“Only Video Game Characters Are Added To Smash!”
There is a game made by Bandai Namco known as Dragon Ball Heroes, and in this game we had the debut of a character known as Xeno Goku. This version of Goku has been marketed as a completely independent version of Goku with a different back story and design. There have been scenarios that pitted Xeno Goku (Video Game) against Dragon Ball Super’s (Anime) Goku. This was done to help distinguish and separate the characters as different entities within the multiverse of the franchise. Xeno Goku has also appeared on two 3DS exclusive titles.
So if the only video game character rule must apply, then perhaps this rendition of Goku can be used to circumvent that rule.
Another argument made against the “video game only characters” includes a few simple facts. There are already characters in Smash Bros who did not originate as video game characters. These characters are R.O.B. who debuted as a piece of hardware for two specific games, in which he was not featured as playable or in a cameo. The second character is Lucario who debuted in an animated Pokémon movie. As noted these two exceptions to the rule already exist, granted they’re first party Nintendo properties.
Another argument is that a trend that Smash 4 established was breaking a bunch of fan rules for a characters inclusion. The most notable of these was Cloud “limits are meant to be broken”. Could this trend possibly carry over into Smash 5? Perhaps, and what rule breaking character would be the most shocking and hype inducing? …Well, Goku.
Another argument is that Goku is possibly the number one candidate for the broken rule as he has appeared in more video games than any other manga/ anime character. Who is the one exception to the rule and could represent fourth party games/ anime games/ manga games (and their impact on the gaming industry as a whole?) Goku.
Goku’s Video Game History With Nintendo
Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom
Dragon Ball: Shenron no Nazo
Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu
Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden
Dragon Ball Z: Kyōshū! Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Freeza
Dragon Ball Z III: Ressen Jinzōningen
Dragon Ball Z: Gekitō Tenkaichi Budōkai
Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin
Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom
Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Totsugeki-Hen
Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Kakusei-Hen
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension
Nintendo GameCube
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2
Dragon Ball Z: Sagas
Battle Stadium D.O.N
Wii
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo
Nintendo Switch
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Game Boy
Cult Jump
Dragon Ball Z: Goku Hishōden
Dragon Ball Z: Goku Gekitōden
Game Boy Color
Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors
Game Boy Advance
Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure
Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors
Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II
Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation
Nintendo DS
Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2
Dragon Ball: Origins
Jump Super Stars
Jump Ultimate Stars
Dr. Slump: Arale-Chan
Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans
Dragon Ball: Origins 2
Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden
Nintendo 3DS
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission
J Legend Retsuden
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission 2
Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butōden
Dragon Ball Fusions
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission X
Dragon Ball: Shenron no Nazo
Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu
Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden
Dragon Ball Z: Kyōshū! Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Freeza
Dragon Ball Z III: Ressen Jinzōningen
Dragon Ball Z: Gekitō Tenkaichi Budōkai
Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin
Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom
Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Totsugeki-Hen
Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Kakusei-Hen
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension
Nintendo GameCube
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2
Dragon Ball Z: Sagas
Battle Stadium D.O.N
Wii
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo
Nintendo Switch
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Game Boy
Cult Jump
Dragon Ball Z: Goku Hishōden
Dragon Ball Z: Goku Gekitōden
Game Boy Color
Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors
Game Boy Advance
Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure
Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors
Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II
Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation
Nintendo DS
Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2
Dragon Ball: Origins
Jump Super Stars
Jump Ultimate Stars
Dr. Slump: Arale-Chan
Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans
Dragon Ball: Origins 2
Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden
Nintendo 3DS
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission
J Legend Retsuden
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission 2
Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butōden
Dragon Ball Fusions
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission X
Other Points of Interest
Funimation the English/ American producer of the Dragon Ball anime tweeted this out;
Nintendo is releasing a special edition gold mini Famicom Classic with just Jump games, and Goku is the poster boy for it. Essentially Goku is the poster boy for a Nintendo console.
Let’s face it when Sakurai said Bayo was the winner out of the realizable characters, we know that meant someone such as Goku likely won the ballot. He may not have been realizable back then, but maybe Goku is now. With Bandai Namco at the helm, and Bandai only getting a single character in Smash 4. Who knows, maybe Goku will make the cut for Smash 5. He could be used to recognize the contributions of Japanese anime and manga on video games as a whole.