Merry Christmas to all of us Starfy-fans.
I don't know whether to thank you all for just sticking to the bitter end or just have said that you all guys could have just done what Habanero/Xenoblade did eons ago to avoid this. Take it anyway you like, I'm in both sides.
I give up now on any dreams in seeing Starfy as a fighter or even an IP featured in Smash Bros and say that this is best Starfy's efforts can get. He's not ironically, anything near of a legendary (maybe it was the point) superstar compared to the fighters in the roster in this series, truthfully if looking through every criteria he was asked for (Squirtle and now Luma have now trumped him in every way).
But maybe it's a smart choice... as much as it pains me to say it, it is clear that TOSE hasn't shown any interest to the series since 2009's localization.
And fanbase itself hasn't been anything notably huge to make Sakurai give anymore worth than Goldeen-esque presentation of their princely star(fish).
(Anyone interested to translated the first 4 games? Anyone?)
If anything, it all clicks together as the most sensible choice: both the fans and the company itself didn't just care about this series enough to be anything bigger than it was Pre-Brawl (aside from localization, but even after that nothing was done to the series since despite some ports finally being open.). And even then look, Rosalina and Luma brought even more hype and unique fighting style than Starfy had ever could, both from fans' or Sakurai's viewpoint-wise.
TL;DR Starfy has been basically dead since 2008's localization. Or if not exaggarating, in his most lowest point in it's career. And if it might be fate, it shall be abandoned this way forever. this is perhaps even more generous than we might think it being: TOSE and his whole fanbase (outside from here) just didn't care enough to do more bigger effort. And even then Sakurai saw Luma as more uniquely potent and appealing to add for this game along with Rosalina.
I might gradually abandon this series for all the reasons above because to be honest, the positive light is that Starfy was noted again. The negatives though overshadow it all during and to the far future to come. Unless TOSE totally reinvents the series and tries to pour more effort to it so it won't stay in shadows. Not many have seen a marine platformer so these guys could have tried to be it's pioneers... but it just never came to be that.
I'm sorry for really negative farewell but to be honest... I can't just think anything positive to cheer us up now that Starf has bitten the dust for second time. Maybe we should just face the facts and move on. It's up to the creators themselves if they want to give Starfy one more shot...
Horsetail,
out.