Phantom Knight will protect her from now on ^^

[Arteen]

If there's a day I should shut up, it's definitely NOT today.

Constantly repeating it doesn't make it true. All you're going to do is confuse and mislead people.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Separate Sheik is the most laughable thing ever

Go and play Project M for that.

You guys are denying me from two complete different levels. First: NOOO Phantom = AT! No doubt, no question. Second: Separate Sheik.

Impa.

Better accept it.

 

[ToothiestAura]

This argument and it looks much more like Zelda's neutral B or side B than the down B
This looks like the down B to me.

Looks more like Fayore's Wind, but whatever.

First: NOOO Phantom = AT! No doubt, no question..

Not ruling it out that it could be a new move, however.

Not no doubt, no question. Just no solid info so stop acting like it's a fact that it's changed.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Well stop acting like it's a fact it HASN'T changed then ok?

I just wanna discuss how this makes Zelda's playstyle that much more awesome.

If Phantom is an attack (and if it was an AT, it would be with the pink eyes) a Sheik transformation would be redundant. I hope you know why.

 

[Spire]

There is zero evidence that Sheik has been separated/cut and Impa her replacement. What's apparent is that Zelda has at least one Phantom attack. There is a chance the Phantom is an Assist Trophy, but that seems terribly unlikely considering the Phantom represents a playable incarnation of the princess from Spirit Tracks. Considering there is a stage based on the game, is it too farfetched to assume that Zelda incorporates an element of her playability from said game into her moveset? If they were to add the Phantom as an AT, it would resemble Toon Link's aesthetic, not Link and Zelda's TP-inspired look. You think they want a Spirit Tracks AT looking different from the Spirit Tracks stage? Nonsense!

 

[Diddy Kong]

It seems to me redundant to have both a summoning attack, and a transformation move though. It would take away one of the 'Goddess Spells' and that's just not happening.

Toon Zelda being out of the question, Impa is the only choice. She was already before, but now ut's certain.

 

[SchAlternate]

Well, we don't whether Sheik returns or not, and whether the Phantom replaces her or any of Zelda's moves, or if it's just an Assist Trophy, or whatever.


Nothing is set in stone, so we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Louie G.]

Toon Zelda being out of the question, Impa is the only choice. She was already before, but now ut's certain.

Is Impa really the ONLY choice?

 

[Spire]

It seems to me redundant to have both a summoning attack, and a transformation move though. It would take away one of the 'Goddess Spells' and that's just not happening.

Toon Zelda being out of the question, Impa is the only choice. She was already before, but now ut's certain.

Her specials could remain relegated to the Goddess Spells and Sheik while The Phantom could be incorporated into any number of Zelda's smashes or throws. This would better round out her overall series representation, and with a Bow of Light Final Smash, we'd get a Zelda that The Legend of Zelda could be proud of. Cap her off with a Goddess Harp taunt and we're set!

Though you know I want Sheik separated and reformed into Impa like nothing else. I'll be a bit disappointed if Impa doesn't make it, but that's because I've built up too much hype for her already. Today's Phantom reveal shook some pillars I never thought would be shaken. If Sheik returns, that's fine—I personally don't think it'd be the best way to represent the series as a whole but ya'know, Sheik is an Ocarina of Time rep no matter what. Including Sheik is honoring that game, which Link and Zelda have distanced from.

 

[Oracle_Summon]

Is Impa really the ONLY choice?

Looks like Tingle has been hanging out with Shantae for a while.

 

[Louie G.]

Her specials could remain relegated to the Goddess Spells and Sheik while The Phantom could be incorporated into any number of Zelda's smashes or throws. This would better round out her overall series representation, and with a Bow of Light Final Smash, we'd get a Zelda that The Legend of Zelda could be proud of. Cap her off with a Goddess Harp taunt and we're set!

Though you know I want Sheik separated and reformed into Impa like nothing else. I'll be a bit disappointed if Impa doesn't make it, but that's because I've built up too much hype for her already. Today's Phantom reveal shook some pillars I never thought would be shaken. If Sheik returns, that's fine—I personally don't think it'd be the best way to represent the series as a whole but ya'know, Sheik is an Ocarina of Time rep no matter what. Including Sheik is honoring that game, which Link and Zelda have distanced from.

See, I wouldn't mind Impa making it. She seems important enough.
But replacing Sheik is something I do NOT want to happen. Like it or not, Sheik is a Smash staple. Many would be upset to lose Sheik, and even more people would be crazy mad to see Impa make it instead of Sheik, but with THE EXACT SAME MOVESET THAT SHEIK HAD.
There is no purpose at all.
And I agree with the OoT representation. It is necessary imo.

Edit: And not every character added is extremely important to the representation of a series.
Take Rosalina for example.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Who says Impa won't be drastically different from Sheik? She could be based on her. Phantom in Zelda's moveset or not; Toon Zelda's chances hit a hard low now. Tingle has a hatebase, and Villager has a Balloon Fight Up B. Impa IS the most likely newcomer for Zelda, and is even more likely than Sheik at this point. This fact shouldn't be denied.

 

[Louie G.]

Well I mean, more likely than Sheik is pushing it.
But Impa's likeliness has certainly improved.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Impa doesn't have a huge armored knight blocking her way though

 

[Sharkarat]

Edit: And not every character added is extremely important to the representation of a series.
Take Rosalina for example.

The only character arguably more Important than Rosalina is Toad & Bowser Jr., she's pretty Important, and also had more unique potential.

 

[Louie G.]

The only character arguably more Important than Rosalina is Toad & Bowser Jr., she's pretty Important, and also had more unique potential.

I didn't say she wasn't important, but Toad is definitely more important overall.

Impa doesn't have a huge armored knight blocking her way though

Which can very well be a Side B.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Sheik AND Phantom?

Please stop...

 

[Spire]

Toad is a better representative of the Super Mario series than Rosalina, no doubt, but she does incapsulate all things Galaxy and considering those were two of Nintendo's best games ever, with Galaxy 2 being the top rated game of all time (beating Ocarina for a while, if not permanently), over-repping it was not out of the question. Plus, Rosalina is being forced into every Mario game including Super Mario 3D World. There's no doubt EAD lobbied her into Smash. Her pros outweigh the cons, with +1 Female always being a pro. She's capable of incorporating as many Galaxy aspects as possible, whereas had she not made the roster, Mario and Luigi could have incorporated some Galaxy-inspired mechanics, but not enough to fully capture the essence of the series. Considering there were two games, not to mention the gratuitous influence it's had on other Mario games since, Rosalina just makes sense.

How this relates to Sheik and Impa, well... considering Rosalina is the second female Mario rep, Impa would be a true second female Zelda rep. While Zelda and Sheik are nearly separate characters, they are canonically the same entity. Impa would inherit and expand on Sheik's established moveset while incorporating Sheikah magic as displayed in Skyward Sword. SS was a rather big deal and a stage doesn't seem like representation enough. Currently, SS, OoT and ST are represented through stages. TP and WW are represented through characters. If Impa replaces Sheik, SS would also get repped in character. If Sheik returns, OoT would get repped in character. I honestly think OoT has had its time and getting a NEW stage is honorable enough. SS needs proper representation in both character and stage. Beyond that, Impa has been in the series since the very beginning. She is arguably the fourth most important Legend of Zelda character. Let's not forget it was Impa who taught young Zelda the ways of the Sheikah. She is a master Sheikah and would display the full potential of her race in a robust, magic-influenced stealth moveset.

I wholeheartedly love and support Impa and would be endlessly happy if she made it into Smash Bros.

Sheik AND Phantom?


Please stop...

This is counter-productive. Squirtle, Ivysaur, AND CHARIZARD? Yeah right! Waddle Dee, Waddle Doo, AND GORDO? No way, HAHAHAHA.

C'mon, get real.

 

[Frostwraith]

The Phantom does not invalidate Sheik. I don't know why are people jumping into baseless conclusions, but then again, it's Diddy Kong and his Impa propaganda machine. Misinterpreting and/or twisting information so it's favorable to your argument is a fallacy, you know...

 

[Diddy Kong]

Spire, I love reading your post you know that?

Frostwraith will be the maddest soon

 

[Louie G.]

I think that Sheik AND Impa have a chance, but Sheik has a leg up due to already being playable in Smash and being a staple to the series.
It's like Roy vs Chrom all over again, only Sheik is Roy and Impa is Chrom.

 

[TheTuninator]

People are reading way too much into this, especially given Sakurai's well-known penchant for taking deceptive screenshots.

Given the presence of the "summoning" animation in two separate places, one of which does not have the Knight, the likeliest explanation remains that the Knight exists separate from Zelda. It's possible that he is a move, but less likely. If he is a move, it's extremely unlikely that he's a Down-B, given that transformation has been Zelda's defining character trait for two games.

Claiming that we have definitive proof that Sheik has been cut, especially to be replaced by Impa, is borderline hysterical.

Also, Tingle is the likeliest Zelda newcomer, not Impa.

 

[Spire]

Spire, I love reading your post you know that?

Frostwraith will be the maddest soon

Yes, and that's because we may be the two most adamant Impa supporters on these forums. Some think we're crazy.


We are! But if Impa replaces Sheik, heed my words Sheik supporters: I won't be laughing in victory, I'll welcome you to the Impa circle with open arms and you will in time learn to love The Master.

 

[TheTuninator]

I'd really advise against sliding the hype train throttle to full based on such flimsy evidence. You guys are setting yourselves up for disappointment. Wait for Sakurai to discuss her moves a bit first.

 

[Ray_Kalm]

This argument and it looks much more like Zelda's neutral B or side B than the down B
This looks like the down B to me.

And here I thought that Zelda was about to summon a Dark Magician against the evil Malik Ishtar.

 

[GuyWithTheFace]

So I just took a look at the old Brawl site, and Sheik was revealed a good 6 months after Zelda. So I don't feel like the lack of showing Sheik means anything about what this knight is. I feel like it's an AT, given the fact that Zelda is shown doing the same animation in other pics, and Sheik is so iconic to the Smash Bros version of Zelda. It's her whole gimmick! There's no rule that says Sakurai can't show AT in character pages, you know. Especially now that the game is getting closer to release.

 

[TheTuninator]

The JoJo pose is most likely Fayore's Wind.

 

[Diddy Kong]

I'll accept formal apologies to. But yes, I'll welcome everyone with open arms to. As long as people can swallow their pride and admit they've been wrong in their attitude.

 

[Frostwraith]

Spire, I love reading your post you know that?

Frostwraith will be the maddest soon

Ain't even mad. I'm just reminding that people, you included, are jumping into conclusions too soon. That goes for either side: those who defend Phantom as a new move for Zelda and those who think he's an AT.

The absolute truth is: we know ****ing nothing other than a Phantom will be featured in this game. What role it plays, it is yet to be determined.

 

[TheTuninator]

I'll accept formal apologies to. But yes, I'll welcome everyone with open arms to. As long as people can swallow their pride and admit they've been wrong in their attitude.

I have nothing against Impa. People are just jumping to conclusions way too quickly and way too far, and I hate seeing people hype themselves up only to be disappointed.

 

[GameAngel64]

Maybe this doesn't tell us anything (or perhaps it's already been mentioned) but is the gold circle base the Phantom's standing on significant? It's hard to see the design from the angle of the image, but if it is similar to the base the assist trophies pop out of that might be telling.

 

[Fire Emblemier]

Maybe this doesn't tell us anything (or perhaps it's already been mentioned) but is the gold circle base the Phantom's standing on significant? It's hard to see the design from the angle of the image, but if it is similar to the base the assist trophies pop out of that might be telling.

That's part of the stage, I've seen it in other photos.

 

[Frostwraith]

I actually like the idea of the Phantom being her forward Smash.

 

[Diddy Kong]

It's not gonna be her F Smash.

 

[GuyWithTheFace]

It's not gonna be her F Smash.

There's just as much evidence to suggest it's an F-Smash, a down special, or an assist trophy. We're all going off gut feelings, really.

 

[Frostwraith]

It's not gonna be her F Smash.

Evidence? Oh right, you got nothing to prove that claim.

 

[TheTuninator]

I like the magic blast tilts and smashes. Replacing them with summons would be a great disappointment. Zelda's brutal strength in hand-to-hand combat is fantastic.

 

[GameAngel64]

That's part of the stage, I've seen it in other photos.

What about the elevated cement part? You can most easily see his right knee kneeling on it, makes it seem like the Phantom is atop some kind of "base."

 

[pitthekit]

Ugh whatever you all know Zelda will be crap tier cause sakurai will add some gimmicky thing to Zelda. Also can we have the old fat grandma cgi impa and not ss impa? Old people need representation too!

 

[RadRedi]

In all honesty, I feel like the best word to describe this topic is "irrational".

Seriously. We know VERY little about Zelda. Who's to say her move set is exactly the same as it was in Melee/Brawl? I mean, what reason is there to cut Sheik, a major character in Ocarina of Time? Is it because Oot came out years ago? Because, if I recall, that game was not only a definitive Zelda game (and video game, in general), but it was also remade for the 3DS not too long ago. Sheik is in the eye of the gaming community more so than pre-Brawl...when Zelda still had Sheik as a transformation, despite only being in one Zelda game.

And I think we shouldn't debunk the idea of the Phantom Guardian being an Assist Trophy. In Brawl, there were three Mario Assist Trophies (Lakitu & Spinies, Waluigi, and Hammer Bro.), so it's not unrealistic to have Skull Kid AND Phantom Guardian. And it isn't like we haven't gotten new info to coincide with confirmed characters before. Both Pikmin & Olimar and Sonic were announced alongside a stage that correlated with their franchise. Zelda being announced with an item from her same series wouldn't be terribly farfetched.

And I don't even know how Impa ties into all of this. I have nothing against Impa (sans the imagined idea that she and Sheik are fighting for a slot on the roster, when Sheik has obviously earned a spot, regardless of newcomers), but I don't understand the logic of Phantom Guardian Snapshot = Sheik is being cut and Impa making it in. This is nonsense.