Super Smash Bros.has been frequently referred to as a “hall of fame” for video games. The series is beloved for that reason, as it has not only brought together the cream of Nintendo’s crop, but mascots from all around the gaming industry as well. Beginning with Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake inBrawl, Smash has taken characters from Sega, Konami, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, SNK, and even overseas console competitor Microsoft. With the choices for DLC dwindling thanks to Mii Fighter costumes and Assist Trophies, it seems probable that Nintendo will go with a yet-unseen franchise for thefinalSmash UltimateDLC character.
However, despite all the goodSmashhas done, it feels like there’s a few franchises that haven’t received their due.Halo,Doom, andKingdom Heartsare certainly three, but one particular franchise that already has representation still feels like it’s missing vital characters.Final Fantasyis represented by Cloud Strife and Sephiroth, but what they actually represent isFinal Fantasy 7in particular.FF7has very little history with Nintendo platforms, and is only a small slice of the massiveFinal Fantasyfranchise.Final Fantasyhas plenty of other games that deserve historical representation inSuper Smash Bros., particularly the NES and SNES titles that are currently being remastered with new visuals.
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Final Fantasy 6
As theFinal Fantasythat many fans say is their favorite afterFinal Fantasy 7,Final Fantasy 6is a shocking absence fromSuper Smash Bros. It was the last mainlineFinal Fantasyreleased on a Nintendo console untilHD remasters started getting madeover twenty years later, and it pushes the SNES to its limit. This huge JRPG is famous for its unique approach to storytelling, and massive plot twist halfway through that resulted in the game morphing into an open-world title. Add in an all-time classic script and perhaps the most diverse looking and playing party in the series, and what’s left is a game that has earned its time under the spotlight of history.
It’s thanks to that very cast thatFinal Fantasy 6has so many good choices for additions toSmash. The main protagonists of the group, Terra, Locke, and Celeste, all provide good “faces” for the title, and are just generic enough examples of their respective classes that a variety of Magicite could be used in their gameplay. Sabin would add another brawler to the cast and a particularly memetic one at that, while his brother Edgar would bring another technology-based fighter to the table. Mog could even be added to give the whole Final Fantasy series some Moogle representation. Then of course, there’s always the option to make things harder for Cloud by addingKefka, a monster clownthat carries an odd, Joker-like charisma.
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Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4, orFinal Fantasy 2in the United States, also deserves some recognition. The first game showed players what aFinal Fantasyadventure could be, and the next two in Japan experimented with that formula.FF4was the first gameto really nail the prospect of telling a running, character-driven story throughout its duration, and its all-star cast of characters refined older games’ job archetypes into templates still used today.
Those template characters steal the show.Cecil Harvey represents boththe brooding and troubled, yet supremely powerful Dark Knight, and the protective and confident Paladin. TheDissidiafighting games had him frequently switch between both jobs during fights, soSuper Smash Bros.could do the same. A good alternative to Cecil is his best friend Kain Highwind, who could bring a uniquely aerial fighting style toSmash Bros. His focus on huge jumps and dives would make him a very interesting character to design and play. Others like Rydia and Golbez would make decent fighters, but these two heroes are the main attraction.
Final Fantasy 1
The original NESFinal Fantasyis definitely on the table for Smash representation. It has tons of what makesFFitself, including jobs, progressive spell and equipment systems, an iconic roster of monsters, and a story that, while very simple,takes the Warriors of Lightto every corner of the world to bring light back to the crystals and prosperity to the land. It’s a truly inspiring effort of converting a pulp fantasy adventure into playable form, and no character is more fit to represent it inSmash’s hall of fame than the iconic Black Mage.
TheBlack Mage casts a distinctive silhouette, and could stand apart from all ofSmash’s other magic users by bringing their numbered elemental spells into the fold, powering up as the match goes on. Perhaps the original release’s old spell slot system could even be brought back to separate the Black Mage from the MP-usingDragon QuestHero. However they’re designed, there’s no doubt that a Black Mage would represent bothFinal Fantasy 1and the entireFinal Fantasyfranchise perfectly.
Final Fantasy 9
Though speaking of representingFinal Fantasy, no mainline “classic”FFpays homage to the rest of the series quite as well asFinal Fantasy 9does.FF9is a more cartoony take on theFinal Fantasyseries, which makes itideal for both an animated series, and for an appearance in the lightheartedSuper Smash Bros.series. Filled with chibi characters and animal people,Final Fantasy 9represents a different take onFinal Fantasywhile still carrying on many of its iconic elements.
The party is full of winners thatSmashcould pick and choose from. Zidane Tribal and Kuja are good hero-and-villain picks, and present a host of interesting magic and movement options forSmashto adapt. Kuja could even be the first full character after Princess Peach to be able to float through the air as a regular jump action. With that said, if the above Black Mage isn’t making it intoSmash, then Vivi the black mage should. All the power and looks of a Black Mage combined with a childish and friendly personality makeVivi an easy choice to representFF9andFinal Fantasyitself. As anotherFinal Fantasyrepresentative is unlikely, hopefully the upcomingFinal Fantasy 9show can do Zidane, Vivi, and their friends justice.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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