The Most Surprising Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters

By: Noah Friscopp

It is no secret by now that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a smash hit, with the insane amount of stages, music, characters and more packed into the game being by far the most out of every Smash Bros. game to date. It is absolutely a must play game for Switch fans, but with so many guest characters that aren’t part of Nintendo’s already huge cast being added, it might be a little overwhelming to know exactly each character is and what game series they come from. We got you covered, let’s break down each character, where they came from, and what makes them unique.

Snake

 

Snake is the main character in the long-running stealth-action series, Metal Gear Solid. Unlike some of these characters, Snake has actually had a pretty significant presence on Nintendo consoles going back to the original Metal Gear that came out in 1987. Snake or Solid Snake as he is often called is an expert in infiltration, which means he is king at sneaking in and out of dangerous locations without being caught. He is also an expert in various weapons, as seen in the game like his grenades and homing rockets, to take on the colossal, dinosaur-like machines called Metal Gears. He is definitely one of gaming’s most loved characters, with over 6 games under his belt. His Smash Bros. debut was in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where he was one of two guest characters which leads us to:

Sonce the Headgehog

 

Once a rival of Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog sped his way into Smash Bros. Brawl and has been a returning character ever since. He is known for his super speed, attitude, and his love of chili dogs. He has starred and appeared in over 50 games of various types from both 2D and 3D platformers, racing games, puzzle games and more. He has also had several TV series, with Sonic Boom being the most recent. A full-length live action movie is coming but was delayed to more authentically capture the spirit of the blue hedgehog’s look. He has many friends he has met along the way, but Knuckles the Echidna and Shadow the Hedgehog join him in Smash as assist trophies.

Mega Man

 

Mega Man, Rockman, The Blue Bomber are all names for the robot wearing blue armor and wielding his iconic Megabuster. Mega Man games for a long time synonymous with Nintendo, with many games coming out for the NES and Super NES. What makes Mega Man special is his ability to absorb the powers of each Robot Master he faces. Robot Masters are the creations of the mad scientist, Dr. Wily, who is Mega Man’s main villain throughout the years. The more Robot Masters he defeats, the more powers and abilities he gains, making him quite the worthy adversary. There have been numerous versions of Mega Man throughout the years, from the original as seen in Smash, to Mega Man X, Legends, and the RPG series Battle Network to name a few. He is one of gaming’s most persistent figures, with Mega Man 11 just releasing last year in 2018.

PAC-MAN

 

One of the most easily recognizable faces in gaming is PAC-MAN. From the arcade games to the later 3D platforming adventures, Pac Man is a perfect choice for Smash Bros. due to his long-lasting legacy and nearly universal appeal. Visually, he looks like the Pac Man from the later games, but some moves employ his classic arcade look as well. Pac Man is still a massive part of popular culture, appearing in numerous films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and is referenced continuously in shows and movies to this day. If Super Smash Bros. is a hall of fame for video game characters, Pac Man stands near the top.

Ryu and Ken

 

Ryu and Ken are two characters from the 2D fighting series, Street Fighter which has been a huge staple of Nintendo systems since Street Fighter 2 on the Super Nintendo. The two have been described as childhood friends and constant rivals. With Street Fighter and Smash Bros. both being 2D fighting games, many of their well-known moves fit right in with their Smash moves like the Shoryuken uppercut and the Hadouken fireball attack.

Cloud Strife

 

You might recognize this spiky-haired, buster sword-wielding character from the recent trailer for Final Fantasy VII (7) Remake. Cloud was made into a super soldier by the group SOLDIER, which allows him to wield the massive buster sword which weighs over 80 pounds. Along with his friends from AVALANCHE, he embarks on a quest to stop the evil corporation of Shinra from draining all life from the planet he calls home. He has appeared in many other Final Fantasy games as well as the Kingdom Hearts series.    

Bayonetta

 

Although she didn’t start this way, this sassy witch has joined the Nintendo family after Bayonetta 2 was released exclusively for the Wii U. Both her previous adventures are now available to play on Switch, with a third entry on the way, so it is safe to say that Nintendo is her new home. Her games are fast-paced, hack and slash adventures that feature larger than life locations, enemies and a complete disregard for realism that instead asks “wouldn’t it be cool if this happened” and then does it with flying colors. Her primary weapon is actually, her hair. She is not the most popular character on this list of Smash guests, but her fans were delighted when she was added to Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS and returned in Ultimate.

Simon and Richter Belmont

 

These two vampire hunters are a couple of the many members of the Belmont family locked in a near endless struggle with the Vampire Count Dracula in the classic platformer series, Castlevania. The signature weapon of the Belmont clan is a chain whip, which every beast of the night fears. Simon was the hero of the first and second Castlevania games back on NES, with many other adventures following across over 35 games. Most vampires are scared to look under their beds, worried that one of the Belmonts will be there to stop their terror in its tracks.

Joker

 

Joker is one of the many heroes from the long-running Persona series. A mild-mannered student of Shujin Academy by day, and a heart-stealing thief after school. Along with his friends known as the Phantom Thieves, Joker is notorious for tracking down the meanest crooks in Japan and giving them a change of heart through a place called The Metaverse, where people’s thoughts and wishes come to life. With his cat companion Morgana and his ever-growing group of masked friends, Japan can rest a lot easier knowing the Phantom Thieves are on the case whenever trouble strikes.

Dragon Quest Heroes

 

While it might not be a huge phenomenon in the West, Dragon Quest is one of the most popular video game series’ over in Japan. With tons of games and spin-offs, Dragon Quest’s various heroes making their way to the battlefield of Smash Bros. marks yet another big player from the world of Japanese Role-playing games, with Final Fantasy’s Cloud, Persona’s Joker, and the Pokémon trainer representing the ever popular game genre in Smash. JRPG’s are famous the world over, and if the world of Dragon Quest designed by Dragon Ball Z artist Akira Toriyama interests you, Dragon Quest 11 is hitting the Nintendo Switch later this year. It’s bright colors and iconic monsters like the famous Slime are known the world over, dating back all the way to 1986’s Dragon Quest, or Dragon Warrior in the United States.

Banjo Kazooie

 

While most known for his appearances on the Nintendo 64, this animal pair was one of the first and most beloved 3D platformer stars in Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie. These two have been one of the most popular requests for additions to Smash Bros, so their announcement made many veteran Smash fans very happy. The Banjo Kazooie games are a lot like Super Mario 64 and Odyssey, where the heroes explore big colorful worlds and collect tons of different items and platform across obstacles and enemies. 

There Are Two More Coming

While not confirmed to be guest characters, we still have two DLC packs left for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Nintendo has proved that anything is possible at this point, bringing in some of gaming's most beloved characters from not just Nintendo's wide range of characters, but from all corners. 

Have Your Say

Who do you wanna see join the roster of Smash Ultimate? Which of these guest fighters is your favorite? Let us know down below!