We've chatted a lot about Capcom rivals, but what about genre competition? I think the main three visual novel/puzzle characters that are challenging us are Layton, Ayumi Tachibana, or someone from Danganronpa.
Layton is unfortunately in a real bad spot. His franchise and company aren't doing too hot at the moment. Despite this, I think that he has a fair shot at making it in since DLC deals were made a while ago. Although, I guess he could be beat by another Level-5 franchise. Don't forget that in 2019, Jibanyan was featured on a
Nintendo-exclusive Valentine's Day poll, showing that Level-5 and Nintendo had a good relationship at that time.
Ayumi Tachibana is in a curious spot. She's a Nintendo character, she was considered back in Melee, her games just got remakes, and she likely influenced visual novels. Honestly, though, I don't think she really has that much of a chance. I think that she is a bit too niche. Her supporters seem to mostly use the Melee-consideration as a basis for their speculation. We've seen several other characters have consideration to no avail (Geno, Dixie Kong, kinda Heihachi, etc.).
A Danganronpa character might actually have a good shot. Disregarding the recent Switch ports, Sakurai loves Danganronpa. He's good friends with Kazutaka Kodaka (the creator of Danganronpa). I think this situation mirrors Joker a bit. Sakurai also loved Persona, and I don't think it's a coincidence that Nintendo chose a Persona character (a series that barely had any Nintendo connection and is technically a spin-off franchise) over a Shin Megami Tensei character. We've seen creator-friendships not work out before, though (Suda and Travis Touchdown), but this kind of also applies to Phoenix, too, since we know that Sakurai and Takumi are probably at least a bit close considering that
photo of them + Kamiya a few years ago.
Other characters like Monika could maybe be considered, but I don't think they're as likely as the three above.
Oh, hm. Well Layton seems like his time has passed and one of his inspirations, as said by Akihiro Hino himself, is Phoenix Wright, so Layton getting in before Wright just seems awkward but hey it ain't a rule, I guess. Ayumi though, I don't know much about but probably needs more time at least, maybe next time but depending how fun and unique she could be, maybe a fighter, maybe an assist trophy, but yeah, Danganronpa, hmm...that's tougher.
Even though Sakurai seems to have gotten some personal favorites like Terry, Nintendo is the one making the DLC decisions... But Spike Chunsoft have been good buddies for a long time, they helped make the Pokemon Mystery Dungeons, 999 is a DS cult classic, I don't knowww... I know Masafumi Takada, Danganronpa's composer, does a great job with the Smash soundtrack, like remixing Tomodachi Life and Banjo's main theme...
And it's nice the entire Danganronpa series's coming over on the Switch, plus a full game for the bonus mode I loved so much. Now both series are supported on Nintendo pretty hard...
There was a neat interview between Danganronpa and Phoenix Wright producers, Terasawa Yoshinori and Eshiro Motohide. They're good buddies and in the discussion, there's a part where something potentially deal-closing in regards to Smash is noted...
Title: Discussion Interview Between The Producers of Gyakuten Saiban and Danganronpa . Revealing Secret Development Tales and How To Trai...
gyakutensaibanlibrary.blogspot.com
Eshiro notes how Danganronpa has these dynamic camera angles and flashier style that appeals to more, and younger, people. He says the anime seems to have brought in more people for Ace Attorney, but the audience seems to be more around late 20s or 30s... This interview was back in 2016 and maybe things have changed even if there's been no new mainline game. We got the trilogy ports that did a great job getting new people to try, we've got the Great Ace Attorney coming over, shown off at E3, though I worry it's 100 year ago aesthetic isn't doing it too many favors...? I dunno...when I was on tumblr I remember the show Sherlock being popular so um maybe it is more of a draw than I think...?
In any case, yeah, Danganronpa could get in before Ace Attorney I guess? Sakurai said during Terry's presentation that a character being fun is more important than being recognizable, but again, Nintendo's picking the DLC. I'd feel like, uh, hm... it's tough... "Objection!" in itself is known and got tossed around in Among Us popularity, but people know Nagito for hanging out with sans in a meme haha, nahhh, objection is probably better known. Still, it does kinda seem like Danganronpa got popular at a faster rate than Ace Attorney...but official sale numbers - not total sale numbers since Ace Attorney is a decade older - seem to show Ace Attorney much more successful per version...
They both had games around 2016 and 2017, around when base Ultimate stuff was decided, but also chats for DLC like Steve, probably Banjo because of the Smash 4 ballot, probably Hero and Sephiroth with weird murmurs of Cloud's inclusion and leakers mentioning hearing their names, probably others, and are both getting new releases, like, this year... uhhhh...
I think what it comes down to is who is considered the kind of the genre right now... Like, it would have been a bit weird for Kazuya or Terry to have gotten in before Ryu... but then again Sakurai talked about trying to get Heihachi to work for base Smash 4 so neeevermind, pwsh
They may even figure Capcom has enough with Ryu, Ken, and Megaman and give Spike Chunsoft some love instead, but I dunno, Phoenix seems more iconic? I think more people would see Phoenix and know his name thanks in part to his first game literally being his name, so many think it's just the "Phoenix Wright" series, while seeing Monokuma they'd probably know they saw him somewhere but not know what a "Monokuma" or "Danganronpa" is...and the students they'd have even less of an idea. If they went with Nagito for his popularity, uh, pwsh, well he's a funny guy, but... they could do a costume situation and have Makoto, Hajime, Kaede, and Nagito all using truth bullets and focus and cross swords, that'd work mostly I guess... Gatta pay more voice actors and stuff but I'm sure Nintendo's got the budget.
Yeah, I dunno. Danganronpa's seems like the only uh "competition" to me I guess, but man, I dunno, that's tough!
Ah, I had a bit at the end here unsure if Sakurai feels he can do either series justice since I don't know if he's ever played them but in his Ace Attorney column, praising its funny presentation among repetitive stuff that he got sick of at TGS 2005, he mentions "it was just like the games!" which sounds like he has actually played at least some...!
