How many characters can we expect?

[Big-Cat]

For the most part I'm seeing anywhere from 38-50 characters. Personally, I'd be so-so on 45+ but any less would be rather disappointing. I mean, you have to consider that the time to make this game is more or less three times the amount of Melee, not to mention that the team is, if the musicians list is any indication, at least twice as large.

Now considering the size and time the team has had, maybe 55+ is likely. Assuming new clones are in, maybe 60+.

Other than this reason, we already have 23 characters confirmed. Now, if we include the likely returners,
Capt. Golden Nipples
Luigi
Ganondorf
Marth
Mr. Game and Watch
Mewtwo
Jigglypuff
Falco
Young Link(probably reincarnated like Ness), that's 32 characters.

Then, if we include the most likely newcomers,
Krystal
Ridley
at least one more third party character
Olimar
the animal crossing character
the DS character(this MIGHT be an exception). that's 38 right there.

Obviously, the smash roster would be very predictable and any additions up to 45 wouldn't be that surprising.

Anyway, what do you think the roster size will be?Why do you think the roster will be at the size you think?

 

[Lantz]

I'm really hoping for 40. 42 Max.

 

[Lord Viper]

I'm going to say at least twice as much as Melee's rouster. 50 or + is my guess.

 

[Kooichi]

I know that it MIGHT end up as only 36 characters but I'm alright with that. But my prediction is 44.

 

[The Noob Legend]

Yes, 40+ is good enough for me.

Yet 50-60 would be exciting and would make tournaments and the competitiveness of smash a bit more interesting.

 

[Machete]

I'm expecting 42 characters. Hopefully a bit more.

the animal crossing character
the DS character

These two aren't likely.

 

[Triple_Factorial]

I'm thinking 40 at the most. The starting roster is basically all on the Dojo (Sheik is the only one left, but she doesn't take up roster space) and I seriously don't see there being more secret characters than starters.

 

[Big-Cat]

I'll add this to my testimony for y'all to answer:

Why do you think the roster will be at the size you think?

 

[Williampettysan]

A animal crossing character is likley... DS I dunno, there are a few DS stages....

And for Animal Crosser, the owner whatever his name is did put a form of a Animal Crosser human as playable... It's up to Sakurai from there.

 

[Dry Bones]

around 40 would be good, but realistically i would say about 35-38

 

[del-boy]

Around 46.

 

[Big-Cat]

A animal crossing character is likley... DS I dunno, there are a few DS stages....

And for Animal Crosser, the owner whatever his name is did put a form of a Animal Crosser human as playable... It's up to Sakurai from there.

That interview was fake. We don't know if it'll be Tom Nook or an "Animal Crosser".

 

[The Noob Legend]

That interview was fake. We don't know if it'll be Tom Nook or an "Animal Crosser".

It wasn't fake.
We just assume it's fake.

BTW, around 50 is a probable number.

This expands the characters being played, give smashers more options, and extends the gameplay for a another few years.

 

[Big-Cat]

It wasn't fake.
We just assume it's fake.

Wasn't the scan from an old magazine, not Famitsu itself?

 

[del-boy]

Here is my if characters list if there are 60 characters in brawl, I don‘t think that there will be if there was here is who I think should be in.

Super Mario Bros. Franchise:
1. Mario
2. Luigi
3. Peach
4. Bowser
5. Bowser Jr.
6. Geno
7. Paper Mario

Yoshi Franchise:
8. Yoshi
9. Kamek

Donkey Kong Franchise:
10. Donkey Kong
11. Diddy Kong
12. King K. Rool

Wario Ware Franchise:
13. Wario

Legend of Zelda Franchise:
14. Link
15. Zelda/Sheik
16. Ganondorf
17. Wind Waker Link
18. Vaati
19. Midna

Pokemon Franchise:
20. Pikachu
21. Pokemon Trainer
22. Jigglypuff
23. Mewtwo
24. Lucario
25. Plusle and Minun

Kirby Franchise:
26. Kirby
27. Meta-Knight
28. King Dedede

Star Fox Franchise:
29. Fox
30. Falco
31. Krystal
32. Wolf

Metroid Franchise:
33. Samus
34. Ridley
35. Dark Samus

F-Zero Franchise:
36. Captain Falcon
37. Black Shadow

Earthbound Franchise:
38. Lucas
39. Masked Man

Fire Emblem Franchise:
40. Ike
41. Marth
42. Micaiah
43. Sigurd

Ice Climber Franchise:
44. Ice Climbers

Kid Icarus Franchise:
45. Pit

Metal Gear Franchise:
46. Snake

Game & Watch Franchise:
47. Mr. Game & Watch

Pikmin Franchise:
48. Captain Olimar

Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise:
49. Sonic

Mii Franchise:
50. Mii

Custom Robo Franchise:
51. Ray MK. III

Fantasy Franchise:
52. Cecil Harvey or protagonist of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Bomberman Franchise:
53. Bomberman

Golden Sun Franchise:
54. Isaac

Wars Franchise:
55. Andy

Balloon Fight Franchise:
56. Balloon Fighter

Nazo no Murasaemjou Franchise:
57. Takamaru

Joy Mecha Fight Franchise:
58. Sukapon

Clu Clu Land Franchise:
59. Bubbles

Star Tropics Franchise:
60. Mike Jones

 

[Banjodorf]

I forsee 38-42

And cmon, why would there be an AC character? I know the icon is there, but honestly, all the likely AC characters have been deconfirmed, and how would the main character fight? How??

 

[Bassoonist]

I see 35 maybe. I'd love to go higher, but really I don't see that happening anymore.

@del-boy: Plusle and Minum?

I forsee 38-42

And cmon, why would there be an AC character? I know the icon is there, but honestly, all the likely AC characters have been deconfirmed, and how would the main character fight? How??

How does Zelda fight?

Sakurai made up a moveset for her. He could do it for the Animal Crossing Villager if he wanted to as well.

 

[IsmaR]

Here is my if characters list if there are 60 characters in brawl, I don‘t think that there will be if there was here is who I think should be in.

Super Mario Bros. Franchise:
1. Mario
2. Luigi
3. Peach
4. Bowser
5. Bowser Jr.
6. Geno
7. Paper Mario

Yoshi Franchise:
8. Yoshi
9. Kamek

Donkey Kong Franchise:
10. Donkey Kong
11. Diddy Kong
12. King K. Rool

Wario Ware Franchise:
13. Wario

Legend of Zelda Franchise:
14. Link
15. Zelda/Sheik
16. Ganondorf
17. Wind Waker Link
18. Vaati
19. Midna

Pokemon Franchise:
20. Pikachu
21. Pokemon Trainer
22. Jigglypuff
23. Mewtwo
24. Lucario
25. Plusle and Minun

Kirby Franchise:
26. Kirby
27. Meta-Knight
28. King Dedede

Star Fox Franchise:
29. Fox
30. Falco
31. Krystal
32. Wolf

Metroid Franchise:
33. Samus
34. Ridley
35. Dark Samus

F-Zero Franchise:
36. Captain Falcon
37. Black Shadow

Earthbound Franchise:
38. Lucas
39. Masked Man

Fire Emblem Franchise:
40. Ike
41. Marth
42. Micaiah
43. Sigurd

Ice Climber Franchise:
44. Ice Climbers

Kid Icarus Franchise:
45. Pit

Metal Gear Franchise:
46. Snake

Game & Watch Franchise:
47. Mr. Game & Watch

Pikmin Franchise:
48. Captain Olimar

Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise:
49. Sonic

Mii Franchise:
50. Mii

Custom Robo Franchise:
51. Ray MK. III

Fantasy Franchise:
52. Cecil Harvey or protagonist of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Bomberman Franchise:
53. Bomberman

Golden Sun Franchise:
54. Isaac

Wars Franchise:
55. Andy

Balloon Fight Franchise:
56. Balloon Fighter

Nazo no Murasaemjou Franchise:
57. Takamaru

Joy Mecha Fight Franchise:
58. Sukapon

Clu Clu Land Franchise:
59. Bubbles

Star Tropics Franchise:
60. Mike Jones

60?! That be awesome
This appears to be the best list I've seen, especially if they could make that many characters.

 

[shadenexus18]

I want around 45 characters.

Still, the likely number of playables we'll receive is 35 max.

 

[Chaosblade77]

It will probably be 35-40, at most. Somewhere in that area. Man, a couple months ago people were wowing at 40 characters and now we are up to 50+

 

[JUMPING_YOSHI]

60 at least...

 

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

For every Assist Trophy, we're basically removing characters that should've made the cut. Now I'm guessing around 40 fighters maximum.

 

[Boofer]

This is what I said in a thread in the General discussion forum:

About 35 characters, give or take a few... I really believe it will be a number in the 30's.

Here's why it'll definitely be over 30:

1. I think all of the characters besides Sonic and Snake are starters. You know why? The dojo seems to be following in the melee site's footsteps. Also, I doubt he would have said anything about seeing secret characters online if he was already revealing them. Other reasons: demo's similarity to the melee demo, the box-art's inclusion of a supposed unlockable (Pokemon trainer), and early event matches with Dedede and pokemon trainer as playables.

2. Given my first reason, I think any number below 30 is unrealistic. I don't see us getting less than 10 secret characters. If there were 30, I don't think he would have only 8 unknown to the public, especially if a few of those were in previous installments. Do you really forsee only 4 or 5 more newcomers?

3. Honestly, the team knows how important characters are to the series. They'd be fools to only include slightly more than we had in melee, clones or not. Characters are pretty much the essence of Smash Bros. Even with all of this SSE stuff, the main point of the game is MULTI-PLAYER. This is a fact.

Here's why I don't think it'll be over 40, though I hope I'm wrong:

1. The more characters there are, the more time it takes to balance. More than 40 is alot to balance.

2. SSE. Though I said that this is a multi-player game above all, I cannot omit the fact that lots of effort has been put into making the single player. Not to mention the fact that most characters will be unlocked in SSE. That probably means that all of those characters are somehow tied to the story.

3. Assist Trophies. Many of the would-be #40-something characters could easily be ATs.

With all this said, I still think that the number will be closer to 40 than 30. I'd say my reasons for not having under 30 are better than mine for not having over 40...

 

[TehCadenzilla]

As stated before
Melee had about double amount of characters as 64
So that should mean Brawl should have double amount as Melee.
So I'm expecting roughly about 50 characters

 

[Magically Enhanced Hobo]

40-50. My personal prediction is 45. Like you said, you can easily get 35 just with veterans. I don't know if these people are just pessimists or what, but how would there be only 35 characters? Seriously? 9 more than Melee? Give me a break. We've already gotten more than 9 newcomers, certainly more on the way.

Unless they cut like 10 people from Melee, it'll be at the very least 40. Not to mention, there'll be whatever unexpected character Sakurai throws at us.

EDIT: No, seriously, I've yet to see a compelling argument for less than 40. MAYBE 38 or so, I suppose.

Not enough development time? That's the worst excuse I've ever heard, seeing as how this game has had three times Melee's development cycle.

Balancing? Once again, they've had 3 years to balance it, I think it's fine.

SSE? Not -every- character will be in SSE, Sakurai just said most. With that said, SSE looks like it's going to be extremely long. I can see them squeezing in 30-40 characters, with the rest being unlocked elsewhere.

ATs? Seriously, we've had like 2 ATs that would have made good characters. Did anybody actually want Waluigi or Lakitu? You know why that is? Because every good contender to be a character -is- one.

Too many original movesets? Oh puh-lease. The only reason Melee even had clones is because its development cycle was rushed, and they didn't have time to give characters like Ganon an original moveset, which I'm sure they meant to. Obviously, this isn't the case here.

If they can pump out 20 original movesets in 9 months(well, technically 8, because of the 64 characters, but keep in mind they still needed Side-B attacks), 3 years is -ample- time to come up with 20-30 more movesets, especially considering that they can just carry over the movesets from the Melee characters, so they technically don't take as long.

The way I see it, people are just aiming low so they don't have their hopes crushed or they're afraid to be wrong or something. But the truth is, Sakurai can't get away with less than 40 characters, especially if it's his last Smash game ever. At worst, they'll just add some clones again, but that is -extremely- unlikely, unless he just wants to make a ridiculous roster of 50+

 

[kackamee]

I'm thinking 40 at the most. The starting roster is basically all on the Dojo (Sheik is the only one left, but she doesn't take up roster space) and I seriously don't see there being more secret characters than starters.

Well, SSE was practically said to unveal alot of secret char's. which is supposed to be 8-10 hours, so that=lots of chars

 

[Bacon Man11]

40 at least.

But 50 would make me a very happy man.

 

[Boofer]

40-50. My personal prediction is 45. Like you said, you can easily get 35 just with veterans. I don't know if these people are just pessimists or what, but how would there be only 35 characters? Seriously? 9 more than Melee? Give me a break. We've already gotten more than 9 newcomers, certainly more on the way.

Unless they cut like 10 people from Melee, it'll be at the very least 40. Not to mention, there'll be whatever unexpected character Sakurai throws at us.

EDIT: No, seriously, I've yet to see a compelling argument for less than 40. MAYBE 38 or so, I suppose.

Not enough development time? That's the worst excuse I've ever heard, seeing as how this game has had three times Melee's development cycle.

Balancing? Once again, they've had 3 years to balance it, I think it's fine.

SSE? Not -every- character will be in SSE, Sakurai just said most. With that said, SSE looks like it's going to be extremely long. I can see them squeezing in 30-40 characters, with the rest being unlocked elsewhere.

ATs? Seriously, we've had like 2 ATs that would have made good characters. Did anybody actually want Waluigi or Lakitu? You know why that is? Because every good contender to be a character -is- one.

Too many original movesets? Oh puh-lease. The only reason Melee even had clones is because its development cycle was rushed, and they didn't have time to give characters like Ganon an original moveset, which I'm sure they meant to. Obviously, this isn't the case here.

If they can pump out 20 original movesets in 9 months(well, technically 8, because of the 64 characters, but keep in mind they still needed Side-B attacks), 3 years is -ample- time to come up with 20-30 more movesets, especially considering that they can just carry over the movesets from the Melee characters, so they technically don't take as long.

The way I see it, people are just aiming low so they don't have their hopes crushed or they're afraid to be wrong or something. But the truth is, Sakurai can't get away with less than 40 characters, especially if it's his last Smash game ever. At worst, they'll just add some clones again, but that is -extremely- unlikely, unless he just wants to make a ridiculous roster of 50+

You make many good points. I suppose I'm aiming low because I don't want to have my hopes crushed. Maybe I should change my predictions from 30-40 to 35-45. I'm not sure.

I will say that, even when I make realistic character lists, it's difficult to to give it less that 40characters.

 

[Diddy Kong]

I forsee 38-42

And cmon, why would there be an AC character? I know the icon is there, but honestly, all the likely AC characters have been deconfirmed, and how would the main character fight? How??

I agree fully with this post. I myself expect the same range of 38~42 characters. Less like 34~40 seems just as likely to me too.

We already have 23 characters now, and I'm guessing some are unlockable like Snake, King DeDeDe and others. For all we know, Kirby and other character who wheren't playable at the Demos might be unlockable through the Subspace Emmisary aswell, since Sakurai stated in a recent update that most characters will be unlocked through the SE.

We already have 23 characters now. Add a few very likely veterans to that number (think Jigglypuff, Luigi, C.Falcon, Mewtwo, Marth, Mr.Game&Watch and Ganondorf for example) and you have 30. That leaves space for roughly 4~10 new characters and honestly, I think that's pretty much.

Really, I think we've have most of the most requested characters and popular characters already in the game. Wario, MetaKnight, Diddy Kong, Pit, King DeDeDe and Sonic were easily the most requested characters for Brawl AND for Melee and we have them now. All that really remains is Ridley. Honestly, I think that if this was the roster plus the veterans I mentoined and Ridley would easily already please 85% of all us Smash fans.

Sure we also have fan favorites as Isaac from Golden Sun and Geno from Super Mario RPG, but they don't have the biggest changes. We're still a month or so away from the Japanese release date and we don't even have a update on C.Falcon, Luigi nor we have music, items or stages for every franchise yet. What I'm trying to say is that... I honestly doubt we'll be seeing many more new franchises in Brawl anymore.

New franchises in Brawl are Animal Crossing, Wario Ware/ World, Kid Icarus, Metal Gear Solid and Sonic the Hedgehog. That's 5 in total, which is a nice improvement on Melee's 3 new franchises: Ice Climber, Game & Watch and Fire Emblem which were all (except for recently after Melee Fire Emblem) old skool franchises like Kid Icarus.

Sure there are plenty of nice franchises left but I wouldn't hope to much on one of them getting in. Sure Sakurai will hide everything related to these new franchises from the Dojo if the character is unlockable ofcoarse, so we might still see some Golden Sun or Advance Wars love but keep in mind that there's also plenty of AT characters that could also make good playable characters and were strongly requested. Think of Samurai Goroh, he turned out to be a Assist Thropy, drastically cutting down any chance F.Zero ever had for getting a second playable character.

That's why I don't think we'll be getting more than 40 characters. Most other high suggested characters at the boards are already from excisting franchises in Brawl like Krystal, King K.Rool, Geno, Ridley, Midna and the Black Knight. Assume that the half of them get in we're roughly on the number of 32~34. What's left would possibly be 2 or 3 other new franchises with only one playable character making the roster around 34~37 which seems like a reasonable number for playable characters seeing we already have tons of other ways franchises get their representation from like bosses in the SE, ATs, thropies, stickers and items.

But that's just my 2 cents.

 

[Spartan_187]

It would be great if it has 40+.

 

[Kittah4]

I'm starting to fear for the eventual real roster number. I'm hoping around 50, but I guess realisitically it could be lower. My only fervent hope is for both Krystal and Ridley to be playable at the end of the day. If both of them are not, I will be very disappointed. I think I can live with just about anything else on the secret side, though (of course, we NEED Captain Falcon, that's just a given).

 

[Mad555]

Im seeing 45 PC, since we have ATs & pokeballs to take out characters.

 

[PRINCESS PEACH777]

i hope for 50 or atleast 40

 

[Ryudo_Sama]

I say around 40-50.

 

[Sabrewulf238]

I would like to think we are getting 50 characters.....but the way sakurai seems to be going with this we may end up with about 40, if considering the large amount of unique nintendo characters we get less than 40 it will be a crime. It will also show that sakurai spent more time on the subspace story and other brawl features (wifi battles, spectator, create a stage) than the most importan part, the fighters themselves.

What I mean is we're seeing so many unique and fun modes in brawl, now we need the character selection to be just as good or even better.

 

[shellblade]

The DS symbol doesn't stand for the DS alone, but for nintendo hardware thus the mii is represented I think. That's just a theory but that's what this thread is about right? Why give something an icon if it doesn't get a playable character? Why do you think some assist trophies only have the smash symbol instead of a real symbol of their franchise. It's also not even funny how much evidence we have for an AC character but people still deny it
I'm hoping for at least 42 characters

 

[Mr.XD]

I say 40-45, anything will make me happy in that range.

 

[Sabrewulf238]

The DS symbol doesn't stand for the DS alone, but for nintendo hardware thus the mii is represented I think. That's just a theory but that's what this thread is about right? Why give something an icon if it doesn't get a playable character? Why do you think some assist trophies only have the smash symbol instead of a real symbol of their franchise. It's also not even funny how much evidence we have for an AC character but people still deny it
I'm hoping for at least 42 characters

I know there really is alot of info to prove an ac character is in but people still deny it, whats even more unusual is that the people who believe an ac character will be in think it's going to be the generic human character when Gulliver is one of the only ac npcs still unaccounted for.

 

[Naoshi]

35-45

I can't imagine anymore than 45 but that'd be a cool curveball if that happens

 

[Insurance Salesman]

Around 40 seems pretty realistic to me. I mean, having around 30 seems pretty low for a game that's been in developement 3 years.

But 50 seems like too many. Yeah, it'd be awesome if it had that many, but it would probably be a balancing nightmare. I'm guessing 45 AT MOST.