Kink-Link5
Smash Hero
What defines balance is dependent on skill level. Most players are scrubs and think Ike and Roy are overpowered.And balanced roster.
I disagree that this is something that should be the focus of the game. The heart of fighters is in the player vs player interaction. Any amount of lag, which is inevitable when looking at online gameplay, makes a difference in the game, and online pales in comparison to the much more important gameplay that takes place in-person. Online should only be looked into as an afterthought once the core game itself is completed.And better online.
Clearly this is not the case for casual fans, who don't care how other people play the game as long as they can throw a sticky bomb at Yoshi.And better competitive treatment. (Online ranking for example)
The only thing every player can agree on is that tripping is dumb and the analog nature of Smash is what defines it, though at the casual level, "analog nature" is simplified into "feels right to play," without really knowing why it is so.