Ten Characters Begging for a Spot in 'Super Smash Bros. Switch'

On the March 8, 2018 edition of Nintendo Direct, Yoshiaki Koizumi—game producer, designer, and director—closed out the broadcast with the announcement of Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch. Fans of the series traversed the internet to actively discuss, speculate, and celebrate the announcement of the game. A focal point, whether on Reddit, 4chan, or other video game forums was the discussion of which characters might make their way into Nintendo's newest edition of its biggest cross-over series.

On May 9, Nintendo announced the players for the Super Smash Bros. Invitational on June 12, including Super Smash Bros. legends such as ZeRo, Mang0, Abadango, and Armada. This revelation reinvigorated hype for the game, along with the reoccurring discussion of what new characters may find their footing in the Super Smash Bros. Switch. With the anticipation for the new game growing, the following list is speculation for which characters may find a spot on the coveted Super Smash Bros. roster.

1. Waluigi

Seemingly destined to remain as a permanent side fixture to all instalments of the Super Mario Bros. franchise, it may be time for Waluigi to finally receive his spot on the roster. After receiving a spot in the lineup of Assist Trophy characters, fans have been itching for the excuse to play as Wario's partner in crime. Super Smash Bros. Switch may be the perfect chance to introduce Waluigi to the roster, as the immense amount of Super Mario Bros. characters already playable leaves little to be desired. However, Waluigi could be the WAHH!! to make another addition to the Super Mario Bros. lineup more receptive to fans.

2. Dixie Kong

Donkey Kong from the Donkey Kong Country franchise has been a staple of Super Smash Bros. since its first rendition in 1999, and Diddy Kong has been in the Super Smash Bros. series since 2008. With the fifth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series coming to the Switch, a fresh face from the Donkey Kong Country series will be a welcome edition. Dixie Kong fills this void nicely, as introducing another staple of the Donkey Kong Country series to the Super Smash Bros. franchise is a brilliant way to bring a new character to the roster. Dixie Kong also fulfills another role as a female character on the roster, continuing gender diversity coming to the forefront in each new Super Smash Bros. instalment.

3. King K. Rool

Another classic character from the Donkey Kong Country franchise is the villainous King K. Rool. The main antagonist to Donkey Kong on several occasions, King K. Rool is a classic Nintendo villain that has lacked the recognition he deserves in more recent games. King K. Rool did receive a depiction as a Mii Fighter costume in Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS, but that does not provide the recognition this character needs. King K. Rool also fits the criteria of a heavy character, a character type that Super Smash Bros. is relatively light on having in its roster. With his size fulfilling a heavy character role on the roster, as well as his wide variety of combat techniques seen in multiple games, King K. Rool is an adequate fit for the roster of Super Smash Bros. Switch.

4. Bandana Waddle Dee

With the Kirby series lineup only having three characters on the Super Smash Bros. roster, an addition such as Bandana Waddle Dee would be a welcome surprise. Being a playable character in Kirby games such as Kirby's Return to Dream Land and the more recent Kirby Star Allies, players have gotten the chance to become aquatinted with using Bandana Waddle Dee for combat. As players become more familiar with Bandana Waddle Dee as a playable character in Kirby games, the shift to the Super Smash Bros. roster may be well-received and highly sought after by Kirby fans.

5. Isaac

For those unfamiliar with Isaac, he is the star of the Golden Sun franchise that has three releases on Nintendo's handheld systems. Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age released on Nintendo's Gameboy Advanced system in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The third installment of the series, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, released in 2010 on the Nintendo DS. With the Golden Sun series being a hidden gem of old Nintendo handheld games, a reintroduction to the character and series through Super Smash Bros. Switch will liven up the roster and inject curiosity into fans who may be unaware of his existence. Isaac has been in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an Assist Trophy, so Nintendo has already found a way to introduce him to the franchise, but Super Smash Bros. Switch might be the best time to portray him as a playable character. Isaac has Utility Synergy items like Catch Beads and the Carry Stone, which can be added to his Super Smash Bros. move-set to help elevate him above "just another sword user." With this in mind, Isaac may be a new and exciting character for the Super Smash Bros. series to include.

6. At Least One of the BOTW Champions

With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being one of Nintendo's most popular and well-received games in recent history, it would not be surprising to see at least one of the new BOTW Champion characters to make their way to Super Smash Bros. Switch. This seems even more apparent as Link seems to be redesigned for Super Smash Bros. Switch with his new BOTW design. As Nintendo clearly understands the popularity and impact that BOTW had on gamers worldwide, it does not seem so taboo for them to add more from BOTW to Super Smash Bros.Switch. One major way for Nintendo to do this is by adding in one of the Hyrule Champion characters introduced in BOTW. Since each BOTW Champion character is unique in personality, combat arsenal, and storyline importance, it is quite difficult to decide who could make the final cut.

Revali could have a crazy move-set circulating around archery and flight, adding a swift character with effective jump and ranged attacks to Super Smash Bros. Daruk can fulfill the role of another large, heavy-hitting character that the roster is rather thin on. Urbosa can be another woman on the roster that carries an intimidating, powerful aura on the battlefield. Mipha may also be another woman character on the roster that balances speed and power quite nicely. All in all, each BOTW Champion character has the ability to add a fresh dynamic to the Super Smash Bros. roster.

7. Impa

If Nintendo chooses not to include one of the BOTW Champion characters, another reliable character from the Legend of Zelda franchise they could use is Impa. Taking inspiration from Impa's design in Hyrule Warriors, Impa can be another powerful woman on the Super Smash Bros. Switch roster with a decent familiarity among fans. Impa, the sometimes nursemaid and sometimes bodyguard for Princess Zelda, can provide the roster with another character from the fan favourite Legend of Zelda series. As a playable character in Hyrule Warriors, players got the chance to witness Impa's fighting capabilities and how she may behave in a fighting game. Impa's addition may mean another strong, recognizable woman character on the Super Smash Bros. Switch roster.

8. Spring Man

Fresh off the new Nintendo IP, ARMS, Spring Man can bring another new, zany character to the Super Smash Bros. Switch roster. With the unique ability of ARMS characters like Spring Man to extend his arms for a punch and swap out his fists with different powers and abilities. Spring Man carries personality and will be highly distinguishable among the entire roster for his independent look, combat abilities, and characteristics. Such special characteristics include his Shockwave and Indomitable Sprint abilities. Since Spring Man comes from ARMS as a playable fighting character, players are aquatinted with him as a fighter and have a general understanding of how his move-set my behave.

9. Ribbon Girl

Following along the same lines as Spring Man, Ribbon Girl comes from the new Nintendo IP, ARMS. She shares many similarities with Spring Man like her arms and multiple fist powers, but also has her own unique abilities too. These independent powers include her Musical Step and Fast-Fall. The reason Ribbon Girl gets a spot on this list as well is because she is a unique woman character from a fighting game. As it may seem apparent now, having women in Super Smash Bros. Switch is vital to its core as a game. With consistent additions of women in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, acknowledging powerful women characters that can be implemented into the games is more important than ever. With this knowledge in mind, Ribbon Girl seems like another surefire pick for Super Smash Bros. Switch.

10. Krystal

Rounding off the list is Krystal from the Starfox franchise. Krystal has had multiple appearance in Starfox games, such as. Krystal is capable of having a variety of actions in her move-set, as she can practice physical attacks, ranged attacks, and even use telepathic powers to battle with other roster members. Krystal is another woman character too, as she has that going for her when Nintendo is formulating their roster. Krystal is also a fan favourite Starfox character and the Super Smash Bros. fan community has been rooting for her involvement since Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 2008. With her unique powers, character design, in-game storylines, and fan support, Krystal can be seen as a fantastic addition to the Super Smash Bros. Switch roster.

Conclusion

Overall, this is just speculation as to which characters may make their way into Super Smash Bros. Switch. None of these characters have been confirmed as of the writing of this story and this list has no bearing on who will or will not be included in the game. However, it is always fun to discuss the possible additions to the new Super Smash Bros. Switch and this list will be exciting to look back upon once the game has finally released. As of the writing of this story, Super Smash Bros. Switch is slated for a 2018 release on the Nintendo Switch console.