The future ofSuper Smash Bros.is in doubt, and it may stay that way for quite some time.Super Smash Bros. Ultimatecreated an awfully tough act to follow, and from the sounds of things, there aren’t any concrete plans to follow it up just yet.Super Smash Bros.doesn’t need another entry right away, of course;Smash Ultimateis still highly popular, even though it has stopped receiving updates, and it may have been able to immortalize itself in the way ofSmash Melee.Still, that meansUltimateis buying time for brainstorming about the nextSmashgame, and perhaps the best part to reconsider is the roster.
While it seems likely that noSmashgame will ever truly satisfy everyone with its list of playable characters, everySmashgame remains an exercise in improving the options available to fans. The sixth generation ofSmashmay need to cut back onSmash Ultimate’s huge roster, but to make up for that, it could look to other platform fighters for inspiration.Nickelodeon All-Star Brawlhas recently proven the value in sating fan demand by casting a wide net when it comes to playable characters, andMultiVersusseems poised to do the same. The nextSmashgame ought to let down its hair a little by focus on adding some niche or goofy characters.
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The Power of Rosters in Platform Fighters
The developers and publishers ofNickelodeon All-Star Brawlweren’t exactly household names among gamers when the platform fighter was announced, but the game’s roster has launched them to stardom. NaturallyAll-Star Brawlfeatures a variety of Nickelodeon greats like SpongeBob, Aang, and Ren & Stimpy, but the game also opts for a few less obvious characters. Nigel Thornberry is something of a meme sensation, so he joined the roster instead of another character fromThe Wild Thornberrys, andHugh Neutron fromJimmy Neutronwill seemingly do the same later this year. In this way,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawlhas displayed an incredible amount of awareness about its fans and offered something for everyone, helping the game succeed.
MultiVersushasn’t released yet, but the official Warner Bros fighting game looks like it borrowsAll-Star Brawl’s approach to roster diversity. Fans ofMultiVersusoffers various DC superheroes for comic book fans, Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry for lovers of classic cartoons,Adventure Time’s Finn and Jake for Cartoon Network fans, and even a version ofScooby-Doo’s Shaggy Rogers inspired by theUltra Instinct Shaggy memes.MultiVersuscould have focused on any one of these successful niches, but by pulling surprising characters from all kinds of franchises,MultiVersusholds a broad appeal and a fun energy that gives fans good reason to be excited.
Super Smash Bros. Should Show More Awareness
As goofy as theMultiVersusandAll-Star Brawlrosters look at a glance, they’re actually extremely canny. Both games clearly know that including highly demanded characters is a great way to win over potential players.Super Smash Bros.could stand to do the same. Sometimes fans get their demands met, like whenKingdom Hearts' Soramade the cut with the help of fan demand, but generallySmashopts to focus on iconic video game protagonists, leaving a lot of fun and interesting secondary characters or franchises in the dust.
Hopefully the nextSmashgame has room for some deeper cuts and weirder additions. Nintendo still has plenty of IPs to tap into, whether it finally makes Isaac fromGoldenSunplayable or acknowledgesRhythm Heaventhrough a fighter.Smashcould also add a few funny but charming characters from Nintendo’s core IPs, likeThe Legend of Zelda’s Tingle orSuper Mario’s Waluigi. Any and all of these additions could make the nextSuper Smash Bros.game distinct fromUltimateby broadening the game’s appeal and representing Nintendo IPs in a more varied light. Niche or goofy characters are gambles that paid off forNickelodeon All-Star BrawlandMultiVersus, and they may yet pay off forSmash.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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