Sakurai presents new DLC character himself

[Apollo the Just]

I think Byleth's implementation is really cool. In some alternate universe where Fire Emblem is under-represented, this would be a really cool and thoughtful addition. It's as well done as Hero, IMO.

As it stands though I'm finding it hard to care too much. It's like if they had added Hero after having already added 6 other Dragon Quest characters. Not really quite as exciting

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

Yeah, it's definitely a much more unique moveset but I don't even want to look at another Fire Emblem character in SSB for as long as I live. There's so many characters people love and they're just like "hErEs BlYtHe".

Bomberman, Paper Mario, Waluigi, Ninten, Isaac, Krystal, Meowth, Geno, Malo, Dixie. Most of these should already be in by now, nothing too wild but highly anticipated and easy to get.

[smol Kat]

I'm okay with it because of how they incorporate the house leaders. But also, about to not be playing much smash, so /shrug

[Apollo the Just]

yeah i am also talking mad **** for someone who gave away my copy of the game because i didn't really want to play it anymore lolol

anyway whens master chief

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

I just think it's ironic that they barely wanted to include Fire Emblem characters in Melee and now they're shoving them down our throats and basically apologizing while doing so. What a drastic change in direction lmao

I was thinking, Black Knight was a pretty iconic and interesting villain from the series, why not include a cool villain like him instead of another mute hero if we need more Fire Emblem?

[DarkZero]

kinda wack how the most unique fire emblem characters in smash moveset-wise are also avatar characters with the personality of milk

[Calamity Panfan]

I pretty much expected since Three Houses was released that one of the 12 DLC characters was gonna end up being another FE characters so watching people work themselves into a shoot about this character being, like, Dante from Devil May Cry and then seeing this made me cackle. Plus, with the first five DLC characters being picks that would've probably blown my mind two years ago, I'm more-than-okay with a predictable choice to close out the first pack.

Honestly since the game's development was announced the only character I really hoped for was Lucas' return (and ironically while I still love Lucas, he's not even a top 3 main of mine). I've been just along for the ride for every announcement and it's probably saved me a lot of energy not getting upset that I'm not super into every character announced for a game that's going to end up with over 80.

Edit: And I don't wanna come across as if I'm saying speculation about new characters is for suckers and it's not necessarily okay to be disappointed. Speculation is fun and I definitely can feel some of the criticism for Fire Emblem's representation. But it's the point where so many people convince themselves it HAS to be one of their five absolute faves and that get REAL ANGRY ONLINE about it that it gets annoying. Especially because some of those people in not being personally catered to equate it to Sakurai hating THE ENTIRE SMASH FANDOM when even considering the large portion of Smash Fandom that HATES this there's still a large portion of the fandom that played/loved Three Houses and is excited for this.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

I'm personally not upset, just disappointed. It makes sense to add more Fire Emblem, but it doesn't mean it's the best pick. The only character in the pass who was surprising at all was Banjo, which was really inevitable after Microsoft endorsed the notion of putting him in. A genuine surprise would be like something from Sony, such as Kat (Gravity Rush), imo.

If Goku Geno & Ninten get in I'll be satisfied with whatever else they do, barring more Fire Emblem.

[CaptHayfever]

^Yeah, I was about to say, we've got 6 more chances for Ninten.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Calamity Panfan]

As somebody who doesn't really pay attention to rumors/leaks that much, I've gotta say I'd consider representatives for the Persona (which has mostly been a PS-exclusive franchise), Dragon Quest and King of Fighters franchises to be surprising. Though I think every fighting game franchise in history is legally obligated to have Terry Bogard as a guest character at some point in its existence, so I probably should've seen that one coming.

Plus, Piranha Plant was DEFINITELY a surprise. Maybe the most pleasant surprise. I love my plant son.

[smol Kat]

So I want all of you to promise me that whenever you use byleth's final smash, you'll shout something a teacher would say. "THE BELL DOESN'T DISMISS YOU, I DISMISS YOU!!", "SHUT THE F*** UP, CASPAR!!" You know, professor things.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

^^^ Is the next pass confirmed to be the last batch? If not then hopefully we've got even more chances.

^^ With a special edition of DQ coming to Switch, plus a Persona game, I don't think it's too surprising to see them. Pirhana Plant is surprising in the "why" kind of way, I guess...

[Apiary Tazy]

I said this in Discord, but basically you don't want to front end one pass with characters people want and risk the second one being skipped for not having a Terry level surprise in it. With six more in the pipeline at least there's reason to space things out even if Bryleth wasn't the initial choice to end the pack on (citation needed).

I think the fact that the reveal trailer is half likes and half dislikes tells you that it's better than it could have been. It's not a "Marth" like you could see Corn as in a basic sense. Also Three Houses if far better accepted than Fates was if only because it's not 150+ dollars to have the the same level of choice you get in 60 dollar Three Houses.

[X-3]

Smash is in an awkward place. There's so many characters and functions in it that new characters are mostly just vanity at this point.

[Calamity Panfan]

Yeah, the expansion of guest characters really expanded the ways people could hype themselves up about these things. It was one thing when it was just Nintendo (or even 95% Nintendo with Sonic and Snake as guests). People always suggested Mega Man, Pac-Man, Simon Belmont, Banjo, Cloud, etc. but they felt like pipe dreams. Now they're all in the game, and so are several other third party characters. A celebration of Nintendo has shifted to a celebration of Mostly Nintendo But Also Sega, Konami, Capcom, SNK, Atlus, Namco, Microsoft(!), Square Enix, Ubisoft, And Whoever Else They Can Get and it set expectations way higher.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

Honestly it's still just a miracle Sonic is in, I forgot how big that was, even though it'd have been bigger in Melee.

[Calamity Panfan]

Sonic in Smash was one of the most shocked I've been at a game announcement. Even considering SEGA/Nintendo collaborating on Gamecube era stuff and Mario & Sonic At the Olympics coming out the year before, it was absolutely wild to see.

[DarkZero]

i think the fact that there weren't any guest characters until the third game made it an even bigger deal. so its weird to me that we've gotten to a point where doomguy is considered a more likely character than dixie kong or toad

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

You know, the more I think about it the more I'm okay with this Fire Emblem pick. It could've been "Doomguy." F***.

[Calamity Panfan]

doomguy rules of the most requested characters still not in the game he's in like my top 3 after waluigi and geno