T5T: Characters I Want in Super Smash Bros. Wii-U & 3DS

Top 5 Tuesdays is an article series that focuses on my “top five” anything on a given subject of my choosing that pertains to either gaming, anime, or manga.

With the announcement that there is going to be another Super Smash Bros. game for the Nintendo Wii-U, many people were excited and skeptical (Talk about that in another article) about the next iteration of the series…but this brought about the question everyone is asking, “Who made the cut?”.

In this Top 5 Tuesday’s post I will reveal the characters that I want to be included in Nintendo’s flagship fighter, be they brand new to the fray or a returning veteran.  Hit the jump for the full details!

[ Why I Take an interest in this Game ]

Smash Bros. has been a series I have enjoyed since its debut on the Nintendo 64 with “Super Smash Bros.“, likewise with its iterations of “Super Smash Bros. Melee” for Nintendo GameCube and “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” for Nintendo Wii (Well, it was a disappointment to me since I considered myself a “competitive smasher” at the time, but that is another story).  Naturally I am planning on playing this version as well, but I feel the “hype” for the game will be coming directly from who is all available to play since I have little faith in Masahiro Sakurai (Director and Game Designer of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, creator of the “Kirby” Series, etc.) because of the way that Brawl played out and he how he intentionally made that game to be “non-competitive” (Or at least less “difficult”), which resulted in him putting in things like trip, almost no hit stun, etc. but you and I will talk more about this subject some other time.

The fact is that I have spent years of my life enjoying this game, be it in a casual nature (My entire experience with “Super Smash Bros.” and the first half of my time playing Super Smash Bros. Melee) or a competitive nature (The second half of my time spent Super Smash Bros. Melee and the entirety of my time playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl.).  I want this version to be fun for me and to make up for the time I feel that I wasted playing Smash Bros. Brawl (Although, I do have some good memories.  I did happen to meet four of my friends from playing the game; Noxity, Ryan, Deg, and Dyna).

You can visit HERE to check out the official Super Smash Bros. Wii-U & 3DS site. (Really though, they could came up with a name that did not scream “generic”.  While I realize they were probably planning on using “Battle Royale” (With them using “Melee” and “Brawl” it was naturally the best choice), however, Playstation All-Stars took that first, so how about  “Super Smash Bros. Universe“?  I think that would have worked out quite well had they decided to actually run with it.).

[ The Top 5 Characters ]

Characters are extremely important to me, and unlike many people who will play multiple characters on a serious nature, or are quick to change characters due to the change in the meta-game, I have a severe case of character loyalty (Even from game-to-game in a series or if that characters appears in a different series entirely, such as Cammy White in Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes or Capcom vs SNK 2: Millenium Fight 2000).  For me, having characters I want to play, as long as they are at least partially effective, makes all the difference.

So, without further ado, I bring to you the top 5 characters I want in Super Smash Bros. for Wii-U & 3DS.

New appearance in Bayonetta 2.

Bayonetta was my game-of-the-year for 2010, simply one of the best Hack-n-Slashes I have ever played (Possibly right behind Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening in my opinion).  I loved nearly everything about the game; Over-the-top action, dynamic environments, incredible boss fights, and at the center of it all was the sexual innuendo spitting heroine, Bayonetta.

The game Bayonetta is created by Hideki Kamiya, the person responsible for my favorite gaming series “Devil May Cry“.  Needless to say that she is more-or-less Dante’s spirit embodied in a woman, because of that she is one of the characters makes a mark on you with her stylized summoning of demonic beasts, sensational weapon selections, and cool one-liners (“Flock off feather face” ring a bell”).  I really want her in because I feel her attack diversity would make Super Smash Bros. Wii-U & 3DS more fun, and because Bayonetta 2 will be for the Nintendo Wii-U, I have a strong feeling she has the possibility of making it into the game.   I really enjoy characters with big personalities and Bayo definitely displays hers.  From taunts to smash attacks, from aerials to special moves, and her final smash would be undoubtedly fitting of the theme Smash Bros. is trying to bring in.

The only problem I would see in putting her in is that the aura surrounding her character is highly sexual, and we all know that Nintendo is seen as a family-oriented company with no mature titles as first party IP’s.  I feel like they can easily emit that by different double-edged word choices (“You want to smash me?” instead of “You want to touch me”.  Same meanings but is child proof), gestures and dances for taunts, and making her attacks not take away clothing from her body (Or her hair which she uses for attacks).  All-in-all, I think she would make a great addition despite these obvious obstacles that are embedded to the core of her design, but can be worked around.

Ike is from the series “Fire Emblem”, appearing in the games “Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance” and “Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn“.  Being a protagonist in each of the series pretty much granted him a spot in Super Smash Bros. Brawl; many, including myself, feel as though he was the replacement for Roy since he and Marth had similar move sets (Not to mention Marth was more popular than Roy when it came to tournaments and his ranking on the tier list in comparison).

The reason I want Ike in the game is because I have a soft spot for the guy despite despising how Brawl played in comparison to Melee.  The reason is because he fit how I wanted a character to work; power that seemed to ridiculous compared to how small he is, uses fire on at least one of his moves, all of his taunts were really good (Especially his down taunt), was underestimated,  AND had an awesome final smash.  Hell, on top of everything I just named, I also felt he looks cool which is EVEN MORE of a plus on top of everything else.  Yes, Ike saw me through my time playing Brawl well and became a truly lovable character to me and using him is one of the fond memories I have attached to the game.

I am not going to lie, if my #1 choice is in the game is in, I do not see myself using anyone else.  On the flip side, I do not want Ike in the game if choices #2 or #3 are in because I will not want to use either of them if he is present (Just for nostalgia reasons).  However, that does not boost Ike to my #2 choice because he is truly not my second choice, but if he is in the game and my first is not, then out of my character loyalty OCD, he is next in line to inherit the throne.

From the Nintendo 64 game “Mischief Makers” (Go Go!! Trouble Makers in Japan), it is the “Ultra-Intergalactic-Cybot G”, Marina Liteyears!  This robotic maid is on a quest to save Professor Theo from the evil clutches of his brother, Emperor Leo, and bring him back home safely from the planet known as “Clancer”.

I remember playing Mischief Makers a long time ago when I rented it from Blockbuster Video (Nearly all out of business now though, you can blame the evolution of renting by NetFlix and RedBox for that), I did not beat the game but I did find it again years later and managed to beat it that time around.  I do not know what attracted me to the game, but something about it just attracted me to it.(Probably has to do with the “Shake Shake!” thing she does…I did always find it cute).  Though, this is not a first party IP by Nintendo, but rather by Square Enix and published by Nintendo in North America and Europe; but seeing as this game was made exclusively for the Nintendo 64, I do not see a reason why many problems should arise with discussing her inclusion into the roster.

From what I can recall, Marina has some very good moves about her.  She can grab and throw objects (Seriously, how cool would it be to have a smash character who’s a grappler?), she has a pretty swift dash (I think her air dash looks pretty cool as well), she’s a robot, and I think her design is pretty nifty on top of everything else described here.  Not to mention the whole “Shake shake!” thing I described could be used to rack up damage when you grab (Kind of like how link does a headbutt in Smash Bros. Melee), her invincible roll could be used as her evade when pushing a direction while having your shield up, her little triumphant dance when she opens the “Cleared level star” could be her victory dance, etc.

I really want her in because Mischief Makers represents a part of my child hood, and despite many people I know not having played it, I legitimately loved the game and hope that Marina Liteyears has a chance to show everyone what she’s capable of (And who knows, if she is perceived well enough we may even get a chance to see another Mischief Makers game from Square Enix).

This infantry gal is a Commanding Officer in the Orange Star Army .  She made her debut in the game Advance Wars for the Game Boy Advance, and has continued to show her appearance in Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising on Game Boy Advance, and Advance Wars: Dual Strike for the Nintendo DS (It should be noted that this series is called Game Boy Wars in Japan, and her name is not “Sami” but rather “Domino”.), the only game she was featured in was “Advance Wars: Days of Ruin” for the Nintendo DS (Honestly, none of the characters returned for that game).  

Advance Wars is my favorite game for the Game Boy Advance next to Megaman Zero.  I have fond memories of this game, spending late nights playing it with Mad Katz’s 12310 MAD Light and Screen Magnifier.  I even remember going on a school field trip to a recreation center during 9^th grade, we spent the vast majority of our time eating the lunches our parents had packed us and playing Advance Wars (Those were the days).  Sami happened to be my favorite CO to use; sure, she did not pack the power of Max or the healing properties of Andy, but she excelled in her movement ability and use of infantry troops.  I used her mainly because I preferred the strategical advantage of doubling my movement speed (Not to mention the low cost of troops).  I was able to monopolized on captured bases and supply myself with enough money to afford bigger units at a higher rate to win wars by sheer number alone (Especially since this made my troops more expendable since it was nothing to purchase more).

I want Sami in Super Smash Bros. Wii-U & 3DS because I feel she will be bringing a true battle-hardened female presence besides Samus Aran.  Sure, we have people like Princess Peach, Princess Zelda (Possibly Sheik), Princess Rosalina, and Wii Fit Trainer, but no one besides Samus has actual combat experience (You could argue that Sheik does, but she never really did anything besides talk to link in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time), so it would be good to have someone that could join her ranks.  

I feel Sami would be a very good close distance fighter (She is the commander of infantry troops).  She could use close-quarters-combat techniques from actual military training.  Also, she could use different weapons, such as the M16 she carries on her back, a survival knife, and possibly even a hand gun.  Not to mention that her final smash could easily be Nell (Pretty much their dispatch operator) dropping down a bazooka and Nell going crazy with it while having an increase to 50% her speed (Mimicking her CO power of increased damage for infantry and double their movement range).  I get that we already had a military like person with Solid Snake’s guest appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but they could easily give her the Ike treatment and provide her with a new move set and make her play nothing like him.  Here’s hoping.

Roy’s our boy!  This character appears in the games Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken (The ending), Fire Emblem: Binding Blade, and Fire Emblem: Awakening (DLC character), not to mention he earned a spot in Super Smash Bros. Melee next to Marth.  He is the son of Eliwood, leader of the armies of Pherae, and apparently only 15-years-old (According to the Hasha no Tsurugi manga).

Those who knows me well enough should have seen this coming from the jump, especially when since he was the character I chose to be my main during my time as a competitive player of Melee when I first entered the scene.  I still remember the time I first unlocked him one cold night over at my friend’s house before I had my own Game Cube.  Originally I had chosen Marth to be my character, but after my friend claimed Roy and I saw the flames I asked him if he would trade me characters; I have been using him ever since then.

First coming into the scene with Roy it was fairly hard.  People had already been playing for years and 2007 felt punishing, but I got better.  It was a long fought road using this low-tier character, but I eventually was a well known member of my local scene (More for my attitude and big mouth than anything else), and was the self-proclaimed “Best Roy in Dallas”.  Although,  I do remember doing fairly well at times: Nearly beat Sethlon in a Roy money match ditto during “Do a Barrel Roll 3”, preformed well at the first “Final Smash” tournament, winning a team battle against another local crew known as “Reset”, Defeating “Tipper Queen” and coming in 2^nd place at McDonalds Midnight Gaming Championship at Cyberathlete Professional League, and even playing a few rounds with “Wobbles the Phoenix”, second place in Super Smash Bros. Melee at Evolution World Championship Video Game Tournament Series for 2013 (Also, we made him an honorary member of our crew, BKM “Bean-Kabob-Mafia”), he even started calling Roy’s down smash the “RagnaRok” (What I was known as back then before I shortened it to “RoK” after losing a name match to a Fox player from Alabama known as “Ragnarock” during the first Final Smash) because he said I was the only Roy player he ever saw at that time to actually utilize it and make it effective.

No character has ever felt so good to me and I do not think I have ever spent as much time training and desperately doing anything I could to improve.  I do not think I have had as many triumphant and heart-breaking moments, as many hours devoted to learning a single character, nor have I ever had such a determination to win before as I did when using him.  Despite him returning in Project M (A heavily modified version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl to where it plays more-or-less how Melee would), a more official return would spark my interest like non other, and preferably in his Fire Emblem Awakening gear.

[ In Conclusion ]

Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Megaman throw down.

Because Super Smash Bros. Brawl was such a let down to me in many ways on a competitive level (But such a win because I got to meet, I am quite skeptical how this next Super Smash Bros. will turn out, especially since Sakurai says he does not plan on making a game that is as geared towards the competitive community as he did with Super Smash Bros. Melee.  I would not have such an issue if I did not buy a Nintendo Wii with the expressed purpose of playing Brawl, and since Nintendo Wii-U is considered to be a “flop”, it will take a great deal for me to consider purchasing one (Considering that I only really want Bayonetta 2 at this point and that I could always purchase the new Smash game on the 3DS).

Characters are very vital in me looking at this game, and I do not have anyone that really perks my interest as of yet (Rosalina’s trailer was a big disappointment to me, I do not care for the Villager or the Wii Fit Trainer, and Megaman is good…but I would have preferred Megaman Zero).I am hoping that one of the characters on my list is revealed in the future, less no one of interest appears within the final roster and kills any hope of me purchasing this game in any of its forms.