I'd like to give an objective viewpoint on character viability, its important to consider these options but always we must be mindful of how to go about them.
[COLLAPSE="Please consider my thoughts "Diddy Kong""]When I think of Impa, the first thing that comes to mind are those cutscenes from the latest Skyward Sword trailers. Granted this may be the first time anyone has seen a character portrayed in this light, its important to consider what such cameo appearances mean. Impa wouldn't be the first to portray a significant role outside of the major characters of the "tri-force". At first glance, she seems to fit the role similar to the Chozo, characters that have relevance to the plot, but indistinct according to the gameplay as a whole.
What's interesting about Impa is that she performs in what I call a working cast role. The best example I could think to compare that to is a character like Metaknight. Surely he would be considered indistinct by gameplay standards. Not until recently has he become a focal character in the plot-lines of the Kirby series. Mind you that not all of the roles that he has had were directed by Kirby's creator. It would be similar to saying that the black soldier in the latest Metroid game has discernible credibility over the entire series. No, Impa is an enigma; more accurately compared to Adam Malcovich of Metroid, who's role was subtle to the story progression, but still has an impact to the story as a whole.
Lets dig deeper by what I'm trying to mention. From what I've mentioned, I can hold a viewpoint that a character like metaknight, though subjective in his promotional value towards the Kirby franchise, had enough viability in his options to entice players into believing in his credibility overall. The only other working cast members that have held Smash credibility like that are Yoshi and Zamus. Diddy comes rather close, but he has been a face of the Country series since its infancy (Dixie would serve that role more acurately).
Mind you, Metaknight and Impa have yet to star in their own games like my other mentions, but still have significance to their respective franchises. The reason that I mention these indicators is to distinguish how these characters relate to other notable mentions. Within the Zelda series, we have characters like Young link, Vaati, Midna, Ghirahim, Tetra, and perhaps even Groose that are involved in certain plotlines. However, from an objectionable standpoint, these roles serve a distinct purpose correlating to those respective plotlines only. We know that Young Link is involved in time travel, more aptly known in games that focus on certain periods such as Majora's Mask. There's Tetra, who serves the role of a certain Zelda to promote interesting plot twists. Midna works with the plot gimmicks, much like asking for the skyward sword to be PC. We know who to label "antagonist" and finally we know that artstyles tend to signify the mood of the game (which is where Groose comes in).
Now, I'm not a LoZ expert by any means, but just because I'm not engrossed in certain franchises doesn't mean that I can't recognize certain patterns. From the details I have registered, Impa seems to have a distinguished reoccurring role; VERY similar to how the faces of LoZ are approached throughout the series. That signifies, at least to me, that she has credible enough enigma to be compared to the likes of Metakinght.
Moving on to the more "philosophical" light of character viability, we have playable character criteria to consider. My first viewpoint would be veteran status.
I am aware that cameo appearances have a great impact when it comes to registering history. Characters like Doctor Mario, Roy, and Pichu have a notable following, even to the extent that the bonds of clone status are negligible as long as you can determine a proper moveset. In my eyes, I believe that characters with a similar frame, outside of the realm of the "working cast" have less viability in the direction of a luigified status, but that is simply because I have realistic expectations when it comes to roster sizes (aka slots). My only bias is that characters from different franchises, with different patterns of distinction would bear no consideration solely based on what Vet status means to most fans. A character like Mewtwo does not fall under this type branding; Roy follows closely behind for notable reasons.
In regards to character replacement, I discern this phenomena carefully. An example would be someone like Snake, who by way of guest status could easily be omitted bar the sake of being a veteran. Though I am okay with these notions, I am inclined to discredit ideas of moveset acquisition or inheritance. I would prefer that the team focus on the organic genuineness of creating a moves that befit a character from the ground up. Oddly enough, though I feel that Snake show go, I believe that his situation is different from Sonic's; who I believe has the potential to create two sets of movesets. Go figure.
So bringing this back to Impa and Shiek, we have a combination of different things to consider. Any mention of Impa functioning as a tutor would discredit her outright. Many would be uneasy with an idea that a new character as such, being virtually the same origin, would have any notable differences to a character that has already "earned" a position (they have it registered that Sheik is Zelda and vise versa). Any reasoning, regardless of how strong, would be ignored based on an inability to envision where Impa would fit. Would she share the Zelda slot? Does she martyr over Tingle's chances? How viable is she compared to Ghirahim? All based on the notion that she "has no" characteristics to distinguish her from what we've seen before.
I recognize these concerns, yet it means nothing when I am able to consider Impa in her own right. She gives the most tangible insight to the ancient connections of the LoZ stories. That statement would be vague unless you can process the plotlines overall. Ironic, because overall, those connections that produce the storyline are vague in themselves, all you see are the climactic resolves that involve the units of the Tri-fore (aka the faces of LoZ ). If we could consider who Impa is, not by relation to other characters and philosophical phenonema, but as her own entity. If we could note Impa's character as a the guardian role, there might be a chance that a working role character can come about from the Legend of Zelda slots. Otherwise, we can expect more of the same faces and/or expectations[/COLLAPSE]
Shortiecanbrawl said:
Impa is a joke. Pretty much end of story.
Constant use of Loaded language: the reason you have no friends.
