Official Next Smash - Speculation & Discussion Thread

[GoldenYuiitusin]

Have all of them in, PT style?

Too much work to be done there.

 

[SuperSonicFlyer]

Just letting you know this popped up just now.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Just letting you know this popped up just now.

BEST VERSION OF DONKEY KONG LET'S GOOOOOOO

 

[Watuna4343]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

 

[SuperSonicFlyer]

BEST VERSION OF DONKEY KONG LET'S GOOOOOOO

They'd better put a remix of this in the next Smash Bros. game!

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

Geno for sure.
If the remake doesn't get him in now, nothing ever will.

 

[RileyXY1]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

Geno is the biggest case of this. If a remake of his one and only game isn't enough to get him in it is very likely that he will never get in unless he becomes a regular recurring character in the Mario franchise.

 

[BrawlX10]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

Some of mines are probably hot takes, but i'll post them anyways:
If it doesn't get a sequel - Astral Chain rep
Noah or Mio, We'll probably have minimum Xenoblade 4 when Smash 7 comes around.
Shovel Knight
Sidon
Raven Beak
Fecto Elfilis
Geno

 

[SharkLord]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

I generally take a "never say never" attitude to speculating, but Noah and/or Mio's chances will probably tank after Smash 6 for similar reasons, as Xenoblade (probably) moves on to different protagonists. MonoSoft isn't averse to returning to previous storylines, as indicated by the campaigns added in the XC1 and XCX remakes and the Future Redeemed DLC, but older protagonists usually won't be front-and-center like the new faces are. As such, I wouldn't bank on older Xeno protagonists that missed the boat (Though at the moment that's only Noah, Mio, and Elma)

 

[Oracle Link]

Although I think Toon Link’s proportions means that he wouldn’t work as an alt.

Toy link is the alt!
Toy link would have diffrent proportions it already was done to a much more drastic degree:

I hear people think hes ugly but i love this costume! And in this case he gets his expresive face and toon links proportions so i think theres no issue!

(I actually drew toy with longer limbs multiple times he still looks adorable while being a bot taller)

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Toy link is the alt!
Toy link would have diffrent proportions it already was done to a much more drastic degree:

There is a difference between throwing an easter egg reference and actually making a Smash character.

If different body proportions were enough to make Isabelle a numbered fighter rather than a full-on Echo, and Sakurai likes to at least try to get the body shape of fighters right, then Toy Link and Toon Link cannot be alts of each other.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

So, when it comes to characters, every Smash game as far as I've seen has some popular/highly speculated characters which are 'now or never' in regards to timing and being included, meaning that if they ever get in it is in that particular Smash otherwise their chances quickly sail away due to their game being part of the past, due to being in a series with a revolving cast etc.

For Smash 6, outside of the Pokemon and Fire Emblem speculations, which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation in regards to getting in? Like if they don't get in in Smash 6 they will probably never will?

Famicom Detective club.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

Famicom Detective club.

I mean that depends on if they keep making games after Emio, because frankly even with the remakes I didn't expect them to make another but then Nintendo said "okay but what if we made the first new Famicom Detective Club game in 27 years (35 if you don't count the Satellaview game)" lmao

 

[Oracle Link]

There is a difference between throwing an easter egg reference and actually making a Smash character.

If different body proportions were enough to make Isabelle a numbered fighter rather than a full-on Echo, and Sakurai likes to at least try to get the body shape of fighters right, then Toy Link and Toon Link cannot be alts of each other.

What about at the diffrent heroes, mii costumes and all the koopalings?
like toy link would only need a very slight boost in height and a diffrent simple headmodel!
I do wanna know where you got that info from?

like the isabelle moveset decision was probably more because Ac has tond of moveset potential and they wanted to give her more personality!

Like even shoud toy link look scuffed in that case i wouldnt care hes my favourite link (toon links my second favourite) and i would be so happy to see both of them!
Also because so many dislike the lil guy i thought this was a nice compromise? Like you could literally just ignore him! And i get two of my favourites for the price of one!

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

What about at the diffrent heroes

The four that were picked are similar enough.

As an example, the one from VII was probably never a consideration due to how much smaller than the others he is.

mii costumes

You answered your own question; they're costumes.

all the koopalings?

The Koopalings is a fair point but given that the focus of the moveset is on the Clown Car, it's a reasonable enough creative liberty to take. Definitely a different case than Villager and Isabelle or Toon and Toy Link.

like toy link would only need a very slight boost in height and a diffrent simple headmodel!
I do wanna know where you got that info from?

Here you go!

EDIT: Forgot that Twitter sucks. Here's a pic.

like the isabelle moveset decision was probably more because Ac has tond of moveset potential and they wanted to give her more personality!

I'll admit you're half-right because personality was mentionned as a reason in the above, but it was also the body proportions.

Like even shoud toy link look scuffed in that case i wouldnt care hes my favourite link (toon links my second favourite) and i would be so happy to see both of them!
Also because so many dislike the lil guy i thought this was a nice compromise? Like you could literally just ignore him! And i get two of my favourites for the price of one!

I get that you like him but that's not a reason to defy Sakurai's usual logic as a "compromise"

And also, calm down, dude. All I said was that Toy Link can't work as an alt. I didn't say he was a bad idea to put in Smash because he killed my grandma.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

The Toy Link mask should be a mii swordfighter mask, that would be neat

 

[RealLuigisWearPink]

BEST VERSION OF DONKEY KONG LET'S GOOOOOOO

Well overdue, let’s go

Thought picross was already there for some reason

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

And also, calm down, dude. All I said was that Toy Link can't work as an alt. I didn't say he was a bad idea to put in Smash because he killed my grandma.

Also even putting aside the body type stuff, making Toy Link an alt means that all of a sudden for no particular reason, Link's Awakening/Echoes of Wisdom Link would pull out, you know... The Wind Waker? And conduct a little song with it? And chase Wind Waker pigs in the victory screen?

Like yeah, it's just a taunt and a few victory screens, but that'd be pretty weird, wouldn't it?

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Also even putting aside the body type stuff, making Toy Link an alt means that all of a sudden for no particular reason, Link's Awakening/Echoes of Wisdom Link would pull out, you know... The Wind Waker? And conduct a little song with it? And chase Wind Waker pigs in the victory screen?

Like yeah, it's just a taunt and a few victory screens, but that'd be pretty weird, wouldn't it?

The solution would be to remove any and all Wind Waker references so that every aspect is generic enough to avoid that kind of whiplash.

That's right, Oracle Link, in his desperation to have Toy Link no matter what, had an idea that would likely make the most expressive Link less expressive.

 

[SuperSonicFlyer]

On top of the Donkey Kong 94 thing, who wants this remixed as well in the next Smash Bros.?

Along with the actual boss stage this plays as the stage's music for the next Smash Bros. with Giant Donkey Kong in the background as a hazard?

 

[Oracle Link]

The Toy Link mask should be a mii swordfighter mask, that would be neat

Thaz was also an idea however he would need his outfit and generic Smash bombs, boomerang and Bow Moves to complete him!

Also could get repetetive as disguose zelda despratly needs a mii costume too!

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Also could get repetetive as disguose zelda despratly needs a mii costume too!

Toy Link Mask could just... not have the hood.

There we go, no more repetition.

 

[Louie G.]

which characters that are very often brought up do you think are in a 'it's now or never' situation

Maybe controversial, but Tom Nook. Kinda.

Animal Crossing has been steadily growing in Smash since Villager’s debut in Smash 4, and I think one new character per game is a pretty healthy pattern to continue. We are currently off the heels of New Horizons, the game that propelled Animal Crossing into a household name and a Nintendo pillar IP in similar standing to Legend of Zelda.

Tom Nook is one of its most central characters. He returned to prominence in New Horizons after letting Isabelle be center stage during New Leaf era, shows up frequently right next to her in all sorts of promotional material and merchandise. Not only Animal Crossing’s co-mascot, but a mascot of Nintendo as a company. The ball is squarely in his court right now as debatably the most important absentee Nintendo character.

But there’s another character who is deserving of much of the same praise… the ever unlucky Toad. If Tom Nook is ignored as the clear next step for his series during the peak of its popularity, it will just send me the message that Sakurai isn’t interested. He’s that kind of no-brainer where I can’t think of any other reason. Perhaps if he’s skipped over in favor of someone else, like KK Slider, you could chalk it up to priority toward a more unique character. Like what has happened with Toad. But it would still project that Nook is lacking something that other characters have… and yeah, that’s how I think they feel about Toad unfortunately.

Maybe saying he’d NEVER get in is extreme, but I would have to believe there’s some deeper reason for his exclusion. I do very much believe he’ll be playable. He is just far and away his series’ frontrunner so placing him as NPC for the third game in a row will start to really stick out.

 

[Oracle Link]

The solution would be to remove any and all Wind Waker references so that every aspect is generic enough to avoid that kind of whiplash.

That's right, Oracle Link, in his desperation to have Toy Link no matter what, had an idea that would likely make the most expressive Link less expressive.

You seriously think i didnt think of that pah noob
First of toon link is missing a sword above his head taunt, second of the fairy taunt can be easily reused and third never was a big fan of the heavy Ww focus anyways!
However (and i also thought of this!) There is one actual huge problem and thats the effects and yes the diffrent cartoony movements between the two (down taunt comes to mind) it does admidatly irk me!
However just as making ss and champion link left handed its an accaptable tradeoff if handled with care!

 

[BrawlX10]

Famicom Detective club.

Honestly, i feel like it would be a miracle if it gets a rep in smash 6.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

pah noob

Okay, I legit chuckled at that.

First of toon link is missing a sword above his head taunt, second of the fairy taunt can be easily reused and third never was a big fan of the heavy Ww focus anyways!
However (and i also thought of this!) There is one actual huge problem and thats the effects and yes the diffrent cartoony movements between the two (down taunt comes to mind) it does admidatly irk me!

Like I said, making the most expressive Link less expressive.

The fact that he DOESN'T have the generic sword rising taunt actually helps with the charm. It makes him stick out more.

You're homogenizing the swordfighters.

However just as making ss and champion link left handed its an accaptable tradeoff if handled with care!

They're... both right-handed...

 

[Oracle Link]

Okay, I legit chuckled at that.

The fact that he DOESN'T have the generic sword rising taunt actually helps with the charm. It makes him stick out more.

You're homogenizing the swordfighters.


They're... both right-handed...

GOOD to hear!

I mean the link sword raising like when he gets the master sword of course! Heck i guess have him hold up a heart container or triforce piece instead!

I mean they would be left handed cause they would be in a slot with oot and tp link! And i dunno left handed is more unique!

Also Zzz im gonna sleep! (Literally im tired)

 

[RileyXY1]

Honestly, i feel like it would be a miracle if it gets a rep in smash 6.

Yeah. Sakurai considered Ayumi back in Melee, but she was scrapped for not being popular enough in the West. Who knows if Sakurai's even interested in her anymore.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Yeah. Sakurai considered Ayumi back in Melee, but she was scrapped for not being popular enough in the West. Who knows if Sakurai's even interested in her anymore.

"not being popular enough"

Bro, no one knew who the hell she was. FDC was Japan-only until the remakes in 2020.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

It is possible to mirror animations across the Z-axis, so theoretically the right handed and left handed Links could be alternate costumes of each other. It would probably cause some hitbox jank across the Z-axis unless they decided to stop allowing hitboxes to move across the Z-axis though.

Actually, what are you guys's thoughts on that? It's not something that comes up a lot, especially in casual play, but it can cause attacks to whiff even though they look like they hit sometimes.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

It is possible to mirror animations across the Z-axis, so theoretically the right handed and left handed Links could be alternate costumes of each other. It would probably cause some hitbox jank across the Z-axis unless they decided to stop allowing hitboxes to move across the Z-axis though.

I dunno about Z-axis jank, I just think making OoT/TP/SS Link playable as alts is dumb because from the distance Smash is played at it'd be three alts (OUT OF LINK'S EIGHT COSTUMES, MIND) that basically look exactly the same unless you're telling me each alt is going to be completely stylistically different from each other because Link's design basically doesn't change for like any of those three.

It'd be like my issue with the pink hair Bowser alt that basically just changes his saturation but like 20 times over.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

I dunno about Z-axis jank, I just think making OoT/TP/SS Link playable as alts is dumb because from the distance Smash is played at it'd be three alts (OUT OF LINK'S EIGHT COSTUMES, MIND) that basically look exactly the same unless you're telling me each alt is going to be completely stylistically different from each other because Link's design basically doesn't change for like any of those three.

It'd be like my issue with the pink hair Bowser alt that basically just changes his saturation but like 20 times over.

IDK i think having Ocarina and twilight Links as alts is different enough, one is a dark and edgy shade of green and the other is a 90's anime artstyle. Which contrasts with Breath of the wild and tears of the kingdoms looks

 

[Guynamednelson]

unless you're telling me each alt is going to be completely stylistically different from each other because Link's design basically doesn't change for like any of those three.

In Project M, OoT Link works as an alt for TP Link because his colors are more saturated, and since it isn't restricted to 8 costumes OoT Link has all his color options from Melee, so beyond wearing a more saturated green by default his black alt isn't Dark Link.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

IDK i think having Ocarina and twilight Links as alts is different enough, one is a dark and edgy shade of green and the other is a 90's anime artstyle. Which contrasts with Breath of the wild and tears of the kingdoms looks

I mean I'm okay with like one of them replacing the Hero's Tunic in Ultimate, that's fine, the Hero's Tunic was the replacement for a classic Link look anyway because the default became Champion Link. My issue is when THREE of Link's costumes are just different shades of green and basically nothing else lol

 

[DarthEnderX]

If you were to pick 5 new Mario Kart tracks to add as stages, which ones would you pick?

Airship Fortress
Ribbon Road
Tick Tock Clock
Toad's Turnpike
Squeaky Clean Sprint

Thought picross was already there for some reason

Because the SNES version was.

 

[Hadokeyblade]

Coconut mall only being mentioned once in that Mario Kart discussion is so weird, that's the most popular track in the series, it makes perfect sense to add it as a smash stage.

 

[The Stoopid Unikorn]

Coconut mall only being mentioned once in that Mario Kart discussion is so weird, that's the most popular track in the series, it makes perfect sense to add it as a smash stage.

It's a fantastic race track but how do you convey what makes it awesome as a Smash stage?

 

[Gorgonzales]

It's a fantastic race track but how do you convey what makes it awesome as a Smash stage?

Maybe the fighters could be shrunk down (chalk it up to lightning or something) and the race could take place on a platform-shaped kart as it races through the mall? Kind of like what Mute City SNES does, but in 3D.

Now that I think about it, this sounds cool. When the glider is deployed, it could serve as an extra platform too.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Airship Fortress

Ya know, Bowser's Castle is definitely the more glaring omission, but we probably should have gotten an airship stage too. Mario Kart's fortress would be pretty cool.

Coconut mall only being mentioned once in that Mario Kart discussion is so weird, that's the most popular track in the series, it makes perfect sense to add it as a smash stage.

It's a fantastic race track but how do you convey what makes it awesome as a Smash stage?

There's really only 3 areas that would be mechanically interesting here: The escalators, the food court's fountain, and the parking lot. Everywhere else would just be flat with walk-offs, or be that, but at a slight angle. The problems with these are that, for the first one, the backdrop would just be a wall, for the second, that layout already exists on Wuhu Island, and the third would get kinda annoying with the constant motion of the cars. The whole track is a solid structure, so you can't really set it in an area around, but not in the track either to craft the stage more interestingly.

 

[TheFirstPoppyBro]

I also think Coconut Mall as an idea for a stage is a bit hampered by Alivel Mall, frankly lol

Every time Forgotten Land stage prospects for Kirby come up (since it's the new biggest hit and contributed immensely to Kirby's growth in the Switch era), Alivel Mall is typically the frontrunner, and then it becomes like "do we really need two shopping mall stages?" lol