Top 5 3rd Party Characters That Should Be Added To Super Smash Bros.
Let me set the scene for you. It was at E3 a long time ago, a trailer for what would be called Super Smash Bros. Brawl was revealed, and it was epic. But what many remember most about the trailer was this…
https://youtu.be/9BVNsTcx-2k
In one 47 second trailer, the entire complexion of Super Smash Bros. changed, not only could the vast legendary roster of characters from Nintendo games be in their fighting title, but 3rd party characters could be as well.
Then, on October 10th, 2007, Sonic the Hedgehog was added to Brawl. When Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS was announced, we were treated to the reveal that Mega Man would be in the game! The 3rd party characters just kept coming. Soon to follow would be Pac-Man, Ryu from Street Fighter, and in the biggest bombshell since Snake, Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy VII fame was brought into the title.
With a special Smash Bros. presentation coming this December, one that will likely announce or showcase the potentially “final” characters to this Smash Bros. title, many are wondering if one or more 3rd Party characters will be added. So, in anticipation of this, I compiled the Top 5 3rd party characters I think should be in the game. You could argue that this list could swap the rankings, and in some ways there’s no rank to this, I just think that of the possibilities, these five are the top.
A note before we start. There is one very big requirement for being on this list. Every character has to have been on a Nintendo platform, either handheld or console, at some point in their existence. I say this because the characters mentioned above have all done that. Snake started out on NES, and had remakes done on it, Sonic has been on Nintendo consoles and handhelds numerous times, Mega Man had many classic titles on SNES and the Game Boy family, Pac-Man was on it, Ryu has been on various titles for Nintendo and yes, Cloud Strife has been on one too. He was an assist character in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, where you both fought him as a boss character, and used him in battles later on. It counts!
So, that being settled, let’s begin:
Honorable Mention: Shantae
This one is a big fan wish. If you’re not aware, Shantae first arrived on the Game Boy Color, it was a cult classic due to the timing of it’s release, but it’s gotten good fame soon after, not to mention several great reviews. Furthermore, several sequels have been made, many of them were made for or put on Nintendo platforms, including Shantae: Risky’s Revenge for the DSI, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse on 3DS and Wii U, and the upcoming Shantae 1/2 Genie Hero which is also slated for Wii U.
What makes Shantae a unique character is that she’s a genie, and capable of several types of attacks and magic. She uses her hair as a whip, she can transform into animals, do dances to gain more transformations and abilities, and should they be desperate, she can use a sword!
Part of the fun of characters like Shantae is that they aren’t like other characters in the Super Smash Bros. roster. Shantae has a very unique look and moveset, and could easily find herself in Super Smash Bros., after all, Nintendo and Wayforward do have a good working relationship…
5. Simon Belmont
You would be forgiven for not thinking about Simon Belmont, as he’s technically not been on Nintendo platforms in a while. However, it was he, and he alone, who kicked off the Castlevania series on the NES and SNES.
What really sets Simon Belmont apart is his weapon set. As he is a Belmot, he inherited the Vampire Killer whip, which in and of itself would be unique to Super Smash Bros, as the only character who has a type of whip is Zero Suit Samus. But unlike hers, this is a true whip, and as his definitive weapon could be used in a manner of ways, including a super epic Final Smash.
But also, not unlike Link, Simon has a vast array of sub weapons he could used. From daggers, to fire bombs, and even fire itself, Simon is not lacking for attack options.
The only question about Simon’s inclusion is Konami, who is not exactly “all together” at the moment. That being said, if we’re going to choose 3rd party characters that have a good claim to be in Smash Bros., Simon Belmont should be on the list.
4. Bayonetta
Some of you made be mad at this, but the fact of the matter is…Bayonetta has a good claim to be in Super Smash Bros. Mainly because her most recent title was on the Wii U exclusively. In fact, it was because of Nintendo that Bayonetta 2 got made at all!
Originally, Bayonetta was on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and did pretty good for a new title. Selling millions of copies, usually that means a sequel is on the way, but for whatever reason that didn’t happen here. Enter Nintendo, who dropped a bombshell by revealing the sequel would be on Wii U as an exclusive. Needless to say, many were worried, angry even, because they featured Nintendo wouldn’t allow Bayonetta to be what it was before on Wii U. Due to the fact that Nintendo is regarded as more family friendly than the other platforms.
However, when Bayonetta 2 released, it was critically applauded for it’s story, look, gameplay, and more. Nothing was lost in transition, and to make it even more fun for the gamers, Nintendo bundled the original Bayonetta into the game at no extra cost. The game would be nominated for several Game Of The Year awards, and even won a few of them.
For Super Smash Bros., it’s be incredibly easy to incorporate Bayonetta’s fast and fluent fighting style into the game. From her guns on her hands and feet, to her summoning of demons, she’s already got an arsenal ready to go. But should they need more attack powers, she has a vast array of weapons that could be implemented. True, she may not be as spunky as she is in her solo title, but for a fighting game? You’d be hard pressed to find someone as combat ready as Bayonetta.
3. Bomberman
I still can’t believe he’s not in Super Smash Bros., it’s Bomberman! Here’s a fun fact, not only is Bomberman one of the most successful video game franchises in history, he’s been on every Nintendo platform except the 3DS and Wii U. Think about that for a second.
Bomberman has been around for decades, and it would be only logical that he’d come to Super Smash Bros. Fun fact, a Bomberman game was my first video game ever! Guess you can say I’m a little biased towards him.
Now you may think that since Bomberman uses bombs, it would limit his moveset, not true. In fact, over his lifespan the variety of bombs he can use is pretty impressive. His charge attack could be making a giant bomb (that grows larger the longer you hold the charge button), he could throw bombs that explode in particular directions (harkening back to his original titles), or use a flurry of bombs to attack enemies, the options are there.
Bomberman is easily one of the most iconic video game characters in history, and if this current version of Smash Bros. has been one thing, it’s a celebration of gaming history. So why not have one of the true icons, one that has been on Nintendo platforms innumerous times, come to the fight?
2. Sora
Ok, another controversial pick, but one that is again grounded in truth and fact. What do I mean? Well, you’d fine with saying that the Kingdom Hearts franchise started and was rooted in the PS2, as that’s where the “core” two games were in Kingdom Hearts I & II were on, and Kingdom Hearts III is slated for PS4 and Xbox One.
However! Without Nintendo, the story would not be what it is today. For it was the Game Boy Advance that gave us Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which continued the story of the franchise and acted as a bridge between I & 2. The DS gave us Kingdom Hearts RE: Coded and 358/2 Days, then the 3DS gave us Dream Drop Distance, which followed the events of Kingdom Hearts II and was the true buildup for KHIII.
Bottom line? Sora has been on Nintendo systems a lot, and to have him in Smash Bros. would make a lot of fans happy. Not only that, because Kingdom Hearts is an action-RPG of sorts, so Sora’s got a lot of power and skills that can be brought into the game. From his signature Keyblade, to his magic skills, Reaction abilities (which could be like a counter), and his standard attack and defense skills, he’s got a lot going for him. What this could also allow is some Disney characters to appear as an Assist Trophy (like King Mickey…) or have Donald and Goofy appear for Sora’s Final Smash.
If you’re thinking that Square-Enix wouldn’t allow this, do recall, they gave Nintendo Cloud, who at best has been in one game, and will be in another via Final Fantasy Explorers. If it wasn’t for Sora, he wouldn’t have been on a Nintendo platform at all.
1. Crono
This. This right here. This character is one of the most wanted and requested characters not only for 3rd party additions, but for characters in general! Can you blame them?
Chrono Trigger is still regarded as one of the best video games of all time, and easily one of the best RPG’s of all time. It’s use of story, gameplay elements, and player choice propelled it to the top of lists for both gamers and reviewers. Oh, and it was originally released on the SNES, and then re-released on the DS in 2008, both times it was heavily praised and sold really well.
As this is an RPG, Crono’s attacks from the game would be easily transferred into Smash Bros., not the least of which being his katana and his use of lightning magic. Both of which would be firsts for Smash bros. If you really want to add some fun to the mix, you could incorporate time travel into part of his attacks, and truly make him a unique character.
Chrono Trigger was one of the best games on the SNES, and Crono has been a part of gamers lives for decades because of it. With Cloud coming to Smash Bros., the gates are open for Chrono to finally make his return.
Super Smash Bros. has never been shy about bringing characters both prominent and lesser known to the fold, giving them new life in some cases, and bringing back fond memories of games and franchises gone by. The 3rd party inclusions have only grown that sentiment, and with these characters? I’m sure a whole new wave of appreciation will be brought not just to those titles, but to Smash Bros in general.
If they don’t get in? Don’t worry…they could always appear in the next one!