The 10th Hour 11.30.07: Top 10 Most Wanted Smash Brothers Characters

Posted by Derek Robbins on 11.30.2007

The new Super Smash Brothers game was supposed to be released on December 3rd, but it got delayed until February 10th, 2008. With the original release date coming up, 411 columnist Derek Robbins breaks down the ten characters he most wants to see in the new game.

Hello and welcome to the tenth hour! Before I get started with the top-10 for this week, I have a couple of things I'd like to hit on.

-IGN is having a top-100 games of all time list…and what I think a lot of people fail to realize is that top-100 games DOESN'T mean top-100 most revolutionary games, it means top-100 BEST games. Just a heads up. Just because Street Fighter II revolutionized fighting games, doesn't mean it's a better fighting game than every other fighting game ever. Street Fighter III and the Alpha Series are…well…in a different league quite frankly.

-I got the new Final Fantasy XII game for the DS (Revenant Wings). It's pretty good for a portable RTS, but I think it's a bit easy. Then again, it's a post-SNES era Final Fantasy. THEY'RE ALL EASY.

With that out of the way, let's take a peek into some feedback from last week, along with a reader top-10.

Reader Mail

Wow, did I get some…mixed feedback from last week. Let's take a look here:

First here's one from Ryan. As always, their stuff is in italics

Dropped by your column on a whim, I don't usually read much at 411
(just Csonka and Ari in the wrestling section.) I have to say I was
surprised and pleased by your choices of over-rated games. I didn't
once get the impression that you were out merely to tear down "sacred
cows" as I've seen in other articles of this ilk, and even when you
considered games over-rated you didn't resort to making it sound like
the fans (US!) were dumb or naive to enjoy it in the first place.
Well, maybe the Sims. ;)

I particularly agree with you on Goldeneye and Mario Kart, both games
are great and were awesome at the time, but Kart is hard to play now
(no music in four player mode is hard on the senses), and Goldeneye
is too slow to be a lot fun (although I didn't enjoy Perfect Dark,
despite it doing so much better... *shrugs*). But they were awesome
at the time and we all kept them loaded in the 64 for God knows how
long.

Well thanks for the compliment. It seems to me that nostalgia is the number one thing clouding our mind as far as game quality goes. It's the same idea where the first installment in a game series is always the best. It's the first one you play, thus…it's the best. If that was the case, gaming would probably be dead.

Also, that's how I found 411. I'm a big wrestling fan, for those who didn't know.

Here's my next one from Lars

well its save to say that you don't know anything about games! please
stop writing these provocative articles!

I've been playing games for as long as I remember. I've written various essays on videogames. I know a little bit about them, I think.

Next we have one from Caleb

Seriously your top 10 list fails....you fail....quit writing shitty articles......./suicide!!!

You're right, my list did fail. I forgot Nintendogs. Thanks for calling me on that, buddy!

Next we have…Phil

What absolute Crap! Nice opinion but not worthy of listening too,
regarding the 10 most overrated games!

Goldeneye = Wrong!
Final Fantasy = Wrong!
Halo = Wrong!

Thankfully just an opinion!


Check out the comments section on IGN's top 100 games. People STILL say Goldeneye is the finest shooter ever, and people were going CRAZY over FF VII not being higher up on the list. I guarantee you they're over-rated. I would dispute your Halo claim, but…I was paid off by Microsoft to keep my mouth shut ;).

Now we have James. The subject line is BS. I say this, because it puts the letter in context.

The Halo franchise is the best ever..........

Halo is the finest spectacle of gaming humanity. Whenever I play Halo, it feels like it would if God were to stare me directly in the face and say: "Good Job." When I said it was over-rated last week, I was simply…joking. All hail my Halo over-lords.

I actually had a couple more, but they were along the same lines as the rest of the angry email.

Finally, I have a top-10 best games ever list from my good friend Devin.

CURRENT top ten games for moi.

10.) Jade Empire
9.) Super Mario Sunshine
8.) Final Fantasy IX
7.) Blue Dragon
6.) Eternal Sonata
5.) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4.) Halo 3
3.) Assassin's Creed
2.) Chrono Cross
1.) Mass Effect

Remember, I haven't played a lot of the classics that you have

I'm sure I'll do my personal top-10 list, and I'm also sure it'll be ridiculed for too many jRPGs/Tactical RPGs. With that said, I like your list a lot…with the exception of Jade Empire. Since this is a personal list, I won't get on your case for putting super new games like Mass Effect and Assassin's creed on there ;). Also, HUGE props for the addition of Chrono Cross and FF IX. Two of my favorite games ever.

WHOO, that's all of my mail for this week. If you wish to write me about this week's column, send me your own top-10, make a suggestion for a future column, wish to talk about some game or…whatever…send me an e-mail at [e-mail] or [e-mail] Your choice.

Let's get this show on the road!

Top-10 list

For this week…I have decided to go with my top-10 most wanted characters for the upcoming Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Since the smash franchise is essentially an orgy of all things Nintendo…it's only natural this game would be wanted by just about everyone who can get a hold of a wii. Here are my rules: First – Veterans (Those who have appeared in a previous smash brothers game) are allowed, Second – Any newcomers have to follow the guidelines established by Sakurai. Namely, they have to have appeared on a Nintendo console at some point and…can't be from an anime. So for those of you wanting some Master Chief or Light Yagami …you'll have to look elsewhere. Third: They can't have already been revealed on the Smash Brothers site. So Sonic, who WOULD have topped the list, won't be here. With that out of the way, let's get started!

10-) Captain Falcon (F-Zero Franchise) - Captain Falcon had appeared in the last two smash brothers games. He is also one of the most fun smash characters to use and he also created one of the finest internet memes of all time. FALCON PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUNCH. He has to be in! Plus, F-Zero is one of the finest racing franchises ever, and it deserves to be rewarded by having their cover man represented in one of the most anticipated games ever. Due to the Smash Brothers website already revealing that F-Zero WOULD be represented – via a Samurai Goroh assist trophy – Captain Falcon is a given…but until Sakurai reveals him on the actual site, his inclusion in the game is merely speculation.

- FALCON PAAAAAAAAAAUNCH

9-) Penelo (Final Fantasy XII) - Of all Square Enix characters, I feel that Penelo has the best chance of making it in. Not only does Penelo fill the void where a female character would go – and quite frankly, I hate Krystal Fox…so if she makes it in as is rumored…I wouldn't be satisfied – but she also helps promote the Ivalice series of Final Fantasy games on the DS. Appearing in a smash game can do a wonder for a franchise. I know the Final Fantasy franchise doesn't really NEED the help, but does more sales hurt? Case in point, Fire Emblem hadn't been released in the states prior to Smash Brothers Melee. Now? It's all over the place! This also keeps me hopeful for a Mother 3 US release with the inclusion of Lucas in the game. Also, I know a lot of you would rather have Terra or Celes or someone from FF VI as Square's rep…but those two probably won't be in another Nintendo game (Note how I said NINTENDO. They will both be in the upcoming PSP fighter Disidia.) , so I think Penelo just makes more sense. That's why I'm going with her.

- Either her or Vaan, and I have to go with her.

8-) Pokey Minch (Earthbound/Mother 3) - Pokey has appeared on two of my lists so far, so it's safe to say that I respect him. The fact is that the Mother franchise could really use a villain in Brawl and odds are…Ness won't be in (It kills me to say that), so the Mother character count would remain at two. The reason I say Pokey is because of the large role he plays in bother Mother 2 (Earthbound) and Mother 3. He is a total dick throughout Earthbound and Mother 3? Well…I won't spoil it for those waiting on an English release of it, but let's just say he ascends to true super dickery in said game. Plus Pokey in the game means a greater chance for a Mother 3 release in America. I'm telling you right now, if there's something you need to know about me…is that I am a HUGE Earthbound fan. Mother 3 in America would…well, it'd be wonderful.

- Your annoying neighbor that knocks on the door in the middle of the night.

7-) King K. Rool (Donkey Kong franchise) The Donkey Kong series needs a bad guy representing them. The Donkey Kong Country franchise (Extending up to DK 64) is a very highly regarded one by us fans. It's safe to say that Donkey Kong Country sold a LOT of Super Nintendos with its (at the time) revolutionary graphics. Since most people who play Smash Brothers probably enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane – as I do – the inclusion of King K. Rool would be a huge nod in our direction. We have Kirby's main villain, we have Mario's main villain…we should get DK's into the fray. I know it's been a while since he's been in a game (Well, a good one at least. Jungle Beat isn't my cup of tea), but I think it's about time that he makes a re-debut. Plus, wouldn't a DK/King K. Rool showdown be epic in Subspace Emissiary?

- Awesome badguy, I don't care what you say!

6-) Mii (Wii system) In my opinion, a playable mii is probably as close to a create a character as we can get. I know that all of the miis would probably have the same move-set, but it's hard to deny how cool it would be to have your own creations wailing on beloved Nintendo characters. Plus, since I know a lot of us want third parties who aren't eligible to be in the game…so this could be their way of having them in. Well…it's the only way we'll ever see Samus fighting Master Chief, at the very least. *IF* - and that's a huge if – they allow you to edit moves (Not necessarily make your own moves, but put different moves from other fighters on your mii. It would be a lot like a "Create a Wrestler") a Mii would be pretty epic.

- Lol, Mii Chief.

5-) Lucario (Pokemon franchise) - Now a lot of people seem to think that there are too many pokemon in smash, but in my opinion…most of those that aren't Pikachu are probably going to be gone. Even Jigglypuff! In Melee, Gen II of pokemon (That's Gold and Silver) was barely represented outside of the clone character Pichu. In Brawl, they should change that. They should have an original character to represent the most recent generation of pokemon. Gen IV AKA Diamond and Pearl. Working under the assumption that a lot of pokemon are going on the chopping block, Lucario's inclusion seems like a no-brainer. It boosts Pokemon's presence from one to two. It includes a rather popular character. It also introduces a human-like pokemon – similar to Mewtwo – which may not be as offensive to all the Pokemon haters out there. Plus, Lucario just looks damn cool. I love the guy. If a Generation IV pokemon makes it in, I sincerely hope it's Lucario.

- As he appears in Diamond and Pearl.

4-) Ganondorf (Zelda Franchise) - This is also the second list Ganondorf has appeared on. I must love writing in the same people all the time! I feel like a booker trying to shove a popular wrestler down someone's throat. Anyhow, Ganondorf is the main villain of the N64 and up Zeldas. Before that, he didn't have the more human-like in appearance Ganondorf…he was just kind of a giant pig. The humanistic appeal I think endeared him to many fans, including myself. Ganondorf, like Captain Falcon, has a pretty solid shot at making it in…but I don't want Ganondorf to make it in as he appeared in Melee. No, I want him revamped. In the last game he was a clone, in this game I want him to be a stand-alone character. Perhaps someone that doesn't share a move-set? I'd also love for them to make use of that sword he paraded around in Melee's victory screen. Ganondorf's re-appearance would satisfy many-a-fan-boy and with the inclusion of Final Smashes…I think that an emergence of Ganon onto the Smash scene would be expected. That'd kick a lot of ass.

- Epic picture from the under-rated Wind Waker.

3-) Tails (Sonic Franchise) - I know, I know, each third party should only have one character. Not in my opinion though. Would it REALLY hurt the game to include two Sonic characters? I don't think so. When I look back the 16-bit era I think of Sonic vs. Mario. I also look at their sidekicks. Mario has his brother Luigi – who probably will be in the game, even though he has strangely gone un-confirmed thus far) – and Sonic has his friend Tails. With the inclusion of Tails, I think it'd be the perfect salute to the old console wars. I mean, imagine if the eternal understudies Tails and Luigi had an event battle? That'd be pretty cool to me! Plus…Tails is a rather popular character and I can guarantee his presence certainly wouldn't hurt sales. If he was in, Smash would be the perfect nostalgia bomb.

- Tails! I know, I know, I'm crazy.

2-) Ness (Earthbound) - I need to be honest, if Ness or my number one character made it into Brawl, I'd be perfectly happy with the cast as is. There wouldn't be any need to add to the expansive roster, the game would already be perfect in my eyes. Earthbound is a very special game to me as I played it when I was very young and it was really the second RPG I got hardcore into (The first being Super Mario RPG). I realize that it's not a perfect game and I wouldn't call it the finest RPG ever made, but that doesn't mean it can't be my favorite. I think that Earthbound – like most RPGs, frankly – doesn't really suffer much of an aging problem. It's so unique, so different from the other RPGs out there that it remains semi-fresh to this day. I make sure to beat the game at least once a year. When Ness was announced for the original Super Smash Brothers I was really happy. I mean, hell yes! Ness! In my fighting game! I was also pleased to see him placed in Melee, but apparently he was supposed to be replaced. If Mother 64 (Mother 3) hadn't been scrapped, he would have been replaced in Melee by Lucas. Now Mother 3 is out, Lucas is in, and Ness's inclusion is in serious doubt. I honestly don't care if Ness is a clone, just put him in the game! I am pleased as hell Lucas made it in, this means there is a greater chance that Mother 3 will be released here…but I don't think that should mean Ness goes away. Ness was part of my childhood, so his inclusion in the third smash brothers game would be awesome. It's a shame that he probably won't be in. Goodnight sweet prince.

- NESS, NESS, NESS, NESS, NESS, NESS

1-) Megaman - A franchises near and dear to a lot of our hearts. In the early NES days, the Megaman franchise was one to get as it featured a unique way of going about things. Unlike most games where you progressed in linear fashion towards each boss, the Megaman franchise allowed you to choose which boss you faced and when. Sure, there was a strategic advantage to picking ones in certain order…but you didn't have to. It was a freedom. From then on, Megaman became one of the most iconic figures in gaming today. Sure, he's been milked about as much as the Land Before Time series, but…he's easily one of the most recognizable characters in gaming and in Smash Brothers, a game that basically salutes the videogame industry (Well, Nintendo at least), I think it'd be a bit of a shame not to include him. I mean, imagine the battle of the blues. Sonic versus Megaman. Megaman versus Samus…it'd be awesome. I may not be as sentimental towards Megaman as I am towards Ness, but I think because of Megaman's status as an icon of the gaming industry, I feel he is more deserving of making it into this game. Megaman should be the final third party character, and if he isn't included in Brawl I feel it'll be an opportunity lost by Sakurai and company. Long live the Blue Bomber.

- The blue bomber, a worthy number one.

Honorable Mentions: Jigglypuff, Simon Belmont, Gary Oak (Blue), Captain Olimar, Isaac (Golden Sun).

Well, that's it for this week's column. As always, e-mail anything you have on your mind to [e-mail] or [e-mail] Bitch at me, praise me, write me some top-10's, whatever you want really, and I'll be sure to include you in next week's mail section.

Next week's column, on paper, is going to be about racing. Top-10 racing games of all time as suggested by reader David. As always, this is tentative, but odds are that is what next week's is going to be about.

Anyhow, see you next week!

Til' the crossroads