As longtime fans can attest, one of the most exciting aspects of a new Super Smash Bros. title is speculating on which beloved Nintendo all-stars will make the cut. This time around many fans were delighted to see the latest entries in the series feature a shared roster that was comprised of a whopping 49 playable fighters (51 for those counting all three Mii Fighter variants). Even then, many agreed that there were a few beloved combatants missing from the recent installments.
It's for this reason that the announcement of further downloadable content, outside of the previously confirmed Mewtwo, didn't surprise many when it finally arrived in the latest Nintendo Direct presentation. What was shocking news, however, is that the Big N will be allowing players to vote for the fighters they most want to see arrive as downloadable content in the future.
With a slew of potential combatants now eligible for inclusion, fans everywhere have begun submitting requests for their favorite characters from within Ninty's vast library of IP. Since players are understandably excited by the prospect of suiting up as their adored mascot, we have put together a list of five Nintendo-owned combatants that we'd love to see join the fray in Super Smash Bros.. Now, without any further delay, let's jump in.
-
Captain Toad
After appearing in his very own spin-off game of the same name, Captain Toad wasted no time proving that the plucky fungi has an ample amount of personality. While the cutesy protagonist doesn't seem like he'd be able to hold his own against the all-star roster of Smash Bros. right off the bat, the addition of the Captain's backpack adds a slew of tools to his disposal.
Whether tossing turnips, busting out his handy pickaxe, or taking out foes with a runaway minecart, this loveable hero knows how to keep ahead of the competition. Given the character's proven ability to be faster than many other Mushroom Kingdom residents, Captain Toad would make for a fine addition to a series that has only ever utilized him as Peach's unwilling bodyguard.
-
Wolf
Originating from the Star Fox series, the arch rival of Fox McCloud, Wolf, has been a mainstay of the entire franchise for many years. Often going head-to-head with the pilots of the Star Fox crew, Wolf has proven combat skills that very few space-bound critters are able to match – making the mercenary a very solid contender to re-join the Smash roster.
What makes the hired gun so intriguing is that he's not above teaming up with Fox whenever their goals align, giving the morally-challenged canine some depth that few other fighters have. Couple Wolf's appearance in Brawl with Lucas' now inevitable return (as well as a new Star Fox game on Wii U arriving later this year), and we'd be surprised if the gunslinger wasn't already in development.
_____________________________________________
Next: More Super Smash Bros. DLC Characters
_____________________________________________
Ice Climbers
We'll be the first to admit that the latest Smash games felt a little lighter as a result of the Ice Climbers absence, and it's sad to think that the duo were planned to be playable but had to be axed as result of the technical limitations of the Nintendo 3DS. Despite this, fans have been longing to see Popo and Nana make their return, and clever gamers seem to have found a way that it could happen.
Putting aside the possibility that the New Nintendo 3DS brings with its enhanced CPU, splitting up the grouped entrant – thus making their solo appearance known as the 'Ice Climber' – could be the easiest solution. While tweaking the characters' moveset would be necessary, having the pink-clad Nana be an alternate skin for the ever-blue Popo (similarly to the male and female variants of Wii Fit Trainer) may be the best way to get these characters back into the fighting series that made them relevant.
-
Inkling
Despite a number of new first-party properties from Nintendo popping up in recent years, none stand out as much as the highly anticipated third-person shooter Splatoon. The title is said to revolutionize shooters in the same way that Mario Kart changed racing games, which is a very bold claim in and of itself. Still, we can't help but see endless potential for Inkling as a newcomer.
Utilizing a wide array of ranged attacks, Splatoon's protagonist could damage foes with toxic ink utilizing any number of different attacks – thanks to the character's ability to swap weapons on the fly. Paint rollers, ink-filled grenades, color-packed sniper rifles, the arsenal really does speak for itself. With the game's May release approaching, it's safe to say that the Big N's latest IP could very well have its protagonist find a home on the Smash Bros. roster.
-
King K. Rool
The king of the Kremlings and the single biggest thorn in Donkey Kong's side, King K. Rool would make for a perfect addition to Super Smash Bros. as DLC. While the big baddie hasn't appeared in the past two Donkey Kong Country titles, the ability to vote for characters to join the fighting game's roster means that the killer croc has a genuine shot at joining the fray.
As a heavyweight competitor with a preference for cannonballs, King K. Rool's addition would guarantee a unique newcomer and a new representative in a beloved series that current only has two playable fighters. Combine the character's possible arsenal with his over-the-top (and often times hilarious) persona, and longtime Donkey Kong and Smash fans could very well see the Kremling mastermind squaring off with the likes of Pikachu and Mario.
Those are just some of our choices for Nintendo-owned characters that could join Super Smash Bros. as DLC. What characters are at the top of your list?