Launching for pre-order when Byleth releases on January 28, Fighter Pass Volume 2 is confirmed to have six characters that will release over the course of the next two years meaning there is plenty to speculate about for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
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Doom Slayer
Doom’s Doom Slayer has been frequently requested and even rumored to be in the game since a few months after Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched in December of 2018. Bethesda has been friendly with Nintendo for a few years now, with Doom and The Elder Scrolls Skyrim having been featured on the Switch for some time. If Super Smash Bros. is a celebration of the gaming industry in one single game, then it would make sense to add in some representation of one of this iconic FPS. The Doom Slayer would probably be a heavy character with powerful attacks and the ability to space jump, ostensibly like Samus.
Crash Bandicoot
Another older icon of the gaming industry, Crash Bandicoot’s titular character was PlayStation’s answer to Mario before the rights to the series were sold by Universal to Activision. In recent years, Activision has managed to bring Crash Bandicoot into the modern era to great success with the releases of the Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy and Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled, which are both available on the Nintendo Switch. The time to introduce Crash into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could not be better, as fans’ interest in the character will fade with time again.
Crash would likely be a quick and chaotic character, with a moveset that probably resembles Sonic’s. Clearly one of his neutral moves would be a spin attack and his final smash could humorously involve cart racers hitting the opponent, like Yoshi’s stampede.
Sora
Sora from Kingdom Hearts is an easy character to pick for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate but would probably require the most maneuvering of IP laws in the game’s existence (which is saying something, considering Microsoft, Square Enix, Capcom, and a bunch of other companies have representation in the title). In other words, he’s probably the least likeliest character on this list for this and other reasons. Considering the fact that Square Enix and Disney are collaborators in the development of Kingdom Hearts games, trying to depict Sora authentically in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would require the inclusion of other characters in his games making an appearance, like Donald Duck and Goofy, which could prove legally challenging.
In any case, Sora immediately resembles some of the other younger sword or sword-like fighters in the game such as Young Link, Shulk, Roy, Pit, etc. which means he would have an easy time fitting in. There is also a huge dedicated fanbase for the Kingdom Hearts franchise that would probably be delighted to see Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He would probably be one of the more floatier human characters, with multiple keyblades that could play a role in his moveset (maybe in the same way Byleth changes weapons depending on which direction is being pressed).
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Minecraft Steve
Minecraft’s Steve is another character that was rumored to be DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. There are a couple of factors that point out how easy this addition would be to pick. First off, Minecraft is still currently one of the biggest games of all time, transcending the medium itself, and is a global brand at this point. Second, because Microsoft and Nintendo already collaborated to have Banjo and Kazooie in the game, the two companies can continue that collaboration with Minecraft.
Outside of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the two companies already have a working relationship, with Microsoft properties like Ori and the Blind Forest, Cuphead, and Minecraft being available on the Nintendo Switch for some time now. If the companies worked together again to bring Minecraft to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, then Steve would likely have a moveset that is unique compared to everyone else’s, involving building and minor survival mechanics such as eating to regain health.
Dante
Another character that has been through the rumor stage, Devil May Cry’s Dante is a highly requested entrant among fans of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For similar reasons to Minecraft’s Steve, Dante would be a simple addition to the title, considering Nintendo and Capcom’s decades-long relationship. Also, with the recent success of Devil May Cry 5, Capcom has found new life for the series in the modern console era and will likely iterate upon it for the foreseeable future.
Dante, if he were a character, has plenty of abilities to make him stand out from the rest of the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. His sword and gun combination would give him the close-range offensive capabilities of a character like Lucina and the ranged defense of Joker, which could be a great keep away mechanic. Also like Joker, he could activate his devil trigger, which could potentially run on a meter like Joker’s Arsenne.
Rillaboom
Pokemon has a good amount of representation in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate due to the franchise having so many games. The most recent playable Pokemon added to the game was Incineroar, the final evolution of a Litten, one of the starter Pokemon from Pokemon Sun and Moon. Considering the fact that Super Smash Bros. has tended to feature characters from recently launched games, it is fair to predict that another Pokemon (this time from Pokemon Sword and Shield) will be coming to the game in Fighter Pass Volume 2.
Rillaboom is the final evolution of Grookey in Pokemon Sword and Shield and would make a unique playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The other final evolutions of the starter Pokemon in the game, Inteleon and Cinderace, are two characters who have moves already featured with a few Pokemon in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, such as water and fire attacks.
Rillaboom, however, is a grass type whose gimmick involves beating a drum with sticks in order to manipulate ground vines to hit the opponent. Rillaboom’s drum could be delegated to its side smash attacks, allowing for a good ranged defense. Its regular attacks though could resemble that of Donkey Kong’s, as both characters have a very similar build.
There are many characters that fans want to see in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Fighter Pass Volume 2 ,but with the characters confirmed to be releasing by December of 2021, it might be awhile before all is known. Until then, wish lists are going to have to suffice.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on the Nintendo Switch.
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