As promised (the top half)...

I really gotta cut these posts down for length. I fear they may become unreadable and I'm tired of doing two-part posts. Starts to set a precedent. But, without further ado, I give you:


The Witteman's Top Ten List of Characters That Should Be In The Next SSB Game (Seriously)...



#5 - Like Mouser, hailing from the second game in a major video game series, it's fan favorite, Tails! Yes, Sonic's sidekick has more than enough chops to make it as a Smash Bros. Much like Luigi is to Mario, Tails shares similarities to Sonic (speed, items, kills enemies the same way...) but also has developed his own unique characteristics (flight [always cool], adept with machines...). Hopefully, for Tail's sake, these unique aspects can distance himself from his progenitor and not make him just a clone of Sonic. Lord knows we don't need another Link/Young Link/Toon Link, Capt. Falcon/Ganondorf, Lucas/Ness, Pichu/Pikachu, Fox/Falco/Wolf (you get the point...). If Tails can only be done as a clone, then perhaps Knuckles would be a better SSB choice. But, seeing as Tails came first, the flying fox gets first crack at the roster...

#4 - After playing (weeks upon weeks) of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Little Mac was one of the first characters I wanted included in the series. Ol' Green Trunks has a lot going for him: He's the main character of a very popular and nostalgic game, his theme music is simple yet powerful, and, while he may seem to have a simple move set (he IS a boxer [punch, punch, and...punch]), he would be a quick and evasive opponent (slipping and dodging attacks, blocking physical attacks without his shield). While Little Mac does make an appearance as an assist trophy in Brawl, it seems like a cop out to my fantasy roster. One can only hope that the new Wii Punch Out will breathe life into the tiny titan and Little Mac will rise in the ranks to Smash Bros. status...

#3 - To be honest, the Battletoads, Rash and Zitz weren't originally on this list, mainly because I forgot their game existed until just recently. Thank God for VNES.com. So, after playing Battletoads again after many years, it dawned on me: these guys are way cool, they've got the moves, mixed in with the right blend of obscurity and nostalgia, and all-in-all, the Toads are very in-theme for Super Smash Bros. Anthropomorphic amphibians in a beat-em-up game equals awesome (always). The only reason imaginable why these guys have been slipped under the radar thus far is plain old obscurity (when last we left the Battletoads, the year was 1994...). But if that's their own reason why, bring them back to us. Battletoads in Super Smash Bros.: Make it happen...

#2 - Oh, Toad. How they have forsaken you. After being the beefy guy in Mario 2 and one of the fastest characters in every Mario Kart, as well as having cameos in many other Mario games, you'd think Nintendo would give the little guy a little more respect. Instead, the decided to put Dr. Mario in Melee and made Toad a weapon for Princess Peach(for shame!). He is the last 'unique' member of the Mario family not to be a Smash Bros. and, even if there is no other reason why, Toad should be in the next SSB installment. The nice thing about him is his flexibility; (as mentioned above) he could be designed as a heavy, strong fighter or a quick but weaker attacker (both of which the Mario family lack). Either way, Toad is (or at least SHOULD be) a shoe-in for the next Super Smash Bros...

And the #1 character deserving of a Smash Bros. position - You know him, you love him, you can't live without him, Capcom's poster boy, Mega Man! There is absolutely no reason why this character isn't a Smash Bros. yet. Everything about Mega Man makes him THE prime candidate for the game: He's got the history, he's got the popularity and is a well respected character, and he's got more unique moves than TEN Smash Bros. Granted, they won't all be doable (sorry, Flash Man...), so we'll have to pick from the cream of the crop (hello, Metal Man, Magnet Man, etc... [to say nothing of Rush, Beat, the Megabuster, etc...]). Beyond Mega Man's versatility, you'd be hard pressed to find any gamer worth his salt who hasn't played, seen, or at least heard of Mega Man in some fashion. It is this notoriety that should make our favorite Master Robot slayer and auto include for the next Super Smash Bros. game...

So there you have it; all 10 of my suggestions for a SSB roster update. There are couple of other characters I could have mentioned, but these were the best. And it's only the best for this blog. However, I can admit I might have missed a good one or two. Who's your best idea for an addition to Super Smash Bros.? I really am curious to see what else might be out there and merely forgotten. Hit me back...