One thing is for sure, you can probably eliminate minor Nintendo characters of a popular franchise like Goombella, or Zant, or Magikarp on a roster.
Never. Goombella 4 lyfe.
You know, I still want to know everyone's opinions on retros. I still do not know which would be the best. Takamaru, Lip, or Duck Hunt Dog? I'm not sure.
In Takamaru's favour;
+ obvious moveset
+ Nintendoland and Samurai Warriors 3 appearances.
+ Related to Zelda as Kid Icarus is to Metroid.
+ Popular retro request in the west, despite his game not arriving on international shores.
Against Takamaru;
- There's many other hopeful swordsmen newcomers, and whilst YES they all could be different, Takamaru's style doesn't seem as interesting as say Shulk, Isaac or Robin's. Roy does fire swords better and is highly requested in Japan.
- Not from an internationally released game. Nintendoland and Samurai Warriors 3 helped spread his awareness a bit though.
- Swordsmen with projectiles are not unique as many pretend they are. We have those in Link, Toon Link, Pit. Again; Isaac and Robin are also newcomer options for swordsmen with obvious projectile attacks.
- Ninja magic is often bought up, but is a skill Sheik has a monopoly on already.
In Lip's favour;
+ Panel De Pon has references everywhere within Smash.
+ Could easily have a unique moveset
+ Female. Not the be all and end all, but it does seem girls are getting more notice this time.
+ A puzzler fighter could lead to stage manipulation; lots of potential
Against Lip:
- The Lip's Stick item and Kirby's trash block stone transformation could mean Lip isn't required herself to rep Panel De Pon.
- Her game was repackaged as a Yoshi game, thus she isn't known very well in the west.
- Not as likely to appeal to the male demographic as Takamaru, or the nostalgia demographic as Duck Hunt Dog.
In Duck Hunt Dog's favour:
+ Actually known the world over unlike the other two even by non gamers(Takamaru and Lip are known by hardcore West Nintendo fans). The west even got his game.
+ Can represent light gun games
+ Would most likely have a creative moveset unlike any other character.
+ People can finally hit that smug mutt. Cathartic.
Against Duck Hunt Dog:
- Less requested by the west than the other two, despite being the only one we got the game of.
- moveset is less obvious than the other two so Sakurai will have to get creative.
- Possible BS about dog abuse from PETA(who to this point have not spotted the monkey and ape abuse, but whatever)
According to Chrono's findings, which admittedly might be out of date by now;
There are very little requests in Japan for retros, but when they do it's usually for Takamaru. One more plus to Takamaru.
Don't know if that helps, but those are the arguments for and against as I see it.
