There are some series that found fame on Super Smash Bros., despite having valid options. With Ultimate featuring the biggest roster in the series thus far, these games still failed to get any fighters in. The Smash series may be missing out on some very solid characters due to these series' lack of representation.
Super Smash Bros. began as a gathering of Nintendo's best characters for a big fighting game. Starting with Brawl's inclusion of Solid Snake and Sonic, the series began accepting third-party characters to bolster the roster. This took the series from a roster of 12 fighters in the series debut, to 89 fighters in Ultimate with all of the DLC included. The series now has a reputation for collecting many of the most famous characters from across gaming history in one game. If WB's Smash-like fighter MultiVersus is any indication, then Smash Bros. has become something of an inspiration for other massive crossover games. With the series now including the likes of Banjo, Cloud, and Bayonetta, it's hard to say that status is not earned.
That is not to say that the series is not still missing some very good fighters. There are a few series that earned great acclaim on Nintendo consoles, and feature characters who have potential to be Smash Bros. fighters if given the chance. The next Super Smash Bros. could very well feature newcomers from any of these franchises. Some could even become fan favorites if designed well.
Octopath Traveler Has A Wide Playable Cast Of Smash Candidates
Octopath Traveler is a distinctive JRPG, giving the player the chance to choose any of the playable characters as their main protagonist to start the game. Judging by how Octopath Traveler was back-ordered for months due to high sales, the way the game was designed clearly worked for fans. As the player recruits each of the party , they get a chance to see their abilities in action, from straightforward damage dealers to skillful characters. With eight combat-ready protagonists, the game has a solid slate of candidates that could do well in Smash.
With most of the characters having unique fighting styles, each of them could provide something different to the cast. The most obvious pick would be Olberic, the noble knight whose huge two-handed blade would give him a different feel from the wide variety of sword fighters in Super Smash Bros. However, the cast has plenty of other valid fighters as well. H'aanit could use an axe and bow in conjunction with her summoned monsters to be a solid zoning character. Primrose would also be a contender, being a respectable fighter with knife techniques and powerful dark magic. The next best candidate would be Cyrus, whose incredibly strong elemental magic could make him a fighter similar to Zelda.
While the other four Octopath protagonists have their strengths, Olberic, H'aanit, Primrose, and Cyrus make the best cases for inclusion in Smash. Each of them have something unique and distinctive that they can bring to the series. Even though the Octopath heroes didn't return for Triangle Strategy, they can still find further glory in Super Smash Bros.
No More Heroes' Travis Could Bring His Odd Charm To Smash
Travis Touchdown from No More Heroes sounds like a very strange character to request for Super Smash Bros., even though the final battle the end of No More Heroes III features Travis in a Smash Bros.-styled fight. Both Travis and his game are unrelentingly crass, crude, and violent, very much deserving the M rating. However, Smash made it clear that being from an M-rated game is not immediate disqualification by including Snake, Bayonetta, and Joker. If they can make it into Smash, then Travis might have a chance too.
Travis' fighting style would make heavy use of his iconic beam katana, although he would likely play differently than many other Smash swordfighters. Travis doesn't have much in the way of agility, using his swordsmanship to guide him through his fights. His wide variety of wrestling moves also provides him with plenty of options for his throws. Finally, Travis' personality, while it would have to be toned down, would make him wildly entertaining as a character. Out of all the Nintendo fighters that could Smash Bros., Travis has more swagger than most. His natural combined cockiness and geekiness could lead to some excellent taunts and win quotes.
Travis may still be considered a tall order for Super Smash Bros., but he would be a very worthy fighter nonetheless. He already has a Mii costume based on him in Ultimate, so he has at least received some recognition. He's just one step away from being a full-fledged fighter, and hopefully he will receive that honor soon enough.
Rhythm Heaven Could Provide Smash Bros.' Quirkiest Fighters
Rhythm Heaven is not a series that many would expect to cross over into a fighting game. However, when one considers that Captain Falcon, one of Smash Ultimate's best characters, originated in the racing series F-Zero, that can change one's perspective. The truth is, Rhythm Heaven could bring one of the most unique fighters that Super Smash Bros. has seen to date.
Despite being a rhythm game, the Rhythm Heaven franchise has a few characters who would be very believable as fighters, such as Karate Joe, Wandering Samurai, and the Wrestler. However, the sheer amount of memorable characters and games within the series opens further possibilities. A Rhythm Heaven fighter could have moves similar to Duck Hunt or Pac-Man, where other characters from the games show up to assist with certain attacks. There are a lot of possibilities for how other of the Rhythm Heaven cast could be incorporated, and it would lead to one of Smash's most interesting movesets.
The next Smash Bros. roster needs more variety, and Rhythm Heaven would bring something the series has never seen before. However, fighters such as Mr. Game & Watch have shown that unusual, gimmicky fighters can find a very comfortable place in the Super Smash Bros. series if they are fun to play. With the Rhythm Heaven games being fun on their own, they could doubtlessly provide a highly entertaining fighter for Smash as well as some great additions to the soundtrack.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has one of the most impressive rosters of any game in history, comprised of stars from not only Nintendo, but the gaming industry as a whole. If another installment comes out, one would expect the roster to expand to include more memorable characters. With so many series' still waiting to be represented, the next Super Smash Bros. roster will surely be spoiled for choice.
