Descent
And finally left the Fire Emblem Fates/If Characters: Kamui/Corrin and Azura Maybe I could talk about a little bit about them but I don’t have enough information. They are still too new for me, and probably many of you will know them better than me.
Final Results and Conclusions
Unlikely: Sigurd, Lyn (special reasons), Eliwood, Eirika
Possible: Tiki, Hector, Ephraim
Descent: Anna, Micaiah
The Fire Emblem characters have many things against them in their run to get a possible new character in Smash, even some of them have clear similarities with other characters already playable. However, I believe that Fire Emblem still has great potential for more characters, the most significant examples are characters that I think have a better chance. Probably any of them are converted in playable character, but you should not underestimate their potential, maybe you end up being surprised.
![[Obnoxshush/Dasshizer]](/data/avatars/l/267/267037.jpg?1450250857){kind=avatar}
Cutie Gwen
- Well obviously yes, but you get what I mean. Not like a Smash Bros. where you knock your opponents off the map, but you're knights/tacticians/clerics etc. using medieval tournament standards.
