Here’s the second episode of our podcast! You can listen to it here or just play the video below:
RATED M FOR MATURE
In this edition of the Fictocast, we discuss characters we’d like to see come to Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and characters we’re likely to see. You can hear detailed explanations and discussions for each of our top three in the podcast, and read explanations for our bottom two picks below. Also, the YouTube channel Randall Malus referenced in the podcast (but couldn’t remember the name of) is Gaijillionaire, and the videos mentioned specifically are linked below.
SECTION ONE: CHARACTERS WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Jeffrey Holloway’s Picks:
5. Bass (Mega Man series): “Known gaming character, a good bit different from Mega Man and Protoman and others. Also, I am a huge Mega Man fanboy.”
4. Dr. Robotnik (Sonic the Hedgehog series): “Iconic gaming character, I love villains and I think he’d be a creative different character and fun.”
3. Scorpion (Mortal Kombat series)
2. Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal series)
1. Kratos (God of War series)
Randall Malus’s Picks:
5. Tingle (The Legend of Zelda/Tingle series): “Tingle is basically the Yoshi of The Legend of Zelda mythos, in that he is part of a few mainline Zelda games but also stars in his own spin-off series. Aside from Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, and Impa, Tingle also has the honor of being one of the few recurring Zelda characters–so, while not as popular as, say, Skull Kid or Midna, he’s appeared in more games across the series and thus is more representative of the series as a whole than many other suggested Zelda characters. His moveset potential is also quite unique, making him deserving of his own spot on the roster.”
4. Orange Ricky (Tetris): “Look, I know the L Block doesn’t have an official name, and I know I just called it by a name given to it in a fake page from the NES game manual that someone created as a prank a couple years ago–but I think the bigger issue is the lack of puzzle game representation, with the exception of Dr. Mario as a character. Not only that, but Tetris‘s contribution to both Nintendo (GameBoy pack-in) history and to gaming history as a whole cannot and should not be ignored. If not a wacky non-character like L Block, then at least give us a cool Tetris stage please, Sakurai.”
3. Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil series)
2. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden series)
1. Miria (The Guardian Legend)
Mikenificent Podgor’s Picks:
5. Waluigi (Mario series)
4. Lanky Kong (Donkey Kong 64)
3. Athena (SNK)
2. Bub and/or Bob (Bubble Bobble)
1. Shuckle (Pokemon)
SECTION TWO: ECHO FIGHTERS WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Jeffrey Holloway’s Picks
5. Roll (Echo for Mega Man, Mega Man series): ” Significant longstanding iconic gaming character.”
4. Vampire Wario (Echo for Wario, Wario Land series): “Cool, very cool.”
3. Ms. Pac-Man (Echo for Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man)
2. Protoman (Echo for Mega Man, Mega Man Series)
1. Zero (Hybrid Echo for Mega Man/Mii Swordfighter, Mega Man X series)
Randall Malus’s Picks:
5. Impa (Hybrid Echo for Sheik/Link, The Legend of Zelda series): “As mentioned in my diatribe on Tingle, Impa is one of the few other recurring characters throughout the Zelda series. Though she doesn’t have too much unique moveset potential on her own (debatable), making her a hybrid echo in the same vein as Chrom would make sense to me. In terms of style, using her Hyrule Warriors look or something similar would be fine. Adding her would also fill this imaginary quota several fans have for a new female character, so there’s that.”
4. Metal Sonic (Echo for Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog series): “Everyone goes nuts for Shadow the Hedgehog as a Sonic echo, but not only would Shadow’s move set not really match Sonic’s (as he carries a gun for Christ’s sake), I find him to be more than a little bit lame. Instead, I’d much rather see a Sonic echo that not only matches his move set beat-for-beat, but is also a character that better represents the less cringe-worthy era of Sonic-mania.”
3. Jill Valentine (Echo for Leon S. Kennedy, Resident Evil series)
2. Ninten (Echo for Ness, Earthbound Zero/Mother)
1. Octoling (Echo for Inkling, Splatoon series)
Mikenificent Podgor’s Picks:
5. Ninten (Echo for Ness, Earthbound Zero/Mother)
4. Ms. Pac-Man (Echo for Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man)
3. Ashley (Echo for Wario, WarioWare series)
2. Tom Nook (Echo for Isabelle, Animal Crossing)
1. Roll (Echo for Mega Man, Mega Man series)
SECTION THREE: FIGHTERS WE’RE LIKELY TO SEE
Jeffrey Holloway’s Picks:
5. Geno (Super Mario RPG): “A popular character from a popular Mario game.”
4. Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed II): “Assassin’s Creed is a very popular gaming franchise and I believe he’s one of the most popular characters from that series, from Assassin’s Creed II and the other Italian Renaissance games.”
3. Rayman (Rayman series)
2. Jin Kazama (Tekken)
1. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden series)
Randall Malus’s Picks:
5. Professor Layton (Professor Layton series): “This one is a highly requested character from a series that’s popular enough in both Japan and the West, from a successful and popular Japanese game developer (Level 5).”
4. Agumon (Digimon series): “Agumon has a few things going in his favor. In addition to being the Pikachu of the Digimon franchise, the character is owned by Bandai Namco–specifically, Bandai–and in addition to being involved directly in the production of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Bandai specifically was one of the first third party companies to support the Nintendo Famicom back in the early 1980s. Also, Bandai kicked off the digital monster/pet craze with Tamagotchi in the early-to-mid 1990s, which spawned the first Digimon (Digimon was meant to be the male counterpart of the female-aimed Tamagatchi). So Bandai as a company is significant to video game history in more ways than one.”
3. Geno (Super Mario RPG)
2. Some Fire Emblem: Three Houses Character
1. Doomguy/Doomslayer (DOOM series)
Mikenificent Podgor’s Picks:
5. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden series)
4. Jill Valentine/Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil series)
3. Black Mage (Final Fantasy)
2. Spyro the Dragon (Spyro series)
1. Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot series)
SECTION FOUR: FOURTH PARTY CHARACTERS
Jeffrey Holloway’s Picks:
5. Spawn (Image Comics): “‘Independent’ comic book character, iconic, important, in some video games.”
4. Hulk Hogan (WWF/WWE): “Iconic American comic book and ‘pop culture’ character and a longstanding gaming character.”
3. Doctor Doom (Marvel Comics)
2. Batman (DC Comics)
1. Donald Trump (45th President of the United States)
Randall Malus’s Picks:
5. Mickey Mouse (Disney): “Mickey Mouse is among the most recognizable characters in the world, period. In terms of video games, whether it’s the early NES title Mickey Mousecapade, the acclaimed Epic Mickey games, or the insanely popular Kingdom Hearts series, Mickey is, was, and always will be the Disney guy.”
4. Pierce Brosnan James Bond (James Bond series): “While Banjo is certainly a famous icon from the 64-bit era, nothing can top the popularity of GoldenEye 007 for the N64 starring Pierce Brosnan’s interpretation of the character. In addition, Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond is the Bond that was in a literal ton of video games during this era (and after)–007 Racing, Die Another Day, Nightfire…all Brosnan’s Bond. I associate his particular Bond with gaming for these reasons. Not only that, but his proximity mine was included in the original Smash Bros. for N64, and he was discussed to be a guest character during development–so having him in Smash Ultimate would be a sort of homecoming in my eyes.”
3. Popeye
2. Hulk Hogan (WWF/WWE)
1. Mike Tyson
Mikenificent Podgor’s Picks:
5. Bubsy (Bubsy series)
4. Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
3. The Noid (Domino’s Pizza)
2. Godzilla (Godzilla franchise)
1. Darkwing Duck (Disney)
We also have a special lightning round focused on who we definitely don’t want to see in the game, and no spoilers, but Steve from Minecraft figures into that section prominently.
SOURCES:
Fictosphere Entertainment 