The announcement at the end of the recent Nintendo Direct was as welcome as it was expected: Super Smash Bros. is coming to the Nintendo Switch. It will feature the Inklings from Splatoon because they are currently very popular. But, with every new Super Smash Bros. game comes the same question: who do we want in this entry? Aside from the Inklings, who else deserves a spot in Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch alongside greats like Donkey Kong, Mario, and Link?
Ice Climbers
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
The Ice Climbers, the dynamic duo of the NES, surprised gamers back when they were revealed for Super Smash Bros. Melee. Players were excited when the characters came back for Super Smash Bros. Brawl and were understandably disappointed when they didn’t return for Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U/3DS.
The Ice Climbers could have starred in Super Smash Bros. had it been exclusive to the Nintendo Wii U, but the 3DS simply wasn’t up to the task of rendering eight characters on one screen. To ensure both versions of the game featured the same character roster, the Ice Climbers were scrapped. Since Nintendo doesn’t have to worry about hardware bottlenecks on the Nintendo Switch, the upcoming entry in the Smash Bros. franchise is practically begging for Nana and Popo to make their glorious return to the halls of smashdom.
Geno
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Super Mario RPG. It is the only one just for me. When I play the game, I get lost in a phase. Then I found out I’m stuck in Geno’s Maze. Well, no, not really, but wouldn’t it be fun for the maze’s namesake to make it into Super Smash Bros. for Switch? While Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U/3DS features a downloadable Geno-themed costume for the Mii Gunner, it doesn’t quite scratch the itch Super Mario RPG fans have for the character.
Geno would make for a great ranged fighter in Super Smash Bros. His special moves from Super Mario RPG could easily be brought into the game, with one or two minor changes. Since Nintendo and Square Enix demonstrated they can work together to bring Cloud Strife to Super Smash Bros., complete with numerous references to Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, they could probably team up again and work their magic to resurrect this cult-classic Mario character.
Travis Touchdown
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Does Super Smash Bros. feature too many swordfighters? Maybe, but it could always use more. Enter Travis Touchdown, the rude, crude, beam katana-wielding dude from No More Heroes. The game series started on the Nintendo Wii, made expert use of the Wii Remote, and demonstrated Nintendo games can be pretty bloody and mature.
If Travis were ever to make it into Super Smash Bros, he would probably swing around his beam katana like some crazy, would-be Jedi and employ a plethora of wrestling moves. Moreover, since we are expecting a new No More Heroes game on the Switch, Super Smash Bros. could potentially help with the marketing and give gamers a small taste of the insanity to come, possibly with some new weapons or special moves.
Chibi Robo
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Nintendo is no stranger to digging up old, obscure, or forgotten characters for Super Smash Bros. Western gamers had no idea who Marth and Roy were back when they were introduced for Super Smash Bros. Melee, and the world had seemingly forgotten about Pit before he flew into Brawl. Chibi-Robo is neither old nor obscure, but its creators don’t seem interested in creating any more games starring the microbot, which is a shame, because Chibi-Robo would make a creative Super Smash Bros. combatant.
Since Chibi-Robo uses various tools in its games to solve problems and combat enemies, his Super Smash Bros. moveset would probably be littered with references to these items. Also, his plug is just begging to be used to tie up opponents, tether stage ledges, and everything in between. Chibi-Robo deserves to be in Smash just so gamers can count the number of uses Masahiro Sakurai finds for the plug.
Shovel Knight
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Shovel Knight is the little indie game that could. It won numerous accolades, sold well over a million copies, and even received a line of Amiibo figures. Nintendo clearly recognizes the importance of Shovel Knight, which makes the game’s titular hero the perfect candidate for a spot in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. game.
Even though Shovel Knight has only appeared in one game (cameos notwitstanding), he has plenty of moves for Nintendo to draw from. While most of Shovel Knight’s attacks would use his shovel, he also could rely on his numerous magical relics. Oh, and Shield Knight; we can’t forget about her. Shovel Knight certainly didn’t.
Ridley
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Ridley is one of the most requested characters for Super Smash Bros. ever. While some argue the “Ridley is too big” meme holds true, many don’t realize Ridley has never been portrayed consistently. He was barely taller than Samus in the first Metroid game, and his size has fluctuated ever since. Ridley is only as big as a game’s developers want, whether it be in Metroid or Super Smash Bros.
The task of coding Ridley into Super Smash Bros. as a playable character may sound daunting, but modders have done just that with a mod for the fanmade Project M. Many of Sakurai’s fears regarding the character’s implementation are laid to rest with this mod, as Ridley loses none of his imposing nature despite his shrunken stature; even when relatively human-sized, Ridley is still terrifying. The mod demonstrates Ridley can be made playable in Super Smash Bros., so all that’s left to do is give the fans what they want.
Waluigi
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Waluigi began life in Mario Tennis and has gone on to appear in plenty of other Mario spin-off games. While he has yet to receive his own official game, Waluigi has cultivated a devoted fanbase that would love to see the lanky Luigi doppleganger come to Smash.
Technically, Waluigi has appeared as assist trophies in the past two Super Smash Bros. games, but the developers should still make him playable in the upcoming Smash Bros. game, complete with his trusty tennis racket. Several Smash Bros. characters serve as celebrations of Nintendo’s history, such as Duck Hunt and Mr. Game and Watch. Waluigi would serve as the perfect celebration of Mario spin-off games. After all, without those spin-offs, Waluigi wouldn’t exist.
Spring Man
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Nintendo is on a roll with its new IPs. Splatoon and ARMS are successful and popular additions that change up their respective genres and bring new life to the Nintendo Switch’s multiplayer community. Since Splatoon’s Inklings will be included in Super Smash Bros., ARMS’ mascot Spring Man deserves a spot as well.
While Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U/3DS already has resident boxer Little Mac, Spring Man could easily be another take on that fighting style. In fact, Spring Man could potentially serve as the culmination of all the constructive criticism directed at Little Mac. Significantly more range, improved jumping height, fewer attacks that grant super armor – the groundwork is all there to create a new character, and Spring Man fits the bill.
Crash Bandicoot
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
We’re all excited to hear Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is coming to the Nintendo Switch. Finally, the best games in the Crash Bandicoot franchise will be available on a Nintendo console, and in HD no less. What better way to celebrate than to give the maniacal marsupial a guest spot in Super Smash Bros.?
While only the first three Crash Bandicoot games are coming to the Switch (for now), Nintendo has several decades worth of games to draw from for inspiration. Obviously, Crash’s staples such as his spin, slide attack, and body slam would be shoe ins for attacks in Super Smash Bros., and his iconic dance would make for a great taunt or victory animation. Crash would also fit in with the other iconic Smash Bros. platformer characters, especially his rivals Mario and Sonic.
Lyn
Characters Who Need to Star in Super Smash Bros. for Switch
Like Waluigi, Lyn has appeared in Super Smash Bros. as an assist trophy, but unlike Waluigi, she has stared in her own game. Furthermore Lyn is one of the most popular Fire Emblem characters; we even rated her as the second best Fire Emblem character of all time (Ike was number one, FYI). While Super Smash Bros. is positively swimming in Fire Emblem characters, there’s always room for one more, especially one who is playable in Fire Emblem Warriors.
One of our biggest fears about Lyn’s implementation in Super Smash Bros. is how she would differentiate herself from the rest of the Fire Emblem cast. They all wield swords; most have zero ranged abilities, and all but one feature a counter move. Heck, two characters are technically clones of Marth. While Lyn would likely share some of her moves with other Fire Emblem characters, she would set herself apart with her blazing speed, ability to vanish, and other unique moves most other Fire Emblem swordfighters lack (in the Fire Emblem games, that is). Lyn might be considered a lord in Fire Emblem, but in Super Smash Bros. she would be more like a ninja.
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