Well, that was a direct, maybe not the most exciting Smash wise, but definitely a good direct for everyone else. Plus Isabelle is a great character, and I love that she’s unique.
Since it has been a week though, I thought I might update my list from pg 66 and give out my stances on things.
Minecraft in Smash?
So I predicted that Steve would be a character and, yeah I still think it’s likely. Verge has yet to go down and he did say MC content. While many take that as a stage and assist and nothing else, my question is, why would you include one of the biggest gaming franchises in the past decade and history and not include a character, the biggest reason people play Smash?
Along with that both Miyamoto (who got Pac-Man in Wii U) and Sakurai have expressed a liking to the franchise, with Miyamoto stating the game is his biggest regret as Nintendo should have made it, and Sakurai saying it’s one of the few games he goes back to play. Since Simon was a loved character by Sakurai and made it in despite seemingly being overshadowed by other 3rd parties (Shovel Knight, Shantae, and Rayman) I can see Sakurai going with Steve.
I also want to add that Steve was popular pre-Wii U, like how Simon was pre-Brawl, so the ballot might not be the end all be all.
Finally to close this, Nintendo is still heavily promoting the franchise, as even their online service video had Minecraft as a highlighted title. Add the 3DS custom, and just general collaborations they’ve made for MC with Mario content and finally working with rival companies, and I’d say Steve has a very high shot for a generally overlooked character.
Echoes?
I said that each franchise that gets in Smash will have an echo, and, I think it still may be likely. I think many of the big franchises are guaranteed echoes, but maybe they’ll cut off support for lesser franchises, or franchises that don’t have potential fighters that can fit. If I were to say the most likely echoes, my list would go
High
Diddy Kong ——> Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong Country)
Ike ——> The Black Knight (Fire Emblem)
Inklings ——> Octolings (Splatoon)
Shiek ——> Impa (The Legend of Zelda)
Medium
Meta Knight ——> Pick your poison of Galacta, Dark, or Morpho (Kirby)
Pokémon, I can’t chose, there are many similar Pokémon though, so I can see an echo.
Animal Crossing, not going to try and choose, but the franchise may get one to accompany Isabelle.
Low
Captain Falcon ——> Black Shadow (F-Zero)
Ness ——> Ninten (Earth Bound)
As for 3rd parties, I think each will still get one;
Shadow for Sonic
Sephiroph for Final Fantasy (Forgot about him in my original post)
Big Boss for Metal Gear
Jeanne for Bayonetta
Mrs. Pac-Man for Pac-Man
Ken for Street Fighter
Roll for Mega Man (Forgot also. It may be a stretch, but she has the same moves as Mega Man in Marvel vs Capcom)
New Challengers Enter The Ring?
Mass speculation has come up for Karate Joe and I believe that he could be likely as the first Rythm Heaven rep. Rythm Heaven was supposed to have a character in Smash Wii U, but it didn’t happen, but that may have prompted Rythm Heaven to become popular for Smash, so a new character might happen. I’m rooting for you Joe!
Along with him, talks of Bethesda and Nintendo collaborating on Smash, so Doom Guy is speculated. Along with Doom Guy, Shantae is now really popular and speculated.
To comment, while I believe Karate Joe has a high chance, Shantae and Doom Guy ain’t happening in the base roster. Shantae seems too small to be in Smash as a fighter, especially since the king of indies has toppled and became an Assist. While I know people make the argument that Shantae is more popular, I really don’t feel that she’d be a big addition at all, at least Shovel Knight actually had Nintendo releasing it in Japan and got an Amiibo, I doubt Shantae would be big enough to get in over him. Doom Guy is fine in popularity, I just think he was requested too late, plus with Nintendo and Bethesda only starting their relationship with Switch, I don’t think he could have made it. He may be DLC though, along with Rayman who recently got the boot for being in Brawlhalla.
My Newcomer List for Smash Ultimate 09/13/18
1) Geno (Super Mario Bros.) [New Comer]
2) Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong Country) [Echo of Diddy]
3) Skull Kid (The Legend of Zelda) [New Comer]
4) Impa (The Legend of Zelda) [Echo of Shiek]
5) Pokémon [New Comer]
6) Pokémon [Echo of ?]
7) Bandana Waddle Dee (Kirby) [New Comer]
8) Galacta/Dark Meta Knight (Kirby) [Echo of Meta Knight]
9) The Black Knight (Fire Emblem) [Echo of Ike]
10) Animal Crossing Rep [Echo of Isabelle or Villager]
11) Octolings (Splatoon) [Echo of Inklings]
12) Elma (Xenoblade) [New Comer]
13) Karate Joe (Rythm Heaven) [New Comer]
14) Issac (Golden Sun) [New Comer]
15) Matthew (Golden Sun) [Echo of Issac]
16) Steve (Minecraft) [New Comer]
17) Alex (Minecraft) [Echo of Steve]
18) Shadow (Sonic The Hedgehog)
19) Mrs. Pac-Man (Pac-Man)
20) Roll (Mega Man)
21) Big Boss (Metal Gear)
22) Sephiroph (Final Fantasy)
23) Jeanne (Bayonetta)
24) Ken (Street Fighter)
Large Roster, but honestly, looking at it most are echoes and Sakurai has lied about character amounts before. This would give us.
8 more fighters added to the small 5 we have now, giving us 11 new comers in total with quite a few echoes, which makes sense as they were highlighted to be a big deal. I wouldn’t even be surprised if another new comer joined though to make a full 12, like the original Smash roster, as Sakurai is using the already built Wii U base and isn’t splitting development teams, so this many characters, especially if they’re clones, could be likely.
