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"Under the Southern Cross, Anything is Possible!" | Mike Jones Support Thread

PigmaskColonel

Smash Journeyman
Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
460
Location
USA
SPOILER WARNING

The following contains major spoilers for both StarTropics and Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II. Read at your own risk.










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A Primer:
The Forgotten Hero of the
NES



With nearly four decades in the video game business, Nintendo's backlog of characters and games is vast. The 1980s alone introduced a majority of Nintendo's most iconic heroes. However, not all stuck, and many has-beens fell by the wayside with the decline of 8-bit gaming. Nowhere is this better represented than in late-life NES mascot and StarTropics hero, Mike Jones.


Mike sporting his signature weapon of choice, the Island Yo-yo.

Created by leading Nintendo engineer and Punch-Out!! creator Genyo Takeda, Mike, an all-American high school baseball player from Seattle, is the unassuming star of the StarTropics series. A boy of famous ties, his uncle is world-renowned archeologist Dr. Steve Jones, who, upon hearing word of Mike's graduation from high school, invites him out on a vacation to the Southern tropics, where he's been investigating an ancient cipher. Things would soon go awry however, as, upon arriving in the islands, Mike is informed by the natives that his uncle has mysteriously vanished. Equipped with a powerful yo-yo for self-defense, his uncle's personal sub, and the courage of the Southern stars, Mike embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of Dr. J's abduction.

These events set the stage for StarTropics, a story-driven action-adventure RPG reminiscent in gameplay to the Zelda series, and the only internally-developed Nintendo game never released in Japan. Variety is the name of the game in StarTropics; as its marketing emphasizes, each chapter has a new puzzle to solve, be it navigating the maze-like insides of a whale, decoding a parrot's musical riddle, or even dipping the game's physical packaging in water to reveal a secret code. StarTropics was ahead of its time in doing away with archaic "level" structuring and establishing a freeform style that allowed for more sophisticated storytelling, something scarcely seen on the NES. Certainly, this focus on dynamic gameplay and story is what sets it apart from most arcade-minded fare of the time, and is one reason the series continues to attract new fans to this day.

Upon its early 1991 release, StarTropics was met with critical acclaim. Many, Nintendo included, expected it to be the biggest hit since The Legend of Zelda. However, despite the positive critical response, the stars hadn't aligned for Mike Jones. Thanks to the game's ill-timed release date, it came right as the NES was being phased out and the Super Nintendo was moving in -- a fatal blow to the game's consumer base. Additionally, brand recognition was a major problem for StarTropics, as, being a brand new franchise, it was much more difficult to market than sequels to pre-established games, something Nintendo often relied on near the end of the NES's mainstream life.


Nintendo Power seems to agree.

Ultimately, StarTropics made underwhelming returns for Nintendo. Plans for a sequel were given the boot in 1991, and it seemed to many that Nintendo had quietly put an end to the franchise as years wore on. Fortunately, StarTropics fans would get their wish in 1994 with the revival of once-canned sequel Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II -- so named for the first game's twist antagonist, Zoda -- finally completed and released as an NES filler title in the console's dying breaths. Unsurprisingly, however, this would mark the end of the franchise.
As the lowest-grossing Nintendo IP in history and the only never released in Japan, StarTropics is, technically, the most obscure Nintendo franchise ever created. Despite its status as a major first-party NES release, it remains one of the extremely few Nintendo games which has never been referenced in any other game since, including the Smash series. Truly, few to none have been as utterly forgotten as Mike Jones. Though doubtful, many hold on to hope that the character might someday return to his rightful place as a Nintendo mascot.




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A Regional Dilemma



To better understand the circumstances surrounding StarTropics in Japan, we first need to dive into the history of the game and its creators.

By the late eighties, four "research and development" divisions had been established at Nintendo: R&D1, which developed the bulk of the company's software; R&D2, which designed the Famicom and developed ports; R&D3, responsible for tech and hardware, as well as a few games; and R&D4, the personal team of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Genyo Takeda, an engineer who joined Nintendo in the early 70s and designed some of the company's first games, reigned over R&D3, the smallest and techiest of the divisions. Though often overlooked for their small software output, R&D3 was a vital asset to Nintendo. They produced several pieces of tech wizardry for the company, such as the Famicom & NES's "save battery" cartridge technology, among other chips that bolstered the power of the console.


Takeda inspecting an "Ultra 64" prototype, ca. 1995.

In 1983, Takeda and his team were assigned to their first game development project, an arcade title required to use two display monitors simultaneously. Takeda, long enamored with American culture and the Western market, settled on an American sport for the game's premise: boxing. In collaboration with Shigeru Miyamoto, who provided designs for the game's numerous characters, the project developed into Punch-Out!!, which would quickly become one of Nintendo's greatest arcade hits, as well as their first aimed primarily at American audiences.

Given the success of the arcade game, a Famicom port was inevitable. However, Takeda and his team had a problem -- while Miyamoto and an outsourced animation studio assisted with production of Punch-Out!!'s character graphics, R&D3 was comprised entirely of engineers and programmers, devoid of artists or designers outside of Takeda himself, meaning development of the Famicom version would require new talent. Their solution came in young graphic designer Makoto Wada, a new hiree assigned to R&D3 in 1986.

Under the wing of Takeda, Wada adapted the large, expressive character sprites of the arcade original to the Famicom, creating one of the most stunning visual presentations ever seen on the console up to that point. Additionally, Wada provided designs for two very important additions to the Famicom version of Punch-Out!!, Little Mac and his trainer, Doc Louis. Takeda and Wada developed a close working relationship over the course of the game's production.


Wada never left game development -- as a scriptwriter for the Animal Crossing
series, he still works at Nintendo.

Like its arcade counterpart, Punch-Out!! was clearly geared towards American audiences in its utilization of real-life boxer and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. In fact, unlike the rest of the world, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! only saw limited release in Japan in the form of a special gold-plated cartridge, awarded as a prize for a Famitsu contest.

Upon its 1987 US release, the game was wildly successful. Selling 3 million copies by the end of the NES's life, Punch-Out!! proved Takeda's belief that games designed specifically for the Western market could succeed just as well as their Japanese counterparts. Nevertheless, Takeda felt that the concept could be pushed further -- the Punch-Out!! series had merely been a test. His next project, once again in collaboration with Wada, would be their biggest, baddest, most ambitious foray into the Western market yet.

Enter StarTropics. In 1989, the Zelda series was still Nintendo's most popular franchise among Western audiences -- it was clear to Takeda that adventure games were the future, and he felt Nintendo wasn't capitalizing on the genre as much as they ought to. Thus, Takeda went to work designing his very own Americanized take on the adventure RPG, using Miyamoto's The Legend of Zelda as foundation. Development began somewhat unusually, as, rather than simply laying out a premise and then focusing on game design, Takeda produced an English screenplay detailing the plot & characters, a first for the video game medium. This unprecedented focus on story would contribute strongly to the final game's cinematic qualities.

Having a personal interest in American culture and entertainment, Takeda was heavily influenced by Hollywood sci-fi and action cinema during the writing process for StarTropics. The game contains a number of references to Indiana Jones, such as the multiple exotic action setpieces modeled after the films, as well as the namesake of Mike's thrillseeking archeologist uncle, Dr. Jones. Alien was an influence as well, particularly in the 2nd form of Zoda, which Wada designed in the likeness of the Xenomorph.


This preliminary design sketch depicts Zoda quite differently from the final game.

By mid-1990, StarTropics was well into development and nearing its deadline. Unfortunately, due to the scope of the game, R&D3 needed more time, and it was ultimately delayed -- a decision that would seal its fate as a commercial flop and ensure the game would never see additional release in Japan, as the Super Famicom was already out. Even so, Takeda, expecting great things from the game, was already pitching ideas for a sequel. Later that year, Takeda brought on two writers from Nintendo of America, George Sinfield and Brian Ullrich, to help write the game. Over the next several months, Takeda and his writers collaborated on a screenplay for what would eventually become Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II.

Upon StarTropics's disappointing performance in 1991, however, work on Zoda's Revenge was seemingly shelved due to concerns that it would befall the same fate as the first game. Little is known of the game's development past this point, but it's assumed that it had been canceled until 1994, when Nintendo released a small series of filler titles to move the last of their NES 2/NES Toploader stock, Zoda's Revenge being among them. Wada, taking over as creative director for the team, filled in for Takeda as director, as Takeda was occupied with development of the Nintendo 64 at this time.

Zoda's Revenge would be the penultimate game in R&D3's game development career, 1996's Pilotwings 64 being their final. Afterward, Takeda moved on to work strictly as a hardware designer and later as the company's head tech adviser until his retirement in 2017.
Wada relocated to other teams, where he took up scriptwriting. He still works at Nintendo to this day, as the last remaining relic of the StarTropics series. Interestingly, in a 2008 "Iwata Asks"
interview, Wada appears to hesitate when asked which games he had previously worked on at R&D3, decidedly avoiding any mention of the series.






StarTropics holds an extremely odd place in Nintendo history. Due to its origins as what was essentially a regional marketing experiment handled by a very small, confined group of people at Nintendo (R&D3), most of whom are no longer involved with game development, it's little wonder that no conversations about reviving the series or even referencing it have come up in the 25 years since the franchise was put to rest. However, to say that Nintendo has seemingly singled it out as an "unmentionable" despite the troves of other, less revered games that continue to get Super Smash Bros. references would be an understatement; to this day, absolutely no mention of StarTropics or anything to do with it has ever been made in the original Japanese version of a Nintendo game. As far as Japan is concerned, it never existed. Nintendo of America has been the sole provider of StarTropics acknowledgment, with Virtual Console re-releases on the Wii and Wii U, the inclusion of the first game in the NES Classic Edition, and an obligatory listing of both games in the localized version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl's "chronicle".

This raises one big question: why? While the series may only be recognized by American audiences as a classic, this doesn't justify its complete ostracization. Nintendo has been more than happy to reference Japan-exclusive games in the West, most notably in the inclusion of Mother 3 protagonist Lucas in the Smash series, but the opposite has been true of Western titles. It seems somewhat unfair to create an unlevel playing field between America and Japan since, while Japan may be Nintendo's primary audience, the US represents an extremely important pillar of the company and a large portion of their audience ever since the 80s. In many ways, it's an interesting commentary on the contrasting philosophies of Genyo Takeda and Nintendo; Takeda's prime goal as a game developer was to establish the US as an equal to the Japanese market, something that's never been pursued since.

Besides StarTropics, Nintendo's treatment of other games from Takeda and R&D3 also raises some eyebrows. Pilotwings 64, created as a launch title for the Nintendo 64 and overseen by Miyamoto, was developed primarily in Japanese unlike many of R&D3's titles, and did ultimately see release in Japan. Nevertheless, Makoto Wada managed to sneak in a character of Western origin, Nintendo Power's Nester, to "universalize" its appeal. Lo and behold, Pilotwings 64 has never been referenced since, and is one of the very few N64 titles in Nintendo's library which has been consistently ignored for a Virtual Console re-release -- a very curious pattern. Additionally, in 2016, Punch-Out!! was strangely excluded from the Famicom Classic Edition, despite its presence on the NES version in North America.

Though it may seem contrived that Nintendo might have some sort of internal agenda against Takeda's Westernized games, it's certainly a possibility, since, outside of the "no Western-only releases can ever be acknowledged in Japan" rule, there is no better explanation for why the works of R&D3 in particular have been consistently ignored time and time again. Even Punch-Out!! has suffered from this, despite its presence in non-Western territories; hadn't the series been rebooted by Next Level Games, it's unlikely that the series ever would have been seen again, let alone made it into Smash. StarTropics fans can only hope for a similar miracle if the series is ever to break free of its Western bondage. Until that point, Mike Jones and co. will likely remain tucked away with the rest of Nintendo's forgotten heroes.



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Making the Case for Mike



Of the few patterns to character selection that have been present in every single roster since Melee, the "retro rep" slot is perhaps the most coveted of all in Smash. Given its ability to bring nearly any Nintendo franchise back from the grave, few spots are as highly contested as the retro rep, particularly among Japan-only characters such as Takamaru of The Mysterious Murasame Castle or Joy Mech Fight's Sukapon. Amid such a diverse selection of classic characters, it may be difficult, then, to understand what all's so special about Mike "Captain America" Jones.

At first glance, Mike will appear to many to be nothing more than a Ness clone, given their eerily similar traits. Under the surface, however, the intentions of the characters are quite different; where Ness is a Peanuts-esque parody of American culture, Mike, much like his predecessor Little Mac, is a sincere celebration of it. A love letter to Hollywood's favorite "underdog kid" character archetype, Mike is the definitive representation of American culture and a perfect foil to the troves of fantasy-based characters that make up Smash. As the only US-exclusive Nintendo hero, Mike's addition would not only break new ground, but greatly expand the horizons of the Smash series going forward.

In addition to his unique place among Nintendo heroes as the number one "American guy", Mike also checks off one of the most difficult boxes for a retro character: personality. Considering the often primitive origins of arcade-era heroes, many characters of the time tend to lack a well-defined personality, design, or general set of traits beyond weapons & abilities. Fortunately, Mike manages to subvert these expectations entirely. Thanks to the rich characterization and storytelling of the StarTropics series, Mike is a fully-realized hero who, unlike the typical "silent protagonist", has his very own dialogue and character arc. There's a reason the player's name isn't stamped onto Mike -- clever, quirky, and always raring for a thrill, Mike is no blank slate.


Unlike many Nintendo oldies, the ever-eccentric Mike is still as brimming with personality as he was back in 1991.

Of course, Mike's character is only the tip of the iceberg; perhaps his greatest strength as a retro character comes from his gargantuan moveset potential. While many retro reps suffer from a lack of source material beyond one or two signature abilities, Mike's rich personality is complemented by a massive arsenal of weapons, tools, and unique gameplay mechanics spanning his two NES adventures.
For instance, StarTropics makes use of a health-based power system. Relative to Mike's current health, the range and attack power of his weapon will decrease as he takes damage. At his strongest, Mike wields the Supernova; after taking a little damage, the Shooting Star; and at his weakest, the short-ranged Island Yo-yo. In Smash, this risk-reward mechanic would function as an opposite to Lucario's "Aura", as Mike's yo-yo attacks weaken relative to his percentage.


In addition to the health mechanic, one of StarTropics's defining features lies in its use of grid-based delayed movement. Upon tapping a direction on the D-pad, Mike won't immediately begin moving -- instead, he'll simply face that direction without moving from his current position. Only by holding down the direction will he start walking. This allows Mike to, while moving from one space on the grid to another, turn and attack in several different directions as he maneuvers around enemies, giving battles a more methodical, strategy-based feel. This might be represented in Smash by slippery ground control as well as the ability to turn in midair without halting his forward momentum, granting Mike stronger zoning capabilities than the average fighter.


In StarTropics
, Mike could turn while hopping or walking to counterattack foes from any angle.

With a bevy of weapons at his disposal, there are an innumerable amount of different ways Mike could be realized as a fighter. In his original adventure, Mike's weapons included a trademark combat yo-yo & morning star, horsehide baseballs, a baseball bat, pair of cleats, bolas, and much more. During the time-hopping quest of Zoda's Revenge, Mike also obtains several period-specific weapons, such as a caveman's axe, an Egyptian dagger, and throwing stars, as well as a psychic shockwave projectile.

Naturally, the yo-yo is an obvious pick for Mike's primary weapon. Being a prodigy at baseball, Mike combines his skills as a pitcher with conventional yo-yo tricks to "pitch" it full-force at his opponents, to an effect similar to that of Simon Belmont's whip. As damage knockback is nonexistent in the StarTropics series, this also entails that yo-yo attacks deal little knockback, offset by high speed that allows Mike to rushdown his opponents in the same manner as the original games. To compensate for low kill power, a roundhouse swing from Mike's trusty baseball bat may do the trick, while the horsehide keeps his foes at bay.


With dozens of tools and gizmos, Mike brings a lot to the table for Smash
.

Beyond his strengths as a potential fighter, the greatest calling for Mike's addition, perhaps, simply stems from the rich history of StarTropics and its individuality from so many other franchises in the Nintendo legacy. Most retro reps of the Smash series have some sort of historical significance -- for instance, Ice Climbers represent the "Black Box" Famicom line, Mr. Game & Watch harkens back to Nintendo's very first handhelds, R.O.B. and Duck Hunt both signify Famicom accessories, etc. -- which, being Nintendo's first and last American character from their only US-exclusive series, Mike certain qualifies for.
While there may be a near endless amount of great candidates for the retro rep spot, many of whom don't have much going for them beyond moveset potential. Mike, on the other hand, not only works excellently as a fighter, but also brings along with him a criminally overlooked series which represents a part of Famicom-era history not yet repped in Smash: games made for the American market. Much like Smash did for Western audiences with the Mother series, Mike would also introduce Japanese fans to a rare piece of Nintendo history previously unknown to them.


Despite being so highly qualified for the retro rep slot, many of these qualifications also mark Mike's downfall. Nintendo seems to blacklist any mention of games released exclusively in the West, as, of the few internally developed Nintendo games that fall into this category -- namely Gumshoe, Balloon Kid, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, and, of course, the StarTropics series -- none of them have ever been referenced in another Nintendo game since, including the Smash series. Unless this odd prejudice against acknowledging Western games is lifted, which seems more and more unlikely as time goes on, there's little to no chance that a character like Mike, regardless of his many merits, will ever be considered for Smash.
If not a case of outright prejudice, it's also possible that Japanese Nintendo teams simply aren't aware of the existence of the series, as, unlike Nintendo of America, there likely isn't any sort of archival evidence that the games even existed beyond word of mouth from ex-R&D3 employees, who, with the exception of StarTropics character designer Makoto Wada, aren't involved with game development anymore, let alone Smash. This theory is further supported by the absence of any StarTropics representation in Ultimate's "Spirits" feature, which was supposedly put together by a special sect of the Smash team that researched Nintendo's release history to an extreme degree.


All things considered, Mike's only realistic chance of being considered for Smash lies in fan support. Given the influence it's had on Ultimate's character selection, as well as its proven ability to bring even the most forgotten characters back from the grave, there remains a small chance that, with the combined efforts of fan outcry and Nintendo of America as a messenger, Mike Jones might someday get his chance at Nintendo all-stardom. The road to success may be long, but it certainly isn't impossible; with one of the oldest and largest dedicated fandoms of any retro Nintendo franchise, Mike has maintained a small, yet steadily growing support base ever since the Brawl era. As the "Kremling Kutthroat" campaign proved, anything is possible in the age of social media.



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Movesets, Music, & More



The following is a collection of purely fanon fighters, stages, trophies, songs, and Spirits illustrating how StarTropics might function in Smash, devised by yours truly. I can't guarantee any of this will ever see completion, but I may chisel away at it every once in a while.

If you'd like to have your own ideas added, just say the word!


WIP

WIP

WIP

Note: Written to fit Brawl's trophy format.




Mike Jones

A 15-year-old high school baseball player from Seattle and the nephew of famous archeologist Dr. Jones. After his vacation to the tropics was cut short by the disappearance of his uncle, Mike set out to unravel the mystery, sending him on a wild tropical adventure. A master of improvisation, Mike utilizes many unusual tools in battle, among them a yoyo, mirror, and pair of cleats.

  • NES StarTropics (US and Europe Only)
  • NES Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II (US Only)




Southern Cross

Mike’s Final Smash. This mystical constellation of the Southern skies watches over Mike from afar, instilling him with courage and power. When Mike uses the Smash Ball, the Southern Cross channels its energy into a devastating beam of light. Watch your aim – it only lasts a moment!

  • Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl




Zoda

An evil being of many forms and powers, Zoda is the leader of a militaristic alien nation bent on intergalactic domination. His attempts to wipe out the last of the Argonian people landed him on earth, where he was continually thwarted by Mike Jones. Like his appearance, much of Zoda’s past remains shrouded in mystery, but he’ll risk anything for a chance at revenge.

  • NES StarTropics (US and Europe Only)
  • NES Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II (US Only)




Zoda-Z

Zoda’s Final Smash. In a surge of power, Zoda loses the cloaked visage and bulks up to reveal his unmasked form, a hulking humanoid with reptilian features. He can perform two attacks in this state: a drill-like spinning move, and a bolt of lightning. Once time’s up, Zoda will turn back to normal.

  • NES Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II (US Only)




Island Yo-yo

Mike’s weapon of choice, gifted to him by Chief Coralcola. A powerful relic passed down by generations on C-Island, many are deceived by its toy-like appearance – don’t be fooled!
In Super Smash Bros., Mike instead wields the longer-ranged Supernova at the start of a battle. After sustaining at least 30% damage, it reverts to the Island Yo-yo again, so take advantage of the increased power while it lasts.

  • NES StarTropics (US and Europe Only)




Mica

The eldest daughter of Hirocon and princess of planet Argonia. When Zoda waged war on the Argonians, Hirocon foresaw defeat and sent his children away to earth – Mica included – in time-frozen cubes. Zoda sought out the children but was intercepted by earthling Mike Jones, who Mica would later assist telepathically during the quest to find her father. She’s implied to have feelings for Mike.

  • NES StarTropics (US and Europe Only)
  • NES Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II (US Only)

WIP

StarTropics Series
Mike Jones


FIGHTER: :ultrichter:(Alt. 6)
STAGE: Tortimer Island
SONG: Dungeon / Title
SPIRIT TYPE: Primary/Attack (★★☆☆ 1,991 Power)
EQUIP ABILITY: Undamaged Attack ↑ (Increases attack power while at 0% damage.)

Conditions
  • The enemy favors Side Smash attacks
  • The enemy starts the battle with a Banana Gun
  • No one knows how to swim




StarTropics Series
Zoda


FIGHTERS: :ultganondorf:(Alt. 5) :ultridley:(Alt. 3) :ultfalco:(Alt. 5) :ultmewtwo:(Alt. 8)
STAGE: Frigate Orpheon
SONG: Captain Bell's Memorial / Alien Spaceship
SPIRIT TYPE: Primary/Attack (★★★☆ 2,580 Power)
EQUIP ABILITY: Can be enhanced at Lv. 99 (Zoda-Z)

Conditions
  • The enemy is giant
  • Dangerously high winds are in effect
  • Reinforcements will appear after an enemy is KO'd





StarTropics Series
Zoda-Z


(Obtained by upgrading a Zoda Spirit)
SPIRIT TYPE: Primary/Attack (★★★★ 4,185 Power)
EQUIP ABILITY: Screw Attack Equipped (Start battles with a Screw Attack. Attack with your jumps. )





StarTropics Series
Dr. Steve Jones


FIGHTERS: :ultdoc:(Alt. 6) :ultrob:(Alt. 5)
STAGE: Wuhu Island (Cruiser)
SONG: Dungeon / Title
SPIRIT TYPE: Support/Shield (★★☆☆ 1,776 Power)
EQUIP ABILITY: Swimmer (Grants the ability to stay in water indefinitely.)

Conditions
  • The enemy starts the battle with a Steel Diver
  • Defeat the main fighter to win





StarTropics Series
Mica


FIGHTER: :ultzelda:(Alt. 2) :ultyounglink:x6 (Alt. 2)
STAGE: Mario Galaxy
SONG: Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II Retro Medley
SPIRIT TYPE: Support/Grab (★☆☆☆ 747 Power)
EQUIP ABILITY: PSI Attack ↑ (Slightly increases the power of Ness's and Lucas's PSI attacks.)
Conditions
  • Defeat an army of fighters



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Support List



Oddball
Megadoomer
smashkirby
Ura
shinhed-echi
Arcadenik
Erucidator
NonSpecificGuy
Freduardo
zack4812
SBBCandidates
GoodGrief741
SmashKeks
Phoebee
EmceeEspio
JamesDNaux
King9999
Mr.J
Kevandre
SquashiniKun
SEGAGameBoy
smash puffle
Isaac: Venus Adept
Gallowglass
Organization XIII
Stompman
Mc.Rad
Dreamking
Good Guy Giygas
Meandpikachu
solitonmedic
TriMaxTime
Dixie Kong
psb123
thirsty-pocket
Primid
darkcat1
Rubberfrog
liquidmetalslime
OpticalBlast
PigmaskColonel

Putuk
ChronoBound
amazonevan19
TempahRelapse
OnyanRings
SonicSmasher1
Quidohmi




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And Remember...





Under the Southern Cross, anything is possible!



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Megadoomer

Moderator
Moderator
Writing Team
Joined
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Messages
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While the Star Tropics games are harder than I expected (I can't get past the lava boss for the first game, and the controls are a bit slippery for the second), he's still one of the three retro characters that I'd really like to see in Smash, so count me in for supporting him!
 

Oddball

Smash Lord
Joined
Oct 1, 2016
Messages
1,811
So, for Mike, do you prefer the T-shirt look form the first game or the jacket from the second?

I'm for the shirt myself.

I'd also like one of his possible color schemes to put him in a Hawaiian shirt.
 
D

Deleted member

Guest
So, for Mike, do you prefer the T-shirt look form the first game or the jacket from the second?

I'm for the shirt myself.

I'd also like one of his possible color schemes to put him in a Hawaiian shirt.
Seeing how Cloud and Bayo have costumes for their original and modern appereances, i don't think it's too crazy to think that Mike could have both costumes.

But if i had to choose one, i would say his look from the first game since most people are more familiar with the first game.
 

smashkirby

Smash Hero
Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
6,979
Location
Smashville
I support Mike! Honestly, it still saddens me how he hasn't even gotten a trophy in Smash. I wonder if that whole Western presence thing is really hurting him like many say...
 

Ura

Smash Legend
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
12,838
Switch FC
SW-2772-0149-6703
So, for Mike, do you prefer the T-shirt look form the first game or the jacket from the second?

I'm for the shirt myself.

I'd also like one of his possible color schemes to put him in a Hawaiian shirt.
Definitely the jacket from the second game. It gives Mike a much cooler vibe to him aesthetically. Although I would definitely have his t-shirt design as his alt.

Also please put me on the supporter list. I very much support Mr. Jones' inclusion to Smash Bros. He deserves the retro spot in the next Smash Bros game.
 
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shinhed-echi

Smash Hero
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
5,636
Location
Ecuador - South America
NNID
punchtropics
3DS FC
5301-0890-0238
I've always supported Mike. And I always will. He's my #1 most wanted character in Smash always.

I've made 2 threads about him in the past, but I didn't feel like making a 3rd. I'm so glad someone else did!

Now, I being with me, my own "render".
It's like 10 years Old, but I think it still holds up. (Based on his ZR look).



Also, did I miss it, or did you not mention that StarTropics was a proud inclusion of the NES Classic Mini? That has to count for something!
 
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D

Deleted member

Guest
I've always supported Mike. And I always will. He's my #1 most wanted character in Smash always.

I've made 2 threads about him in the past, but I didn't feel like making a 3rd. I'm so glad someone else did!

Now, I being with me, my own "render".
It's like 10 years Old, but I think it still holds up. (Based on his ZR look).



Also, did I miss it, or did you not mention that StarTropics was a proud inclusion of the NES Classic Mini? That has to count for something!
You missed it:

After the release of Zoda's revenge, the series has also been dormant for over 20 years, with the only things done with the franchise are the re-releases of the games on the Wii Virtual Console (the VC release of Startropics 2 was the first time Europe got the game) and Startropics 1 beign included in the NES Classic

I suppose i mentioned in a way that it seemed like it wasn't an important thing, but i actually think Startropics 1 on the Classic Edition was quite the achievement and that's why i mentioned it.

Anway, added to the support list.​
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Arcadenik

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Messages
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I support Mike Jones for Smash 5. StarTropics was included in the NES Classic Edition... so Nintendo didn’t completely forget about him.
 

Oddball

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What do these alts reference?
The top four are all various sprites and official arts.

The red/orange with the triangle is the color and pattern he wore when dressing up as a girl.

The last three are really just me messing around. I just thought shooting star and palm tree shirts fit the character and I also wanted one of him in a Hawaiian shirt.
 

Ura

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The top four are all various sprites and official arts.

The red/orange with the triangle is the color and pattern he wore when dressing up as a girl.

The last three are really just me messing around. I just thought shooting star and palm tree shirts fit the character and I also wanted one of him in a Hawaiian shirt.
Sweet. I like him having a shirt with his series logo as an alt.
I support Mike Jones for Smash 5. StarTropics was included in the NES Classic Edition... so Nintendo didn’t completely forget about him.
I don't think it means much but maybe just maybe Startropics will get revived one day.

With Nintendo saying "non-traditional IP" are on the way in 2018 then maybe there's a chance for Mikey. Just maybe.

*cross all your fingers and toes*
 

shinhed-echi

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I think it would have meant more if ST has been added ti the Famicom Mini. But japanese are very protective of their past, so having that instead of any other game from their childhood would have been sacrilegeous.

I like those outfits! Particularly the red one, not only because he uses that color/pattern when he's disguised as a girl, but also, because that's the color and pattern used for the Island chieves. (They Even have rugs designed that way).

Also, I would have added a yellow shirt one for when he gets the anklet. But these are pretty good. Digging the in-game palette one.
 
D

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You know, i always wondered.

If Startropics got the Kid Icarus treatment (beign included in Smash and then got a new game) how would they bring it back?

Kid Icarus was like a Sister game to Metroid, and yet Uprising was completely distinct from what came before. This makes me believe that there are 2 options:

1.An old school game with modern graphics but with the same gameplay from previous installments, similar to New Super Mario Bros, A Link Between Worlds and DKC Returns.

2.A brand new style of gameplay that takes a more "modern approach". Maybe a third person action adventure similar to 3D's Zelda games pre-BOTW, with more focus on Platforming and Combat instead of just Puzzle Solving.

What option do you think they would take? and option would you prefer?

Anyway, have some sweet Startropics music remix while discussing:
 
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Oddball

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I'd like the old school approach more myself. They will need to tweak the controlls a tad though.
 

Erucidator

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Zoda's Revenge is one of my favorite games, so of course I'd love to see Mike make it into Smash. I'm surprised he isn't getting a lot of love. I'd like to see him use his many weapons and psychic abilities in his move set, the only thing I worry about is that he has may come off like Ness. Nevertheless, I think the should be able to differentiate the two from each other. You have my support.
 

Ura

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You know, i always wondered.

If Startropics got the Kid Icarus treatment (beign included in Smash and then got a new game) how would they bring it back?

Kid Icarus was like a Sister game to Metroid, and yet Uprising was completely distinct from what came before. This makes me believe that there are 2 options:

1.An old school game with modern graphics but with the same gameplay from previous installments, similar to New Super Mario Bros, A Link Between Worlds and DKC Returns.

2.A brand new style of gameplay that takes a more "modern approach". Maybe a third person action adventure similar to 3D's Zelda games pre-BOTW, with more focus on Platforming and Combat instead of just Puzzle Solving.

What option do you think they would take? and option would you prefer?

Anyway, have some sweet Startropics music remix while discussing:
I would go with Option 2 IMO.

I feel that the Startropics of the early 90's wouldn't translate well in today's age. I think Startropics as a 3D-esque action adventure game is a much better fit for the series. What you described basically was Megaman Legends which I think would work great for Startropics. That and the fact that I happen to love Megaman Legends lol.
 

NonSpecificGuy

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Wow, I can't believe it's taken me this long to get around to this thread. I used to support Mike to the end with shinhed-echi shinhed-echi during Sm4sh Speculation. Put me down as a supporter. It's been too long.
 

shinhed-echi

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I would go with Option 2 IMO.

I feel that the Startropics of the early 90's wouldn't translate well in today's age. I think Startropics as a 3D-esque action adventure game is a much better fit for the series. What you described basically was Megaman Legends which I think would work great for Startropics. That and the fact that I happen to love Megaman Legends lol.
Yes!!! I can't believe I'm not the only one who thinks Megaman Legends style would fit a modern-day StarTropics perfectly!

Like the dungeons being mostly where all the adrenaline rush occurs, and you can chill in the overworld.

Not to mention things like upgrading weapons, equipment, etc.

Wow, I can't believe it's taken me this long to get around to this thread. I used to support Mike to the end with shinhed-echi shinhed-echi during Sm4sh Speculation. Put me down as a supporter. It's been too long.
Yeah, boiii! Glad to see you again!
I believe we have a pixel higher chance than before thanks to the NES Classic. But it's still fun to speculate regateros of chances. :)
 

Ura

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Yes!!! I can't believe I'm not the only one who thinks Megaman Legends style would fit a modern-day StarTropics perfectly!

Like the dungeons being mostly where all the adrenaline rush occurs, and you can chill in the overworld.

Not to mention things like upgrading weapons, equipment, etc.
Just talking about this really makes me want Megaman Legends-esque Startropics.

Maybe one day. Kid Icarus got revived out of the blue as well after a 20 something year hiatus granted KI is a Japanese IP and Startropics is a western one.
 

Freduardo

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Support.

These two games are amazing and I would kill for a 16 bit snes styled third one.
 
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shinhed-echi

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If Mike got in Smash, I would drop every other character in a heartbeat.

I'm glad that at least suggesting him doesn't come across as too weird anymore.

Johnny Atma also featured the Dungeon music in his 5th NES Medley cover.

I guess ST's presence in the NES Classic is starting to pay off?
 

zack4812

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He's still my number 1 choice as a newcomer and is probably the best NES character to make a moveset out of, but does Sakurai even know about the StarTropics franchise?
 

Yomi's Biggest Fan

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GameXplain would like to see StarTropics revived.


Though their proposal is more that StarTropics should take traditional Zelda's place for the future because of Breath of the Wild being the new standard for Zelda. Would any of you agree with this or would you rather have StarTropics be its own thing?
 

Ura

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I would prefer Megaman Legends-esque Startropics personally.

Though you can't go wrong with either.
 

GoodGrief741

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Whoo boy, just recently beat StarTropics after trying and giving up for years. Mike has some great potential. He’s a long shot, but one I’m willing to root for.
 
D

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For all of you Mike Supporters out there, here's a Mike for Smash 5* signature icon! made by Golden Icarus.


*yes i know Sakurai said Smash Wii U is Smash 5 but whatever.
 
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SmashKeks

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I'm gonna be honest, the NES rep I'm rooting for is Takamaru, but Mike Jones is a close second; at least he's certainly among my top three. Put me down for Mike Jones support, I wouldn't be mad if he made it; in fact I'd be pretty hyped (as I am with all new character reveals, but you know what I mean.).
 

Phoebee

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I'd love to see Mike in smash (and a new startropics game, come on Nintendo)! I feel like he's somewhat likely--his main competition is Takamaru. Balloon Fighter feels like a likely retro as an Iwata tribute and one more retro character doesn't feel unlikely. Mike and Takamaru feel like the most obvious other choices, and I hope they both get in, if that's possible!
 

EmceeEspio

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Count me in too, I'd love to see StarTropics come back.

I'm a major supporter of the revival of both StarTropics and Murasame Castle as franchises.
 

King9999

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Mike Jones was my #1 pick for Smash 4, and now he's my #1 pick for Smash 5. There's a lot of material to work with between the 2 games.

I hope that StarTropics not being released in Japan wouldn't remove Mike from consideration. He's very much a part of Nintendo history, and it would be a shame if he didn't get any representation.
 
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Mr.J

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Now usually when it comes to retro characters, I have a select set of characters.
But lately, I've been supportive of most retro characters. And in fact Mike Jones has been in one of my previous wishlists in the past, during the development for Super Smash Bros 4. So without a doubt, I'd be happy to support him once again. Seeing how long he's been gone for, I can't help but to feel sympathy for the guy. He's had it rough for being a western exclusive Nintendo character.

The thing with him is that his game was never released in Japan, only in North America and Europe, and as for the sequel.
Not even Europe got the chance to get that sequel in psysical form, except later on when it was released on the Wii U virutal console. However, while I do believe his chances are pretty low because of fact that Sakurai has bias when it comes to Japanese exclusive characters, I still think his low chances are better than none. And that goes for most of the retro characters.

So I'm supporting this thread, and hopefully good things will come out of it. Let's hope for the best shall we? And before people compare him to Ness, and say that he's just simply a clone of him with the yo-yo's and the bat etc.... You could just argue that Mike Jones came before Ness. But nevertheless, he's not a clone and he's not a wasted "character slot", he's simply unique and special in his own right.
 
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