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The Tryouts ‘07 - Who Will Make The Cut? (Part V)
The fifth 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 from some of Nintendo’s newest 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
If you have not played Balloon Fighter against a friend, then you have never truly lived. The original NES game was bold, exciting, and crazy. As a Balloon Fighter, you would flap your stubby arms and fly around the screen trying to pop other balloon fighters (seemingly with beak masks).While the character may sound like a bland addition to the Super Smash Bros. lineup, you have acknowledge that there is some potential. Most of this potential is drawn from the Gameboy platforming adventure, Balloon Kid, as well as a few creative liberties involving balloons themselves.Now, strictly speaking, Balloon Fighter’s physical attacks will involve his fists. When you float around for hours at a time flapping your arms to move, you have to be completely beefed up. There is simply no way around it. The Balloon Fighter must look like Popeye when you see him up close.
For his special abilities, he would employ balloons in all the uses that you can imagine. Press and hold B and the Balloon Fighter pulls out a bazooka that fires water balloons at an opponent. Press B and a direction, and the Balloon Fighter will smash you in the face with some sort of “balloon” weapon. Press B and down to fill up a water balloon which can be thrown like one of Links bombs. Press B and down in the air to have the Balloon Fighter hover momentarily on a large balloon, before it pops. Press B and up to deploy the traditional two balloons of the Balloon Fighter, allowing him to fly freely for a moment (like Kirby).
Overall, the Balloon Fighter has the potential to have some unique and comical abilities. But, he is not nearly as well established as other characters, having been absent from the gaming scene since the eighties when Balloon Fighter debuted. He may be a quirky character, but I think the game designers would prefer something with a bit more substance.
Compatibility:
_
The Balloon Fighter could be formed into a solid Smash Bros. character, but it would take a lot of work to make him someone likeable._
Likelihood:
The Balloon Fighter is not the most famous character from Nintendo’s classic lineup. There is no doubt that there are people more deserving of the position than him.
Images:
One of the Super Nintendo games that operated with the Super Scope light gun peripheral, Battle Clash was a game about Standing Tanks and their pilots competing to become the winner of the Battle Game. At the start of the game, a ruthless pilot named Anubis has taken over the world with his Standing Tank Thanatos. He killed many people along the way.
Mike Anderson is also a Standing Tank pilot, operating the ST Falcon. His father was killed in Anubis quest for power, and so Mike Anderson pilots the ST Falcon to participate in the Battle Game and avenge his father’s death.
Including Mike Anderson and the ST Falcon into Super Smash Bros. Brawl would be no easy task, considering the vehicle is fairly large in size. The option does exist to simply have Mike Anderson with moves inspired by the ST Falcon - in the same way that Fox and Captain Falcon have moves inspired by their vehicles - but it seems to me that it would be much more satisfying to actually pilot the Standing Tank in-game.
The only problem lies within the melee attacks. You can add in any type of ordinance that you wish to be fired out of the ST Falcon. Missiles, large rockets, heat seeking missiles, lasers, pellets, or children for all I care. But it is the hand-to-hand combat that would be most difficult to implement. The ST Falcon would be a slow, large character, like Bowser or Donkey Kong. But, he would excel in range attacks like Samus Aran. This creates a bit of a character inbalance that I have been unable to reconcile.
All of this is irrelevant though, since Mike Anderson and the ST Falcon faded into relative obscurity after the waning popularity of the Super Scope. The sequel to Battle Clash was not well-received, and Mike Anderson has not been seen nor heard from since.
Compatibility:
The ST Falcon would have a superb arsenal of range attacks, but would be lacking when the battle got up close and personal. Also, the slow speed of a large character would make dodging difficult, and speed is a key element of characters who focus on range attacks (Samus, Fox, etc).
Likelihood:
_The ST Falcon and Michael Anderson have never truly been that popular. And since there has been no attempt to revitalize the franchise, it seems things will stay that way. Besides this, there is better potential for a mech character who could be used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
_
Images:
Another character from a different era, Bubbles is the female (apparently), crab…thing that you play as in the extremely difficult NES game Clu Clu Land. Or, at least I find it extremely difficult. The objective of Clu Clu Land is to unearth Gold Ingots. In each level, there is an image formed by Gold Ingots that are not visible in the stage, and you have to uncover the image to progress. But it is not that easy. Spinning around the stage are sea urchins who can pop Bubbles. And while she can blast them away with some sort of sonic wave, there is one factor that makes avoiding them difficult.
The control scheme. Bubbles does not walk. Instead, she grabs onto pegs that cover the level in a grid. After you indicate which of her hands she should reach out, Bubbles latches onto a peg and will spin around it until you let go. Through this method, you have to time your movements carefully. Release to early, and you may head the wrong way. Release to late, and you will have loop back around. Any major screw-ups can land you in a face-to-face confrontation with an urchin, which never ends well.
At first, I was not convinced that Bubbles could be a cool character in Super Smash Bros., but then I read a moveset developed by someone else that I found quite intriguing. It involves extrapolating on both the oceanic origins of the character, but also on the nature of her movements. By including the peg as a weapon of sorts, Bubbles can have a really fleshed out moveset. B would use her sonic wave. B and a direction could have her stick her pole into the ground and spin around (like Mario’s Tornado spin). B and up could be an interesting recovery jump/attack like Pikachu’s Quick Attack. If time correctly, Bubbles would do three acrobatic, Prince of Persia-esque poll jumps, allowing her to get back to the stage safely. Anyone nearby while she does this spins would get hit. Pressing Down and B would be a risky shield attack inspired by the whirlpool hole in Clu Clu Land. It would block energy projectiles, but not physical projectiles. Also, if anyone is caught in the limited range of the attack, it would sap health from them to transfer to Bubbles. Of course, this would be extremely risky, and you’d have to be quite good at it, like Ness’ similar attack.
Bubbles - however - is a character who has not appeared since her conception. Clu Clu Land, despite being incredibly fun and incredibly addictive, never really caught on enough to warrant a Super Nintendo iteration. However, Nintendo has not forgotten about Bubbles entirely. Not only was she featured as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, she was also an unlockable character in DK: King of Swing for the Game Boy Advance. With the highest stats available, she was one of the best playable characters. Her style of gameplay lives on in DK: King of Swing, and Nintendo has shown that they still remember her.
Is she worthy?
Compatibility:
Using Bubbles in Super Smash Bros. Brawl would provide a light-weight, acrobatic character whose moves function on swinging, spinning, and flipping with that pole (peg) of hers. The innovative playstyle would certainly make Bubbles worth including.
Likelihood:
Bubbles has had more exposure in recent years than many of these other NES classic characters. As a result of this exposure, she seems to have garnered a fair bit of popularity as well. Plus, she is a female character, and they seem to want to add more of those in to give female gamers more characters to play as.
Images:
From the Custom Robo series, Ray 01 is one of the basic fighting machines, called Robos, which can be used in-game. Ray 01 was developed as a secret government project, until he was stolen and eventually wound up in the hands of a group of bounty hunters known as the ‘Steel Hearts’. Ray 01 joins forces with the Steel Hearts in an effort to stop the threat of the robot-demon fusion Rahu, who threatens society.
Custom Robo is a futuristic action game where players customize their own miniature robot fighters for combat in the Holosseum. While this immediately begins to sounds like one of those corny Battle B’Daman or Beyblade shows, it is quite different. Players can customize their battling robots with guns, bombs, and pods in order to gain and advantage against other combatants.
Ray 01 is the candidate who would be superior in a voting match against the ST Falcon. Since Ray 01 is completely customizable in his native game, they developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl can choose to equip the Robo with any ordinance and armor that they can envision, as long as it fits within the realm of Custom Robo science fiction. The only downside is - again - with the physical attacks, although this is easier to work around with Ray 01 (a fast-moving robot fighter), than the ST Falcon (a giant walking tank).
More than that, Ray 01 is still a popular character, whereas Mike Anderson and the ST Falcon have fallen from grace since the death of the Super Nintendo system. Custom Robo lives on, with a new title recently released for the Nintendo DS.
Compatibility:
Ray 01 would have a wide range of attacks at his disposal, and since he is a smaller and more agile fighter than the ST Falcon, it would be easier to incorporate basic movement, jumps, and physical attacks into his arsenal.
Likelihood:
Ray 01 definitely appears to be a strong contender for character selection in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His popularity fluctuates wildly, but he is still fairly well-known, and well-liked.
Images:
Mike Jones is visiting his uncle, Dr. Steve Jones, on C-Island for some quality family time when…his uncle is abducted by aliens and Mike - using an island yo-yo - must come to his aid. In the crazy adventure that follows, Mike travels in a submarine with the robot NAV-COM (who looks suspiciously like R.O.B.) on a journey across the tropics to uncover a sinister alien conspiracy. Throughout the game, Mike accumulates bizarre weapons ranging from baseball bats to laser guns. He also rescues a baby dolphin and returns it to its mother, and is forced to dress up as a female in order to infiltrate a town populated entirely by women. His adventures eventually lead him to a face off with Zoda, a sinister alien invader who resembles the xenomorph from the Aliens movies (read: a blatant rip-off of the xenomorph…).
As far as anyone in North America knew, Mike Jones was the original Ness. He fought with baseball bats, yo-yos, and other similar abilities. Although the game Mother was released in 1989, no game from that series got here until the Super Nintendo era.
Of course, the problem with Mike Jones being the original Ness-style character in North America is that Ness is the original Ness-style character in Super Smash Bros. If you tried to include Mike Jones in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, all you would have is a Ness character without the fancy psychic abilities. Not a very fun character. People still seem to think it is a good idea. As much as I like Mike Jones, I’m sorry man. That ship has sailed. Go fight Zoda again on a next-generation console, and we will talk.
Compatibility:
Mike Jones would make a mediocre character. He is Ness without the psychic powers, making him extremely boring.
Likelihood:
Since Ness already exists, it seems pointless to have a copy of Ness that is robbed of all of Ness’ cool powers. It would be a waste of space on the roster.
Images:
Little Mac is a rookie boxer who works his way through several boxing circuits in order to become the champion of the WVBA (World Video Boxing Association). With his coach Doc Louis, Little Mac would train and bring down even the mightiest of titans, match after match, until he came face to face with Mike Tyson (read: Mr. Dream) for a final showdown. His quick jabs, and his explosive uppercuts would eventually lead him to triumph against all odds, and claim the title of WVBA World Champion.
If there is any classic character suited for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it has to be Little Mac. Although it is obvious that no Punch-Out!! game has been released in over a decade, Little Mac has retained his popularity. He has appeared in Electronic Art’s Fight Night: Round 2 as an unlockable fighter, several Punch-Out!! characters have appeared in Warioware games, Wii Boxing is just begging to have Punch-Out!! characters dropped into it, and - finally - Punch-Out!! has just been re-released on the Nintendo Virtual Console. A sign of things to come? Perhaps.
If Little Mac was a playable character, he would have no projectile attacks (like Marth and Roy) which would force him to rely on his quick jabs, hooks and uppercuts to keep him in the game. Developers could take some creative liberties with his dodging abilities, and perhaps give him a one-two punch that allows him to hit an opponent, “dash” to the opposite side for another one-two punch. Since Little Mac is a boxing character, all of his fighting would have to be done with his fists. Even his third jump would have to involve some sort of punch (likely, his uppercut). While the lack of projectiles would make it difficult for Little Mac to compete with fighters like Link and Samus, it seems likely that changes could be made to the characters overall design to compensate for these shortcomings.
Compatibility:
Little Mac could easily fit into a game like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, although a host of creative changes would have to be made to his character to ensure he has a diverse move set.
Likelihood:
Little Mac has always remained a popular Nintendo character, despite the fact that he has not been in a Nintendo game since 1994. The development of boxing mechanics for the Wii, as well as the recent re-release of Punch-Out!! on the Virtual Console makes me suspect that we will see Little Mac as a playable character in the fall.
Images:
Many evenings of my childhood were spent hunting ducks with my brother, with our trusty hunting dog, Dog. However, while Dog was an efficient retriever, and incredibly stealthy, he was a bit of a douchebag. For example, if I took out my gun and happened to miss one of the ducks, that cocky little bastard would pop out of his hiding place and laugh at me. Oh, how many times did I wish I could unleash the power of the Zapper and smite that smug little bastard. But, alas, Nintendo is a family-friendly company.
Even though the Dog has never been a playable character, many people think that he should be incorporated into Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And I wont lie to you. The idea is intriguing. While his moveset would have to be made up from scratch, they could incorporate a lot of features from Duck Hunt into the mix. Dog could hurl clay discus at enemies, or even pull out the Zapper on them. And his taunt. Well, that one is a bit of a given. The most interesting thing I can think of for Dog would be for his Super Smash Attack (those elaborate attacks we’ve all seen in the trailers). I was thinking that, when he uses it, a patch of grass grows behind him and he leaps into it (a la Duck Hunt). Then, the Wiimote of the player using Dog turns into a pointer on screen, allowing you to shoot at your enemies Duck Hunt-style for extra damage. I can also see his third jump somehow flying back to safety on a gigantic mallard.
Compatibility:
The concept for the character is interesting. He could certainly be Brawl’s gimmick character, like Mr. Game and Watch was to Melee. The only question is, will it happen?
Likelihood:
I like to think that Nintendo recognizes a beloved icon when they see one. Although, Dog has lived in relative obscurity for some time now, and we have no idea when we might see another Duck Hunt title released.
Images:
Japan-Only Candidates:
The following four candidates are all characters that have not seen a game released outside of Japan. Since the number of Japanese candidates will be limited, I skipped a lot of the boring, completely ineligible characters and bring you the best four of the whole bunch. Now you do not have to read about Japanese school girls, lame alleyway faux-samurais, and other such nonsense.
Tamagon’s game, Devil World, was never released on the NES in North America because we are shackled to a bunch of religious idiots. That is right. Devil World stars the dragon, Tamagon, who ends up in a maze surrounded by demons. At the top of the screen is the head honcho himself, who is dancing. The game is essentially Pac-Man, with one interesting difference. Well, two. The first difference is that the walls around the gameplay area move. The entire maze is much bigger than what is visible, but the walls are constantly being moved in the direction the Devil is pointing. So, if you are not careful, you can die by the hands of demons, or you can get crushed between a wall and a hard place. It is your choice.
The second difference in these games is that the fruit from Pac-Man has been substituted with religious symbols. And it was this difference that caused the game to go unreleased in North America. Crosses and Bibles provide Tamagon with the power to breath fire, and allow him to more easily defeat the demons. (As an aside, the Bible from this game was recycled as the Book of Magic for The Legend of Zelda, in the same way that Gold Ingots from Clu Clu Land became Rupees).
Should Tamagon be in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? A lot of people remember him fondly, and think that the ban on his game was uncalled for. So, is there any better way to return to form than showing up in a fighting game and breathing fire all over those who saw North America’s sweet, sweet shores? Probably not. Is it likely to happen? Also probably not. And this has nothing to do with Tamagon’s popularity. As far as fame goes, he would be a definite candidate. The problem is that the position of fire-breathing dragon has already been filled by Bowser, and possibly Baby Bowser if we are lucky. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is simply not enough room for a character as uninspired as Tamagon. Furthermore, it seems that they are still reluctant to even mention him in North America. He had a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee that was hastily removed from the commercial release in North America because of the title of the game. No. It doesn’t look like Tamagon is destined for greater things. We will just have to be content with him appearing in Tetris DS Marathon mode for a few seconds in the background.
Compatibility:
The nature of the character would force his attacks to merely rip off Bowser. Plus, it would probably be kind of difficult to control a tiny dragon who does not even have arms. How would he throw an item? Pick it up in his mouth? Ridiculous.
Likelihood:
Even though Tamagon was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, he does not seem like a likely participant in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He has fans that wish him well, but he is ultimately a rip-off of Pac-Man, except he breaths fire and worships Yahweh instead of eating fruit and killing ghosts.
Images:
This character has appeared in a game called Sutte Hakkun, which was released for the Super Famicom in 1998. He resembles a cross between a blue peanut and a drinking bird, and so many people just refer to him as some sort of hummingbird. He goes around and sucks up colours through his straw-like beak, and then spits these substances into other objects to change their properties.
One interesting suggestion that I saw for this involved Hakkun sucking up other characters, but instead of spewing out their colours to change the properties of other objects, he would change colour and his body would change its properties. So, he sucks up Link. His body turns green, and the little guy grows to be the size and weight of Link. In this way, he would become similar to Kirby, except his mimicry operates in a different fashion, changing weight, speed and float as opposed to special abilities. By doing this, a player could fight as a small and light Hakkun until they take substantial damage, then suck up someone like DK to become heavier and more difficult to knock off the stage. It would certainly create an interesting element of strategy.
Despite all of this, his attacks would still be incredibly limited. Not only that, but this character has never been especially popular, having the unfortunate luck of being released at the dawn of the Nintendo 64.
Compatibility:
Has some interesting potential for attacks, but not enough to make a full-fledged character.
Likelihood:
_
He is not popular. And there has been little interest in continuing his franchise shown by Nintendo._
Images:
Demille (or Demiru) is one of the two Japanese characters that I believe should absolutely have a position in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Demiru featured in a game called Tomato Adventure for the Game Boy Advance. The game was developed by Alpha Dream, a name you may recognize as the developers of the insanely famous Mario and Luigi RPG series for Nintendo’s portable systems.
Tomato Adventure stars Demille, an 8-year-old rabbit who hates tomatoes, who lives in the Ketchup Kingdom. Demille begins the game watching a television report that says that King Abira, ruler of the Ketchup Kingdom, has developed a device that will turn people into toys for his own amusement. But, the device needs power. It runs off of Heart Energy, and the most potent source of this energy in the Ketchup Kingdom is - apparently - Demille’s girlfriend. So, he embarks on a quest to rescue her and prevent the tyrannical tomato dictator from turning everyone and everything into toys.
This is the RPG that inspired Mario and Luigi’s gameplay style, so I have immediately fallen in love with it. I desperately wish I could read Japanese. And I also desperately wish that Lik-Sang had not been crushed underfoot by the Sony corporate machine. But this is all in the past. Tomato Adventure is a fabulous game, and the main character - Demille - would be a perfect addition to Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For his attacks, he does not harness the power of weapons or magic, but gimmicks. These peculiar devices range from a spiked yo-yo, to a giant ball with a happy-face on it. By incorporating all of these gimmicks, Demille can get an extremely balanced move set. And as far as popularity goes, while Tomato Adventure 2 does not exist, we should all keep our fingers crossed that we receive a sequel AND receive both games here in North America.
Compatibility:
_
Demille’s various gimmicks would make for an absolutely perfect move set, and the diversity and zaniness of these tactics would make him a thrill to play._
Likelihood:
Demille is pretty popular. His game is relatively new, and it resulted in the creation of Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga. With any luck, Nintendo will realize that this is an excellent game with a quirky concept, and deserves both representation and localization here in North America.
Images:
Stafy is a star: not just in the sense that his four marine platformer games are immensely popular, but he is quite literally a star. Stafy and his family live in the clouds, but in each Densetsu no Stafy (The Legend of Stafy) game, the young star prince falls from the sky and lands in the ocean. In the first game, he is mistaken for a starfish, and throughout the series he befriends marine animals to help him on his quest. By accident, Stafy and friends release the evil Ogura, who becomes the central antagonist for the series.
Stafy may seem to be a somewhat bland character aesthetically, and he may even remind you heavily of the Starmen from Super Mario Bros. But he is such a unique and clever character, that he stands above the rest. Well, most of the rest. Stafy, as explained earlier, is a star who fell from the sky and landed in the ocean. As a result, his powers are not entirely aquatic in theme, but related to his shape and “flight”. Stafy can hover, and most of his attacking is done by spinning to form a drill or “throwing star” type attack. The best conceivable mapping of attacks is found here.
Overall, he will make quite an impressive character. I have included a video of some gameplay here, so that you can truly appreciate the character.
Compatibility:
Stafy will quite possibly be one of the best new additions to the Super Smash Bros. Brawl line-up, as he provides a unique method of play and an entirely unique attack style. If there is any character on this retro/japanese list that makes the cut, I pray to every God conceivable that it be Stafy.
Likelihood:
The character is clever, unique, and lovable. His popularity continues to grow. He has been featured in cameos in Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, as well as Super Princess Peach. Also, Wario has made an appearance in one of his games (not in a cameo, as a character that you interact with for a significant period of time). If Nintendo is willing to place one of their top-tier characters in line with Stafy, I’d say he is amongst the V.I.P. characters at Nintendo. Not only that, but I REALLY want his games to be released here.
In addition, a simple change in costume can make him into his sister (a pink star) in order to make the character more appealing to girl gamers.
Images:
There you have it. I have covered the classic NES characters and the Japanese only characters as well. The next post will cap it all off with all of the characters from 3rd party developers, and the post following that is going to break down my roster picks for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. If anyone has some suggestions that I have overlooked, please feel free to suggest them.
And don’t forget to check out the other days of the tryouts.
The Tryouts “˜07 Day One - Day Two - Day Three - Day Four - Day Five - Final Roster The Rejects
Picking Up Chicks
It is your typical Friday night. The stress of the work week is now behind you. You dress up in your finest clubbing attire, and go out with your buddies for a night on the town. You drink. You laugh. And generally, you have a good time.
At the end of the night, you’ve picked up some hot little firecracker of a girl and taken her home to bed with you. You try to set the mood. You have iTunes run through all of your Toto and Journey albums. You dim the backlighting. But then, your battery light turns to red, and you are forced to rummage for the power adapter that will breath life into your DS Lite.
Distraught over an anti-climactic conclusion to your typical Friday night date plans, you save your game, take out your retainer, and snuggle under your Where’s Waldo sheets to get some much needed rest. Oh well. Even if the night was a bust, at least your mother still thinks you are cool.
If this sounds like a typical Friday night for you, then you are probably wasting your time playing this game. Doki Doki Majo Saiban: a game that stars two middle school students who are apparently so lame that the only way they will ever touch a girl is by going on a magical witch hunt, which involves full body inspections of all the hot young females in their classes. We are finally beginning to see what Nintendo had envisioned when they said “Touching is Good”. Pure, digital smut on a tiny little screen.
Can people who play video games as a hobby look any more pathetic after this game hits the DS? Not unless they actually make a game entitled “My Mom Still Thinks I’m Cool”, in which you play a 45-year-old depressed anti-socialite who lives at home and sleeps in a crib. The goal would be to use the DS to tap the bars of your crib to make music. It is like Electroplankton, really.
Awesome Video - NSFW
You should definitely check this video out, if you haven’t already.
Absolutely stunning battle scenes. You will not be disappointed.
I was unable to watch the ending, because I am in a public place. It looked like things were getting interesting though. I desperately want a 3D editing program so that I can animate a cool fight scene like that.
Twelve Days
Just twelve more days until the move in date at the University of Waterloo. Am I psyched? You had better believe it. I have been looking forward to returning to campus and getting back to my studies for so long. Taxes went from hip to boring in about three seconds. I do not know if I can stand being in this Wal-Mart for much longer. So many smelly customers come in to use their layaway department.
Anyway, just thought I would throw in a regular “update” post of sorts, just to space out the lengthy feature posts. Interestingly enough, I have another feature in the works as well. Interestingly enough, it also involves some game design. Also (and this could be a pro or a con), it is going to involve some rough sketches of concepts. Depending on your level of tolerance for poorly drawn garbage, you may be able to withstand the post. Otherwise, your eyes may melt out of their sockets and fill your lungs.
Long story short, keep checking the Box. I expect to finish up The Tryouts ‘07 within four more days (one for classic characters, one for 3rd party characters, one for my picks, and the final one for the ‘You’ve Got To Be Fucking Joking’ category of characters). And then sometime after returning to the University of Waterloo, I will begin the next feature article. Ugh…and this entire term has gone by without me finishing my new template. Oh well…I can pick away at that during the first week of classes.
Catch you later folks.
The Tryouts ‘07 - Who Will Make The Cut? (Part IV)
The fourth 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 from some of Nintendo’s newest 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
](http://www.redcardgroup.com/granite/2007/07/03/the-tryouts-07-the-rejects/) 
One of the central characters of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance for the Nintendo Gamecube, Ike has surfaced as a competitor in the tryouts for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Although he is from the same series as Marth and Roy - and likely fights with the same sword style - many people still want to see him included in Brawl. The reason for this, namely, is that a lot of people dislike Marth. Ike, on the other hand, developed quite a large following after the release of the first 3D Fire Emblem game.It seems likely that there will be at least one Fire Emblem character included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, on account of the stage pictured in the trailers that displays a castle under siege. Most people were quick to notice that the crest on the flag did not belong to the Mushroom Kingdom, or the Kingdom of Hyrule (the only places you find castles in the world of Nintendo). Fire Emblem fans chimed in immediately after commenting on how the crest belongs to some Fire Emblem kingdom that was first featured in the Path of Radiance. This appears to be a good sign of Ike’s presence in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. On the other hand, some other Fire Emblem fans have claimed that the insignia is actually from an older game in the series, one which stared Marth as the title character.So, it is a bit of a toss up. Fire Emblem games have only recently migrated to our shores, and I have yet to play through them. I do believe that Fraser has played Path of Radiance (maybe Caleb?), so perhaps there is someone else who can chime in on the merits of Ike over Marth. Ultimately, they would probably have the same move set, just a different name and appearance. Think of it as an alternate costume.
Compatibility:
_Since Ike would likely be a replacement for Marth, his moveset would be exactly the same. And since Marth has already made it into Super Smash Bros. as an amazingly useful character, Ike’s compatibility is obviously top-tier stuff. We’ve already seen that the formula works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
_
Likelihood:
This one could go either way folks. I am not an expert in Fire Emblem lore and imagery, so I cannot identify a culture from a crest on their flag. Perhaps Ike will replace Marth. Ike does have a second game coming out in the near future, and it might be the best way to make Ike’s face more recognizable, since everyone who owns a Wii is likely going to acquire Super Smash Bros. Brawl at some point.
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Another character from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, The Black Knight is one of the main evil characters from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. His armour is impenetrable, and he is the warrior who murdered Ike’s family.
For his inclusion into Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it is important to remember that major heroes are included from a franchise before major villains. As a result, if Ike ends up losing out the Fire Emblem seat to Marth, I would not expect The Black Knight to appear in game. The Black Knight operates as a package deal with Ike; no Ike, no Knight.
As for attacks, it seems that he would be shackled to an array of sword attacks that are similar to Marth and Roy. While it seems that they could certainly work around an exact duplication, The Black Knight would - essentially - be a clone of Ike’s abilities, except with some sort of more evil flare to them. I was thinking that instead of fire, like Roy, there would be black smoke or something similar.
Then again, the Black Knight’s appearance still hinges on the appearance of Ike, so it may not even matter. Despite this, many fans seem to hold him in high regard, and insist on a spot being reserved for him in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Compatibility:
The skill set is definitely there, but it would be a near carbon copy of Marth/Roy/Ike’s abilities. Without any originality to spice things up, why even bother with the character in the first place?
Likelihood:
As mentioned earlier, The Black Knight will only appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl if Ike is selected over Marth. Otherwise, there would be no reason to have a villain present when the hero of the same game is not.
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Ah. The shopkeeper from Animal Forest, Animal Crossing, and Animal Crossing: Wild World. Probably the only person who is content to nickel and dime consumers to death who has yet to get a job with Microsoft to work on the XBox Marketplace, Tom Nook is the lovable raccoon shopkeeper who manages your mortgage and sells you the essentials in the Animal Crossing series of games. Many fans of the series have insisted on seeing Tom Nook appear in this iteration of Super Smash Bros., but does he have the stones?
When you consider that Animal Crossing has no fighting in it whatsoever, you have to be a little creative in developing attacks for Tom Nook. Also, considering he is not playable, you have to mesh his abilities with those of other characters. For example, the main character (you) in Animal Crossing has access to a variety of tools: shovel, axe, fishing rod, net, watering can, slingshot, etc. Tom Nook is also obsessed with money, which is something that could be factored into his abilities as well.
So, using the ideas of some other people as well as my own, I can see Tom Nook using his face for most of his physical attacks (since his arms are so puny). For his range attacks, holding B could charge up the slingshot. B and a direction would have him hit you with the axe, with varying damage in each successive hit (since the axe blunts in game). For his down and B attack, he could use the shovel to dig a whole and bury himself in it to shield himself from attacks. Similar to Fox’s deflector shield, Ness’s psi shield, and Yoshi’s egg, the ability would wear off after a few seconds and Tom Nook would be forced to return to the surface. His throw ability could involve catching the opponent inside of the bug-catching net, and being able to carry the person a few steps before throwing him. This would make Tom Nook one of the first light weight characters to be able to carry an opponent.
His recovery jump is the only thing that I am really having problems with. He does not really have anything readily available for him to use. The best thing that I can think of would be to have him be like Yoshi: no third jump. Instead, he uses the fishing line to grab onto the edge of a stage and reel himself back in. Another ability that I could see him using would be to whack you with a can of roof paint. But I do not know how that would fit in best.
Despite the fact that you can be really creative with his abilities (despite the fact that some people really weren’t), it does not seem that he is likely to appear as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While Animal Crossing is a new, exciting, and profitable franchise for Nintendo, it is not marketed to the same crowd as Super Smash Bros. Instead, it is marketed to the “non-gamer” that Nintendo is dedicated to winning over. The conflict of interest may rule out any Animal Crossing character being present.
Compatibility:
With a little creativity, Tom Nook could become an extremely quirky character that does justice to the Animal Crossing franchise. With clever incorporations of the fishing rod, axe, shovel, slingshot, and net, you get a really solid skill set from him. His physical attacks are still kind of weak: hitting people with your head seems too much like Bonk.
Likelihood:
Despite the solidness of the character and the reasonable support he has received, Tom Nook does not appear to be a front runner for a spot in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The character is from a whole different breed of games, and does not truly lend himself to all this fighting. But then again, Fox had never left his cockpit when the original Super Smash Bros. was released, so boundaries can be broken.
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Another Animal Crossing character. Mr. Resetti has carried forward onto this list simply by virtue of participating in the tryouts back in 2006. This angry intimidator of a mole threatens you, sometimes with physical violence, after you reset your game without saving. The man has a pick axe, and - on more than one occasion - I’ve felt compelled to call Copper and Booker to defend me. My feelings towards Mr. Resetti are the same as last year: if he is available, I will use him. Without a doubt. I still maintain that there is no greater thrill than watching Link fall to the angry attacks of a pick axe wielding mole.
However, since re-assessing how such a character would be designed, I am tempted to think that Mr. Resetti would lose out to Tom Nook in any sort of official election. Tom Nook - to put it briefly - fits better with all of the items from Animal Crossing. Without those items, it would be difficult to form a decent character. Looking back on his abilities now, Mr. Resetti just does not have enough going for him to form a solid character. The guy does not even have a lower half to his body. He is always buried in the dirt. How would he jump? How can you knock him off the stage?
No. I think the best we can hope for now for Mr. Resetti is to see him as a hazard in some Animal Crossing stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Although, if he is included, it would certainly be comical if you got to unlock him simply by resetting the game.
Compatibility:
He has a decent weapon in that pick axe, but all the other abilities mesh easier with Tom Nook. To force the net, axe, shovel, fishing rod, etc. onto Mr. Resetti would make for a character who is extremely awkward and out of place.
Likelihood:
Since Animal Crossing characters have slim chances to begin with, I’m going to say that the odds of Mr. Resetti making an appearance as anything but as hazard in an Animal Crossing stage are pretty low.
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The main character from Camelot’s popular RPG - Golden Sun - on the Game Boy Advance would be an amazing character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And that is not just me saying this. Isaac has a lot of people rooting for him, and with good reason. The character has got to be one of the easiest to create attacks for. Let me explain: The first Golden Sun game chronicles the journey of Isaac, Garet, Ivan and Mia (who I renamed Andrew, Dreas, Jacob and Brena), while the second chronicles the journey of Felix, Jenna, Sheba and Piers (who I renamed Jordan, Tori, Steph and Binks). For the record, I played Golden Sun: The Lost Age (game II) first, because we already had it. However, I could not find the original for the longest time. Just in case you were wondering why I would name the lead character after Andrew instead of me. It was because Isaac and Felix are rivals, and I had already established myself as Felix. Felix is cooler anyway.
Returning from that tangent, Golden Sun is set in a world where alchemy is a dying magical force. Isaac, Felix and co. are on a quest to revive alchemy be rekindling the beacons of the Four Elemental Lighthouses: Mercury Lighthouse (Water), Venus Lighthouse (Earth), Jupiter Lighthouse (Wind), and Mars Lighthouse (Fire). Each member of the party has a certain elemental skills (Isaac and Felix are both Earth). Throughout the games, each party will encounter Djinn - magical creatures who can harness the power of the elements to boost your stats and summons. (Just for the record, if you have not played this game, you should.)
For Isaac’s physical abilities, he would make use of his sword for swift sword movements. His down +B attack could involve using the Djinn known as Granite, which creates a protective barrier of stone as a shield. His up +B attack (third jump) would likely enlist the help of the teleport skill, which breaks the character down into a cluster of coloured bubbles before relocating him in the designated area. In many ways, this third jump would be like Sheik’s “teleportation” in a puff of smoke. For his special physical attacks, he could use skills like Ragnarok (a flaming sword descends from the sky), or simple attacks involving the Earth (a rock spire could shoot forward and move along the ground by pressing B + a direction). Pressing B could allow rocks or even vines to shoot out of Isaac’s hands and damage enemies nearby.
As for his throw…well, this one is obvious. In Golden Sun, there are abilities known as Psynergy. While they are your main magic attacks, they are also your field abilities when not in battle. You can cloak yourself, or reveal hidden locations. There is also a field psynergy called ’Lift’, where two giant white hands pick up an object and suspend it in the air. Reshape this into a throw, and you’ve got yourself a solid character.
Compatibility:
Due to the wide assortment of Psynergy available in the original Golden Sun, as well as its sequel, creating a useful set of abilities for a character like Isaac is an absolute cakewalk. There are even more options for attacks than the ones that I suggested. Since Earth users can harness the powers of both earth and plant, it is possible to expand Isaac’s attack set even further.
Likelihood:
Golden Sun and The Lost Age were both huge successes on the Game Boy Advance system. And Camelot is rumoured to be working on a Golden Sun RPG for the Wii. It is highly likely that we will see one or both of the Golden Sun leading men in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in an effort to promote the upcoming title on the Wii.
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See. There is Felix. Don’t you admit he looks a lot cooler than lame old Andr…er, Isaac.
Two Golden Sun characters of the same element may seem outlandish, but the uses of Psynergy are so diverse in the Golden Sun series that Felix can be created with completely unique attacks. For example, instead of Down +B creating a rock barrier as a shield, Felix uses the ‘Sand’ ability, dissolving into sand for a few seconds which enables him to dodge an oncoming attack and move into a different location before reforming. Up +B would have to be teleport again, as it is the only truly fitting attack for a third jump. Other attacks that could be used include harnessing the Djinn known as Petra, which can turn a foe to stone. This could paralyse a foe for a few seconds if used correctly, like Mewtwo’s confusion or Mario’s cape. It could also be used to stop certain projectiles (physical ones, not energy ones). And another ability could be using the Djinn Geode, which would hit the enemy with a clod of Earth. His throw ability could also harness the power of Lift or even Catch.
The possibilities are truly endless. The only thing that cheapens Felix’s chances is if Isaac is included. The game developers may not see the necessity of including two characters from the same franchise with the same basic skill sets. Granted, Felix could certainly fight with a different sword style, in addition to his unique abilities, but the higher ups may not view it that way. Ultimately, I think Felix could fit into the game in the same way that Luigi and Mario are included: similar characters, with distinct differences to make them unique. But, we will see.
Compatibility:
Ultimately, Felix is just as suitable a candidate as Isaac. Since there are so many psynergy abilities available, you could almost include the entire cast of characters from Golden Sun without having any overlap. But we will not head down that road.
Likelihood:
Since Camelot is rumoured to be developing that Golden Sun RPG for the Nintendo Wii, I can definitely see Felix being included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an unlockable character. He and Isaac can be made so diverse that they will not be carbon copies, and their ability to use magic will differentiate them from the Fire Emblem characters, as well as Link and the sword-wielding Ganondorf that everyone is praying for.
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How many people thought Jill Valentine when they read the top of that image, but were disappointed to see the pink-haired star of the GBA sleeper hit, Drill Dozer? My humblest apologies. But, despite what you may think, Jill - the winner of numerous awards for her GBA game - is a popular contender for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. She is the daughter of Doug, leader of a bandit gang known as The Red Dozers. After the Red Diamond is stolen by a rival gang, the Skulkers, Jill hops into the Drill Dozer and gives chase.
Since Jill is not fighting as herself, but in a vehicle, it would be necessary to conform her attacks to the nature of the vehicle. So, when you’re riding around in a giant drill, your physical attacks would have to be drill charges. Consider her dozer doing pelvic thrust motions as the drill spins, causing damage to enemies. Her B attack would likely just to activate a larger drill, which would continue to spin as long as you hold B. While this attack would ensure repeated damage to an opponent attacking from the one side, it leaves your backside open for attack. Pressing B and a direction would send the Dozer speeding in that direction, performing a boost like Fox’s dash. However, instead of a single hit as you pass your opponent, they can get swept up into your drill for successive hits. Down and B would convert the Dozer into a top of sorts, with Jill tucked away inside. Like Yoshi’s egg attack, the Dozer could speed around the stage inflicting damage on enemies for a limited period of time. Up + B could involve the Dozer changing into a rocket-type apparatus, shooting dirt and dust from the bottom of the Dozer as it rockets back to the stage. As an attack, the shockwave from the launch would injure nearby combatants.
Compatibility:
With a little creativity, quite a few successful moves could be created out of the playstyle involved in Drill Dozer. And, if you think about it, the character is unique and interesting to play us, providing a break from all the sword fighters and laser gun wielders out there.
Likelihood:
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The only question regarding Jill’s inclusion is, will Nintendo consider it? Jill is a relatively new character from a Game Boy Advance game that did not sell nearly as well as they would have liked. She may not fit into the paradigm of a normal Smash Bros. character._
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If you did not see this one coming, then you are so out of the loop that it isn’t funny. The Nintendo Miis, a relatively new creation by Nintendo, would be a perfect fit into the Super Smash Bros. Brawl franchise. When the Nintendo Wii was released, we were all given this chance to design avatars that looked like us, in order to represent us in Wii Sports. Presumably, the Miis were also intended for future titles. And which title would it be more thrilling to have them in than Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Can you imagine it? Your friend is fighting as Link. And you are fighting back, not with Samus, or Kirby, or Mario, or Fox, but with you. On the screen, there is a digital version of you fighting this iconic Nintendo figure.
It would be amazing. And, since the Miis are easily interchangeable, you could play as any Mii saved onto the Wii or Wiimote. So, in a single match, we could take Miis that look like Binkle, myself, Andrew and Fraser (as an example), and duke it out with eachother.
The Miis attacks could be comprised of anything. Physical attacks would probably stick to basic punching and kicking, with special attacks being drawn from obscure Nintendo games. Or - and this is more likely - the Miis may operate as a “Charade” character like in Soul Calibur II, offering gamers the ability to play as themselves while using the abilities of Link, Mario, etc. Also, can you imagine fighting the Mii Team (like Kirby Team), where all of the Miis that you designed to look like your friends appear on the stage and start fighting you.
There is so much potential for the Mii characters, it isn’t even funny.
Compatibility:
Since the Miis can draw attack maneuvers from anywhere, they can quite easily be the perfect character.
Likelihood:
If Nintendo wants to actually keep their Mii concept in the public eye, and if they want to remind everyone that it surpasses Home, then they had better include Miis in Super Smash Bros. Brawl or just abandon the whole concept right now. The novelty is beginning to wear off, so they need to actually USE the Miis.
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I’ve saved my two favourite candidates from this bracket for last:
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This chrome-plated robot is only a few inches tall, making him one of the smallest do-gooders in Nintendo’s character lineup. Chibi-Robo is a small robot accessory that lives in the home of the Sandersons, a disfunctional family trying their best to get by. The father is incompetent and unemployed, the mother has too many chores and not enough time, and the daughter - Jenny - thinks that she is a frog. Throughout Chibi-Robo, the titular character transverses the vast reaches of the house in an attempt to assist the family, earning Happy Points for himself, but ultimately making life simpler for everyone. Along the way, he assists several toy characters in quests and missions.
Chibi-Robo is a very interesting character, and he would be perfectly suited for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Granted, they would have to take some liberties with his size (since all the other characters could crush him underfoot), but he is ultimately a perfect fit for the game. His abilities can span the different gadgets that he uses throughout the game, ranging from using his power cord as a weapon to employing the Chibi-Copter as a third jump. His special attacks could involve using the Chibi-Blaster (convenient for taking out Spydorz) as well as the Mug for a shield, and the spoon for a melee weapon. Even the toothbrush could be useful in combat.
Not only would Chibi-Robo come with an amusing and unique skill set, he would also provide the game with an incredibly entertaining stage. By shrinking all of the games regular characters and dropping them into the realm of the Sandersons house, Super Smash Bros. fans can find themselves fighting atop a giant television remote, or beside an absurdly large Nintendo Wii system. The television in the background could should dynamic camera angles in the battle, and could occasionally focus in on the winner as toys on the fringes of the stage cheer enthusiastically.
And, since Chibi-Robo is headed to the DS in a sequel to his popular platformer for the Gamecube, it seems only natural that Nintendo would want to include the tiny robot into the cast of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Nothing promotes a character like being a participant in one of the greatest fighting games ever.
Compatibility:
With the diverse amount of unique and clever gadgets at his disposal, many of them formed from household items, Chibi-Robo could enter into the Smash Bros. arena as a clever and quirky character that would be an absolute thrill to play as.
Likelihood:
Miyamoto saved Chibi-Robo from the cutting room floor. This game was almost never meant to be, and Miyamoto saved it. And we all know that Miyamoto characters get front row seats to events like Super Smash Bros. It seems like his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is practically a lock.
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During the tryouts of ‘06, there were only three characters that got rated a full five stars in both compatibility and likelihood. Two of those characters were announced as official selections for Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wario and Pit). The third character was none other than Captain Olimar. Since his debut in Pikmin for the Gamecube, Olimar has quickly become one of my favourite Nintendo characters. And, since the official announcement of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, he has been one of my favourite candidates for a position in the game.
Olimar would have a multitude of abilities created from objects found on Earth. As the old Hocotate saying goes, “One man’s trash is worth 10,000 Pokos.” Using items like the Rocket Punch for physical attacks, as well as using Pikmin for his special attacks, Olimar can truly be a powerful character. Imagine the ability to pull out a random coloured Pikmin by pressing down +B with a maximum of three Pikmin that can follow you around. By pressing and holding B, you would be able to hurl the Pikmin at opponents. Pressing B + a direction would allow you to swing a giant purple pikmin to inflict extra damage. For a recovery jump, Olimar could use a jetpack. And, for the kamikaze fighter in you, he could even hurl yellow Pikmin carrying bomb rocks into the fray to cause a devestating explosion.
Despite the fact that there is no officically announced Pikmin title for the Nintendo Wii, I think Olimar has still earned himself a spot in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for his previous outings on the Gamecube. Not only is he a suitable character, but the stages that would accompany him would be breath-taking.
Compatibility:
By using the different colours of Pikmin effectively, Olimar could become a truly unique fighter that would shake the very foundations of the Super Smash Bros. world. There is no limit to the creativity that can be used in creating his attacks.
Likelihood:
One of Nintendo’s newest and most beloved mascots, Olimar seems to be a lock for a position in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Plus, if he gets in, that makes me 3 for 3 (counting Wario and Pit).
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Another day of training is completed, as most of the characters from Nintendo’s newly established franchises are put to the test. In the coming days, I am going to delve into the merits of some classic Nintendo characters from the days of the NES, before moving to the icing on the cake - the representatives from Namco, Konami, Capcom, and Square Enix. Then we’ll cover the “You’ve Got To Be Fucking Joking” characters, before picking out the roster for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The Tryouts “˜07 Day One - Day Two - Day Three - Day Four - Day Five - Final Roster The Rejects