A hipster
Chance: 7%
GTA has most of the qualities you'd want in a franchise that's a candidate for Smash. It's popular, relevant, iconic, influential, and has been on Nintendo consoles. GTA V in particular has done very well in Japan and I hear its online component is quite popular over there. This (and V's status as the most lucrative entertainment product of all time) lends credence to the idea that if GTA got a rep, it would be from that game. V is the first GTA with multiple protagonists, and it's very hard to argue for any of them being the definitive protagonist. Michael is the one the story's about and the one with the most personal stakes, Franklin's the POV character and the one who makes the decision between the three endings, and Trevor's the most advertised and the character that was designed to fit with how players actually play GTA. With how popular and recognizable he became, and his larger than life personality, Trevor is one of the few characters I could see repping GTA solo (the other being CJ).
However I don't really expect GTA to get a solo rep if it were to join Smash, it's almost guaranteed to be a Hero deal. Despite there being differences in demeanor, armament and mechanics between player characters, it's no more different than in Dragon Quest and they still did the thing there. Trevor would still be a must-have in that scenario, but I wonder... Most other GTA protagonists would require at most different voicelines, but Trevor has a very distinct, animalistic, insane way of moving and attacking. I wouldn't go as far as to call it impossible that they can manage to craft a moveset that looks right on him. But I am struggling to imagine it.
Another thing to consider is the issue with licensing likeness and voice acting. Trevor is, after all, voiced by and modeled after an actor, Steven Ogg, who's been quite busy after GTA (I think he's on Better Call Saul now). Still, he and the other V protagonists are super game about anything related to their roles, they make appearances in conventions and give interviews about them and all that jazz. It's certainly better than CJ and Niko whose VAs had a falling out with Rockstar, or Tommy who's voiced by freaking Ray Liotta (though imagine him fighting Mario holy ****). The only character that wouldn't have to deal with VA problems is Claude (and I guess Huang but he's not getting in), and I don't think Claude would get in solo so I guess it's a mandatory issue to solve and doesn't hurt Trevor's chances.
Want: 90%
Is Trevor my favorite GTA protagonist? Not by a longshot, that would probably go to either Vic, Luis or Huang. Honestly he's probably low on the list solely for killing Johnny. However, Trevor is freaking hilarious and an awesome character. He's the personification of GTA, a maniacal killer, unapologetically provocative and controversial, who hides deep issues and pain behind a veneer of madness. The moment Trevor drives up to Los Santos, and swears he'll find Michael as he overlooks the city? That's gold.
Honestly though if we got GTA in Smash I'd take anyone. I'd be hyped for freaking Claude Speed from 2.
Noms: Todd Mother****ing Snap x10
Lees prediction: 11.27%
Megadoomer
