Black Shadow chances:
0.42%
People wanted him to replace the current Ganondorf in order to take his moveset, and create a new moveset more fitting for a new Ganondorf. But since the later didn't get the hoped massive revamps, the demand for Black Shadow pretty much went downhill. At least he's famous for the "WATASHI NA SHINEN SHINENZU" so I'll give him that.
Black Shadow want:
1%
I don't have as much problem about Ganondorf's Smash portrayal compared to some people. I'm not saying it is perfect, in fact I'd change a few unfitting moves (most notably neutral air) and add some badass magic like him generating an energy ball between his hands then crushing it to generate a darkness explosion. But overall I don't have much problem with the obvious Falcon inspiration in Ganondorf's moveset; at least he's not that weird clone from Melee.
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Tetrimino's day finally came! I've waited for it for too long!
Tetrimino chances: 20% because of my bias
Tetrimino chances:
0.22%
Before you start to read the long wall of text that's coming I just want to say that I don't expect this character at all for SSB4 DLC. I have some hope for it as an SSB5 on-disk newcomer, if anything. Because I have so much to say about this character idea, I'll structure my chances explanation in three categories: why a Tetrimino can be considered as a deserving Smash contender, my counter-arguments to ideas against this character, and the actual hurdles it has to face before ending up to become an actual fighter in Super Smash Bros.
1. What makes Tetrimino Smash material?
As we all know, Super Smash Bros., in addition to being an awesome fighter-platformer hybrid, is pretty much Nintendo's museum and a giant love letter to its history. In order to add some awesomeness, it even allowed third-party contents to be represented since Brawl! However, due to the fact Super Smash Bros. is primarily a massive Nintendo crossover, it won't let third-party characters get in willy-nilly, and as such only some of the most recognizable ones with standing-out relevance to Nintendo's history can hope to have a shot. For example, Sonic in Smash seems perfectly natural considering how much of a big deal the Mario-Sonic rivalry was before the Gamecube era, then he started to have his series appearing consistently on Nintendo consoles, not to mention Sonic himself is a popular culture icon; as such, Sonic being third-party is pretty much a non-issue when it comes to him warranting a spot in Smash.
Tetris is pretty much in a similar position when you think about it. It's a massively popular game known by pretty much everyone and which most people who are familiar with video games played at least once in their lives. The series sold pretty close to 150 million units worldwide, and the Game Boy version itself sold more than 30 million! Not to mention, this game was a huge deal at its time, as it was a system seller for the Game Boy and helped making Nintendo the unmatched leader of the handheld gaming market they're still today. It also inspired many Nintendo franchises such as Wario's Woods, Panel de Pon and Dr. Mario. As such, it's easy to understand why Tetris is such a big deal for Nintendo, and you can't say it doesn't warrant playable representation in Smash Bros. just because it is third-party. Tetris is such a famous series with huge legacy that whenever you see a geometrical form made of four squares, you can't help but think about a Tetris piece; as such, all the different blocks used in the game are easily recognized as gaming icons, and a playable Tetrimino would truly represent a huge part of Nintendo's history.
As far as creating a Smash fighter from a Tetris piece goes, it will require some very inspired creativity, like the one which gave us the Ice Climbers and the Duck Hunt Duo. Fortunately, there are enough elements from the source material to imagine some unique ideas, and possible creative liberties that would put emphasis on this character's uniqueness:
- include a shape-changing mechanic based on switching Tetrimino's current shape with another as well as rotating, in order to change its hitbox and hurtbox properties; it makes perfect sense to represent all the iconic shapes from Tetris and considering it's just a rearrangement of its body without altering most of its moves's original properties rather than arbitrary transformations like Zelda/Sheik;
- include moves that specifically take advantage of Tetrimino's current shape, like a "blocks stair" up B (to represent the simple but obvious block superposition mechanic), or generating and throwing small Tetris pieces on the stage taking its shape from the user's current one in order to complete lines and be rewarded by a powerful attack by completing one, or projecting its current shape for Smash attacks if we're looking for creative liberties highlighting the character's uniqueness;
- fast drop mechanic as a down aerial;
- various references to the Game Boy version of Tetris, the one that was the most influent for Nintendo, and the historically most fondly remembered one, such as
a transformation into a space shuttle as a Final Smash, or taunts and victory screen involving sprites of Russian dancers and musicians as well as other sounds effects from Tetris, etc.
Just because you're not some mage with magic elemental powers from a RPG doesn't mean you don't have moveset potential. Sure, many of Tetrimino's moves would inevitably be created from scratch, but there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you're unique and inspired.
2. Let's debunk some arguments about why Tetrimino shouldn't be playable!
>
Tetris is a third-party series! It is not owned by Nintendo!
Yes, I acknowledge this. But so do four characters currently playable in SSB4. They all had a notable influence on Nintendo as a whole and are all famous, timeless gaming icons. I know we're often rating third-party nobodies who can't compare with these in the slightest, but Tetrimino is not one of them. Tetris is a juggernaut franchise when it comes to its historical influence and a Tetris block has absolutely no fame to envy from these four guys.
>
B-but no moveset potential!
Well I suppose you're one of these people who think anyone who doesn't come from an action-heavy or RPG game with a massive offensive arsenal at their disposal screaming "MUH MOVESET POTENTIAL PUT ME IN SMAHS!!!!1!1!!" should be ignored because it makes you struggle to imagine a moveset for them. You think whenever a character gets a move in Smash Bros. they don't personally use in the source material it's a crime that absolutely needs to be fixed (looking at you Ganondorf). Yet you love Captain Falcon and his "Falcon Punch!!" and "Show me your moves!" and you're begging Sakurai to find a way to bring the Ice Climbers back as DLC.
Well, of course the paragraph above is parodic, I had no intention to offense anyone. But I've already talked about some ideas that could make a Tetrimino a unique and inspired fighter. Unless Sakurai isn't as inspired as me for a Tetrimino moveset, "no moveset potential" is pretty much a non-issue.
>
Tetris is not relevant!
Wait, seriously? You're saying that the most well-known puzzle game of all times which had a massive influence on Nintendo as a whole isn't "relevant"? Just because it didn't have much influence recently compared to the late 80s/early 90s doesn't mean its relevance is dead. If anything, Tetris had proven itself to stand the test of time; the game and its blocks are still as iconic as ever. No seriously, this unholy "MUH RELEVANCE RECENCY!!!!1!1!!" mentality needs to die.
>
It's a freaking Tetris block! It's not even a character!
I smelt this one coming from miles away. I agree that those pieces as you generally see them in Tetris games are not actual characters, but that doesn't mean we can't establish a character from a Tetris block. And regardless, Smash helping characters to establish themselves is not unprecedented. It helped to establish as actual characters a black LCD shape vaguely looking like a human, a real-life game controller that looks like a robot (which becomes an actual robot in Smash), and your average fantasy "create your avatar" guy. Is it too hard to ask to create a living 3D Tetrimino with cartoony eyes plus tiny arms appearing whenever needed (like to grab an item)? Besides, Tetrimino's main characteristic is that it's a geometrical shape made of four squares, and adding needed eyes and arms to make it viable from a design standpoint is not going to break what a Tetrimino is at its core. At least not more than making a duck the duck hunt dog's best friend for example.
>
It's a stupid idea which has no reason to be in the game except for shock value!
Okay I'll admit part of me wants to see the internet shocked by this reveal, but besides that, the main reasons why I want a playable Tetrimino are completely rational and justified. The potential creativity offered by the idea greatly interests me, and I'd be down with a such important series getting playable representation in Smash. Besides, characters are never chosen solely for their shock value; while I suppose Mr. Game & Watch and Duck Hunt may have surprised more than one people and made them think "WTF?" they're now fully established part of Super Smash Bros. and now everyone loves them and understand why they make sense as playable characters. The same will happen for Tetrimino: people will be shocked at first, but they'll start to bandwagon about how unique its moveset will be, will eventually understand why it makes perfect sense, and this character will on the long run be as beloved as Mr. Game & Watch.
>
I don't want this character!
Okay, I'll not try to debunk that. (Unless you had some doubts about this idea and were finally convinced by what I said above, but that's another story.) You may not want this character because you think it is too far-fetched, because it doesn't interest you, or because you don't want a Tetris block turned into a character? I have no issue with it and I'm not going to force you to change your opinion.
3. Why Tetrimino isn't likely as a Smash DLC newcomer...
Tetris has a great, standing-out history with Nintendo and is on part with other third-party series with playable representation in Smash when it comes to fame. But that doesn't mean a Tetrimino is a likely newcomer. First, Tetris is neither owned by Sega, Capcom or Namco, which means Nintendo will have to negotiate the rights with yet another party, The Tetris Company. Also, is Sakurai interested in the idea? I thought about giving Tetrimino a shape-changing mechanic, as I think it's not only a way to make it a unique fighter, but also the best way to do it justice, but will Sakurai be as interested as I am? He's the guy who called Pac-Man "ridiculous" during Brawl times after all, thinking about his pizza shape, and I have a feeling he may think the same about a Tetris block. And if he's interested, will The Tetris Company be okay about a Tetris block as a playable character in a fighting game? They're rather strict about how the Tetris brand is used after all; for example, they have a planned set of color for each piece and they usually won't accept another color for each of them (for example, the L-Tetrimino is always going to be orange).
Even though most people acknowledge Tetris' importance towards Nintendo's history, there's admittedly not much serious and vocal demand for a Tetrimino as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. In fact, this character is mostly mentioned as a joke option in the Smash fandom, because of stigmas like "no moveset potential" or "it's not a character".
Despite Tetris' profile which makes it on par with other third-party series with a fighter in SSB4 when it comes to fame and historical Nintendo relevance, those issues are a big deal and make a Tetrimino as a DLC newcomer a pipe dream to be honest.
Tetrimino want:
100%
YES. ALL OF MY YES. MY MOST WANTED CHARACTER FOR DLC!
I have a long history with Tetris. The first time I ever touched this game, I believe, was when my older sister came from middle school with an handheld gaming system with many pre-installed blocks-based games such as Snake or Tetris, and I loved it. In fact, she assembled it as part of her technology courses. Later I assembled mine, the same one, in technology courses as well, and that's for best because I believe my older sister's didn't work anymore. This gaming system really made me attached to these simple, yet addicting games.
Many years later, actually less than one year ago, I found that a friend of mine owned a Game Boy and its version of Tetris. It was so great to rediscover this game I haven't touched since forever! Then I learned about how Tetris was a big deal for Nintendo's history, and as crazy at it sounds it made me wonder if a Tetris piece could be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. From scratch, I've managed to find some ideas for a Tetrimino moveset, at the point it actully really made me want to see it as a playable character! And when Nintendo announced that the Game Boy version of Tetris was going to be removed from the eShop, I quickly bought it before it vanished, and playing it again and again increased my want to see a playable Tetrimino in Smash. As much as getting two Tetris remixes from Brawl is awesome, this game deserves more.
This is something I have little faith into actually happening, but I swear if it is revealed through a live stream like a Nintendo Direct I'm going to have a reaction similar to Etika's to Mewtwo.
If you want you can visit the support thread; learn more about Tetris' history and Tetrimino's moveset potential!
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Style Savvy character prediction:
4.28%
A shot in the dark, though I believe it's a rather niche suggestion.
Azura prediction:
2.94%
Moar Fire Emblem but she has MUH RELEVANCE RECENCY!!!!1!1!!
Nominating:
Concept: DLC adventure mode x2
Concept: unpopular DLC character x2
(Rerate) Playable newcomer: Rayman x1
@
Aetheri
@
BluePikmin11 I'm helping you to nominate your concepts, I think it may be interesting to rate them before the August Direct inevitably happens.
just kidding. Maybe next time.
![[Obnoxshush/Dasshizer]](/data/avatars/l/267/267037.jpg?1450250857){kind=avatar}
