The Unlockables

[kazrisk]

I think we'll know all of the characters prior to launch. I'm expecting a huge Smash-focused direct where all the remaining characters are revealed (if they haven't been revealed through pics of the day). I think we'll have to unlock them, and part of me wonders if it'll be random after certain amounts of coins are collected or after a certain amount of matches. Perhaps beating Smash Runs as certain characters a certain amount of times as well, (ex: Samus beating a Smash Run 10 times unlocks Zero Suit Samus). Don't think there will be surprises though.

Also, Amiibos may unlock characters automatically.

 

[silvR1995]

Right way should be:

Starters: Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Yoshi, Link, Samus, Fox, Captain Falcon, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Ness
Unlockable: everyone else

Seems about right for Smash's 15th anniversary.

 

[silvR1995]

Starters:

Spoiler

Unlockables:

Spoiler

Assuming Snake, Mewtwo, Roy, and Lucas (alongside everyone except Squirtle and Ivysaur) return.​

 

[liets]

Nobody.
I truly do not think this game will have unlockable characters.

Referring to Luigi, Sakurai stated "He is traditionally unlockable and would not be shown" or something like that. This HIGHLY infers that there are unlockables. If not, why wouldn't regularly unlockable veterans such as Ganondorf and Jigglypuff not be shown yet?

 

[Wanderer from Roseyard]

Referring to Luigi, Sakurai stated "He is traditionally unlockable and would not be shown" or something like that.

The quote is "In prior games, we've never introduced Luigi before release, but why not? This is the 'Year of Luigi,' after all." It doesn't hint either way if he is unlockable this time, though.

If not, why wouldn't regularly unlockable veterans such as Ganondorf and Jigglypuff not be shown yet?

Luigi and Marth have been shown, and they have a similar status of unlockability to Jigglypuff and Ganondorf, respectively.

 

[Delicious Tears]

Guys, my friend at Namco Bandai told me these characters will be unlockable.

Street Fighter Cartoon M. Bison: To unlock him, you need to find Ganondorf's super secret taunt where he says "YES! YES!"

Super Macho Man: To unlock him, you need to land Little Mac's K.O. move 9001 times in a row. No misses allowed.

Kamina: To unlock him, you must watch the entire Gurren Lagann anime in one sitting. No any kind of breaks, no food or drinks, no subtitles, Japanese audio only, and you must also wear Kamina shades throughout the hole thing and never take them off.

Ridley: To unlock him, every Ridley supporter in the world must admit that Ridley is too big for Smash Bros. And then Ridley will suddenly appear and say "I'm tired of this BIG **** THING going on here!" And did we mentioned he's BIG AS HELL?

 

[Deleted member]

I think that of the currently revealed characters, Luigi, Toon Link, Pac-man, and Sonic will be hidden. I can see Lucario or Mega Man going either way.

 

[Zwzchow]

Given Sakurai's distaste on how SSE's cutscenes were spoiled, it may turn out that he simply doesn't gate characters behind unlockable status. Stages, music, other bonuses sure, but not characters. It's not unheard of, more fighting games are moving away from unlockable fighters and one of the largest-roster entries, TTT2, has none. That's also from the same company that's working on Smash 4 now, Bandai-Namco.

Interesting point from a post in the Official character thread

 

[KingBroly]

I have this feeling that Sheik and Zero Suit Samus will be unlockables this time around. Probably something like 'use Samus' FS 10 times' and 'use Zelda's down+B 50 times' to face them.

 

[kazrisk]

I have this feeling that Sheik and Zero Suit Samus will be unlockables this time around. Probably something like 'use Samus' FS 10 times' and 'use Zelda's down+B 50 times' to face them.

Would be funny if in order to unlock Zero Suit Samus you had to use Samus's Final Smash once, and Sheik's unlock was through using Zelda's Down-B, just once. I hope Toon Link unlocks quicker this time.

 

[silvR1995]

Would be funny if in order to unlock Zero Suit Samus you had to use Samus's Final Smash once, and Sheik's unlock was through using Zelda's Down-B, just once. I hope Toon Link unlocks quicker this time.

I hope Toon Link and Jigglypuff unlock much quicker this time around.

 

[kazrisk]

I hope Toon Link and Jigglypuff unlock much quicker this time around.

If Jigglebuns comes back. My home boy Toon Link has been confirmed, thank goodness. WAHOO!

Wonder what Toon Link's stage will be this time. Hoping for Windfall Island, or Outset Island.

 

[FancysaurusRex]

Spoiler: unlockable

Nobody.
I truly do not think this game will have unlockable characters.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't unlockable characters implied in the Luigi reveal? It said "In prior games, we've never introduced Luigi before release, but why not? This is the 'Year of Luigi,' after all." That implies to me that he will be unlockable, although I could see it go the other way too.

 

[kazrisk]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't unlockable characters implied in the Luigi reveal? It said "In prior games, we've never introduced Luigi before release, but why not? This is the 'Year of Luigi,' after all." That implies to me that he will be unlockable, although I could see it go the other way too.

I think it means that in all previous Smash brothers he was unlockable, but this time they used the Year of Luigi as an excuse to reveal him early. Don't know if there are any meanings beyond that.

I could imagine the Wii U having no unlockable characters since the 3DS will reveal the whole roster prior to the U version's launch - and giving you a full roster right from the beginning so you can hop online and get to fighting.

 

[Zwzchow]

I think it means that in all previous Smash brothers he was unlockable, but this time they used the Year of Luigi as an excuse to reveal him early. Don't know if there are any meanings beyond that.

I could imagine the Wii U having no unlockable characters since the 3DS will reveal the whole roster prior to the U version's launch - and giving you a full roster right from the beginning so you can hop online and get to fighting.

no reason to chop Wii U unlockables
People still want the fun of unlocking on Wii U other than the fact that you want to know the roster

 

[kazrisk]

no reason to chop Wii U unlockables
People still want the fun of unlocking on Wii U other than the fact that you want to know the roster

True, I knew the roster for Brawl but when that moment finally came for Toon Link. NOICE!

But I also wish I could have started off with him right away, I'm fine with whatever. Personally I'd be content with unlocking trophies and stages and different events.

 

[andalsoandy]

Starter for sure:
Somewhat Likely Starters:
Can go either way:
Somewhat Likely Unlockables:
Unlockables for sure:

I feel like only one FE character will be unlockable, so Marth and Ike can switch if need be. Same with Dedede and MK.

I might be over-analyzing this though. It could very well just be this:

Starters: Everyone revealed so far.
Unlockables: Everyone who hasn't been revealed plus and maybe

 

[kazrisk]

I feel like only one FE character will be unlockable...

Chrom.

 

[liets]

Luigi and Marth have been shown, and they have a similar status of unlockability to Jigglypuff and Ganondorf, respectively.

But since we know they are still in, wouldn't Sakurai be like "Oh hey and these ones too" if there were no unlockables?

 

[majorasmaskfan]

Yeah unlock able characters are obsolete just do what the new mortal kombat/ injustice games do unlock able costumes for the minority that care about "earning" things and make it so if i go over my friends house and they barley play i can use my main no matter what .

 

[Celestis]

Just hope FD and Battle field are available right away =3

 

[LiteralGrill]

Interesting point from a post in the Official character thread

I'd kill for something like that.

Maybe I'm in a HUGE minority here, but I honestly hate unlockables. I'd like all of my characters and stages playable when I get the game instead of tediously completing random challenges to get them. Playing as characters I hate, having to do things that have nothing to do with fighting other people, fighting on certain stages with certain characters for no reason... Yeah it all gets a tad old after a while.

In my magical world, the game would come with an "unlock all" code in the instruction manual that was OPTIONAL to use so those who wanted to unlock things could, and those who just want to play smash already could.

In a possibly more realistic world, half of the roster in not unlocked, and beating basic 1 player mode with each character gives you a chance to unlock another character like in the older days of Tekken. I can at least stomach that.

 

[kazrisk]

I'd kill for something like that.

Maybe I'm in a HUGE minority here, but I honestly hate unlockables. I'd like all of my characters and stages playable when I get the game instead of tediously completing random challenges to get them. Playing as characters I hate, having to do things that have nothing to do with fighting other people, fighting on certain stages with certain characters for no reason... Yeah it all gets a tad old after a while.

In my magical world, the game would come with an "unlock all" code in the instruction manual that was OPTIONAL to use so those who wanted to unlock things could, and those who just want to play smash already could.

In a possibly more realistic world, half of the roster in not unlocked, and beating basic 1 player mode with each character gives you a chance to unlock another character like in the older days of Tekken. I can at least stomach that.

Yeah I'd rather have each character unlocked but unlock stages, costumes, colors, trophies, events, difficulties, equipment. So much to unlock beyond characters.

 

[Pyra]

I like the unlockables.

I think they should just implement a cheat code that will unlock everything so that that half of people would be satisfied, and the people who actually do like unlocking things just won't put the code in. Easy solution.

 

[Calibrate]

I can't believe this!

Unlocking stuff is 90% of the fun! Especially the characters. I thought everyone loved it. Guess I was wrong!

 

[andalsoandy]

Chrom.

I meant to say one veteran FE character but yeah I guess if Chrom was the only unlockable FE character that'd work too.

 

[kazrisk]

I meant to say one veteran FE character but yeah I guess if Chrom was the only unlockable FE character that'd work too.

If the game starts off with all FE veteran characters I'm going to fart a giggle and get ready to find Chrom.

 

[Downdraft]

I think it would be cool to have to start with the original 8 and work your way up from there.

I think it would be even cooler if the newcomers comprised the entire starting roster, which would force everyone to try an entirely new character in the new, Smash 4 engine. I think it'd be pretty hype. We'll already be familiar with most of the veteran characters' movesets unless they've been revamped like Pit's. Buffs and nerfs can be exciting, but I find newcomers to be even more intriguing.

 

[DakotaBonez]

I hope thats not the case, it'd be so anti-climatic to go to versus and have them all there on the first time playing.

But it'd be nice to put the disc on your friends console and be able to play right away without having to play through classic mode 30 times. I wish the programmers would leave in some cheat codes.
However, as a single player experience, it'd be fun to start with the original 8 and unlock the rest.

 

[kazrisk]

I think it would be even cooler if the newcomers comprised the entire starting roster, which would force everyone to try an entirely new character in the new, Smash 4 engine. I think it'd be pretty hype. We'll already be familiar with most of the veteran characters' movesets unless they've been revamped like Pit's. Buffs and nerfs can be exciting, but I find newcomers to be even more intriguing.

Just start with Mario. No one else. Unlock entire roster after 1000 matches.

 

[TeaTwoTime]

I love unlockables. My ideal Smash 4 would be only the original 12 being available at the start.

 

[Downdraft]

Just start with Mario. No one else. Unlock entire roster after 1000 matches.

Just start with the random select slot. The first character you unlock will be randomly selected.
All other unlockable characters will be unlocked in randomized fashion.

 

[Shiliski]

Just start with the random select slot. The first character you unlock will be randomly selected.
All other unlockable characters will be unlocked in randomized fashion.

I would happily play this game. :D

 

[bilbo43]

Just because a character has been overly showcased or presented in demos etc doesn't mean they will start. In fact I think it will mean people will play the game heaps when they first get the game just to unlock those characters. In saying that this is what I believe will be the starting and unlockable characters:

Starters from confirmed characters list:

Mario, Peach, Bowser, Rosalina*, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Link, Zelda, Samus, Kirby, King Dedede, Fox, Pikachu, Charizard, Olimar, Marth, Pit, Villager*, Wii Fit Trainer*, Little Mac*, Mii fighters*, Mega Man*

Starters from likely characters:

Ice Climbers, Wario

Unlockables from announced Characters:

Palutena*, Ike, Lucario, Greninja*, Luigi, Sonic, Pac-Man*, Zero Suit Samus, Shiek, Toon Link

Unlockables from likely characters:

Captain Falcon, Ganondorf, Ness, Jigglypuff, Chrom*, Chorus Men*, Meta Knight, Shulk*, Game and Watch, R.O.B, Wolf


If Mewtwo, Ridley, Isaac, Roy, King K.Rool or whoever else makes the list, they will be unlockable. I get the feeling that any newcomers or preciously cut characters announced (eg mewtwo + Roy) announced before the april direct will be given either an unlockable tag or included as DLC if the game will go down that route.

If Lucas returns, he will be a starter, although sadly I see him getting the cut.

Mii fighters and Mega Man may well be unlockable characters, whereas Zamus and Shiek could be starter characters.