COME ONE! COME ALL! COME SEE THE AMAZING WAAAAAAALLLL OOOOOOOF TEEEEEEEXXXXXT!
Between icon introductions, developer leaks and this one character a week streak that held strong until last week, fifteen of the Melee twenty five have been given a strong enough nod to end discussion. The remaining ten are a mix of 'No clones, no way', 'If they improve them', and 'Like anyone ever played those games'. I'm excluding Sheik partially because she's a half-character, partially because of that leak that may have confirmed her coming back, just leaving her out to avoid more pondering and arguments about tourneys.
Doctor Mario-Pure, exact clone...Change the model, few pill bouncing animations and a keyboard tap, this guy was just a nostalgia trip to fill in that space next to Mario on the select screen. Minor following, but this guy being the deformed clone makes him being in the medical field sad irony.
Falco-Besides Ganon, this guy may be one of the most popular and suitably one of the more original clones with a few of his own moves and a vastly different play style than the move donor. The fans love him, the tourneys love him, a lot of former Fox players and aerial fighters love him. Tweaking may be necessary for originality, but some like him just the way he is.
Young Link-Was surprised when I unlocked him, yet another space filler with albeit some more thought put into it. Different projectles and attack details, but otherwise they just shrunk Link and called it a character. OOT fans loved it, but even just looking at them on the select screen he's slapped on. Why not add on Link with pink hair, Link in N64 graphics, Link in Wind Waker pajamas and Link holding a Cuckoo. I know Zelda needed some coverage, they were strapped for time, but I'd rather not see him again unless they try giving him a different style of fighting and a different game look. This is where people bring in Cel-Shaded Link, but the fact is I just don't know what they would call him. Just try and imaging the announcer saying 'Cel Link' or something, it's too weird and awkward to put into motion.
Pichu-The fastest, lightest little guy around...Who hurts himself with his electric attacks. Consistent with the Poke-Nuts, the powered up thunder attacks are worth the sacrifice with good timing, but for anything more than casual play and simple dares he's not designed to be taken seriously. I actually like the character model they used and the concept, but more in a cute puppy in a petshop way. If they make it more of a joke character than a pet project it may make it back in. Still don't expect anyone to play him.
Jigglypuff-The original hidden character. Female Kirby with the big punch and the sleep attacks and the fabled one-hit KO you can never use right. Surprised to find a few competent players using her for her odder but relatively solid style. Two games with her as the first hidden character is a strong tradition, she can be buffed into a rather solid character with a little work. She'll never be the tournament choice, but she's unique enough to mix things up. Not counting my character before they're confirmed, but I'd be surprised if she's not in.
Ice Climbers-Nintendo definitely had fun with the Gamecube's launch, these guys had enough exposure to help start their re-relases of the old games via e-cards, GBA cartridges and even Animal Crossing. With practice they have potential, the two-character interface showed off the engine quite a bit, but in practice they just weren't good enough without using the beloved/behated advanced techniques. Months into the updates, these guys are a gaping hole in the middle of the roster, possibly of no return with not so much as a stage or item hint. If they're gone, we can always look back at them as their stage as the prototype for the modern scrolling stage and the dual-character format if it returns.
Mewtwo-Completely original, new, fan-approved...But that's about all he has going for him. The wild psychic techniques and admittedly cool looking animations and moveset doesn't compensate for the fact he Pichu can send him flying with a head-butt. His techs can be used very craftily...If you can pull them off fast enough to even use them. His character design makes him a featherweight, his style makes him majestically slow...He's screwed. Great job on the creative moves and character model, but he's nothing but a flawed skeleton of what could come back as a power-hitter with brains. He's the fixer-upper with great potential.
Marth-The completely original, new, unknown secret character that took off where Mewtwo couldn't even get the engine started. Beautiful mix of speed and power, brought up a whole new style of weapon use in the game Link never pulled off, his range and versatility combined with classical styling and obscure fanbase made him the oddball champ the locals never brag about. Ike's being introduced as a power-character has me thinking he'll be the perfect counter to Marth's speed, it's possible Marth players will be split between speed and the Brawl-born power characters, both sharing the sword-loving play style that embodies their series.
Roy-Marth with a dye job and a 'Please buy this game' sign on his back. His lowered range, speed and mobility is as sensible as a bird in cement shoes. One of the most unpopular clones to play with because of the flawed style, fans hated the game he was plugging, there's no way he's coming back with Ike doing power the right way.
Game and Watch-Nintendo just having fun and honoring their heritage. The ultimate goofball character with no rhyme or reason, just because they could. Moves all over the place, unusual graphics, stage feared for its randomness and simplicity, this is Nintendo just having fun with a finished game and making the last character a bit of a gag. Returning or not, I consider him and Pichu the comedic Smashers that just make you smile or cringe depending on your tastes. Is he coming back? We didn't know he was coming in the first place, not much better a question.
Now for those waiting for me to mess up...Where's Luigi?
You cannot tell me Luigi is not coming back along with Mario and the rest of the Mario Herd that occupied the first fourth of the Melee roster. We know Mario is in it...Luigi won't be far behind no matter what they do to him since the last game.