"Another Smash game? And you didn't invite me?
Can't let you do that, Sakurai!"
-♪-
Wolf
Chance: 80%
I'm surprised it took us almost two weeks to get to him. That last of the "new Big Three" along with Mewtwo and Lucas, Wolf is the last of them not to be announced as DLC. The fans made their disappointment clear when they found he missed the initial cut this time around...which is kind of funny, considering how
poorly received he was when he was first discovered in Brawl and the fans made their dislike clear of getting another semi-clone of Fox.
Regardless of the reason, this time around it looks like
he has a better chance right now than anyone. In every single poll he's in the top five (Usually in the top
three!), with a dedicated following that hopes he returns. Being a Brawl veteran means he has a moveset already made that only needs to be re-coded and tweaked. He wouldn't get vetoed for feeling redundant, either. Semi-clone Lucas got in, and
Wolf is less of a Fox clone than Falco is, and there're some arguments that he isn't even a semi-clone.
And then there's the elephant in the room...or should I say the fox in the spaceship? The most likely reason Wolf was left off to begin with was
the Star Fox series' dormant state when development began. He was less of a priority than, say, Bowser Jr., and as such his home series' fall from relevance made him expendable. But now Star Fox is making a triumphant return this fall,
setting up the perfect opportunity for a "look who's relevant again" reveal this E3 and subsequent release near when the new game comes out.
However...I can't rule out something unpredictable happening.
Didn't we learn last July not to speak in absolutes? We never truly know what's going on over in wherever in Japan the dev team sets up base, and we could still get caught completely off guard with their next move. Something could still happen to take Wolf out of the running, something we're not aware of yet, and because of that I can't rate him any higher.
Besides...a 4-in-5 chance is still pretty damn good.
Want: 40%
I have mixed feelings about him. On one hand, he's less of a clone than Falco is, and I can see the appeal in how he fights. He has the kind of brutal, visceral attacks that feel really satisfying to use. On the other, I'm still a bigger fan of unique characters than even fringe clones, and there's a certain other Star Fox character I'm more invested in.
Just saying, though...there's nothing stopping them
both from getting in.
Shovel Knight Prediction: 12.00%
He's better known than his counterpart Shantae and has a larger following, but he still hasn't been around for long and doesn't have that iconic status. That'll hurt him.
Nominations: Sceptile x5
By the way, you know the move Energy Ball? The really cool looking one you have to use a TM to put on most mons? Did you know the Treecko line is one of only a few to learn it naturally?