Smashboards Creates: Battle of AGES, a SEGA platform fighter

[Flyboy]

Spoiler: Shin Megami Tensei capsule toys

Protagonist (Shin Megami Tensei)

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
• System Debut: SNES

Sometimes known as Kazuya, this young student sees himself the unwitting cause of a great disaster that transformed the world into an apocalyptic wasteland after using a mysterious program called the Demon Summoning Program. Following the opening of a portal to the abyss, the protagonist and his companions get caught in the middle of a war between humans, gods, and monsters, culminating in what is known as the Great Cataclysm. In order to repair the Great Cataclysm, the hero has to weigh the morality of the various factions and their philosophies and guide the world to a better tomorrow.

Heroine (Shin Megami Tensei)

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
• System Debut: SNES

Sometimes known as Yuka, she is the leader of an underground resistance movement formed after demons begin appearing in Tokyo. Before the Great Cataclysm she uses her spiritual powers to save the protagonist and his companions from death, though she herself is killed when nuclear weapons are dropped on Japan. When the protagonist and his companions awake after the Cataclysm she is reincarnated, and the protagonist frees her mind from demonic control to bring her consciousness back to reality.

Pascal

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
• System Debut: SNES

A fearless canine companion belonging to Shin Megami Tensei's protagonist. Pascal starts as a normal dog, but following the events of the Great Cataclysm that sees the world ruined, Pascal fuses with a demon and becomes a fierce cerberus. Pascal would wander the wastes for years after, often finding new masters and new places to call home.

Chaos Hero

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
• System Debut: SNES

Also known as Takeshi, he is a believer in the end-times following the opening of the demon portal in Tokyo. He joins the protagonist in order to stop a public execution of an underground resistance group's leader, an act which lead to his life being saved during the events of what would eventually become known as the Great Cataclysm. He is a believer in swift justice and vindication, a moral difference between the protagonist's faction and his own.

Law Hero

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
• System Debut: SNES

A noble warrior also called Yuji who meets the protagonist after being arrested for trying to save his girlfriend from a case of mistaken identity. Grateful for the protagonist's help, he allies with him to stop the public execution of a resistance leader and is saved during the events of the Great Cataclysm. Following the disaster, he teams with the protagonist again to attempt to reunite with his girlfriend once more.

Jonathan

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
• System Debut: Nintendo 3DS

One of Flynn's companions and a man of the cloth, Johnathan is a gentle man but guided by a fierce sense of justice. He often engages Walter in debate, and is quick to strike down any demons who cross his path. His goal is to create a world free of impurity, his own desire being to protect humanity no matter the cost.

Isabeau

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
• System Debut: Nintendo 3DS

One of Flynn's companions and a strong-minded lover of literature, Isabeau puts on a stoic front that hides her deep love of people. Often accused of being passive and neutral, Isabeau stands against what she feels is morally wrong and is unafraid to take drastic measures in order to stop the pain of others. Together with Flynn she wishes to see mankind march towards a hopeful, if messy, future.

Walter

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
• System Debut: Nintendo 3DS

A samurai and one of Flynn's companions, Walter comes from a family of fishermen. He is blunt and rash, which leads to a clash of ideals between him and Jonathan. Walter loves adventure but his pursuit of power often comes at the cost of his own safety. His goal is to see a world ruled by the strong, though to his mind selflessness and sacrifice are traits only the strongest possess.

Navarre

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
• System Debut: Nintendo 3DS

Navarre is an arrogant samurai tasked with defeating the demons that plague the world of Shin Megami Tensei IV. He dislikes Flynn and his party, seeing them as rivals to his faction, though he eventually moves to begrudgingly respect Flynn for his more noble aspects. In the alternate universe depicted in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, Navarre accidentally drowns and becomes a ghost that Nanashi befriends.

Nanashi

• Series: Shin Megami Tensei
• First Appearance: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (2016)
• System Debut: Nintendo 3DS

The protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, which takes place in an alternate timeline to SMT4, this young cadet is still learning what it means to be a demon hunter. The god Dagda enters into a contract with this nameless hunter, and as such the boy is blessed with the ability to form a pact with the supernatural. His abilities to see ghosts and use demonic abilities can come in handy during a fight.

Spoiler: Persona Capsule Toys

JOKER (Persona 2)

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

Do you want to play the Joker Game? Just call this number, make your wish, and...
After the events of Persona 2: Innocent Sin, the Joker game went by the wayside, but the rumor of a mysterious figure that calls you to grant your wish persisted. This Joker, however, doesn't simply turn urban legends and rumors into reality or grant you wealth and popularity...this Joker has a much more sinister bent as a contracted hitman who will take out anyone you ask him to. Do you believe he's real?

Katsuya Suou

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

A tough and honest cop and the older brother of Tatsuya Suou, he may come off as harsh to his little brother but to his friend Maya he is seen as noble and caring if a little closed-off. He is no-nonsense, which leads to he and Baofu butting heads, but he is quick-thinking in a crisis and rather rugged as well. Eventually he learns to see eye-to-eye with his little brother, promising to protect him.

Ulala Serizawa

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

A lingerie saleswoman and Maya Amano's roommate, Ulala is a loud punk-ish woman who uses her alternative fashion to express herself and stand out in the world. That said, she suffers from self-esteem issues, often going on dates to try and counteract them but ultimately growing resentful of Maya's success. After Maya confronts the darkness in her heart with Igor's help, she and Ulala become best friends.

Baofu

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

A shady rumormonger known only by his codename who operates on the dark web. While Tatsuya only knows him for his gossip, Maya becomes attached to him as the two investigate the JOKER case with Katsuya. He claims he's from Taiwan, though his Japanese is as fluent as a native's, and he seems to have much more stake in the case than he initially lets on...

Akari Hoshi

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

A spirited young girl who believes herself to be the reincarnation of an ancient Mayan warrior. She is a cosplayer who makes her own props, including a papier-mache sword she uses to attack. She joins a cult called the Masked Circle in order to fulfill her perceived destiny and slow Tatsuya and his friends down, though she is ultimately unsuccessful. Maya rescues her from her delusions by getting her to safety, and she vows to become a manga artist and to spread stories of heroes into the world.

Nyarlathotep (Great Father)

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

God of chaos, embodiment of evil, and father of lies throughout the ages, Nyarlathotep appears in the form of various deceased individuals after rumors of their continued life spread among the city. Though a similar demon has appeared in other games and in Shin Megami Tensei as a whole, this particular form of the chaos god appears as the Great Father, an embodiment of parental neglect and abuse.

Rumormonger Nekomata

• Series: Persona
• First Appearance: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)/Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation

In the world of Persona 2, rumors become reality, and what better way to get and spread gossip than by going to your local rumormonger? This particular rumormonger lives in the back room of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency and is the popular demon cat from across the series herself, Nekomata! She only opens the door in Eternal Punishment, though she is known to tease players in Innocent Sin. You can trust her with your secrets, meow!

Also, I know you said ten, but there were some gaps I thought needed filling and I'm a horrible completionist...so I hope this is okay.

Spoiler: Some extra Yakuza capsules

Osamu Kashiwagi

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza (2005)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 2

A stern and wholly-honorable Yakuza and former captain of the Kazama Family, the family that Kiryu's father figure lead. Kashiwagi would later become the right-hand of the Tojo Clan, assisting Daigo Dojima in his duties as chairman and running various projects for the Family. Following a mysterious incident, Kashiwagi would lay low for years before eventually opening a bar in Isezaki Ijincho where he lives a quiet life.

Kaoru Sayama

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 2 (2006)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 2

A tough lady cop who is assigned to keep an eye on Kiryu one year after the events involving Akira Nishikiyama. She is known as the Yakuza Huntress due to her ability to crack even the most hardened criminal and in a fight her close-quarters combat is disciplined and fearsome. Though she initially distrusts Kiryu because of his connection to the Tojo Clan, throughout the events of Yakuza 2 she learns about herself and about him. Unfortunately, an overseas assignment means that their love is not meant to be, and the two agree to go their own separate ways.

Shigeru Nakahara

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 3 (2009)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3

A gruff middle-aged man and leader of Okinawa's Ryudo family. Though Kiryu starts off on the wrong foot with him as he threatens the Dragon of Dojima's orphanage, the two become fast friends after Kiryu rescues his surrogate daughter from her abusive biological mother. Together they perform the sake cup ritual and become sworn brothers.

Rikiya Shimabukuro

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 3 (2009)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3

A young punk and lieutenant of Okinawa's Ryudo Family, Rikiya starts off trying to threaten Kiryu and the land his orphanage sits on. However, after Kiryu helps rescue Saki, Rikiya swears loyalty to the former Fourth Chairman and fights by his side. He is rough around the edges but is respected by his community, many of whom have known him since he was a boy. He believes that a good yakuza stands up for his hometown.

Mikio Aragaki

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 3 (2009)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3

A young punk and member of Okinawa's Ryudo Family, Mikio starts off trying to threaten Kiryu and the land his orphanage sits on. However, after Kiryu does a favor for the boss, he offers his loyalty to the former Fourth Chairman. He is a skilled carpenter who works on repairs for the Morning Glory orphanage and has good rapport with the children who live there, and while his family doesn't approve of his yakuza ties he still is seen as a good kid by his community.

Saki

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 3 (2009)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3

A mute young girl who communicates with drawings in her sketchbook. She is the adoptive daughter of the Ryudo Family's patriarch, Shigeru Nagahara, and Kiryu has to rescue her after she is kidnapped by her biological mother. She has a photographic memory and a talent for drawing faces, and it's one of her drawings that kicks off one of Yakuza 3's central mysteries.

Hiroki Awano

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 0 (2015)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3/Sony PlayStation 4

The 1980s saw the rise of the Dojima Family in the Tojo Clan and spearheading that rise was lieutenant Awano. While other Yakuza believe in honor and tradition, Awano believes in the almighty yen and flashing his status as top brass. He is a career man who wants to live the good life and drive a nice car, and it's this ideological difference that leads to him clashing with a young Kazuma Kiryu.

Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza 0)

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Yakuza 0 (2015)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3/Sony PlayStation 4

Before he was the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu was a chinpira stuck in a scandal way above his pay grade. Being framed for a murder taking place on a politically-important piece of land lead to Kiryu's excommunication from the Yakuza as he worked to clear his name and dove headfirst into a web of lies and conspiracies that went all the way to the top. As a young gun, Kiryu is cockier, less mature, and quicker to anger, but the events during the saga of the Empty Lot would shape him into the man he is today. This is also where he first showed off his various fighting styles!

Miyamoto Musashi

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3

There are whispers of a legendary swordsman that existed in Japan around the 1600s. This swordsman was sent on a mission to execute whom he thought was a traitor to his camp, but he would soon learn that he was responsible for the death of the eldest son of the Tokugawa family. Fearing for his life, Musashi goes into hiding only to be confronted by an assassin he manages to fight and defeat, but not before losing his best friend. In his grief he became a wanderer, eventually meeting a mysterious monk who would bestow on him a new name: Kiryu Kazumanosuke.

Sakamoto Ryoma

• Series: Yakuza
• First Appearance: Ryo ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014)
• System Debut: Sony PlayStation 3/Sony PlayStation 4

Born in ancient Tosa province and trained as a low-ranked samurai, Ryoma would soon prove his worth as a swordsman and had a bright future ahead of him. However, fate would have other plans, as he would take the fall for the death of his mentor and later join the Shinsengumi under the assumed name Saito Hajime. Despite the hardships he faced, Ryoma would never lose sight of his goal, always aiming to find the true culprit and clear his name.

 

[Speed Weed]

Also, I know you said ten, but there were some gaps I thought needed filling and I'm a horrible completionist...so I hope this is okay.

Oh yeah it's fine I gave everyone a second round of stuff to submit

 

[Speed Weed]

Reminder that submissions for series to give a second stage to are still open

Also collectible submissions will likely (finally) close tomorrow. I would say we've pretty much covered our bases at this point, only thing I'd point out is that I do think we're a bit low on Persona artwork compared to the other series we've worked on at this point, but yeah it should be coming to an end tomorrow

 

[OrpheusTelos]

S’more Persona arts:

Spoiler

• Think Positive
• Series: Persona
• Source: Persona 2: Eternal Punishment PSP boxart

• Soul Phase
• Series: Persona
• Source: Persona 3 Portable boxart

• Memento Mori
• Series: Persona
• Source: Persona 3 promo art

• The Phantom Strikers
• Series: Persona
• Origin: Persona 5 Strikers promo art

 

[Flyboy]

Job 194: Shin Megami Tensei

Our current SMT stage is awesome, but it specifically tied to Raidou, and SMT is a franchise with a lot of really cool games with unique aesthetics. Whether it's an apocalyptic Tokyo a la the original SMT or Nocturne, frozen districts from SMTV, the worlds of Soul Hackers, or my personal stage idea, The Yamato Perpetual Reactor from SMT4, I think there's a wealth of cool content to mine from this series.

(Full disclosure, I'm probably going to go for Persona personally because when I made the tracklist for Casino of Lust I thought we'd be having a lot more second-stage jobs than we actually ended up having...so that's on me, and a Velvet Room stage would be great. But I do think there is a ton of room in this game for extra stages to really represent a lot of parts of a series that we may not have repped yet)

 

[Megadoomer]

Persona art:

Spoiler

Wild Cards
Source: Persona 25th Anniversary

Spoiler

Ultimax
Source: Persona 4 Arena Ultimax box art

Spoiler

The Ultimate Ultra Suplex Hold
Source: Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

Spoiler

Take Your Heart
Source: Persona 5

Hopefully these are okay; presumably, the first one wouldn't have Japanese text on it, but I can't find a version without it, at least through Google's image search.

 

[PuyoWitch]

Honestly, we have some great stages for a majority of these already, and I think the ones that make the most sense right now are all nominated at this point, but I am gonna just throw one out here that I'd like in the running:

Valkyria

Yes, I know we just did a second rep, and I don't think the franchise will be hurting for representation, so I'm not gonna be hurtin' for more content, but I think it's at least worth putting its name into the mix here. In all fairness to the original stage, it was created with the idea that it is the 'Selvaria' stage. I know it's not the biggest franchise, but I just think it's got some really cool locations and maps. Generally speaking, most fights tend to have some kind of a gimmick you could incorporate into a stage idea like "you lose sight of the enemy due to the desert". You could do a stage based on the GIANT HELL TANK fight in the desert ruins in 1, or the war happening in the snow while an avalanche is about to hit in 4. Even Valkyria Revolution has literally nothing but cool locations in it, it's just a bad game, but everything looks really pretty. Maybe you can even give parts of the stage areas little boost areas that give you stat buffs based on the potential system that the franchise has.

 

[Champion of Hyrule]

For a second stage I’ll submit Yakuza since while millenium tower was a good stage, I think it would be a good idea to also include a setting in an actual city, which yakuza is known for

(I know I probably shouldn’t say this in a submission for something else but I definitely feel like virtua fighter should get the second stage from this lol)

 

[Speed Weed]

Alright, collectible submissions are closing down! Thanks for the submissions, and look forward to the next one of these.

Also there are a lot of series on the table for our current job and we're doing 3 of them so I'm allowing everyone a second submission

 

[Deleted member]

Streets of Rage
A lot of locations here, we could even go with something from Streets of Rage 4.

 

[Qwerty UIOP]

Wonder Boy

It seems reasonable to me.

 

[Janx_uwu]

My two submissions are OutRun (since we can literally just make any real-world location into a stage, so lots of great options needless to say) and Puyo Puyo (Satan's Tower is cool, but I feel like the only stage for Puyo Puyo shouldn't be literally named "Satan's Tower", ya dig? Also Puyo Puyo Japanese popularity go brr, if anyone deserves a multiple stages alongside Sonic it's certainly Puyo Puyo)

 

[Flyboy]

Job 194b: Shining
So, our current Shining stage is great but it is focused on the classics. One thing I think we learned during our deep dive into the series is that modern Shining is actually super cool and has a ton of great variety in terms of characters, locations, and vibes. I'd love to see a pirate ship from Shining Hearts or a battlefield from Shining Resonance, or any number of other options.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

Job #194 (Part 2): Super Monkey Ball

ooo eeee monkè

...Okay but for real, Monkey Ball has quite a few unique locations and minigames that could make for some really cool stages. You have your standard island jungle levels and whatnot, but you also have some of the wackier levels taking place inside a washing machine, a whale, a clock tower, or a boiling dumpling pot. This is one I think we could have a lot of fun with. Also Monkey Ball is one of the bigger series that hasn’t been pitched yet so I might as well.

 

[YoshiandToad]

Job #194: Shenmue (2nd suggestion)
For those not in the know, Shenmue is a series where protagonist Ryo Hazuki is attempting to track down his father's murderer, Lan Di.

To do so, he chases Lan Di across Asia, starting in his home town of Dobuita in Japan, across Aberdeen - a harbour city in Hong Kong, to the walled city of Kowloon to Shenhua Ling's peaceful home, Bailu Village in China and then further into Niaowu to face off at one of the Chi You Men's headquarters.

We already have the arcades of his home town, but Ryo visits busy harbours, abandoned warehouses, dusty dojos, well kept temples, bustling city streets, shady alleyways, sinister gang headquarters, peaceful village towns, beautiful forests and impressive mountains on his journey, so there's a fair bit of variety involved.

If you can think of some kind of real life location type, chances are the man who seeks sailors has visited it during his long journey for revenge.

 

[Speed Weed]

Alright, time to vote!!!

Here are our candidates:

Persona ( OrpheusTelos )
Skies of Arcadia ( Qwerty UIOP )
Virtua Fighter (@Darkonedagger)
Phantasy Star ( YoshiandToad )
Bayonetta ( Tankman from Newgrounds )
Shin Megami Tensei ( Flyboy )
Valkyria Chronicles ( PuyoWitch )
Yakuza ( Champion of Hyrule )
Streets of Rage (@Darkonedagger)
Wonder Boy ( Qwerty UIOP )
Puyo Puyo ( Janx_uwu )
Shining ( Flyboy )
Super Monkey Ball ( OrpheusTelos )
Shenmue ( YoshiandToad )

Vote for your top 4 picks - keep your own submission in fourth place if you're going to self-vote.

1. VF
2. Persona
3. Phantasy Star
4. Yakuza

I do think we might be better off saving a PSO stage for when we add a character from it in DLC but eh what the hell

 

[Tankman from Newgrounds]

1. VF (I have an idea for this one)
2. Phantasy Star
3. Persona
4. Bayonetta

 

[osby]

1. Phantasy Star
2. Virtua Fighter
3. Super Monkey Ball
4. Shining

 

[Deleted member]

1. Persona
2. Yazooka
3. PS
4. VF

 

[PuyoWitch]

1. Persona
2. Phantasy Star
3. Virtua Fighter
4. Valkyria

 

[Champion of Hyrule]

1. VF
2. Persona
3. PS
4. Yakuza

 

[Qwerty UIOP]

1. Puyo Puyo
2. Phantasy Star
3. Streets of Rage
4. Wonder Boy

 

[cashregister9]

1. Persona
2. VF
3. Yakuza
4. Phantasy

 

[tonygameman]

1. Persona
2. Streets of Rage
3. Shenmue
4. Puyo Puyo

 

[YoshiandToad]

1. Shining
2. SMT
3. Puyo
4. Phantasy Star

 

[OrpheusTelos]

1. Yakuza
2. SMT
3. Phantasy Star
4. Purse Owner

 

[Janx_uwu]

Alright, time to vote!!!

Here are our candidates:

Persona ( OrpheusTelos )
Skies of Arcadia ( Qwerty UIOP )
Virtua Fighter (@Darkonedagger)
Phantasy Star ( YoshiandToad )
Bayonetta ( Tankman from Newgrounds )
Shin Megami Tensei ( Flyboy )
Valkyria Chronicles ( PuyoWitch )
Yakuza ( Champion of Hyrule )
Streets of Rage (@Darkonedagger)
Wonder Boy ( Qwerty UIOP )
Puyo Puyo ( Janx_uwu )
Shining ( Flyboy )
Super Monkey Ball ( OrpheusTelos )
Shenmue ( YoshiandToad )

Vote for your top 4 picks - keep your own submission in fourth place if you're going to self-vote.

1. VF
2. Persona
3. Phantasy Star
4. Yakuza

I do think we might be better off saving a PSO stage for when we add a character from it in DLC but eh what the hell

1. Yakuza
2. Persona
3. Phantasy Star
4. Puyo Puyo

I wasn’t able to say anything earlier because I was in the middle of a thing but I think you forgot my OutRun submission.

 

[Speed Weed]

1. Yakuza
2. Persona
3. Puyo Puyo
4. Phantasy Star

I wasn’t able to say anything earlier because I was in the middle of a thing but I think you forgot my OutRun submission.

Oh I forgot to say, OutRun was ineligible, this is for series with playable representation

Also remember that you can only put your own submission in fourth place

 

[Flyboy]

1. Shenmue
2. Persona
3. Virtua Fighter
4. Shining

 

[Megadoomer]

1. Bayonetta
2. Persona
3. Yakuza
4. Puyo Puyo

 

[HyperSomari64]

Puyo Puyo
Streets of Rage
Yakuza
Shining

 

[Speed Weed]

Here's somethin to keep us busy while voting goes on

Discussion #??: Which characters in our roster should be among the next ones to be revealed?

So! We're doing reveal trailers! And I'm putting together an order for us to do them in. But I don't want the decision making to be all me. I still want some feedback. So I'm turning to you. The people. Which characters do you think are high-priority for the next few reveal trailers we do? For reference, our currently-revealed characters are Sonic, Tails, Eggman, Akira, Alex, Kiryu, AiAi, Axel, Ryo, Beat, Ulala, Sakura and Joker

 

[YoshiandToad]

Personally I feel like we got a majority of the All Stars picks revealed in Trailer 1. Whilst I don't think this is a bad thing at all(it's actually a pretty perfect line up for an initial trailer), I think it's time for some more unusual stuff.

For Trailer 2 I think we should have a wilder mix. Whilst someone quite obvious like Knuckles or NiGHTS should appear, I think a character like Blue Dragon would be an unexpected character and also a freaking dragon which would bring some hype. Sprinkle in any two of Bowie, Temjin, Raidou, Rikiya or Kurumi for a 'oh wow, we're going wild here' mixture. Lastly finish with either Bayonetta or Kasuga for a nice modern pick and I think that's a pretty good coverage.

 

[OrpheusTelos]

I’d say it depends on how we’re gonna be handling reveal trailers from this point on. Are we revealing another batch of characters in one trailer, or are we doing individual reveal trailers from this point on? If we’re doing another trailer that’s a batch of reveals, I’d say a mix of expected picks and wacky reveals is a good call. Start by knocking out someone like NiGHTS or Gillius and then follow that up with the surprise reveal of Nei or Blue Dragon. If it’s a solo trailer, I’d go with either a less expected pick or a popular character who hasn’t been in any of the All Star games yet. For the former character, I’d say Nei, Raidou, or Blue Dragon. Someone who’s not quite Kurumi or Rikiya levels of “who the hell???” (I feel like we should save them for later half of the hype cycle), but still surprising enough to turn some heads. For the latter, Arle or a dual reveal of the Valkyria girls. Someone from a series with a die-hard fanbase who will hype up the fact that their character is finally in a Sega crossover. Either way, now that we got some of the basic expected picks out of the way, we should keep the momentum going and add someone who’s gonna get people talking. Someone who’ll help establish this game’s identity as something unique from the All Stars games.

 

[Qwerty UIOP]

I say that like Shulk's reveal trailer, we should reveal a character along with a corresponding boss(Knuckles/Rikiya for Chaos, Jacky/Sarah/Axel/Blaze/Ichiban for Dural,Opa-Opa/Temjin to Seven Force etc.)

​

 

[Janx_uwu]

My thoughts:
Leave a few characters unrevealed (basically characters that generate less hype but would be awesome to have, or just be incredible surprises when you realize that they were in the game that whole time), but I don't have any thoughts about the second reveal trailer that haven't already been said. Make sure the ratio for wacky picks to expected picks is at least 2:1, since if people are following the game enough to see the second trailer, they probably have a bit more SEGA knowledge and will be more excited to see lesser-known picks.

 

[Megadoomer]

I feel like it depends on whether we're doing trailers that reveal multiple characters at once, or individual character trailers like Smash. (if it's individual characters trailers, I could see a Knuckles trailer playing off of the other three Sonic characters that have been revealed to reference the & Knuckles meme)

Knuckles seems like he'd be a high priority - Sonic characters seem like obvious picks, so maybe it's best to have him revealed early rather than dragging it out.

Bayonetta seems like one that would either be unexpected (given the tone of her franchise) or completely expected (given her presence in Smash), and Opa Opa seems like a character that would get people talking in a "they put that in a fighting game?!" kind of sense. (and showing that the game's digging deep into Sega's history)

 

[Flyboy]

I'm big on doing solo or dual reveals - enough to to let the rest of these characters breathe and interact with each other. Part of the excitement of these crossovers is winning people over on characters they may not have necessarily realized they would have liked before. I like the idea of the next few revealed being a mix of someone like Knuckles and then someone less known but who brings the hype.

I push for more solo reveals because, like, we all love Smash trailers, and I think something like a long build to the Raidou reveal (for example) is hype as hell. This allows us to really get in touch with these characters, to show the audience who they are, and it also allows people who are passionate about those series' and characters in this thread to really have fun selling everyone and anyone on them.

 

[Speed Weed]

I should probably mention that yeah we're doing individual reveals from this point onward

 

[osby]

I think Alicia or Selvaria, or maybe both, would be good choices for our next reveal.

Aside from Joker, all characters we've shown so far are from classic games, which causes him to stick out a little. Showing that newer SEGA franchises also have a shot might be a good way to manage expectations.