The existence of a cut character in Super Smash Bros. 64 was recently rediscovered. Turns out an archived issue of Japanese gaming magazine The 64DREAM had an interview with Sakurai. In it he talks about the cut character, Clefairy from the Pokémon series.
Clefairy was planned to be a hidden character. All of Smash 64’s hidden characters were chosen because they can reuse assets, which was also the plan for Clefairy. The choice for which Pokémon could reuse assets from Kirby was between Jigglypuff and Clefairy. The former won out in the end because Sakurai thought Jigglypuff could bring a more interesting fighter concept. Clefairy still appears in Smash 64 as a Pokémon who can be summoned via the Poke Ball item.
Source Gaming recently made a video on the topic, please give it a look:
Edit: Despite being miraculously obscure until Source Gaming's video Smash Wiki actually had this tidbit of information on it since January of this year. Yes, really, the entire time!
Author’s Note: You guys remember that one episode of the Pokémon anime where Jigglypuff slapped a bunch of Clefairies? That kinda feels like an unintentional allegory for Clefairy getting cut from Smash 64 in favor of Jigglypuff. If it had been the other way around, what do you think Clefairy’s moveset would have been like? As always, let us know in the comments below!
Credits:
Writing: Perkilator
Thumbnail Graphic and Editing: Zerp
Special Thanks: Source Gaming, Smash Wiki and GoldenYuiitusin
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