Official Newcomer/DLC Speculation Discussion

[chocolatejr9]

Considering that a very great number of X' open questions are with regards to its characters, it'd be very jarring to not continue with that cast in at least some form. Plus, they were already doing quite a bit of foreshadowing in 2's DLC - or at least going "Hmm there are sure some open questions in that game! Makes you WONDER.".


Yeah, you definitely got something there. I think you should really get that looked at.

View attachment 286958

Wow, you liked my question so much, you answered it twice!

 

[I.D.]

Japan Game Awards 2020 winners announced

As part of Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online, winners for the annual Japan Game Awards were revealed. The event was held over the weekend, with six categories decided on the first day followed by the Award for Excellence and coveted Grand Award on the second day. Here are the full results: Minister of...

nintendoeverything.com

Three Houses won Award for Excellence, all 'FE bad' posts are now officially illegal in 79 countries
(also stoked about Animal Crossing and MH Iceborne winning some!)

Thanks to FE Heroes, FE fans are now very adept at stuffing online ballots.

Edit: actually, I was thinking of the game awards.

 

[Deleted member]

What if... What if... Crimson Flower got an update?

That would make me return to Three Houses.

Who am I kidding, they are done with DLC. Lol.

 

[chocolatejr9]

Thanks to FE Heroes, FE fans are now very adept at stuffing online ballots.

Edit: actually, I was thinking of the game awards.

You joke, but that IS how we got Jorge in the game...

#JorgeForSmash

 

[MooMew64]

Japan Game Awards 2020 winners announced

As part of Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online, winners for the annual Japan Game Awards were revealed. The event was held over the weekend, with six categories decided on the first day followed by the Award for Excellence and coveted Grand Award on the second day. Here are the full results: Minister of...

nintendoeverything.com

Three Houses won Award for Excellence, all 'FE bad' posts are now officially illegal in 79 countries
(also stoked about Animal Crossing and MH Iceborne winning some!)

Animal Crossing is probably the best game I've played this year, so heck yeah. Gonna pick it back up after being on a hiatus with it today.

Now, since everything is about Smash, how 'bout Nook for Smash?

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Considering that a very great number of X' open questions are with regards to its characters, it'd be very jarring to not continue with that cast in at least some form. Plus, they were already doing quite a bit of foreshadowing in 2's DLC - or at least going "Hmm there are sure some open questions in that game! Makes you WONDER.".

I could see them swapping out everyone who wasn't Elma, Lin, or what's his face (the boss man) due to their importance to the story or world respectively. Irina, Gwin, Doug, and L, might return due to having at least being mentioned in the story even though they weren't all that important to it. Everyone else, I could see them replacing since they're not important in the slightest.

Spoiler: Xenoblade Chronicles X Spoilers

Lao probably won't be playable since it looks like he's gonna be a villain from here on out.

Oh, and I'd bet Cross will be swapped out for another avatar because it's difficult to handle avatars in situations like these.

 

[Deleted member]

Animal Crossing is probably the best game I've played this year, so heck yeah. Gonna pick it back up after being on a hiatus with it today.

Now, since everything is about Smash, how 'bout Nook for Smash?

I would be very happy with Tom Nook for Smash. This post is unironic.

 

[Hydreigonfan01]

Yeah, you definitely got something there. I think you should really get that looked at.

View attachment 286958

Okay but why is Sans Undertale next to that water bottle. What are you trying to tell me?

 

[Rie Sonomura]

Wow, you liked my question so much, you answered it twice!

Because once is good...

but twice is better.(TM)

 

[Calamitas]

what's his face (the boss man)

I think you mean Tatsu.


On a more serious note though, I could still see them carry over Celica and Yelv. The former due to her having originally been part of the main story before that part got cut due to time constraints or something like that, and the latter because there was a cliff hanger with him specifically that implied that he's an entirely artificial person who never had a human conscious beforehand.

Okay but why is Sans Undertale next to that water bottle. What are you trying to tell me?

What are you talking about? That's just a regular old skellington.

 

[SKX31]

I don't know if this has been talked about yet but Sakurai asked Harada's help in fixing Smash's online.

There was a problem fetching the tweet

IIRC it was brought up yesterday, but it's nice to see direct confirmation that Harada said so.

I'm not expecting rollback in Ultimate's netcode (maybe Ultimate DX...?), but what they can do is to lower the input buffer a bit and improve bits and pieces of the netcode; such as how the netcode communicates with the online system in general. They did increase the packet send rate in 1v1 matches in 8.1 (without spectators, of course - that caused a screwup in Battle Arenas), and that's already a slightly encouraging sign.

That's another possible reason why patches (and FP2 characters) are taking longer - after all, the #FixUltimateOnline uproar was major.

The dream scenario would be if Nintendo hires the Slippi team to help build up a rollback netcode for a possible Ultimate DX... but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

[ALongWistfulSquiggle]

Regardless of what they do with the cast, it would be really crappy of them (to put it lightly) to not continue the story at all after a cliff hanger at the end of a 100+ hour game in its sequel.

At the same time, the cliffhanger ends with the line

Spoiler

"The story never truly ends."

That's not a line that you throw out there if you're actually planning on making a sequel. It's pretty messed up, since the entire game is setting up for that sequel, but then the game goes and implies that it isn't going to bother finding a conclusion.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

I think you mean Tatsu.

No. B.L.A.D.E.'s commander. Not Vandham, but above him.

Ah! His name was Nagi!

At the same time, the cliffhanger ends with the line

Spoiler

"The story never truly ends."

That's not a line that you throw out there if you're actually planning on making a sequel. It's pretty messed up, since the entire game is setting up for that sequel, but then the game goes and implies that it isn't going to bother finding a conclusion.

Is it not? Pretty sure it's just a generic sequel hook line. It could also be referring to the fact that there's still a ton more to do after completing the main story and they're not just resetting things and sticking you back before the Final Boss. I don't think they mean that they aren't making a sequel at all.

 

[Professor Pumpkaboo]

Imma shill here and say if you like VNs, Mecha, RTS and kick ass music and have a PS4, id suggest getting 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

 

[ALongWistfulSquiggle]

Is it not? Pretty sure it's just a generic sequel hook line. It could also be referring to the fact that there's still a ton more to do after completing the main story and they're not just resetting things and sticking you back before the Final Boss. I don't think they mean that they aren't making a sequel at all.

Maybe it is supposed to be a generic hook line, but I'd have to say it's a bad one if that's the case. Why not say "there's a lot left to do" or "it seems like this will go on forever" or "this isn't the end?" Instead it just says there is no ending moments after giving us a cliffhanger. That's just confusing.

I do think that there is a good chance that a sequel could happen. It should. I just think that there's a real possibility that it won't unless I'm drastically misinterpreting what I was given.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Someone finally posted an image that makes sense for most of the discussed 'wanted' characters, on twitter. I think it's nice to see all together:

I feel like rating their chances:

Spoiler

High (There is a lot in their favor):

• Travis (No comment)
• Rex & Pyra/Mythra (I really feel like Xenoblade Chronicles is in a prime promotion position)
• Monster Hunter (Big series with two new games out soon)

Middling (Nothing in their favor, but nothing against them):

• Crash Bandicoot
• Steve/Alex
• 2B
• Nightmare
• Chosen Undead
• Arle
• Professor Layton
• Lara Croft
• Lloyd
• Monokuma
• Kiryu

Low (There are things against them):

• Doom Slayer (I think it was stated that he was not in recently, but I don't remember)
• KOS-MOS (Bandai Namco likes using her in crossovers, but she is still competing with their active franchises)
• Saber (Popular mobile series, but as far as I know, it's unavailable in Europe)
• Sora (Disney's such a wild card here. I don't think this hurts him too badly, but it could still keep him out)
• Zero (Would be another Mega Man character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Dante (Monster Hunter is just too much more likely than Devil May Cry)
• Master Chief (Halo isn't Japan's jam, and its competing with Minecraft.)
• Gordan Freeman (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Chell (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and her games are PC only)
• Chun-Li (Would be another Street Fighter character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Reimu (None of her games are officially localized in the west)
• The Heavy (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Dr. Eggman (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)

Very Low (There's a lot against them):

• Amaterasu (Her games are commercial flops and she's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Conker (He's like Banjo & Kazooie, but less popular.)
• Geno (Super Mario characters are already unlikely, but Geno's also 3rd party, and not a type of character Nintendo likes at the moment)
• Tails (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character with parallels to Sonic, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Agumon (I feel like a Digimon would need multiple movesets to be properly represented as a fighter)
• Dixie Kong (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Scorpion (His games aren't even localized in Japan)
• Porky (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Elma (Her game is locked in Wii U jail and won't get out for at least a year or two)
• Hat Kid (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Karate Joe (His series was niche, and now it is dead)
• Spyro (Japan hates him, and he's competing with Crash Bandicoot)
• Quote (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Gunner Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Bandana Waddle Dee (A Nintendo character from an already represented series without a new and recent mainseries game to promote as far as we know)
• The Knight (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook...It was a different Yearbook.)
• Crono (A super old game competing with an active legendary series and a breakout hit.)
• Phoenix Wright (His series might be ending and he's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Chibi-Robo (His franchise is dead)
• Shantae (I'm not sure she'll get a Mii Costume, but I still doubt we'll get an Indie character in this pass)
• Rillaboom (If we're getting a Pokémon, it's going to be either Intelleon or Cinderace, not Rillaboom.)
• Tracer (I'm already Tracer)

Disconfirmed (Means what it says on the tin):

• Frisk
• Isaac
• Impa
• Shovel Knight
• Krystal
• The Skull Kid
• Bomberman
• Waluigi
• Midna
• Paper Mario
• Heihachi
• Shadow

 

[Cutie Gwen]

At the same time, the cliffhanger ends with the line

Spoiler

"The story never truly ends."

That's not a line that you throw out there if you're actually planning on making a sequel. It's pretty messed up, since the entire game is setting up for that sequel, but then the game goes and implies that it isn't going to bother finding a conclusion.

The way I interpret that is as a way to say "There's a lot more answers we need", especially with how X literally ends with a MCU-like cliffhanger

 

[ROBnWatch]

If a new mode came, gosh do I want a boss rush mode. This game's bosses are A+, but you only get to fight most of them in a fresh WoL file. :/

This. Please. I would love a Boss Rush mode that isn’t tied to WoL. If we ever were to get a new mode, please make it be Boss Rush or Break the Targets.

Someone finally posted an image that makes sense for most of the discussed 'wanted' characters, on twitter. I think it's nice to see all together:

https://twitter.com/funktard8/status/1309936044662493186

Some of my most wanted are there, so that's great. One I don't see is Ashley though. They put other assist trophies there so I would've expected her too. Guess she's not really talked about much these days :/

I like this list. It includes some of the less likely characters I want plus the major names that my friends want.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Maybe it is supposed to be a generic hook line, but I'd have to say it's a bad one if that's the case. Why not say "there's a lot left to do" or "it seems like this will go on forever" or "this isn't the end?" Instead it just says there is no ending moments after giving us a cliffhanger. That's just confusing.

I do think that there is a good chance that a sequel could happen. It should. I just think that there's a real possibility that it won't unless I'm drastically misinterpreting what I was given.

I think you're reading too much into the line, but I do agree that a sequel might not happen on the grounds that a port is unlikely to happen in the first place. I don't think a sequel to a game that's still on a console nobody cares about would do very well.

 

[Wunderwaft]

Besides helping out on Smash's online Harada also announced that Tekken 7 has sold 6 million copies and the franchise total sales are now over 50 million, they made an artwork to commemorate the occasion. I hope we see a playable Heihachi in the next Smash game.

There was a problem fetching the tweet

 

[Rie Sonomura]

Someone finally posted an image that makes sense for most of the discussed 'wanted' characters, on twitter. I think it's nice to see all together:

https://twitter.com/funktard8/status/1309936044662493186

Some of my most wanted are there, so that's great. One I don't see is Ashley though. They put other assist trophies there so I would've expected her too. Guess she's not really talked about much these days :/

This would have been perfect if Neku, Octoling and maybe Black Shadow were there...

but the fact they even acknowledged Elma makes me happy

 

[Goombaic]

"It'S sOmEtHiNg AbOuT tHiS pLaNeT" will not be how Xenoblade X's story ends. X2 will come eventually.

 

[Perkilator]

If a new mode came, gosh do I want a boss rush mode. This game's bosses are A+, but you only get to fight most of them in a fresh WoL file. :/

Well, that and Classic Mode (where only Galeem and Dharkon are excluded).

I’d also like to see them add Ho-Oh and Grima as bosses.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

"It'S sOmEtHiNg AbOuT tHiS pLaNeT" will not be how Xenoblade X's story ends.

You are correct. It ends with Cross grinding for an hour or two, deciding killing Telethia, The Endbringer isn't worth the time required, and turning off the game for good.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

I feel like rating their chances:

Spoiler

High (There is a lot in their favor):

• Travis (No comment)
• Rex & Pyra/Mythra (I really feel like Xenoblade Chronicles is in a prime promotion position)
• Monster Hunter (Big series with two new games out soon)

Middling (Nothing in their favor, but nothing against them):

• Crash Bandicoot
• Steve/Alex
• 2B
• Nightmare
• Chosen Undead
• Arle
• Professor Layton
• Lara Croft
• Lloyd
• Monokuma
• Kiryu

Low (There are things against them):

• Doom Slayer (I think it was stated that he was not in recently, but I don't remember)
• KOS-MOS (Bandai Namco likes using her in crossovers, but she is still competing with their active franchises)
• Arthur (Popular mobile series, but as far as I know, it's unavailable in Europe)
• Sora (Disney's such a wild card here. I don't think this hurts him too badly, but it could still keep him out)
• Zero (Would be another Mega Man character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Dante (Monster Hunter is just too much more likely than Devil May Cry)
• Master Chief (Halo isn't Japan's jam, and its competing with Minecraft.)
• Gordan Freeman (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Chell (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and her games are PC only)
• Chun-Li (Would be another Street Fighter character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Reimu (None of her games are officially localized in the west)
• The Heavy (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Dr. Eggman (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)

Very Low (There's a lot against them):

• Amaterasu (Her games are commercial flops and she's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Conker (He's like Banjo & Kazooie, but less popular.)
• Geno (Super Mario characters are already unlikely, but Geno's also 3rd party, and not a type of character Nintendo likes at the moment)
• Tails (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character with parallels to Sonic, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Agumon (I feel like a Digimon would need multiple movesets to be properly represented as a fighter)
• Dixie Kong (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Scorpion (His games aren't even localized in Japan)
• Porky (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Elma (Her game is locked in Wii U jail and won't get out for at least a year or two)
• Shadow (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character, and would have a lot of paralells to Sonic by necessity. I think that would be a decently hard sell to the masses.)
• Hat Kid (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Karate Joe (His series was niche, and now it is dead)
• Spyro (Japan hates him, and he's competing with Crash Bandicoot)
• Quote (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Gunner Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Bandana Waddle Dee (A Nintendo character from an already represented series without a new and recent mainseries game to promote as far as we know)
• The Knight (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook...It was a different Yearbook.)
• Crono (A super old game competing with an active legendary series and a breakout hit.)
• Phoenix Wright (His series might be ending and he's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Chibi-Robo (His franchise is dead)
• Shantae (I'm not sure she'll get a Mii Costume, but I still doubt we'll get an Indie character in this pass)
• Rillaboom (If we're getting a Pokémon, it's going to be either Intelleon or Cinderace, not Rillaboom.)
• Tracer (I'm already Tracer)

Disconfirmed (Means what it says on the tin):

• Frisk
• Isaac
• Impa
• Shovel Knight
• Krystal
• The Skull Kid
• Bomberman
• Waluigi
• Midna
• Paper Mario
• Heihachi

Why is Impa in the Disconfirmed category? She's not an Assist Trophy or even a Mii Costume.

 

[Goombaic]

You are correct. It ends with Cross grinding for an hour or two, deciding killing Telethia, The Endbringer isn't worth the time required, and turning off the game for good.

Wait, you haven't been grinding for 5 years?

 

[Cutie Gwen]

Wait, you haven't been grinding for 5 years?

I mean, a low level cap WOULD lower grinding times

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Why is Impa in the Disconfirmed category? She's not an Assist Trophy or even a Mii Costume.

The Guardian Set is a Bonus Costume for the Fighters Pass Vol. 2. If we're assuming that a Mii Costume disconfirms all characters in a series, I would say that this applies to Impa as well.

I mean, a low level cap WOULD lower grinding times

Or, you know maybe drop rates for good endgame weapons that aren't abysmal.

I actually did get best Skell and level capped everyone, but that's about it.

 

[Mushroomguy12]

The Guardian Set is a Bonus Costume for the Fighters Pass Vol. 2. If we're assuming that a Mii Costume disconfirms all characters in a series, I would say that this applies to Impa as well.


Or, you know maybe drop rates for good endgame weapons that aren't abysmal.

I actually did get best Skell and level capped everyone, but that's about it.

Also why is Shadow in very low but the rest of the ATs are deconfirmed? If you think ATs deconfirm at least be consistent.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Also why is Shadow in very low but the rest of the ATs are deconfirmed? If you think ATs deconfirm at least be consistent.

Um...Totally not because I forgot about his Assist Trophy or anything...

EDIT: OK, fixed.

 

[Teeb147]

This would have been perfect if Neku, Octoling and maybe Black Shadow were there...

but the fact they even acknowledged Elma makes me happy

True, I guess those are more discussed for echos tho? (besides neku)

I like the world ends with you, but i think it might just not be known enough :/

 

[Guynamednelson]

Elma as A listers

Jesus Christ you are spending a bit too much time in her echo chamber this site created.

 

[Teeb147]

This. Please. I would love a Boss Rush mode that isn’t tied to WoL. If we ever were to get a new mode, please make it be Boss Rush or Break the Targets.



I like this list. It includes some of the less likely characters I want plus the major names that my friends want.

Yeah most of these I've heard talked about around. Not Gordan Freeman tho.

 

[Rie Sonomura]

True, I guess those are more discussed for echos tho? (besides neku)

I like the world ends with you, but i think it might just not be known enough :/

If anything I have ideas for Octoling and Black Shadow to be more unique, with a really in-depth one for the former

 

[Ramen Tengoku]

It's really hard to call Elma an "A-List" when her one game is stuck on an obsolete console for the time being

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

It's really hard to call Elma an "A-List" when her one game is stuck on an obsolete console for the time being

She may be a popular Xenoblade Chronicles character, but since I wouldn't call the Xenoblade Chronicles series itself "A-List", Elma sure as heck isn't.

 

[Teeb147]

I feel like rating their chances:

Spoiler

High (There is a lot in their favor):

• Travis (No comment)
• Rex & Pyra/Mythra (I really feel like Xenoblade Chronicles is in a prime promotion position)
• Monster Hunter (Big series with two new games out soon)

Middling (Nothing in their favor, but nothing against them):

• Crash Bandicoot
• Steve/Alex
• 2B
• Nightmare
• Chosen Undead
• Arle
• Professor Layton
• Lara Croft
• Lloyd
• Monokuma
• Kiryu

Low (There are things against them):

• Doom Slayer (I think it was stated that he was not in recently, but I don't remember)
• KOS-MOS (Bandai Namco likes using her in crossovers, but she is still competing with their active franchises)
• Arthur (Popular mobile series, but as far as I know, it's unavailable in Europe)
• Sora (Disney's such a wild card here. I don't think this hurts him too badly, but it could still keep him out)
• Zero (Would be another Mega Man character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Dante (Monster Hunter is just too much more likely than Devil May Cry)
• Master Chief (Halo isn't Japan's jam, and its competing with Minecraft.)
• Gordan Freeman (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Chell (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and her games are PC only)
• Chun-Li (Would be another Street Fighter character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Reimu (None of her games are officially localized in the west)
• The Heavy (As far as I know, Nintendo has nothing to do with Valve, and his games are PC only)
• Dr. Eggman (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)

Very Low (There's a lot against them):

• Amaterasu (Her games are commercial flops and she's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Conker (He's like Banjo & Kazooie, but less popular.)
• Geno (Super Mario characters are already unlikely, but Geno's also 3rd party, and not a type of character Nintendo likes at the moment)
• Tails (Would be another Sonic the Hedgehog character with parallels to Sonic, and I'm not sure the hype he'd bring would override the lack of a new series to represent in Nintendo's eyes.)
• Agumon (I feel like a Digimon would need multiple movesets to be properly represented as a fighter)
• Dixie Kong (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Scorpion (His games aren't even localized in Japan)
• Porky (A Nintendo character from an already represented series with nothing new going on right now)
• Elma (Her game is locked in Wii U jail and won't get out for at least a year or two)
• Hat Kid (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Karate Joe (His series was niche, and now it is dead)
• Spyro (Japan hates him, and he's competing with Crash Bandicoot)
• Quote (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Gunner Costume" in the Yearbook.)
• Bandana Waddle Dee (A Nintendo character from an already represented series without a new and recent mainseries game to promote as far as we know)
• The Knight (Rated "Most likely to get a Mii Swordfighter Costume" in the Yearbook...It was a different Yearbook.)
• Crono (A super old game competing with an active legendary series and a breakout hit.)
• Phoenix Wright (His series might be ending and he's competing with freaking Monster Hunter)
• Chibi-Robo (His franchise is dead)
• Shantae (I'm not sure she'll get a Mii Costume, but I still doubt we'll get an Indie character in this pass)
• Rillaboom (If we're getting a Pokémon, it's going to be either Intelleon or Cinderace, not Rillaboom.)
• Tracer (I'm already Tracer)

Disconfirmed (Means what it says on the tin):

• Frisk
• Isaac
• Impa
• Shovel Knight
• Krystal
• The Skull Kid
• Bomberman
• Waluigi
• Midna
• Paper Mario
• Heihachi
• Shadow

Nice list. But obviously places are debatable I think that some have higher chances than you put, like Sora, Geno, Dixie, Elma, Shantae, and definitely Bandana Dee has higher chances. Kirby hasnt had a rep for quite a while, it did get more main games, unless you mean timing with a new one coming, which doesn't have to be the case, and also did high on polls when it mattered. Also possibly Rillaboom though I think they might go for a non-starter.)

And why the heck would you deconfirm Impa????

 

[Rie Sonomura]

It's really hard to call Elma an "A-List" when her one game is stuck on an obsolete console for the time being

True but at the same time it’s only a matter of time as to when X gets the Deluxe Switch Port treatment. We got flippin TOKYO MIRAGE SESSIONS earlier this year, then Pikmin 3 Deluxe

it’s about playing the waiting game and I have a feeling it will soon pay off

 

[Mushroomguy12]

I would consider Nintendo characters like Toad, Bandana Dee, Waluigi, Pig Ganon, Skull Kid, Krystal, and Elma as A listers as well as these characters either have the legacy or the popularity to be claimed as a A listers among Nintendo choices.

Add Impa and Midna to that list as well.

 

[pupNapoleon]

Fighting games, especially ones like ARMS which are in their infancy, quite a lot of the time have interchangeable casts. The only reason Spring Man one ups everyone else is because he's the mascot NOT the protagonist. I really wish Sakurai or the localisation voice over guy didn't spread this false narrative that people were considering Spring Man the protagonist when it's obvious they weren't, they were considering him because he is quite clearly the mascot.

I fully disagree with the idea that Spring Man is the mascot. You mention in your comments the idea of large casts- particularly fighting games. He is the character that easily explains the game, a fully new concept (motion controlled first-person fighting game). He visually, and by name, tells parents to buy the game on the cover (which is incredibly important, we can discuss this more if you'd like); but it also explains the concept of the game.

The other characters, the ones with a bit more flavor, are not on the box. This is one of the few arguments as to why Spring Man is the 'mascot.' He is simply the Liu Kang of Mortal Kombat- the one who starts off to explain the game to a new audience. But, Liu Kang is not the mascot of MK- Scorpion is the mascot. Scorpion didnt really gain notoriety until the second game onwards, to the point that now he is used as emphasis on just about any MK media. This is how games based on character ensembles tend to work.

Animal Crossing didnt have a real mascot until Isabelle, many years after it's inception. Hell, the original Pokemon didnt use Pikachu as a mascot, the publishers put Charizard and Venasaur on the cover to sell games to parents... hell, it's the actual reason they switched to using Blastoise in America. Pikachu emerged over time just as- actual- mascots do of ensemble games.

I think given the noted popularity since her reveal, the voted on contest by ARMS patrons, the fact that she is in ARMS, Min Min will likely become the mascot. At the moment, there isn't one, just someone to explain the game.