Design Pitch: Takamaru is built around the idea of Iaijutsu, which is a Japanese swordplay technique using the quick draw. His stance is sheathed and each of his sword moves emphasizes the motion of removing the blade swiftly. His original game was like the original Zelda in design, but with a focus on the combat, with emphasis on evading the enemies and quickly taking them out. In keeping with this design, Takamaru is meant to be a skillful character with quick, snappy dodges and an emphasis on keeping your opponent on their guard.
Jab: Stops in place, leans his body and swipes his katana up from the sheath. Follow up inputs result in two more katana slashes, carefully executed by moving only his arm until it is quickly resheathed.
Forward Tilt: Stomps his foot down onto the ground and leans forward into a focused, abrupt strike.
Up Tilt: Throws three kunai above his head in an arc, which travel a short distance and disappear.
Down Tilt: An extremely snappy katana slash along the ground.
Dash Attack: Slides forward, swinging his katana out of the sheath and swiping it in a wide arc. Slightly slower than most of his non-Smash moves, but with slightly more ferocity as well. (Note: While Takamaru is dashing, his sandals become the Red Sandals).
Forward Smash: Charges his blade with the Fireball Scroll spell and performs a swift barrage of strikes.
Up Smash: Adjusts his stance, twisting his torso and swiping his katana out of his sheath and above his head in an arc.
Down Smash: Casts the Fireball Scroll spell on both sides toward the ground, creating a burst of flame on both sides at the ground.
Neutral Aerial: A quick slashing motion on all sides of Takamaru.
Forward Aerial: Takamaru throws a few kunai in an arc in front of him, which disappear after travelling a short distance.
Back Aerial: A backwards slice behind Takamaru with his katana.
Up Aerial: Throws kunai in an arc above his head, similar to his up tilt.
Down Aerial: Raises his arms a bit to shift his weight and jabs one foot down below.
Grab: Standard one-handed grab with the arm not closest to his sheath
Pummel: Grabs his katana hilt and slides it up a bit out of the sheath, bashing the enemy with it
Forward Throw: Unsheathes his katana and stabs it into the opponent.
Back Throw: Tosses them behind him and send them flying with a toss of a few kunai.
Up Throw: Throws the opponent above his head and shoots them up with the Fireball.
Down Throw: Stomps on the opponent and stabs his sword down into them
Ledge Attack: Flips up onto the stage on his knee, swiping his sword in a circular motion around him.
NEUTRAL B: FLURRY DEFLECT
A quick barrage of katana slashes which reflects projectiles if they come into contact with it. The rush of swings can be subtly angled, changing the direction projectiles go when reflected. Deals decent enough chip damage if used as an attack, but deals hardly any knockback at all and can be easily shielded.
SIDE B: PINWHEEL KNIFE
Throws a pinwheel knife which spins into enemies and deals several small hits of chip damage as it buzzsaws into them. Can be easily angled in a wide arc of potential shots, but not straight up or down. Similar to Mega Man’s Metal Blade, although it does not pass through enemies and disappears upon making contact with the stage.
UP B: RISING HAWK
The Hawk Samurai dons the Blue Sandals and lunges up in the air, coming back down spinning in a forwards diagonal arc with his sword drawn and landing by stabbing it into the ground. A risky recovery move like Aether or the Dedede Jump, where missing the ledge leaves you plummeting into the depths below.
DOWN B: INVISIBILITY SCROLL
Takamaru disappears in a puff of smoke and sakura petals, leaving an invisibility scroll behind. While this move is active, he becomes, well, invisible. He cannot jump or attack while the move is active, and releasing the special button will cause the attack to end. He can however, walk and run normally. Below where he is, a black shadow will appear marking his position on the floor. When the button is released, he appears in another puff of smoke and sakura petals, and attacks with his katana.
FINAL SMASH: INAZUMA LIGHTNING
Takamaru dons the Helmet from Murasame Castle, making him invincible to attack. He then calls down the destructive power of Inazuma Lightning, powerful and flashy bolts which rain down on the stage randomly in very quick succession, launching any poor fool that they come in contact with.
Stage Entrance: Decloaks from his Invisibility Scroll, with sakura petals appearing around him in a puff.
Idle Pose 1: Pulls some of the sword out from its sheath and inspects the blade before putting it back.
Idle Pose 2: Flicks his sword up a bit out from its sheath a few times, somewhat impatiently.
Up Taunt: Unsheathes his sword, swiping it in a steady manner and saying “You fight with honor”.
Side Taunt: Unsheathes his sword and strikes a pose heavily reminiscent of his classic artwork, remarking "I take your leave!"
Down Taunt: Silently brandishes a few kunai, faces the camera with a nod, and stashes them back away.
Victory Pose 1: Sheaths his sword and gives a confident look to the camera, saying "Justice will always emerge victorious in the end!"
Victory Pose 2: Takes a bow respectfully, saying "Perhaps we may meet again in battle, some other time and place."
Victory Pose 3: Spins his sword around in a collected, yet stylish fashion, slowing it down and holding it steady in place as he says "Another enemy falls to my blade!"
lady_sky skipper who were quite the fans for the series!
