Semantics? No, that's not what's happening at all. Lucario wasn't intended to replace Mewtwo as they were planned alongside each other and Lucario doesn't take anything from Mewtwo and every similarity is skin deep. There is no reason to believe Lucario replaced Mewtwo.
Mewtwo alone in Melee was replaced by "both" in brawl which was subsequently replaced by Lucario alone in Brawl. In that sense, mewtwo was inevitably replaced by Lucario.
It's semantics over the word replace.
I don't agree with what you're saying because Mewtwo and Lucario share maybe...3 moves. Maybe less. Sure, they're both bipedal and such, but really, the fact that Mewtwo was rather far along, the SSE taking up to 70% of the development time, and the addition of Sonic, I'd say that it's fair to make the assumption they were going to be in the game together.
I agree they were planned to be together. I'm looking at this in terms of concepts/looks/ "how it seems", which appeals more to the bulk/casual audience, and less in terms of movesets or playstyle, which becomes more important as you take it more seriously.
If the "niche" thing is such a problem, then why have Mario and Luigi? ZSS and Sheik? It's a claim that doesn't have nearly as much to work off of as the defending Mewtwo arguments do.
We have to have both Mario Bros. It's the Nintendo franchise, and they are always together.
I don't think ZSS and Sheik are a good comparison, because while they share the "alternate" and "female + unknown" concept, that's about it. More athleticism perhaps. Alongside that, I feel they're necessary if we're going to have Zelda or Samus (Sheik more so in 2001,) and I feel having both Zelda and Samus are necessary.
I think a better example is Ness & Lucas. To be honest, I really don't think we should have both of them, for the niche reason.
Jeez, that's enough. Mewtwo was cut to time constraints plain and simple. Just please stop this nonsense
We all agree that "cuts happened because of time constraints." The question is, "Why Mewtwo as opposed to, Ike, or Zero Suit Samus, or Wolf?"
They aren't clones of one another.
Not in sense of playstyle, moveset, or mechanics, no. But yes in terms of concept. Even if Luigi was completely "decloned" from Mario, he would remain a "conceptual clone," as he's still a "Mario Brother."
Should also note that they share a second-jump.
![Stick Out Tongue :p :p](/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/tongue.gif)
Recovery move is same concept "go form one place to another immediately," but the means is different (teleport vs super-fast,) but at that point we're really pushing it.[/quote]