Super Smash Bros. has been frequently referred to as a “hall of fame” for video games. The series is beloved for that reason, as it has not only brought together the cream of Nintendo’s crop, but mascots from all around the gaming industry as well. Beginning with Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake in Brawl, Smash has taken characters from Sega, Konami, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, SNK, and even overseas console competitor Microsoft. With the choices for DLC dwindling thanks to Mii Fighter costumes and Assist Trophies, it seems probable that Nintendo will go with a yet-unseen franchise for the final Smash Ultimate DLC character.

However, despite all the good Smash has done, it feels like there’s a few franchises that haven’t received their due. Halo, Doom, and Kingdom Hearts are certainly three, but one particular franchise that already has representation still feels like it’s missing vital characters. Final Fantasy is represented by Cloud Strife and Sephiroth, but what they actually represent is Final Fantasy 7 in particular. FF7 has very little history with Nintendo platforms, and is only a small slice of the massive Final Fantasy franchise. Final Fantasy has plenty of other games that deserve historical representation in Super Smash Bros., particularly the NES and SNES titles that are currently being remastered with new visuals.

RELATED: Games to Play If You Like Super Smash Bros.

Final Fantasy 6

As the Final Fantasy that many fans say is their favorite after Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 6 is a shocking absence from Super Smash Bros. It was the last mainline Final Fantasy released on a Nintendo console until HD remasters started getting made over twenty years later, and it pushes the SNES to its limit. This huge JRPG is famous for its unique approach to storytelling, and massive plot twist halfway through that resulted in the game morphing into an open-world title. Add in an all-time classic script and perhaps the most diverse looking and playing party in the series, and what’s left is a game that has earned its time under the spotlight of history.

It’s thanks to that very cast that Final Fantasy 6 has so many good choices for additions to Smash. The main protagonists of the group, Terra, Locke, and Celeste, all provide good “faces” for the title, and are just generic enough examples of their respective classes that a variety of Magicite could be used in their gameplay. Sabin would add another brawler to the cast and a particularly memetic one at that, while his brother Edgar would bring another technology-based fighter to the table. Mog could even be added to give the whole Final Fantasy series some Moogle representation. Then of course, there’s always the option to make things harder for Cloud by adding Kefka, a monster clown that carries an odd, Joker-like charisma.

RELATED: God of War: Ragnarok Could Take a Lesson from Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Final Fantasy 4

Onion Sword equipment

Final Fantasy 4, or Final Fantasy 2 in the United States, also deserves some recognition. The first game showed players what a Final Fantasy adventure could be, and the next two in Japan experimented with that formula. FF4 was the first game to really nail the prospect of telling a running, character-driven story throughout its duration, and its all-star cast of characters refined older games’ job archetypes into templates still used today.

Those template characters steal the show. Cecil Harvey represents both the brooding and troubled, yet supremely powerful Dark Knight, and the protective and confident Paladin. The Dissidia fighting games had him frequently switch between both jobs during fights, so Super Smash Bros. could do the same. A good alternative to Cecil is his best friend Kain Highwind, who could bring a uniquely aerial fighting style to Smash Bros. His focus on huge jumps and dives would make him a very interesting character to design and play. Others like Rydia and Golbez would make decent fighters, but these two heroes are the main attraction.

Final Fantasy 1

final-fantasy-1

The original NES Final Fantasy is definitely on the table for Smash representation. It has tons of what makes FF itself, including jobs, progressive spell and equipment systems, an iconic roster of monsters, and a story that, while very simple, takes the Warriors of Light to every corner of the world to bring light back to the crystals and prosperity to the land. It’s a truly inspiring effort of converting a pulp fantasy adventure into playable form, and no character is more fit to represent it in Smash’s hall of fame than the iconic Black Mage.

The Black Mage casts a distinctive silhouette, and could stand apart from all of Smash’s other magic users by bringing their numbered elemental spells into the fold, powering up as the match goes on. Perhaps the original release’s old spell slot system could even be brought back to separate the Black Mage from the MP-using Dragon Quest Hero. However they’re designed, there’s no doubt that a Black Mage would represent both Final Fantasy 1 and the entire Final Fantasy franchise perfectly.

Final Fantasy 9

final fantasy 9 PC skip random encounters

Though speaking of representing Final Fantasy, no mainline “classic” FF pays homage to the rest of the series quite as well as Final Fantasy 9 does. FF9 is a more cartoony take on the Final Fantasy series, which makes it ideal for both an animated series, and for an appearance in the lighthearted Super Smash Bros. series. Filled with chibi characters and animal people, Final Fantasy 9 represents a different take on Final Fantasy while still carrying on many of its iconic elements.

The party is full of winners that Smash could pick and choose from. Zidane Tribal and Kuja are good hero-and-villain picks, and present a host of interesting magic and movement options for Smash to adapt. Kuja could even be the first full character after Princess Peach to be able to float through the air as a regular jump action. With that said, if the above Black Mage isn’t making it into Smash, then Vivi the black mage should. All the power and looks of a Black Mage combined with a childish and friendly personality make Vivi an easy choice to represent FF9 and Final Fantasy itself. As another Final Fantasy representative is unlikely, hopefully the upcoming Final Fantasy 9 show can do Zidane, Vivi, and their friends justice.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Main Series Final Fantasy Games That Aren't Available on Modern Consoles