Top 3 Remaining Fighters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
By: Jordan Simal
Tags: Nintendo, Games, Fighting, Videogames, Gaming

One common thought among fans of the series is that Masahiro Sakurai and the Smash team can’t ever possibly out-do themselves. But, for every Byleth and Min Min trailer, we get a Banjo-Kazooie and King K. Rool trailer in exchange that sends fans into nostalgic bliss.

While some at the 2020 Game Awards were contemplating that Doom Guy from Doom or Jonesy from Fortnite (who should never step foot into Smash since Fortnite is a cancer to gaming) could possibly be the next new fighter in Ultimate, it’s safe to say that NO ONE saw Sephiroth coming.

So once again, we Smash fans are looking from the outside-in thinking… “Where the hell can they possibly go with this now?”

Some characters, like Byleth, aren’t received as well as others. Don’t worry Professor, I still love you.

I had previously done a Top 5 DLC list for Ultimate back in Summer of 2019 (back when the world was normal) but that list has since been silenced… kind of like Aerith was back in the day thanks to Sakurai’s newest fighter…

With all that said, it’s Christmas and I’m still in the giving mood.

So, I want to joyfully give my final three predictions for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on this most beloved of holidays. Note that while I can leave y’all some predictions of my own, let’s be honest… we don’t know what Daddy Sakurai has up his sleeve.

My guess is as good as yours. But that’s the joy in Smash DLC… anything is possible.

Let’s just have some “smashing” holiday fun, shall we?

Anyone remember the days back when Sonic and Snake were the two craziest character reveals? Good times…

3) Sora — “Kingdom Hearts” series

The Kingdom Hearts protagonist has been one of the highest-requested characters to enter the fray in SSBU since the DLC was released.

Now that Cloud, Hero and Sephiroth have joined the battle, it wouldn’t seem illogical to say that Square Enix has a great relationship with Sakurai and Nintendo nowadays and that yet another character from their collective lineup could still squeeze in.

However, Sephiroth joining Smash makes him the third Square character to join the roster…

Three may be too many in the eyes of some.

That may be the most Smash fans get and/or would want moving forward. Three Square Enix characters being in Smash at one point in history would’ve been laughable. But now, anything is possible as we mentioned earlier.

There’s no doubt Sora would be one of the best choices to add to the playable roster, as he boasts a promising combat move-set with his Keyblade that would fit him right in with the likes of Link and Marth. Like Shulk and Hero, there’s plenty of opportunity here to make him one of the more unique swordsmen in the game, as well.

Following reveals of characters like Steve from Minecraft, nothing seems impossible for Smash anymore…

He’s also one of the most recognizable characters in gaming and would no doubt receive a rousing ovation if revealed to the Smash community similar to the reception Banjo and Kazooie received.

Somewhere, some ’90s kids are still celebrating that reveal. And I say let ‘em…

However, the legal complications with Disney may also make this move a little more difficult as well and others may think three Square characters in the game may be one too many when there are so many other franchises to work with.

Sora would be a great addition and it can be assumed that the idea of including him in the game may have already been discussed when Nintendo talked with Square about including franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest in Smash.

But Square Enix overload may want to be avoided…

If the roster still doesn’t seem over-congested yet, then the House of Mouse may have already called “Game Over” on this once-possible DLC.

2) Crash Bandicoot — “Crash Bandicoot” series

Crash Bandicoot, Sony’s mascot that rivaled Mario and Sonic back in the ’90s, is absolutely back!

The recent release of the fantastic Crash 4: It’s About Time back in October and Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled last year has had fans losing their minds wishing for (once) Naughty Dog’s beloved orange marsupial mascot to finally get the ultimate showdown against other ’90s mascots that he deserves.

With some of the biggest video game icons of all time like Mario, Sonic, Pac-Man and Mega Man already in the fighter, Crash would easily fit right in.

Crash’s move-set would also be ridiculously simple to add into the game, with his spin attack, his sliding kick, upper-cut jump and even his signature dance as one of his taunts. His Final Smash could range from calling in the Mecha Bandicoot from Crash: Twinsanity or simply just throwing on Aku-Aku and gaining his max power to just spin attack the hell out of someone.

Having already worked with Microsoft, Sony would be the last of the big three companies to lend a character to Nintendo that they could use for game DLC.

Granted, that’s if you don’t count Cloud and Sephiroth as Sony mascots from back in the day.

Regardless, it isn’t necessary that you get third-party content from every major game developer, but it would still be cool to see Nintendo being able to work closely with their “friends” at Sony just like they have with Phil Spencer and Microsoft.

To bring back gaming history into the picture again, it would be amazing to see another big three — the three iconic gaming mascots of the ’90s — to all be playable in the same game. Can you imagine a three-way fight between Crash, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario?

I can and it’s beautiful…

1) Master Chief — “Halo” series

Remember how earlier I mentioned that Microsoft and Nintendo have had a great relationship lately?

Like, to the point where some think that Microsoft Game Pass may be coming to the Switch? That kind of good relationship…

This would easily be the Magnum Opus of bro love between the two historic gaming publishers.

Maybe Phil Spencer and Microsoft aren’t done lending their characters to Nintendo yet for Smash. It’s still sad to admit that Banjo and Kazooie (as well as all Rare properties) now rock the green “X” over the red “N,” but the negotiations apparently went so smooth between the two that this doesn’t seem like a pipe dream anymore.

Imagine having Microsoft’s true mascot being released into SSBU as a lead-up to Halo: Infinite right before its release on the XBOX Series X.

Sadly, Fortnite just recently added the Chief to their roster. So, if Microsoft wants to share their boy with a game that people above the age of 10 will actually play and would truly appreciate… let him crash land into Smash.

Can you imagine a reveal trailer where Galeem is about to unleash hell on the fighters below when suddenly a Halo ring appears behind him? The Mario Bros. (since Sakurai is so obsessed with killing them) can narrowly dodge the explosive residue raining down on the rocky mountainside from the ring’s blast fired at Galeem.

Sephiroth owned Galeem in his reveal. Imagine what the Master Chief could do…

The heroes then look up to the sky to see the UNSC Pillar of Autumn looming ahead, with the Chief landing in front of them like a badass? He can even have Cortana analyze the competition before charging at some of gaming’s biggest mascots — a crowd of characters that the Spartan 117 often already belongs in within the minds of most gamers.

Master Chief is probably the biggest stretch out there to get into Nintendo’s all-star fighter… but damn it, I’d probably crap the bed out of excitement if I saw a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate x Halo trailer get dropped next year.

With an arsenal of guns, energy swords and a Halo ring blowing up the stage for his Final Smash, the Chief deserves to own Smash next year as the final character reveal in Nintendo’s treasured fighter.

Don’t be like Luigi and butt out early! Special announcement down below!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jordan Simal is a 26-year-old Navy veteran from West Dundee, Illinois, attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He’s a die-hard sports fan and classic video game enthusiast majoring in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Journalism. He’s engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world and has aspirations to attend grad school at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, to earn a Master’s degree in Secondary English.

Hooyah, Happy Holidays and God Bless.

“Thank God for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is on the way come 2021! Stay tuned for more.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: For fans of my “Thank God For…” series of video game reviews, this article is just a taste of what’s to come. “Thank God for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is on the way!