Finally, after many theories and potential leaks, all of the fighters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate have been revealed. To the delight of many fans, the final fighter of the second Fighter Pack is Sora of Kingdom Hearts fame. For those who have been hoping ever since there was ever a chance for the Keyblade's chosen warrior to join the fight, they can take pride in the fact they now only have to wait just over a week to start playing as him.
While there were many other fan-favorite choices for the last slot, such as Master Chief and Crash Bandicoot, Sora stands out among the rest as the best final fighter to enter the Smash Bros. roster. He fits many of the criteria that make up a great Smash Bros. DLC combatant, either by Sakurai's own standards or by the personal checklists that vary from fan to fan. However, beyond those points, there are a few sentimental reasons as to why Sora being the last addition is the only way Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could have been sent off properly.
Sora's Style Fits Smash Bros. Completely
In the unbelievable crossover that is Disney and Final Fantasy in the world of Kingdom Hearts, Sora notably is a blend of both styles as he bridges the gap as the protagonist. He's got the fingerless gloves and belts, as well as the big cartoony pants and shoes. The entire aesthetic of the Kingdom Hearts titles is meant to blend Final Fantasy's RPG epics with Disney's whimsical nature, and Sora representing that also puts him right at home in Smash Bros. The fighting game known worldwide is filled with unique characters from Minecraft to Fire Emblem, which puts Sora straight back in his element. Where Cloud was invited, only for Sephiroth to crash the party, it seems as if Sora's release almost tells the story of how Sora came to help Cloud beat his nemesis.
It can be seen with the gameplay from the presentation alone that Sora looks like he's belonged in Smash all along, standing next to Mario and Marth as if he had been there from the beginning. Sora in motion swinging the Keyblade against the other fighters in Smash just feels right, which was probably why Disney, Nintendo, and Square Enix all worked together to bring him into the fray.
Sora is the Final Key to Video Game Crossovers
Super Smash Bros. is an incredible meeting of all sorts of characters no matter where they come from in the video game world. Sans from Undertale (through a Mii Costume) alongside Link from The Legend of Zelda are part of the massive fighter roster, breaking the records that only Smash itself had set prior. The reach of Smash Bros. has only grown with each installation, and Sora takes the series where it's never gone before, with the Keyblade wielder bringing Smash to the doors of Mickey, Disney, and all its incredible franchises.
It's no secret that Disney has its stake in the copyrights to Sora, as its involvement with Kingdom Hearts has only grown just as Smash Bros. has, and yet it decided to pull together to make something incredible happen by letting Sora join. Disney is arguably the highest place Smash Bros. could have ever reached. As such, it's no wonder Sakurai was grateful, as this definitely feels like a tall task. In doing so, the characters in the fan-favorite fighting game have reached crossover heights they never have before. The connections to Disney places these video game mascots and avatars in a place of two degrees of separation between almost everything, considering the connections Disney has in entertainment.
Sora's Inclusion is a Tribute to Satoru Iwata
Back when Bayonetta was revealed for Smash, it was announced she was the "winner" of the Smash Ballot with a notice saying that she only won among "realizable characters." Finally, we understand what "realizable" meant. In the final presentation for Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sakurai has revealed Sora was the true #1 winner of the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot, but back then, he wasn't something Sakurai and Nintendo thought they could pull off. As Sakurai stated, in a discussion with Iwata, this was kept secret to avoid any stress on Disney and Square Enix's behalf over not being able to include the Kingdom Hearts protagonist. He doesn't exactly say that Disney and Square Enix said "no," though.
Instead, Sakurai says that they "were able to connect the ballot to the results they have today" before saying everyone involved in making the DLC happen was excited to be a part of it, no matter how difficult. This means that from Sora winning the Smash Ballot, Nintendo, Disney, and Square Enix have been working together all this time in order to make Sora into Smash a reality. That's six years, and Iwata has since passed. Seeing the hard work that went into making Sora happen finally bear fruit is enough to bring a smile to almost any Kingdom Hearts fans' face, especially those who put his name into the ballot. Making games in order to have fun, no matter if the player is a fan or a developer, was Satoru Iwata's motto, and the love and passion that went into this partnership embodies that motto to a T.
Sora being in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is incredible no matter how fans look at it, and it almost feels like a miracle to pull off. Since his announcement, there's been hardly any debate between fans on if Sora was a good candidate or not for these reasons. Further, for the fans that have wanted him in Smash for as long as possible, they were finally treated to the official Kingdom Hearts webpages shouting out "#Sora4Smash" as the dream became real.
For all the incredible reveals that Smash Bros. has had over the years, it'll most definitely be hard to top one as amazing, impressive, and miraculous as this. After all, it is absolutely fitting that a character born out of a crossover ended up being the final character added to a fighting game that is made out of unbelievable connections and collaborations between companies. In the end, that is exactly the core of what Smash Bros is about, as the series itself was born by Sakurai's whims and Nintendo's cooperation. With that in mind, if Smash Ultimate truly ends up being the last game the series has, then this was the absolute perfect note to end the lineup on.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is out now on Nintendo Switch, with Sora joining the fight on October 18th via DLC.