Unlockability of Characters Revealed Before Release

[Rouge]

I'm sorry if there's already a thread about this, I couldn't find it if so.

Traditionally, Smash's unlockable characters remain undisclosed to the public until the Japanese release. There are some exceptions, such as Snake and Sonic, but those are understandable since they carried so much hype that Nintendo would have had to be crazy not to use them to sell the game, plus the third party companies needed to be credited, so it was probably impossible to avoid. Otherwise, Nintendo is usually pretty good at keeping secrets (Lucario/Ness/Jigglypuff was an unfortunate exception). Hell, even after Brawl's release in Japan, the Dojo hid all the updates pertaining to unlockable content with spoiler warning for those unwilling to be spoiled.

But this time, the reveals have been kind of random. Characters that have a history of being unlockable (Luigi, Marth, Toon Link) are already confirmed. As of this morning, we have 5 Mario characters, which would be a pretty huge amount to have from the start. Are we getting spoilers this time around? Is Sakurai casually revealing hidden characters this early, or are they actually all going to be starters? I'm kind of torn because either answer kind of contradicts traditions. I don't think that Nintendo officially said anything about it either.

What do you guys think?

 

[moneyfrenzy]

well they need at least some newcomers to help promote the game, but idk why they chose the ones they did (besides mega man).

But maybe you will start out with a ton of veterans and have to unlock the newcomers, opposite of what brawl did

 

[KokiriKory]

It wouldn't surprise me if a handful of the characters already unveiled still have to be unlocked.

What an exciting first week, by the way, brand new smash, and you don't have all the characters. I can't sleep until I get them.

 

[rodough4]

I think they're going to be starters because at this rate of 1 character reveal per month we're looking at 25-30 characters before release, which is I think a reasonable amount because Brawl had 21 starters, Melee had 14, and SSB64 had 8

 

[abrinx77]

Sakurai could change the formula up a bit. He is unpredictable like that. I feel that Megaman and Sonic will be unlockables, like Sonic and Snake in Brawl. I also have a really hard time seeing five Mario characters on the starting roster unless there really is a sixth. Toon Link would also feel weird as a starter, but who knows. Luigi makes sense, considering the year of Luigi and all, and maybe Marth was moved to the starter roster so they can hide a newcomer (or Roy). That's just my two cents.

 

[The Drilling Juggernaut]

I really think the characters shown are going to be available at the start (besides 3rd party characters) I think after Brawl had mostly clones and veterans as unlockable characters they got smart and made most of the veteran clones playable at the start. That in mind I don't see any reason to assume all the characters shown so far are secret characters.

Secret characters being shown to advertise games really doesn't hold water. I mean, yeah they could be showing secret characters to hype other games, but wouldn't it make more sense to decide which characters are going to be available at the start based on which games are coming out? Pick the starter characters based on games coming out, and have secret characters be from obscure titles/series that aren't in the spotlight anymore (AKA make them a legitimate surprise)

 

[Chzrm3]

It's also possible Smash 4 won't have unlockable characters, although that'd make me sad. This is a growing trend in fighting games - the whole roster's unlocked from the start - and since Namco is developing the game, I could see them encouraging Sakurai to do it that way.

Still, that man loves his unlockables. And it's weird to imagine Smash without secret characters. It just wouldn't feel right, somehow. : >

That said, I think it was time for characters like Marth and Luigi to not be secret anymore, haha.

 

[The Drilling Juggernaut]

[COLLAPSE=rant]I can't stand the "everything available at the start" fighting game model. Yes, I know you lose an edge competitively when your main is locked, but unlockable characters gives the game a huge boost in replay value. Just when you think you've done everything a new character shows up and changes everything. Now you want to play as that character against everyone else and fight that character as everyone else. Just when you're about to get tired of it another character is unlocked and the cycle begins anew.

And yes, I know that losing the edge competitively is a big deal, but the amount is ever so slight. At the end of the day wouldn't it be a good thing that you're character is hidden away? You're going to have to work harder (AKA play the game more) to be good at him.[/COLLAPSE]

/rant

 

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

If I were to guess, some of the characters that have been revealed will still end up being unlockables. Luigi and Toon Link might be one of the early unlockables, while Mega Man, Sonic, and Rosalina would be the later unlockables. The Villager and Wii Fit Trainer would be the only starting newcomers.

 

[Ryan.]

I don't know haha, I'm guessing that some of them are still gonna be unlockables, and we just know about them beforehand. It's hard to predict Sakurai.

 

[mygamecube]

Out of who is revealed so far...

Sonic and Megaman should be unlockables. They are third party.

Lot of Mario characters revealed so far...Rosalina and Luigi look to be unlockable material. Luigi more so...just because Sakurai actually stated Luigi is usually an unlockable, but revealed him just because "Year of Luigi" and ish.

Toon Link may be unlockable too, but I'm not to sure. You might get both Links to start off, which seems a bit weird, but no big deal at the same time.

And though Marth has been unlockable in the past two titles, I think he's staple enough to get the starting nod when you boot up the game.

So in a way, I guess everyone else on the site so far...actually makes sense to be available from the get go. I'd be pretty ok with him having most of the veterens ready to go and having to unlock all the newcomers and some other vets.

 

[soviet prince]

I hope he just reveals unlockable characters this time I mean like sakurai said it be on youtube anyway

 

[MasterOfKnees]

I think the characters shown thus far are all starters, maybe with the exception of 3rd parties Mega Man and Sonic.

I can't see why they'd show unlockables and not be clear about it. In the Brawl Dojo they made it so that you could easily avoid spoilers, and given how Sakurai didn't like the SSE cutscenes being spoiled on the internet, it seems like Sakurai hate spoilers. I really think that if Luigi and Toon Link were unlockables Sakurai would have told us clearly so in the daily pictures of their reveals. I'm 100% sure that Rosalina is a starter, otherwise I see no reason for them to not just reveal another newcomer this early on instead.

We might get unlockables announced before release, but that depends on if the release date is so far away that Sakurai can't tie us over with enough starter reveals.

 

[soviet prince]

I think the characters shown thus far are all starters, maybe with the exception of 3rd parties Mega Man and Sonic.

I can't see why they'd show unlockables and not be clear about it. In the Brawl Dojo they made it so that you could easily avoid spoilers, and given how Sakurai didn't like the SSE cutscenes being spoiled on the internet, it seems like Sakurai hate spoilers. I really think that if Luigi and Toon Link were unlockables Sakurai would at least have told us in the daily pictures.

We might get unlockables announced before release, but that depends on if the release date is so far away that Sakurai can't tie us over with enough starter reveals.

well maybe he just figures that hiding it is pointless, and he did hint a luigi being unlockable, I just don't see two links and 5 mario reps being on the starting roster, Also we have to fear that there be no unlockables since most games this day and age do that

 

[Homelessvagrant]

I believe we will still have unlockables, it'll just be a bit different from what we might expect, I think of it kind of like how Brawl's roster had all three Kirby characters unlocked from the start. Meta-knight or Dedede would have made a great unlock able had they not been revealed earlier and at this point why have Marth unlock able when the real surprise is the second FE lord reveal. Why keep the obvious character a secret? Still Ike was revealed early on while Marth was kept a mystery. I honestly don't feel like there will be much direct logic in the decision between lockable and unlock able characters; it's a non-issue anyways.

Though I think the real question being asked right now is what we would lose with a completely unlocked roster. While I love unlocking character personally, I can't say we'd be losing much. The main reason is due to the fact that we still have other variables (stages, items, music, etc.). Either way, at this point I don't care if all the characters are unlocked or not, I know there will be plenty to explore when the game comes out.

 

[KingofPhantoms]

I think Sakurai may have just changed his mind on spoilers this time around.

I highly doubt Luigi and Toon Link of all characters are starters. (espescially Toon Link) This is just seeing as how unlockable characters are a big part of Smash to many, (myself included) personally I just can't see some of these characters as being starters.

 

[YoshiandToad]

I can't shake the feeling that Toon Link, Rosalina and Luigi are prime unlockable characters. Five Mario starters + Wario(most likely), Yoshi(most likely) and DK is going to feel like an overkill of Mario-verse characters right off the bat.

I'll be interested to see if Marth becomes a starter after two games as an unlockable.

 

[Terrazi Terrajin]

I have this hopeful vision in my mind that CF is one of the final reveals and he has a brand new look not seen in any of his existing games.
Or he gets the Super Falcon look from the F Zero X hidden files.

 

[Vintage Creep]

I'm starting to think a lot of newcomers will be unlockable and hence unknown before the release date.

There are a few characters remaining after Brawl that would generate hype so there's no need to confirm their presence (like for example Little Mac). Also I'm sure Sakurai's trying to surprise people this time around.

 

[CrimsonDivine]

Guessing that MM and Rosalina will be unlockable, maybe WFT as well. Villager seems like a nice candidate for a starting character, though.

 

[CrossoverMan]

I agree, I hate it when a fighting game has no unlockable characters. If you're the kind of player who prefers playing by himself (Me ), then there's not really any point in playing the game. Melee and Brawl seemed like an adventure because they had a lot of unlockable characters.

 

[Vintage Creep]

I have this hopeful vision in my mind that CF is one of the final reveals and he has a brand new look not seen in any of his existing games.
Or he gets the Super Falcon look from the F Zero X hidden files.

It would be cool if his new look turns out to be the look he has in F-Zero FX... On WiiU.

 

[foolssigma]

Like some people said. What if the revealed characters, barring MM and Sonic are all starters, and Sakurai simply isn't revealing the unlockables. It is similar to how he stated the Internet ruined SSE. He probably wants it to be a surprise. I'm all for him doing this if it turns out to be true, though it will be difficult to not spoil anything if the characters I want are not in at that point.

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

I hope he just reveals unlockable characters this time I mean like sakurai said it be on youtube anyway

He definatly is after brawl was released in japan he started to reveal unlockable stuff

And as for me on this subject I'm absolutely positive that there will still be unlockable characters.

There's evidence to suggest this

1 sonic and megaman are third parties and in brawl snake and sonic were shown and then they ended up have to be unlocked first probably going to happen again.

2 I highly doubt 5 mario characters will all be starters luigi ben unlockable in all 3. Besides sakurai probably only revealed him for luigi day. And I think rosalina might have to be unlocked i mean I think beating classic with peach could be possible to get her.

3 toon link same think with luigi. Plus add the fact that do you really think both links will be starters. Young link (melees toon link) had to be unlocked also in brawl. And its a little weird if both links are starters.

4 in all 3 smash bros so far all had unlockable content not just characters.

5 this whole wiki shows how unique this is http://www.ssbwiki.com/Unlockable_character

6 do you guys/gals believe in your hearts of hearts sakurai would get rid of this unique thing
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hCi4mIdU54c&desktop_uri=/watch?v=hCi4mIdU54c
Plus I think hes the inventor of unlocking characters by doing a task and then defeating them.

 

[Big-Cat]

[COLLAPSE=rant]I can't stand the "everything available at the start" fighting game model. Yes, I know you lose an edge competitively when your main is locked, but unlockable characters gives the game a huge boost in replay value. Just when you think you've done everything a new character shows up and changes everything. Now you want to play as that character against everyone else and fight that character as everyone else. Just when you're about to get tired of it another character is unlocked and the cycle begins anew.

And yes, I know that losing the edge competitively is a big deal, but the amount is ever so slight. At the end of the day wouldn't it be a good thing that you're character is hidden away? You're going to have to work harder (AKA play the game more) to be good at him.[/COLLAPSE]

/rant

I don't see how you can call unlocking characters replay value. The replay value is in the multiplayer. If you're playing to unlock the characters, you're playing the game for the wrong reasons.

 

[Fatmanonice]

I have a feeling that Luigi will be a starter this time around especially with how they're further differentiating him from Mario. If Street Fighter can have Ryu and Ken despite their similarities, I don't see the problem with having both Mario and Luigi as starters.

 

[CroonerMike]

I believe Megaman and Sonic were shown to boost people to buy the game, either way they will still be unlockable much like Snake and Sonic were in Brawl. Luigi and Toon Link I think will be unlockable as they were only shown for special reasons. Rosalina though I believe will be playable from the start along with the rest. Normally they wouldn't show any secret characters minus third parties. Luigi and the Toonster were special cases though.

 

[IntelliHeath1]

It's also possible Smash 4 won't have unlockable characters, although that'd make me sad. This is a growing trend in fighting games - the whole roster's unlocked from the start - and since Namco is developing the game, I could see them encouraging Sakurai to do it that way.

Still, that man loves his unlockables. And it's weird to imagine Smash without secret characters. It just wouldn't feel right, somehow. : >

That said, I think it was time for characters like Marth and Luigi to not be secret anymore, haha.

I can see that happening only for one main reason, we are getting Smash on 3DS and Wii U. I can guess that Sakurai were concerned that we wouldn't be motivated enough to unlock the roster again on second game.

 

[Chzrm3]

I can see that happening only for one main reason, we are getting Smash on 3DS and Wii U. I can guess that Sakurai were concerned that we wouldn't be motivated enough to unlock the roster again on second game.

Ahh, that's a good point! Hadn't thought of that, but it does make a lot of sense. And now that I'm thinking of it, I could see it being a bit tedious having to unlock everyone on 3DS.

That said, it's always been such an integral part of the initial weeks of a Smash launch. It's weird to imagine just having all the characters, and not having any early goals to strive for.

 

[Vintage Creep]

I can see that happening only for one main reason, we are getting Smash on 3DS and Wii U. I can guess that Sakurai were concerned that we wouldn't be motivated enough to unlock the roster again on second game.

Haven't thought about it, but there's a solution imho: putting simply less unlockable characters (like 10 per versions instead than the 14 in Brawl) and having them being different characters. Like the Wii Fit Trainer could be a starter on the WiiU version, and an unlockable in the 3DS one.
Luigi could be a starter on 3DS due to Dark Moon, but unlockable on WiiU, and so on...

I really don't see Sakurai simply scrapping unlockable characters, it would be a big change in his mentality as a developer imho.

 

[APC99]

I still highly believe that Luigi, Toon Link, Marth, Sonic, Mega Man & Rosalina are unlockable.

A bit off-topic, but I'd like to add this to the conversation: They've never cut a starting character. In Brawl, all 5 characters cut were unlockables. I think that this trend will continue, and the ones that are possibly on the chopping block would be R.O.B., Lucario, Solid Snake and Wolf. The others should be safe.

 

[Vintage Creep]

The five cut characters except Mewtwo were cut simply because they didn't serve any meaningful trait to the roster, let's face it. Sakurai is not going to cut characters who offer an interesting and diverse moveset like R.O.B. just because he's not a fan favorite.
Solid Snake is an exception for obvious reasons.

 

[The Drilling Juggernaut]

I don't see how you can call unlocking characters replay value. The replay value is in the multiplayer. If you're playing to unlock the characters, you're playing the game for the wrong reasons.

...how can you play a game for the wrong reasons...?

 

[NintendoKnight]

I have this hopeful vision in my mind that CF is one of the final reveals and he has a brand new look not seen in any of his existing games.
Or he gets the Super Falcon look from the F Zero X hidden files.

I agree with his Super Falcon design. His outfit looks so sleek.

 

[Fatmanonice]

I still highly believe that Luigi, Toon Link, Marth, Sonic, Mega Man & Rosalina are unlockable.

A bit off-topic, but I'd like to add this to the conversation: They've never cut a starting character. In Brawl, all 5 characters cut were unlockables. I think that this trend will continue, and the ones that are possibly on the chopping block would be R.O.B., Lucario, Solid Snake and Wolf. The others should be safe.

I've thought of this too but, then again, Brawl was the first game with cuts so we don't exactly have a trend to go off of. Also, I strongly doubt ROB will be cut and I'd even argue that he's safer than Ike and Lucas are.

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

I still highly believe that Luigi, Toon Link, Marth, Sonic, Mega Man & Rosalina are unlockable.

A bit off-topic, but I'd like to add this to the conversation: They've never cut a starting character. In Brawl, all 5 characters cut were unlockables. I think that this trend will continue, and the ones that are possibly on the chopping block would be R.O.B., Lucario, Solid Snake and Wolf. The others should be safe.

How many times do we have to tell you people about R.O.B hes way to unquie to be kicked and nearly all of japan loves him

And for the 3ds reason for no unlockables

Not bad of a theory but the solution is simple less unlockable characters

There's 4 in 64, 11 in melee 14 in brawl how about just 12 or 10 in Sm4sh

 

[Vintage Creep]

Also the two versions of the game are going to have connectivity.
Nothing's stopping Sakurai of putting an option which makes a character available on one version once you unlock him in the other.

 

[Pazzo.]

I'd say Rosalina, Megaman, Sonic, and several others will be unlockable... Sakurai is just building hype.

 

[soviet prince]

I hope there revealing secrets this time because I hate to wait to release to know the fate of ridley, king k rool, and mewtwo since there all likely to be unlock-able.

 

[Keeshu]

I think unlockability will be the same as brawl.
As for newcomers:
Sonic and Megaman would be unlockable because 3rd party.
Wii Fit Trainer and Animal Crossing - A weak reason, but because they come from more "casual" games, so these audiences might not want to play a fast paced fighting game enough to unlock these characters, so these will help them get started. Villager is also the character you play as in his game.
Rosalina - Unlockable. Since she's not playable outside of spinoffs (excluding the new mario game, but she's unlockable in that one too), and has only had a major role in super mario galaxy.


I will say though, I was incredibly surprised when I found out that Meta Knight and Dedede were starters. Given how they were either just a boss, or an unlockable in just about every game before return to dreamland. Perhaps Brawl gave Sakurai the idea to make them main characters you can play as in future Kirby games. Which I'd be happy with, and if that's true, that might mean Bandana Dee might get in this game (I'm still skeptical on him being added even though I like him over Kirby and Dedede).

Ike being a starter while Marth remained unlockable was strange as well, but I can see the reasoning as to why it was done this way, to promote more Fire Emblem games. If Ike was added and a new FE rep was in, I would imagine Ike would become an unlockable character. Though, even though I know of lot of people that love Ike, and it's interesting to see a sluggish swordsman, I would imagine that if any character had to leave the roster for time constraints, I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of those characters.