Game And Guy
Smash Cadet
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
- Messages
- 65
WHAT IS RHYTHM HEAVEN?
WHO IS MARSHAL?
Marshal is one of three characters who appear to greet the player in the Wii game Rhythm Heaven Fever. He, Miss Ribbon, and Cam test the player's rhythm through a couple of games. He reappears once you beat the main game in the credits scene in Fever's version of the minigame Night Walk. On the same note, it is interesting to point out that Marshal resembles two characters from past games, one of which is the Tengoku's Night Walk's Play-Yan, and DS' Glee Club's Chorus Men. It is valid to argue that Marshal is an attempt to flesh out the recurring archetype of the character. Marshal does not reappear in the next game, Megamix.WHY MARSHAL THEN?
Marshal is the face of the series' most popular game, Fever. While there are many choices and more recurring characters in Rhythm Heaven, Marshal encompasses various traits of the series.One of the most popular choices for a Rhythm Heaven character is Glee Club's Chorus Men. Largely stemming from the infamous Gematsu leak, the Chorus Men, for all intents and purposes, is very much the same as Marshal, with some folks even confusing Marshal as part of them. In this vain, I think Marshal is a much better choice than the Chorus Men because he is a named character with more presence than characters from a less known minigame. Compared to Ringside, Lockstep, and Karate Man, Glee Club is very much a tier down in general popularity. Marshal, as mentioned, is also obviously a continuation of the Play-Yan archetype, building up from the Chorus Men, so I believe he is much more suited for the role.
Speaking of Karate Man, the second most popular choice for Rhythm Heaven is arguably Karate Joe. He is one of the few characters who have appeared in all games, and his games are arguably one of the most well-known from series. My argument against Karate Joe is how boring of a choice he would be. Rhythm Heaven is a vastly colourful game with a rainbow of settings and characters. Karate Joe is a human character with a bland design, with his minigames, although absured, based on a rather "real" thing: karate. For him to represent the more zany aspects of Rhythm Heaven (like an interview with an enthusiastic wrestler, or a game badminton in the air, or moai singing to each other) makes zero sense. The character is far too generic for the task of representing the franchise.
In the same vein, the other character that has appeared in all games is the Wandering Samurai. He is, arguably, a much more interesting character than Karate Joe due to the bizarre settings and games Samurai has been in (some of which include slicing watermelons, saving a teddy bear, and rolling around on a skateboard), but he has the same problem of being too generic of a design to represent a colourful franchise.
Next, Tibby, the protagonist of the most recent entry to the franchise, 3DS' Rhythm Heaven Megamix. There is one easy reason against Tibby: he, and the entire forced story of Megamix, is very annoying. I cannot understand the support for him when he and all the characters introduced in megamix, were a nuisance to the gameplay. Tibby is, in fact, probably the only Rhythm Heaven character with the most fleshed out personality. But this doesn't mean Tibby is a good character. He is bland and, at times, condescending, but arguably his worst attribute is as a roadblock to playing the game. He doesn't even appear in any playable game, and has shown very little interaction with the actual minigames. He also less recognizable than Marshal and all the other popular choices, due to Megamix' relatively weaker popularity compared to its predecessors.
Lastly, the Rhythm Girl and the Monkey. The Rhythm Girl essentially compromises the red dress-wearing girl featured in the art of Rhythm Heaven Fever, as well as various minigames featuring different girls playing different roles (like the Tap Trial girl and the brunette in Fever). Like the Rhythm Girl, the Monkey is group of characters that have appeared in all four games. I would actually think these two characters are much more proper to represent than those I've mentioned above, but because Rhythm Girl is not actually a single character and another human, and the Monkey being a character in the same vein as Nurses in Pokemon or Toads in Mario, I think Marshal trumps above them.
HOW WOULD HE EVEN PLAY?
Rhythm Heaven's vast amount of minigames can easily create a fun and wacky character. Marshal could be compromised of moves taken directly from minigames, much like Mr. Game and Watch. But I don't think that is simply enough to make Marshal an interesting character. Rhythm Heaven is a RHYTHM game, after all. I personally came up with a moveset that I think would really make Marshal into a character that is both fun to play and play differently from other existing characters. I think Rhythm Heaven in general is a great game to make a unique newcomer for Smash that isn't just an amalgamation of games.Special Ability: Flow - Almost all of Marshal's moves have three versions: Miss, Okay, and Superb. Miss moves are weak, Okay moves are stronger, and Superb moves are the strongest. To increase Marshal's Flow he must damage the opponent. He has a five heart bar known as a "Flow Bar" above his portait. Every time he does damage, a Heart fills up, but every time he misses, half a Heart disappears. Miss moves occur at Zero and One Hearts, Okay moves occur at Two and Three Hearts, and Superb moves occur at Four and Five Hearts. Visually, whenever Marshal hits a Miss, he looks disappointed or surprised. For an Okay, he looks content. For a Superb, he looks excited.
Neutral Attack: Space Dance - Can easily be used to charge flow.
Miss - raises an arm and hits the opponent. (And pose!/Turn right!)
Okay - squats down and kicks the opponents. (Let's sit down!)
Superb - quick charge punch with considerable knockback. (Pu-pu-pu-punch!)
Forward Tilt: Love Rap - Can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - a short speech bubble that says "Fo' sure" hits in front.
Okay - a medium long speech bubble that say" "In to you" hits in front.
Superb - a long speech bubble that says "Crazy in to you" hits in front.
Up Tilt: Ninja - Can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - raises a sword above like a poke
Okay - raises a sword above and sways it once
Superb - raises a sword above and sways it twice
Down Tilt: See-saw - can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - jumps up and a see-saw bumps below the opponent
Okay - jumps and a see-saw hits the opponent upwards
Superb - jumps and a see-saw hits the opponent high upwards
Dash Attack: Big Rock Finish
Miss - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. small hitbox.
Okay - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. larger hitbox due to music notes
Superb - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. even larger hitbox to due to music notes
Forward Smash: Lockstep
Miss - does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet.
Okay - a monkey appears in front, and does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet for both.
Superb - two monkey appear in front and does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet for all three.
Up Smash: Clappy Trio
Miss - does a clap above
Okay - does a clap, then a monkey appears above marshal's head and does a clap.
Super - does a clap, then two monkeys consecutively appears above marshal's head and does a clap
Down Smash: Tap Trial
Miss - does a step in front
Okay - does a two step ub front alongside monkey on the other side that does the same
Superb - does a multi-step with monkeys on both sides that does the same
Neutral Aerial: Spaceball
Miss - swings a back from back to side but only partly hits
Okay - swings a bat from back to side and hits both sides
Superb - swings a bat from back to side and in a circular motion
Forward Aerial: Figure Fighter
Miss - gains a glove and jabs (Jab!)
Okay - gains a glove and jabs twice (One, two!)
Superby - gains a glove and jabes thrice, with the last hit having large knockback (Go! Go! Go!)
Back Aerial: Air Rally
Miss - weakly swings vertically
Okay - vertically swings harder. small spike box.
Superb - vertically swings even harder. large spike box.
Up Aerial: Cheer Readers
Miss - holds up an open book above
Okay - holds up an open book and flips it (It's up to you!)
Superb - holds up an open book and flips it multiple times before stretching the book out as a finsher (Okay it's on!)
Down Aerial: Built to Scale
Miss - holds a spring rod below which retracts and springs downwards. can meteor.
Okay - holds a spring rod below which retracts and shoots a small rod downwards. small spike box.
Superb - holds a spring rod below which retracts and shoot a widget (with a rod inside) downwards. largest spike box.
Grab: Packing Pests - put arms vertically and clamps them
Pummel: Love Lab - shakes the opponent vigorously
Forward Throw: Packing Pests
Miss - slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards
Okay - slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards then slaps a spider
Superb - Slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards then slaps two spiders
Back Throw: Munchy Monk
Miss - puts on palm and launches backwards
Okay - puts on palm and launches backwards then launches a pea
Superb - puts on palm and launches backwards then launches three peas
Up Throw: Love Lab
Miss - Throws upwards with one hand
Okay - Throws upwards with one hand then throws up a heart
Superb - Throws upwards with one hand then throws up two hearts
Down Throw - Screw Bot Factor
Miss - throws down opponent using a metal claw
Okay - drills down opponent for a short time using a metal claw (Let's go)
Superb - drills down opponent for a longer time using a metal claw (Oh yeah)
Floor Attack (Front): Spaceball - swings a bat forward
Floor Attack (Backward): Spaceball - swings a bat backwards
Edge Attack: Spaceball - swings a bat while getting up
Neutral Special: Glee Club
Miss - he sings out loud, causing a small explosion with weak damage.
Okay - by pressing b longer, a monkey appears on his head and sings that causes a larger explosion with higher damage
Superb - by pressing b even longer, a monkey appears on the head of the other other monkey and sings, cuasing an even larger explosion with even higher damage
Side Special: Super Samurai Slice
Miss - rides a skateboard that goes right while doing a slash
Okay - rides a skateboard that goes right while doing two slashes
Superb - rides skateboard that goes right while holding a katana that causes electric damage in around him
Up Special: Night Walk
Miss - a block appears below and bounces him upwards
Okay - a block appears below and bounces him higher upwards, while a heart projectile flies up with him
Superb - a block appears below and bounces even higher upwards, while stars trail below him and the a heart follows him up.
Down Special: Karate Man
Miss - punches a pot projectile
Okay - kicks a barrel containing a bomb
Superb - holding b releases punches and kicks that send a flurry of pots and barrels. releasing b, Marshal performs an uppercut
Final Smash: Perfect Remix! - Flashes opponents with a camera. Send them to a series of minigames: Karate Man who kickes them to Sneaky Spirits, where an arrow sends them to Ringside where the finish move is "Pose for the Fans!"
Neutral Attack: Space Dance - Can easily be used to charge flow.
Miss - raises an arm and hits the opponent. (And pose!/Turn right!)
Okay - squats down and kicks the opponents. (Let's sit down!)
Superb - quick charge punch with considerable knockback. (Pu-pu-pu-punch!)
Forward Tilt: Love Rap - Can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - a short speech bubble that says "Fo' sure" hits in front.
Okay - a medium long speech bubble that say" "In to you" hits in front.
Superb - a long speech bubble that says "Crazy in to you" hits in front.
Up Tilt: Ninja - Can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - raises a sword above like a poke
Okay - raises a sword above and sways it once
Superb - raises a sword above and sways it twice
Down Tilt: See-saw - can easily be used to charge flow
Miss - jumps up and a see-saw bumps below the opponent
Okay - jumps and a see-saw hits the opponent upwards
Superb - jumps and a see-saw hits the opponent high upwards
Dash Attack: Big Rock Finish
Miss - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. small hitbox.
Okay - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. larger hitbox due to music notes
Superb - slides with a guitar and hits the opponent. even larger hitbox to due to music notes
Forward Smash: Lockstep
Miss - does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet.
Okay - a monkey appears in front, and does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet for both.
Superb - two monkey appear in front and does the lockstep pose. has a small hitbox above and at feet for all three.
Up Smash: Clappy Trio
Miss - does a clap above
Okay - does a clap, then a monkey appears above marshal's head and does a clap.
Super - does a clap, then two monkeys consecutively appears above marshal's head and does a clap
Down Smash: Tap Trial
Miss - does a step in front
Okay - does a two step ub front alongside monkey on the other side that does the same
Superb - does a multi-step with monkeys on both sides that does the same
Neutral Aerial: Spaceball
Miss - swings a back from back to side but only partly hits
Okay - swings a bat from back to side and hits both sides
Superb - swings a bat from back to side and in a circular motion
Forward Aerial: Figure Fighter
Miss - gains a glove and jabs (Jab!)
Okay - gains a glove and jabs twice (One, two!)
Superby - gains a glove and jabes thrice, with the last hit having large knockback (Go! Go! Go!)
Back Aerial: Air Rally
Miss - weakly swings vertically
Okay - vertically swings harder. small spike box.
Superb - vertically swings even harder. large spike box.
Up Aerial: Cheer Readers
Miss - holds up an open book above
Okay - holds up an open book and flips it (It's up to you!)
Superb - holds up an open book and flips it multiple times before stretching the book out as a finsher (Okay it's on!)
Down Aerial: Built to Scale
Miss - holds a spring rod below which retracts and springs downwards. can meteor.
Okay - holds a spring rod below which retracts and shoots a small rod downwards. small spike box.
Superb - holds a spring rod below which retracts and shoot a widget (with a rod inside) downwards. largest spike box.
Grab: Packing Pests - put arms vertically and clamps them
Pummel: Love Lab - shakes the opponent vigorously
Forward Throw: Packing Pests
Miss - slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards
Okay - slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards then slaps a spider
Superb - Slaps opponent angled horizontally downwards then slaps two spiders
Back Throw: Munchy Monk
Miss - puts on palm and launches backwards
Okay - puts on palm and launches backwards then launches a pea
Superb - puts on palm and launches backwards then launches three peas
Up Throw: Love Lab
Miss - Throws upwards with one hand
Okay - Throws upwards with one hand then throws up a heart
Superb - Throws upwards with one hand then throws up two hearts
Down Throw - Screw Bot Factor
Miss - throws down opponent using a metal claw
Okay - drills down opponent for a short time using a metal claw (Let's go)
Superb - drills down opponent for a longer time using a metal claw (Oh yeah)
Floor Attack (Front): Spaceball - swings a bat forward
Floor Attack (Backward): Spaceball - swings a bat backwards
Edge Attack: Spaceball - swings a bat while getting up
Neutral Special: Glee Club
Miss - he sings out loud, causing a small explosion with weak damage.
Okay - by pressing b longer, a monkey appears on his head and sings that causes a larger explosion with higher damage
Superb - by pressing b even longer, a monkey appears on the head of the other other monkey and sings, cuasing an even larger explosion with even higher damage
Side Special: Super Samurai Slice
Miss - rides a skateboard that goes right while doing a slash
Okay - rides a skateboard that goes right while doing two slashes
Superb - rides skateboard that goes right while holding a katana that causes electric damage in around him
Up Special: Night Walk
Miss - a block appears below and bounces him upwards
Okay - a block appears below and bounces him higher upwards, while a heart projectile flies up with him
Superb - a block appears below and bounces even higher upwards, while stars trail below him and the a heart follows him up.
Down Special: Karate Man
Miss - punches a pot projectile
Okay - kicks a barrel containing a bomb
Superb - holding b releases punches and kicks that send a flurry of pots and barrels. releasing b, Marshal performs an uppercut
Final Smash: Perfect Remix! - Flashes opponents with a camera. Send them to a series of minigames: Karate Man who kickes them to Sneaky Spirits, where an arrow sends them to Ringside where the finish move is "Pose for the Fans!"
FINAL STUFF AND SUPPORTERS!
Marshal or not, Rhythm Heaven deserves a spot in Smash. Let's hope that we finally get the recognition it deserves!
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