Since its initial launch back in December of 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has consistently added new fighters to what was an already massive assortment of characters to begin with. Guest characters from a variety of popular gaming franchises such as Tekken, Final Fantasy, and even the titular stars of Banjo-Kazooie have entered the fray. This past week featured game director Masahiro Sakurai announcing the final new addition to the game, which turned out to be none other than the wildly requested Sora from Kingdom Hearts.
While the now completed selection of fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is undoubtedly varied and impressive, some can't shake the feeling that Nintendo missed out on a few possibilities. Each passing month always carried a bevy of rumors for new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters. Some of these suggestions, while now proving to be false, did seem like plausible additions to the game. From colorful platforming mascots to armored space marines, the following are what seem like missed opportunities in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Crash Bandicoot
To compete with the one-two punch of Super Mario 64 and the Nintendo 64 back in the fifth generation of gaming, Sony fired back with a successful platformer of its own. The Crash Bandicoot franchise, despite going multiplatform in the years that passed, has always been synonymous with PlayStation. Despite this, it would have almost been poetic to see Crash fighting against Mario, to settle the gaming feud between the two over two decades ago. Crash's wacky personality and an already long list of special moves would fit right into the series.
Geralt of Rivia
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In the genre of open-world action RPGs, few other franchises have had as large of an impact as The Witcher series. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in particular was critically acclaimed, being ranked among the best games of all time. By some form of wizardry, the massive game has somehow been ported to the Nintendo Switch, leading many to ponder if doors had opened to Geralt being included in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at some point. As is evident now, Geralt will not be joining the fight alongside other fellow swordsmen like Link and Marth. This is a shame, as Geralt's magical prowess, swordsmanship and bravado would have made him stand out from the rest of the ensemble in the game.
Dante
Speaking of swordsmen, Dante from the Devil May Cry series is perhaps one of the most skilled fighters in the entire world of gaming. Proficient with blades, guns, and even his fists, Dante is the very reason for monsters living up to the game's namesake, and possibly shedding a tear from fright in his presence. Dante's wide variety of combat moves, and acrobatic skills seemed like the perfect fit for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter roster, giving the developers a ton of material to work with. Similar characters such as Cloud and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7 have already been added to the game, so Dante wouldn't have been too much of a stretch.
Master Chief
Of all the entries listed here, perhaps no other gaming icon was brought up in conversation more than Master Chief. Essentially to Xbox what Mario is for Nintendo, Master Chief being added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would have been the ultimate gaming mash up. This didn't seem completely out of the realm of possibility either, considering the friendly relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo in past years. Banjo and Kazooie being added to the game also seemed like an indication that more Xbox-owned properties would be lent out at some point. His inclusion here would have also been a clever marketing tactic for the upcoming release of Halo Infinite in December.
Rayman
Microsoft isn't the only company that Nintendo is chummy with, as Ubisoft has also proven to be friendly in past years. The merging of franchises with Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle in 2017, and now a sequel confirmed for 2022 seemed to indicate that both companies were more than willing to share IPs on collaborative projects. Similar to Crash Bandicoot above, Rayman is also a beloved platforming mascot and would have been a welcome addition to the game. Unfortunately, and will just have to wait for a new Rayman game instead to get another dose of the character.
Waluigi
Last but certainly not least is Waluigi, a fan favorite pick since the beginning of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's existence. Ever since his introduction in the original Mario Tennis game on the N64, Waluigi has amassed a cult following of players who adore his strange antics and exaggerated mannerisms. Considering that practically every other Nintendo character has been added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, including his counterpart Wario, it seemed like only a matter of time before Waluigi would be jumping into action.
Rumors, theories, and memes relating to the subject have flooded the internet prior to every Nintendo Direct, with gamers eagerly anticipating the announcement of Waluigi being put in the game. Now with Sora being confirmed as the final fighter, hopes were dashed away that Waluigi would be enterting the battlefield. Of all the characters listed here, Waluigi is perhaps the most bizarre omission of the bunch. Waluigi being a first-party character (bypassing any 3rd party deals) as well as the constant outcry from fans, makes his absence perhaps the biggest missed opportunity of them all.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch.