The third day of tryouts begins!
In March of 2006, I began the process of evaluating Nintendo characters to see who would make the cut into the game that was then known as Super Smash Bros. Revolution. Since then, the Wii has been released and two trailers for the game has been shown. We have received a lot of information, but not a final roster list. While this information is rumoured to arrive before the fall “˜07 release, it is not fast enough for me.
The tryouts will involve the evaluation of Nintendo characters - old and new - for their compatibility with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Old characters may be discarded; new ones may come out of unexpected places. It is time to resume the tryouts.
Step inside to see the evaluations of 10 new characters out of the 40 potential candidates from some of Nintendo’s most popular franchises.
Note: This post contains an absurd amount of images. Not recommended for people on dial-up. The Tryouts “˜07 Day One - Day Two - Day Three - Day Four - Day Five - Final Roster The Rejects
The beloved citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom have been around since the mid-eighties when Super Mario Bros. was released. Each of these bulbous headed minions of Princess Peach would be found waiting inside of a castle, to inform Mario that he had been given some shitty directions and ended up in the wrong place. Toad became a playable character for the first time in North America’s version of Super Mario Bros. 2 (Miyamoto’s ‘Doki Doki Panic’ in Japan). He was also the main protagonist in Wario’s Woods for the NES, before retiring into a life of a central character in all Mario spin-offs.
Despite the lack of originality surrounding the character, and the fact that he is as common as a ensign in a red shirt on Star Trek, Toad seems to be a fan favourite of many Super Smash Bros. fans. Toad was one of the front runners in the poll that got Bowser and Peach thrust into the spotlight last year. Since Wario was also elected into the game in this fashion, Toad seems to have a lot going for him.
The problem with Toad is the lack of abilities. The only thing he has ever been seen doing regularly is lifting objects and hurtling them with deadly accuracy. While this certainly equips the young mushroom with a suitable throw move, he has very little in the way of offensive and defensive attacks (aside from hitting people with the giant melon of his). Take into account that he is already part of a defensive move for Princess Peach, and you have to wonder: how on Earth could they actually work Toad into Super Smash Bros. Brawl successfully?
To be honest, it does not seem like Toad will make the cut. The Super Smash Bros. franchise is already busting at the seams with Mario characters (Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach), or characters who got their start in Mario-related games (Wario, DK, Yoshi). Considering that the developers may want to diversify the playlist a bit, Toad seems to be an unlikely candidate for inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. That is, unless the roster gets bumped up to 50 playable characters. In which case, why wouldn’t you put him in?
Compatibility:
Toad does not possess any abilities or maneuvers that make him stand out from any other characters. While he may possess a suitable grab and throw maneuver, his offensive abilities would have to be scraped together from other Mushroom Kingdom characters.
Likelihood:
I do not want to count the little guy out completely, considering how popular he is amongst fans. But, considering the robust selection of Mario characters already established, Toad’s chances of squeezing in amongst them seems to be a statistical improbability.
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Regardless of what some people are saying, the esteemed Professor Elvin Gadd, Esquire, is by far one of my favourite candidates for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Since his introduction in Luigi’s Mansion as a ghost hunting, crackpot inventor, E. Gadd has begun to embed himself everywhere within the Mario universe. He has appeared in numerous games since Luigi’s Mansion, always featuring his ingenious Gaddgets, but he has never appeared as a playable character.
In this writer’s opinion, the old coot should finally get a chance to be playable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. On account of all of his Gaddgets, an extremely diverse skill set can be built around E. Gadd. The Poltergust can be used as a throw method, sucking people into its dark recesses before they are hurtled out in a direction the player points. For his recovery jump, E. Gadd can employ the usage of F.L.U.D.D.’s rocket propulsion mode. Offensive attacks can be made up from any range of inventions in his repertoire, ranging from the Poltergust’s fire and ice sprayer through to the Gadd Gun from Mario Party.
However, Professor E. Gadd is - unfortunately - a Mario character. And, as mentioned before, the game is busting with those folks already. Adding an obscure character like Professor E. Gadd will only further the imbalance between franchises. When you account for the fact that Professor E. Gadd does not even have the street cred to work his way into a game like Mario Power Tennis as a playable character, than you have to assume he will not be one of the big players in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Compatibility:
Let’s face it. Professor E. Gadd - with his incredible Gaddgets - has the ability to take on any skills he wishes. And, since a lot of interesting “toys” have already been featured in previous Mario games, there is a wide range of abilities to draw from.
Likelihood:
Despite the fact that Professor E. Gadd is one of the funniest Mario characters, and a personal favourite of mine, it seems incredibly unlikely that he will make it into Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a playable character. Perhaps we will be lucky enough to see some of his inventions as usable items, but I would not count on seeing E. Gadd unless he gets his own franchise.
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Originally introduced as Donkey Kong’s lighter, faster side-kick in Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong became a full-fledged star in Donkey Kong Country 2, staring alongside his girlfriend (and second-cousin, yikes) Dixie Kong. But then, the fame hit a rough patch, and Diddy Kong fell out of the spotlight for a short while. Until, Diddy Kong Racing for the N64 hit store shelves with a resounding thud. Not only was the game a fabulous spin on the kart-racing genre (featuring karts, planes, and hover crafts), it also introduced the now-infamous Rare characters Banjo (from Banjo-Kazooie) and Conker (from Conker’s Bad Fur Day). Diddy was also one of the five playable characters of Donkey Kong 64.
After Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong once again experienced a fall from grace as RARE was sold to Microsoft in 2002. Since then, he has found his way back to Nintendo and has appeared in many Mario sport titles and other Mario spin-offs, traditionally as DK’s sidekick once more. His most recent appearance has been in the remade Diddy Kong Racing for the Nintendo DS.
Diddy would likely make an excellent playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He is a small target, faster than Donkey Kong, and certainly more agile. For a recovery jump, he would be able to use his barrel shaped jetpack from Donkey Kong 64. Otherwise, most of his abilities would likely be physical punches and kicks similar to Donkey Kong, with alterations to make them more suited to Diddy. For example, a melee attack could involve his often used cart wheel ability from the Donkey Kong Country series.
When Brawl arrives sometime in late ‘07, I would fully expect to see Diddy Kong included on the roster. Since Donkey Kong is the sole representative of his franchise, there is plenty of room to include an additional character from the Donkey Kong series. Diddy is a fan-favourite, careers have been built on his (Banjo and Conker), and he is starting to appear in more and more games. Not only that, but Diddy has been in Donkey Kong games since the entire series was revitalized on the Super Nintendo with Donkey Kong Country.
Compatibility:
_Call me crazy, but with Diddy Kong’s vast assortment of quick physical attacks, and his excellent speed, he would be an absolutely superb addition to Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His only downside is a lack of ranged attacks for hitting far off opponents. _
Likelihood:
_
Given his extensive history with Nintendo, and the fact that Nintendo fought to get him back from RARE, it seems like a sure thing that Diddy Kong will make an appearance in Brawl. Given the fact that most franchises appear to be moving to two characters each, Diddy Kong’s inclusion seems even more likely._
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Introduced as the incestuous love interest of the young Diddy Kong in Donkey Kong Country 2, Dixie Kong has not really been a key player in most Donkey Kong games to be released since the Super Nintendo era. In Donkey Kong 64, she was replaced by her younger sister, Tiny Kong, and she has not appeared in many of the Mario spinoffs like her fellow Kongs (her first such appearance was in Mario Superstar Baseball, which is only a few years old). Lately, she has started to resurface in many Donkey Kong and Mario games, to the immense satisfaction of her strangely large fan base.
As a candidate for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there are a multitude of abilities that could be attributed to her. First of all, Dixie’s trademark banana shaped ponytail would serve as her recovery ability, enabling a slow descent towards land as it did in Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3. Moreover, her ponytail can be used to lift objects, and could be incorporated rather easily into her throw maneuver. Like her fellow Kongs, most of her attacks would have to be physical in nature. One such option would be incorporating some sort of feminine twirl that would allow repeated hits from her pony tail, as well as a modified cartwheel. The only ability Dixie lacks would be a vertical third jump.
The likelihood of Dixie Kong’s appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is minimal. Considering the limited space for characters, and Dixie’s relative obscurity in the past few years, her appearance does not seem likely. However, the opinions of fans may turn the tide on this decision, and see her included as an unlockable character. The only problem is that she would feel too much like Diddy Kong, who is a much more prominent character in the Nintendo canon. For this instalment of Super Smash Bros., it seems that the development team may want to steer clear of “clone characters” due to their lack of popularity last time around.
Compatibility:
_Dixie Kong could be very similar to Diddy Kong. It is likely that she would have a solid set of physical attacks involving speed and the use of her massive ponytail like a club. The only downside to her abilities is the distinct lack of a third jump. While her ponytail can be used to hover gracefully horizontally, it will not help her when she takes a topple over the edge of a stage. _
Likelihood:
_Unfortunately, Dixie Kong would play a lot like Diddy Kong, and - when considering who gets the spot - he would be the preferred choice over her. It also seems likely that the development team will want to steer clear from cloning characters again. The only way I can see Dixie being featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is if the number of characters reaches 50 (unlikely). _
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When you first read the name Baby Bowser at the top of this section, you probably groaned and thought to yourself, ‘Another Mario character? Jordan must be shrooming.” If you did think this, then you are unfamiliar with the history of the character of Baby Bowser. The naive gamers of today all seem to assume that the character of Baby Bowser originated in Super Mario Sunshine, where he played the masked villain of Shadow Mario. However, this is a false interpretation. That character is known as Bowser Jr., and he is the eighth Koopa Kid in Bowser’s family. Baby Bowser, however, is none other than the King of Koopas himself…except in the past.
Baby Bowser appeared in the Super Nintendo title Yoshi’s Island, an innovative platformer that has given Yoshi his own franchise. As Yoshi carried Baby Mario across Yoshi’s Island to rescue Baby Luigi, Baby Bowser sat in his castle with his caretaker Kamek, plotting to capture his future nemesis, Baby Mario. The character has reappeared in Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, as well as every other Yoshi’s Island title, always as the main villain. It is for this reason that Baby Bowser can make an appearance in Super Smash Bros. His origins stem from a different franchise. In short, he would be representing the Yoshi series, not the Mario series. A minor loophole.
As far as attacks, Baby Bowser would be capable of spitting out fireballs, and using some of the spin techniques of his future children: the Koopa Kids. Furthermore, he could possess an interesting movement ability where he curls into his smaller, spiky shell and can zoom around the stage (similar to Yoshi in his egg). The young Koopa King’s abilities would largely draw from the abilities of his older self (except watered down slightly), and his vertical jump attack could involve a limited usage of the Koopa Clown Car for transportation. As for other offensive attacks, Baby Bowser could utilise Chain Chomps as a range attack, swinging them around and throwing them at enemies.
Compatiblity:
Most of Baby Bowser’s abilities would be pretty straight forward, however, some of them would require a bit of a stretch of the imagination, like the usage of Chain Chomps. Ultimately, he could be a very balance character with only a slight chance of seeming similar to his older self.
Likelihood:
The likelihood of Baby Bowser making an appearance is reasonable. He is a prominent character who is being featured more and more in new Mario titles. However, there is stillt he undeniable fact that he is a character from the Mario universe (even if the developers attribute him to being from the Yoshi games). As a result, they may opt to leave him out in favour of more original characters.
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A suggestion that I have seen out there is for the inclusion of Kamek, the Magikoopa who acts as Baby Bowser’s main lackey in Yoshi’s Island. Due to the limited exposure of the character, it is my opinion that this falls into a category that I will focus an entire post on later known as the ’You Must Be Fucking Joking’ group. Although I understand the bizarre and morbid attachment people have towards Kamek, he would simply not make a good Super Smash Bros. Brawl fighter. The long and short of it is, he is a minion character. A mindless peon who does what he is told and dies in the process. He is fodder before you face the final boss. Nothing more.
Would people be content to have a Goomba from Mario as a playable character? Or a Poe from The Legend of Zelda? Let us be serious here. Kamek was merely a plot device used to create enough interesting bosses to keep Yoshi’s Island fresh and original. Nothing more. I admit, yes, he has some interesting abilities. His ability to fly on a broomstick would be an interesting third jump and potential dash attack, and his magic abilities could be exploited willy-nilly.
But again, he is a minion. And, as a result, he should not be included in Brawl.
Compatibility:
A reasonable attack set can be drawn from his abilities, but the majority of it will have to be made from scratch.
Likelihood:
Get real people. The day Nintendo includes a minion character like Kamek in Super Smash Bros. is the day they give up on making video games.
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There is a lot of buzz about whether Krystal will be included in the next Super Smash Bros. title. The young fox, introduced in Star Fox Adventures, is a fan favourite, despite the fact that she has only existed in the Star Fox universe for a short time. It also seems like series veterans such as Falco and even Wolf would make a better addition to Super Smash Bros. than she would. Nevertheless, fans are hoping and praying for Krystal.
Her skillset could be varied to differentiate her from Fox, without infringing on any potential skillset for Falco. The character of Krystal is a telepath, and before picking up a blaster to join the Star Fox team, she used a staff with a host of interesting properties. By combining the two skills, Krystal would be able to take on the form that was originally intended in the game Dinosaur Planet (which became Star Fox Adventures). She could use mental abilities - perhaps as a shield similar to Ness - as well as the staff for physical and range attacks. Since there is no character in Super Smash Bros. who currently uses a staff weapon of any description, this style of fighting would be new and innovative. Her third jump could be similar to Fox’s ‘Firefox’ ability - coloured blue due to Krystal’s mental abilities - or she could have the ‘Launch’ ability contained within her staff.
It is worth noting that Krystal was never intended to become part of the Star Fox canon. Originally, Star Fox Adventures was a game called Dinosaur Planet, which featured Krystal and Sabre - two anthropomorphic cats - as the main characters. Despite the fact that she eventually became a Fox, and has appeared in two official Star Fox games, she is still a relatively new addition to the team. When considering if she should be included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it seems that the developers would have to weigh her unique fighting style against the heritage of the character. Ultimately, it should not matter, since Krystal is a solid character (as long as she doesn’t talk…she is so annoying).
Compatibility:
She has a solid set of attacks if they have her as the “Dinosaur Planet” era Krystal, and not the recent addition to the Star Fox team Krystal. The staff is really key in setting this character apart from the masses.
Likelihood:
_While I am sure most people would prefer a re-evaluated Falco as an addition over Krystal, the number of multiple characters from a single franchise is on the rise. Keeping this in mind, there may be room for Fox, Falco, and Krystal. But, do not get your hopes to high Krystal fans. She is still a minor character, so she does have the potential to be cut. _
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If you have played Starfox 64 or Star Fox Assault, you know that the ultimate rival of the Star Fox team is the sleek and vicious Star Wolf team, headed up by a wolf named - you guessed it - Wolf. The creative liberty that these people take with giving names…it astounds us all. In Star Fox circles, many people like Wolf because of his kick-ass, ‘I’m better than you and I know it’ attitude. Wolf is definitely the type of new age villain that people love: cool and cunning, with a blurred moral compass and lacking in delusions of grandeur. He lives his wicked life, one moment to the next.
While he is certainly a great character in the Star Fox games, there does not appear to be a great deal of room for him in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Even if you were to assume that Krystal would not be included in the upcoming game, you have to realise that the Star Fox characters can only number so many. Most franchises get one or two playable characters, with the big money makers getting the majority of the spots (Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon). The Star Fox franchise has been on a bit of a roller coaster throughout its lifespan. The original Star Fox was groundbreaking. Star Fox 64 took the formula, added a vehicle, and made the whole thing better. Then, Star Fox Adventures came along and ruined it all. Star Fox Assault returned and gave a brief spark to the series. Finally, Star Fox Command arrived on the DS and got the ball rolling, although the game was not true to its roots.
Since Star Fox is not nearly as popular as it could be, I cannot see the developers of Super Smash Bros. awarding any extra spots to characters like Wolf O’Donnell. I can see Fox and Falco making the cut. Even Krystal might make it if they have some free space. But Wolf? I do not know. It seems less likely the more I think about it. While I know we would all love to have him included in the game, how would they differentiate him from Fox? Heavier weapons? Sure. If they are going to have him replace Falco. But Falco has been in Star Fox from the beginning. He has earned his spot more than Wolf.
No, I fear that any attempt at creating a character out of Wolf would result in a cloning of Fox’s moveset, or a direct theft of what should be Falco’s moveset. Regardless of the choice, both alternatives are bad ones.
Compatibility:
While I will admit that Wolf O’Donnell could easily have an excellent move set built around him, it would have to be stolen from Fox and Falco, cheapening those characters in the process. Even if they tried to make Wolf into a stronger, slower version of Fox, he would simply be another clone character. And I despise clone characters.
Likelihood:
Wolf could appear in the game if they chose to remove Falco. But, this does not seem likely given Falco’s history with Nintendo and the Star Fox franchise. Ultimately, it is a toss up. They may choose Wolf. They may choose Falco. But I doubt they would include both.
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I bet that after you completed Majora’s Mask, you thought you would never hear the name Skull Kid again. Apparently, the fans of Zelda will hear nothing of it. From what I have read, there is a substantial amount of people who want to see Skull Kid included in the next iteration of Super Smash Bros. Zelda fans will remember that Skull Kid originally appeared in Ocarina of Time for the N64 in a section of the Lost Woods, and - after kicking his ass - he would give you a Piece of Heart. Another Skull Kid later surfaced in Termina, wearing Majora’s Mask and posing as a menacing (and whiny) little punk. With the help of your masks and the ability to rewind time, you easily kick his ass (again) and drive the evil from the mask. Recently, he has appeared in Twilight Princess briefly where you are required to kick his ass (yet again).
Ultimately, Skull Kid is a bit of a pushover. Many people seem to want him included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl without really considering what his abilities would be. Since Skull Kid never uses a weapon, he would be required to fight using mostly melee attacks (punching, kicking, etc) in a similar fashion to Mario, Fox, and similar characters. As for projectile attacks, it seems likely that he would be able to incorporate a lot of the magic seen throughout the Zelda series. Giant balls of dark energy could be charged and fired at will, and - perhaps - he could unleash the power of Majora’s Mask to do a quick dash around an opponent to get the upper hand in a stand off.
Wait a minute…this is beginning to sound like Mewtwo. Ah. Therein lies the problem. Skull Kid has no truly unique abilities. All of his skills would be drawn from your standard “evil magic user” persona, meaning he throws dark energy at you, or tries to swallow you up with it. The only interesting use for Skull Kid would be if he could mimic an opponents fighting style entirely. Not like Kirby, where he only gets the single special attack. But like Charade from Soul Calibur 2, where the exact fighting style is mimicked to the letter. Of course, this has very little to do with Skull Kid, so I do not see why it would ever occur. And, without a solid, unique moveset, why would he even appear in the game?
Compatiblity:
_Skull Kid really does not have the abilities under his belt to be a decent fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While the character is certainly an interesting one, he simply would not have enough offensive and defensive abilities to put up a fight.
_
Likelihood:
Since it would be very difficult to make the character into an interesting fighter, it does not seem like he would be included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Also, when you consider the number of Zelda characters is already fairly uneven compared to other franchises, you have to assume that they will draw a line at someone like Skull Kid. Maybe next time.
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Until the release of Twilight Princess, there was not a gamer in the world who would have recommended a peculiar character like Midna for inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. But then, the Wii came out. People dove face first into Twilight Princess like a pack of ravenous wolves, and they tore through the game. After completing it, you will know why; you will begin to understand exactly what it is about Midna that makes everyone like her character so much. It is difficult to put in the words, but needless to say, the character is cool.
Does Midna have what it takes to appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? Definitely. The attacks are certainly present. Her ability to wield dark magic, as well as that strange hair-hand appendage that comes out of her head would make for excellent attacks in her imp form. But, more than that, the developers could also make her similar to Zelda, offering players the option of transforming into her Twili form for even more abilities. For this form, her attacks would mostly have to be created from scratch, although inspiration could be drawn from all the Twili abilities shown throughout the game. Her Super Smash attack could even be harnessing the power of the Fused Shadows. The character would be epic to play as.
However, she does not really possess the necessary longevity to be included. She is a relatively new character, and was probably being finalized at around the same time as the Super Smash Bros. Brawl character list. It seems likely that Midna would have been in the same position as Snake for Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Peach for the original Super Smash Bros. The request for inclusion was made past the deadline. Also, Midna did seem to be kind of a one trick pony. Similar to Navi, Midna just leaves Link’s life forever at the end of the game (it seems he cannot get a woman to stick around for long). Due to Midna’s assumed absence from future games, Nintendo may not even bother with her in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Compatibility:
Given the wide range of abilities used by Midna in Twilight Princess, as well as the creative liberties that could be taken by the design team, you’ve got yourself one pretty powerful magical character.
Likelihood:
Midna’s appearance could go either way. On the one hand, she is a solid character and people love her. On the other hand, the number of Zelda characters is getting a little bit too high and is setting off the balance between franchises. Furthermore, she was only in a single game, and it is relatively new. She may not meet the criteria to be a Super Smash Bros. fighter (unless they have big plans for her down the road). Midna is probably a trump card best saved for future Super Smash Bros. installments.
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That is all for this instalment. You may have noticed that this list of new characters only contained those for already established franchises like Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Star Fox and Zelda. This was no accident. My goal was to get the franchises that are already present out of the way, before moving on to all the good stuff. Coming up soon (possibly tomorrow) will be more of the thirty or more characters that remain, including some classic characters from Konami, Namco, Capcom, Hudson and more.
Keep checking back for more updates. And if you haven’t caught up on previous days of ’The Tryouts ‘07’, don’t forget to check out the links at the top and bottom of each post.
The Tryouts “˜07 Day One - Day Two - Day Three - Day Four - Day Five - Final Roster The Rejects