I would not read
anything into the inclusion of Hip Tanaka (the composer for Dr. Mario) in today's music update regarding Dr. Mario's chances.
First of all, Dr. Mario music is almost assured of appearing regardless of whether Dr. Mario is playable. But just as importantly, look at
the illustrious list of old school Nintendo games Tanaka has composed for. He's contributed to Metroid, Mario, DK, Kid Icarus, Earthbound, Stack Up+Gyromite and Tetris. He even was the composer for Duck Hunt and contributed to Famicom Wars, while we're reading into things.
But while we're on the subject of him, I'ma link to this awesome Super Mario Land medley he composed as a tribute to long-time Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi when he passed away:
Ignore the fact that it has a Metroid picture instead...
Also that song hits you right in the feels at about 0:40... Or maybe you have to have played Super Mario Land as a kid...
Anywho!
Lana
Let's get this out of the way first.
Lana chances: 0%
She's of no import to Zelda and she wasn't even designed by the Zelda team. She's definitely behind Impa, Tetra, Toon Zelda, Vaati, Pig Ganon and Toon Ganondorf in the line for Zelda reps.
Lana want: 0%
I do not like her design. I can't explain it, but she does not feel particularly "Zelda" to me. She looks too kawaii/
generic anime or something. The same thing applies, to a lesser extent, to the three original villains. They did a good job with adapting the Zelda characters themselves though... I also hope we haven't heard the English voice acting for HW, because I dislike the super-high pitched thing they do with Japanese female voices. I know it's their culture*, but to my American ears it's just grating.
*Just in case anyone is wondering, Japanese women do not have inherently higher voices than other ethnicities, it is due to their strict gender roles. Japanese females will often drop the squeaky voice when talking amongst themselves or outside formal "polite" situations.
Dr. Mario
I think the leak is fairly convincing, but one thing that has me thinking maybe less so is the inclusion of the MGS composer on the music list. The leak says Snake is cut. But that composer has no connection to Nintendo other than Brawl. And her
one contribution to Brawl was a Metal Gear song. She could be arranging music from another series, of course, but she is the strongest hint we've had towards Snake so far.
Even so, the leak is fairly convincing.
Dr. Mario chances:
Playable: 60%
Alt: 30%
Dr. Mario want:
Playable: 55%
I liked playing as him better than as Mario... though really the improvements he has over Mario could easily just be incorporated into Mario's move set.
Alt: 100%
This is a perfect position for him.
Predictions:
Cia: 0.01%
Groose representation: 98% (I assume a trophy counts... would Groose's theme being in something count too?)
Four or more 3rd parties: 33.4%
I base this almost entirely on Snake.
Nominations:
Duck Hunt Dog x5