Who would be next to enter the Smash Spotlight

[Dasher Misire]

I see a resemblance but hm.

I imagine Lucario would not be in next time, since they'd make room for a new Pokemon character that's big in the anime continuity and the game continuity (and the manga perhaps, since that's very very close to the games if I recall and so friends tell me). Red might be different starters (or be like Gold or Diamond) and we'll prolly have the original two PKMN reps.

Mario has the main four, closely chained series Yoshi has all it needs, Wario could use Mona or 9-Volt. Kirby and Zelda both have all the characters they need. Tingle would be cool but I don't expect it. I'd like K. Rool and Ridley to join the DK and Metroid reps.... and of course Goroh or Black Shadow for F-Zero. We know that won't happen since Sakurai prolly dislikes them, despite me not wanting to accept that.

So who do I hope to see?

Ridley
Goroh
Black Shadow
Takamaru
K. Rool
Mona
Pokey
Isaac
Lyndis
Stafy
9-Volt
Sukapon
AC character (Tom Nook and Resetti would be cool, but imagine KK fighting with soundwaves or something like DK's FS and Barbara the Bat's jamming)
Ray MkI/MkII/MkIII
Lark/Nester
Geno (if there were enough characters to add another Mario char)

Who of all of those stand a chance?

Stafy
Goroh
Ray MkI
Ridley
Pokey
Isaac

...And some of those I doubt myself. Ridley probably had issues playing, not size since Olimar was too small so too big is not an excuse but I imagine the tail caused trouble. Isaac is an AT that has a lot of potential as a PC next time, and would be interesting and grab attention. Pokey could work with a small portable mech, he already has his own stage.... Stafy and Ray I imagine could be out of the medium sized fanbases for Legend of Stafy and Custom Robo, and they're quite popular among others too. Both can be much more than ATs, and not stretching anything to make them fighters is quite possible.

[Arcadenik]

I hope the following characters in SSB4 (it could be called Super Smash Bros. Landmaster Fury):

1. Overalls Wario - no longer an alternate costume, he is his own character with his own unique moveset totally based off Wario Land (not Wario Ware) - his FS could be Vampire Wario!

2. Diddy & Dixie - Diddy is no longer alone, he is teamed with Dixie like Ice Climbers, the difference is they can switch places (like ZZS's taunt transform); Dixie shoots feathers with her sister's bow, throws exploding oranges, and spins her hair to "glide", and throws Diddy like in DKC2

3. Yoshi & Baby Mario - Yoshi's FS is no longer Super Dragon, it is now Superstar Mario where Baby Mario becomes playable - Baby Mario's FS is to get back on Yoshi's back and you get to play as Yoshi again

4. Meowth or Team Rocket - either Meowth alone or Team Rocket (like Pokemon Trainer) with Meowth alone, Meowth teamed with Ekans, and Meowth teamed with Koffing

5. Krystal - unique moveset with staff; just remove either Falco or Wolf or both and let her get her own unique Landmaster Final Smash

6. Commanding Officer - it is Andy from Advance Wars, he replaces Snake so Andy is the only one who uses war weapons like grenades and bazookas

7. Muddy Mole - the Olimar of SSB4; he digs holes and uses them like a cannon to fire iron balls and to launch himself out like a cannonball and to ambush (counterattack) and at least he is international

8. Little Mac - he uses other boxers' moves as part of his whole moveset

9. Animal Crossing Human or Tom Nook - there is simply no excuse excluding an AC character by using that "he doesn't fight" argument when Sakurai literally turned R.O.B. into a fighting machine when he knows R.O.B. never fought before

10. Duck Hunt Dog - yes, the R.O.B. of SSB4, he uses ducks, clay pigeons, and the Zapper Light Gun as his weapons and he can run on either fours (like Ivysaur) or on two legs (like in VS. Duck Hunt) and he is international, too!

[Game Guru]

Who will be in Brawl 4?

First, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Link, Zelda/Sheik, Ganondorf, Toon Link, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Yoshi, Wario, Samus/Zero Suit Samus, Pit, Ice Climbers, R.O.B., Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, Pikmin & Olimar, Fox, Falco, Wolf, Captain Falcon, Pikachu, Pokemon Trainer, Jigglypuff, Lucario Ness, Lucas, Marth, Ike, Mr. Game & Watch, Snake and Sonic.

Pretty much everyone returns.

Now who will be added?

Dr. Mario, Toon Zelda/Tetra, Dixie Kong, and Mewtwo will appear because they were cut from Brawl.

There will still be a conspicious lack of Geno as Square doesn't play that way. Although...

Krystal will be playable and will be a clone of Fox complete with Blaster, Reflector, and Landmaster (A PURPLE Landmaster! It's different!), but at least she DOES use her staff to fight! She's DIFFERENT!

There will be Toon Ganondorf and he will be a clone of Ganondorf, who's still a clone of Captain Falcon. One of Toon Ganondorf's taunt is to pull out his two sword and then put them back, as if to say "You can't use THESE!" Because of the six Zelda characters, the mascot of the newest generation of Pokemon and Bowser Jr as a clone of Bowser Sr will be playable. Bowser Jr. will be on the other end of the weight scale, so he's DIFFERENT!

Also Flip had it right on the original character, except his name is Nijo, and he is actually a possessed trophy that looks like a puppet, and SPOILER ALERT! He ends up leaving the World of Smash while possessing the trophy to star in his own series of games!

The newest Fire Emblem Lord will appear and be a clone of Marth complete with Blue Hair and ICE POWERS! Not Fire! He's DIFFERENT!

Also Dark Samus... it will be a clone of Samus, except that it transforms into Metroid Prime for its Final Smash, because they at least got that part right! It's DIFFERENT!

A character from one of Nintendo's big hits on the Wii... I dunno who it will be, but it may be Mii!

Oh, and Little Mac will be playable, strictly because he's the only Popular Retro NES character they didn't make playable yet!

Then there is one of Nintendo's oldest and most cherished characters... Hanafuda Card Man! Much care will be taken to make him unique despite Falco, Wolf, Krystal, New FE Guy, Lucario, Lucas, Dr. Mario, Ganondorf, Toon Link, Toon Zelda/Tetra, Toon Ganondorf, and Dark Samus being in various states of clonage!

Also we get Shadow the Hedgehog and Simon Belmont playable, because only Konami and Sega are willing to loan out characters. Shadow is a clone of Sonic, but Shadow is slightly slower and more manuverable! He's DIFFERENT!

[Flip]

Haha, that's awesome Sam. I knew you'd likely pick up where I left off

Hanafunda Card man would be awesome, and was likely the best idea from leakers that I was dying to see made into a character. It would be the Rainman, or guy with the umbrella, one of the four strongest cards in a Hanafunda deck. His attacks would utilize the other strong cards and like G&W he'd be flat, but this time paper thin. I think he'd be a crazy and cool idea. Seriously.

Little Mac is really the only old-school character left that would appeal to everybody in the West and Japan. Takamaru, again, would be FANTASTIC but I think we're all realizing slowly now that Sakurai is crazy and thinks the Western gamers want nothing to do with Japan only content (unless it involves Mother, because we all love Mother! Mother is Divine. Mother is Creator. Mother is DEUTSCHLAND! HEIL!). ...ahem.

The next character from Sonic, if they do one, would either be Shadow or Tails. I'm banking on Tails, but if they shoot with the whole clones thing it could be Shadow. A Belmont from Konami makes sense, but I want them to whip out a Hudson character: Bomberman makes sense, but Bonk would be sexy as hell.

And now I'm gonna respond to arcade's list, cuz I can:

arcadenik said:

I hope the following characters in SSB4 (it could be called Super Smash Bros. Landmaster Fury):

1. Overalls Wario - no longer an alternate costume, he is his own character with his own unique moveset totally based off Wario Land (not Wario Ware) - his FS could be Vampire Wario!
I think this would make a very cool idea, but Wario already does get some Wario Land moves: his throws are Wario World inspired and his FSmash is the shoulder charge. I think what we got is what we got. Vampire Wario totally needs to make an appearance, though.

2. Diddy & Dixie - Diddy is no longer alone, he is teamed with Dixie like Ice Climbers, the difference is they can switch places (like ZZS's taunt transform); Dixie shoots feathers with her sister's bow, throws exploding oranges, and spins her hair to "glide", and throws Diddy like in DKC2
Another idea I like a lot. I figure the Down B would be the character switch, since Diddy's Down B is sort of hackneyed. Maybe Feather Bow, Orange Grenade, Ponytail, and Tag? Then her FS would be something like... Guitar Gazzump, which Diddy seriously needed. Personally I kind of like her as a separate character, but this does work.

3. Yoshi & Baby Mario - Yoshi's FS is no longer Super Dragon, it is now Superstar Mario where Baby Mario becomes playable - Baby Mario's FS is to get back on Yoshi's back and you get to play as Yoshi again
I actually believed that while Yoshi was delayed for the unveiling for so damn long he was going to come back with switchable babies on his back. I was wrong, but it was eerily possible since they changed a lot of other characters.

4. Meowth or Team Rocket - either Meowth alone or Team Rocket (like Pokemon Trainer) with Meowth alone, Meowth teamed with Ekans, and Meowth teamed with Koffing
Well, Team Rocket isn't really canon. At least, that TR. I think a Rocket Grunt character could be cool though, and give him the Ekans, Koffing, and Meowth combo. But, then again, you need the whole light/mid/heavy thing going on. Maybe just straight up Meowth, or they go with more unique Pokemon?

5. Krystal - unique moveset with staff; just remove either Falco or Wolf or both and let her get her own unique Landmaster Final Smash
Pfft, no Landmaster for Krystal. She'll get a Skyrunner FS or something if I had my way. Staff-fighting and sort of Fox-like moves, I guess. She can be in with Wolf and Falco; I've got no beef so long as she gets in.

6. Commanding Officer - it is Andy from Advance Wars, he replaces Snake so Andy is the only one who uses war weapons like grenades and bazookas
If Snake goes this is the most logical replacement, though I would pick Sami on the basis of "lol female." Plus she's cooler anyways.

7. Muddy Mole - the Olimar of SSB4; he digs holes and uses them like a cannon to fire iron balls and to launch himself out like a cannonball and to ambush (counterattack) and at least he is international
I still really want Muddy Mole and he'd be a fun trap-laying character, placing spikes and pits all over the field.

8. Little Mac - he uses other boxers' moves as part of his whole moveset
B: Windup Punch [like Giant Punch, but you can angle the punch], Side B: Jab Combo , Up B: Super Uppercut [chargeable Super Jump Punch], Down B: Mac Special [steps aside and counters], FS: Brooklyn Fury [sort of like Triforce Slash, you can end it with different hits].

9. Animal Crossing Human or Tom Nook - there is simply no excuse excluding an AC character by using that "he doesn't fight" argument when Sakurai literally turned R.O.B. into a fighting machine when he knows R.O.B. never fought before
But ROB had stuff to work from. The AC Human is just a kid. That said, I agree: the stage and music are ridiculous with no character. Give him a shovel, fishing rod, net, slingshot, tossable furniture, etc. It's all good.

10. Duck Hunt Dog - yes, the R.O.B. of SSB4, he uses ducks, clay pigeons, and the Zapper Light Gun as his weapons and he can run on either fours (like Ivysaur) or on two legs (like in VS. Duck Hunt) and he is international, too!
I think he'd make a better assist personally, but it would be interesting. His FS could be something where he makes it Duck Season and hides while everybody gets shot trying to stop an oncoming screen-blocking flock of ducks.

[Fryguy64]

I did this quite a while ago. I'm disappointed that some very worthy (though obscure) contenders didn't make it in this time, as it may be their last chance. But at the same time, with Nintendo re-focus on their major franchises since 2001 it was also a little disappointing not to see more variation in the Smash Veterans.

I think I posted some thoughts on this a while ago.

I shall go into more detail when I have more time

[Flip]

admin said:

I did this quite a while ago. I'm disappointed that some very worthy (though obscure) contenders didn't make it in this time, as it may be their last chance. But at the same time, with Nintendo re-focus on their major franchises since 2001 it was also a little disappointing not to see more variation in the Smash Veterans.

I think I posted some thoughts on this a while ago.

I shall go into more detail when I have more time

Hit the nail on the head as to why I'm still disappointed. But hey: look forward to seeing your take on it.

[Koopaul]

I suppose thing might be really different next time because Sakurai might not be doing it. But like many have said, I'd like to see a lot of Assist to be bumped up to characters next time. And ofcourse some more references to lesser known Nintendo classics aswell.

Sakurai said he wanted more females and yet he only gave us one new one (which is technically the same character anyway) so Krystal is a must, being a very popular and unique character capable of doing things different from the other Star Fox characters.

[Neko Neko Panic]

arcadenik said:

9. Animal Crossing Human or Tom Nook - there is simply no excuse excluding an AC character by using that "he doesn't fight" argument when Sakurai literally turned R.O.B. into a fighting machine when he knows R.O.B. never fought before

I think the real issue he has is that AC has a peaceful, happy-go-lucky attitude, so to him an AC character beating the hell out of someone would be wrong. R.O.B. on the other hand, is pretty neutral. Yeah, all he did was move blocks around and that isn't fighting, but at the same time, he was never the Peaceful Robot Hug Operating Butt Buddy or anything, so it's not out of character for him to start fighting once he gets an agility upgrade. Plus, (SPOILER, kinda) in SSE all he's really doing is planting Subspace Bombs and having the other R.O.B.s go activate them, which is an appropriate task for a labor robot such as he was, and he pretty much gets forced into fighting after that part where the other R.O.B.s go haywire and he gets lit on fire. (/SPOILER) That's the way I see it.

[Smashchu]

arcadenik said:

1. Overalls Wario - no longer an alternate costume, he is his own character with his own unique moveset totally based off Wario Land (not Wario Ware) - his FS could be Vampire Wario!

4. Meowth or Team Rocket - either Meowth alone or Team Rocket (like Pokemon Trainer) with Meowth alone, Meowth teamed with Ekans, and Meowth teamed with Koffing

10. Duck Hunt Dog - yes, the R.O.B. of SSB4, he uses ducks, clay pigeons, and the Zapper Light Gun as his weapons and he can run on either fours (like Ivysaur) or on two legs (like in VS. Duck Hunt) and he is international, too!

See, again, the point of the topic was character who should be in Smash, with in accordance to how Sakurai would chose them. This is more arcadenik's Smash Brothers rather then one for everyone. And I think this is what a lot of people forget. Characters need to please everyone. While, yes, one will love the characters he/she likes, but that doesn't mean they'll be good characters.

Overall Wario is just Wario. The costume does the same purpose. This is just to try and separate the Wario(s?) just to say that one is from Wario Land. The Meowth thing is, again, just to please you. Meowth isn't that popular. Lucario got in because he was a popular pokemon. Meowth is a pokeball becuase he is not. And of course, do I need to say anything about that last one.

It's not "What characters you want in SSB4" but "Who should be in". It needs to have some importance and be liked by people who play it.

[Hiker of Games]

koopaul said:

Sakurai said he wanted more females and yet he only gave us one new one (which is technically the same character anyway) so Krystal is a must, being a very popular and unique character capable of doing things different from the other Star Fox characters.

This is why characters with more than one rep really should've made their secondary character a female when possible. Like, say...

Fox, Falco/Wolf, and Krystal.

Ike/Marth and Micaiah/Lyndis

Lucas/Ness and Paula/Kumatora

Of course, it's hard to do because Samus is kind of alone when it comes to female protagonists in the Nintendo catalog. There's a few others, but she's the only major one overall.

Incidentally though, Lin is so much more badass than Sami.

[Game Guru]

Unfortunally, both Ness and Lucas took Paula's and Kumatora's potential moveset, and that MOTHER is a retired series now. (And if it wasn't, I would expect the MOTHER 4 hero to have more of a chance then either of them)

Also Lucas and Ike are default characters and Marth and Ness are the most famous... We aren't losing either.

We also aren't losing Falco and Wolf to Krystal, though we will likely get Krystal, since the number of Starfox characters playable in the game is what number iteration the game is.

[Arcadenik]

Since SSB games are always replacing or expanding the veteran franchises, I think I can see the following characters in SSB4:

1. Toad or Geno (Mario series) - why Toad? he's next in line after Wario in Melee poll. why Geno? he's top pick in Brawl poll but Geno may have a disadvantage seeing he is third-party

2. Diddy Kong & Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong series) - they could fight as a team like Ice Climbers but unlike the eskimos, the monkeys can switch places for different movesets

3. Overalls Wario (Wario series) - why not Captain Syrup or Mona as the second Wario character? well, they are secondary characters but Wario is the star.... and Overalls Wario represents the Wario Land series unlike regular Wario representing WarioWare (I feel Wario Land representation is severely lacking in Brawl and that Overalls Wario costume was just to throw a bone at the Wario Land fans).... and he could use the unique transformations like Puffy Wario, Zombie Wario, Flaming Wario, etc. for an unusual gameplay... and his FS would be Vampire Wario

4. Yoshi & Baby Mario - Yoshi's new FS is Superstar Mario where Baby Mario becomes playable with an unique moveset involving the cape and the hammer and the fire flowern and of course, his FS is getting back on Yoshi's back and letting Yoshi take over... similar to ZZS's FS.

5. Tingle (Zelda series) - why him? Tingle stars in his own spin-off series and is the only Zelda character to have his own spin-off series... his moveset could involve bomb-dropping, summoning fairies to shield himself, and inflating/deflating his balloon (basically the Balloon Fighter of SSB4)

6. Meowth (Pokemon series) - he is next in line after Red (Pokemon Trainer) in the Melee poll... and neither Gardevoir and Steven Stone wouldn't get in anyway.

7. Overrated 5th or 6th Gen Movie Pokemon (Pokemon series) - this Pokemon would likely replace Lucario as the most popular Pokemon who gained popularity due to a movie much like how Lucario replaced Mewtwo

8. New and Popular Fire Emblem Lord (Fire Emblem series) - this Fire Emblem lord in a future Fire Emblem game would likely replace Ike much like how Ike replaced Roy as the latest Fire Emblem lord

9. Krystal (Star Fox series) - she would most likely replace either Falco or Wolf as the third Star Fox fighter in SSB4 since she was the top pick in Brawl poll just like how Wolf was next in line after Falco in Melee poll

As the new franchises added to SSB4, let's start with the Assist Trophies, I can actually see these following characters graduating from unplayable to playable:

10. Little Mac (Punch-Out series) - he is a very popular retro character who could fight with boxing techniques borrowed from the other Punch-Out boxers in addition to his own techniques

11. Isaac (Golden Sun series) - he is a very popular modern character who could fight with his sword AND his Psynergy and Djinn.... to make him an unique swordfighter, how about his down special move add Venus Djinni (1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 1) to access to different special moves (a bit like Pokemon Trainer but without switching characters)?

And finally, there is one character who should represent this unrepresented Brawl franchise.... yes, that's right.. it is....

12. Animal Crossing Boy (Animal Crossing series) - this villager could use the fishing pole to grab enemies and tether recover, the shovel to make Pitfalls (he doesn't need the Pitfall item to trap enemies), the bug-catching net to catch projectiles and release bees (a bit like G&W's Oil Panic), and the slingshot to shoot

Anyone think that SSB4 would have 45 character slots? Melee had 25 and Brawl had 35....

[Spud]

arcadenik said:

Anyone think that SSB4 would have 45 character slots? Melee had 25 and Brawl had 35....

It'll probably have 35 or 40 since Sakurai isn't going to work on it.
I can assure you if it's 40 Mewtwo and Roy will be two characters they have back (not bad, but lazy) the rest will be clones.

Tingle is perhaps the most eligible character I can think of.

You take the normal balloon fighter theory moveset and you add Tingle Flare to it.

regular attacks (ground) would be a dance of some sort.
regular attacks (air) would allow Tingle to move like a balloon fighter becomes difficult towards the top of the course and balloons will pop if you go too high.

Smash: Charge up for doing the Kooloo-Limpah dance tingle does the longer you charge the more confetti there is. sprays left and right
(up and down too if charged all the way.)

Smash Up: Fast Lift, shoots up with his balloon if he has one (sits there and looks silly if he doesn't.)

Smash Down (ground): fill balloon (use air if balloons are full)
Smash Down (air): Grab a bomb.

FS: Naked Tingle Tingle does the Kooloo-Limpah Dance and makes a giant powder keg appear (small enough to get away from though.)

But that won't happen IMO.

[Smashchu]

Arcadenik, read my post above. 2,3,4 and 6 are not good choices for SSB. They are either just rip offs, or are unwanted (and since didn't and Yoshi are established characters, it would be unwise to change them),
EDIT:That's not fact (as I might have made it out to be), but my reasons for saying so are in my last post.

It'll probably have 35 or 40 since Sakurai isn't going to work on it.

Two things....
1)That is quite irrelivent (No Saklurai =/= fewer characters)
2)He might end up working on SSB4. Again, Foot-in-the-door phenomenon, and if you watch the IGN interview, he says everything as if he will make the next game but corrects himself.

[Arcadenik]

I don't think Sakurai cares whether they are rip-offs or unwanted. Pokemon Trainer is basically a rip-off of Zelda/Sheik only they are three characters in one opposed to two characters in one. Unwise to change characters? Sakurai changed Mario's down special, Bowser's side special, and even added Zero Suit Samus to regular Samus.... so I don't think it matters if Dixie Kong was added to Diddy Kong as a team that can switch places (with the taunt) or if Baby Mario was added to Yoshi that happens to be playable whenever Yoshi uses his FS. And remember Landmaster? Yeah, he ripped off Fox twice in Brawl now. Meowth may not be a good choice for SSB4, but come on now.. people said Wolf, Cel-Shaded Link, Olimar, and R.O.B. wouldn't be good choices. They are just likely additions to SSB4, JMO.