Nintendo’s Switch 2 era has seen a wave of new titles and reinventions of established franchises, from the vibrant world of Donkey Kong Bananza to the strategic depths of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. As the console matures, the inevitable next installment in the Super Smash Bros. series presents an opportunity to reflect these evolutions, potentially reshaping the roster with characters and abilities reflecting recent game developments.
Beyond its function as a fighting game, Super Smash Bros. serves as a unique historical marker, encapsulating the current state of Nintendo's most prominent franchises. The upcoming Switch 2 Super Smash Bros. game is poised to capture this snapshot, possibly introducing significant changes to existing fighters and welcoming long-overdue franchise representatives. The following characters and concepts represent a blend of early predictions and aspirational additions for the series' next iteration.
The Mechanic
Splatoon has consistently been a strong performer, but its representation in Super Smash Bros. has largely been limited to the Inkling characters. However, the recent release of Splatoon Raiders introduces The Mechanic, a protagonist whose diverse arsenal of gadgets could translate into a uniquely complex fighter. Fans on Reddit have expressed interest in seeing The Mechanic join the roster, envisioning special attacks derived from tools like the Splatchet, Bombloons, or Booyarang. The potential for players to switch between different ink tanks, altering available gadgets on the fly, could offer a dynamic and unpredictable combat experience.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong, a perennial presence in Super Smash Bros. since its inception, could benefit from a significant overhaul to better reflect his recent appearances. While his core design has remained largely consistent, the visual updates from Donkey Kong Bananza are likely to be integrated. More importantly, his move set could be expanded to incorporate elements from the game, such as the ability to rip chunks from stages or surf on them. A Final Smash incorporating his Bananza forms, potentially with a cameo from Pauline, would further tie him to his latest adventure.
Samus Aran
Samus Aran remains a well-rounded Super Smash Bros. combatant due to the natural integration of her Metroid abilities. The latest entry, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, offers opportunities for new variations, including the introduction of different suit variants like the Vi-O-La Suit. Furthermore, Samus' emerging psychic powers present intriguing possibilities for her move set. The Control Beam, for instance, could be adapted into a steerable projectile, similar to Ness's PK Thunder, adding a new layer to her offensive capabilities.
Yoshi
While Yoshi's core abilities in Super Smash Bros. have remained consistent, the game Yoshi and the Mysterious Book introduces fresh concepts that could revitalize his moveset. This puzzle-platformer allows Yoshi to borrow powers from various creatures, offering a wealth of inspiration for new attacks. Imagine Yoshi utilizing abilities like launching Peckadees as projectiles or deploying Scatterpuff spores to inflict status effects. These new mechanics could inject renewed dynamism into the veteran fighter.
Tomodachis
Given the considerable success of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, it seems likely that Nintendo will seek to incorporate its unique characters into Super Smash Bros. One potential approach is to replace the Mii Fighters with Tomodachis, essentially an enhanced version of Miis. This change would not necessitate a drastic alteration of their movesets but would allow for greater personalization by importing unique player-created characters into the fighter roster. The inclusion of a custom Garfield Tomodachi, for example, highlights the appeal of this personalized roster addition.
Karate Joe
Rumors of Rhythm Heaven characters appearing in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U hinted at the franchise's suitability for the series. The recent release of Rhythm Heaven Groove further solidifies this potential. While the Chorus Kids remain a possibility, Karate Joe presents a more direct and fitting candidate. His moveset could be designed to reward players who perform attacks in time with the game's music, creating a rhythm-based combat mechanic. A 2D fighting style, akin to Mr. Game & Watch, could also preserve the distinctive artistic spirit of the Rhythm Heaven series.
Ditto
While Pokémon representation is strong in Super Smash Bros., there's room for variety beyond the main series' creatures. Pokémon Pokopia, a highly-rated spin-off, offers a compelling candidate in Ditto. The humanoid Ditto featured in Pokopia could bring a unique playstyle, utilizing its noodle-like limbs and potentially transforming into other Pokémon for attacks, such as using Water Gun or briefly becoming a Dragonite for its recovery move. This would diversify the Pokémon roster with a more unconventional and versatile fighter.
