Ever since the announcement of the Super Smash Bros Ballot on Wednesday, the battle for which character fans want as DLC has been fierce. Which characters are at the top and which ones are at the bottom? You may be surprised.
If you are unaware, Nintendo announced that the company is letting fans vote for which character they’d want to see as DLC in Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. After all the votes have been tallied, it is up to Nintendo to choose whether or not the character is viable for the game.
Through the use of Topsy.com, I was able to find the most popular character choices on Twitter, and this analysis extended beyond just gaming trends. Interestingly, it even highlighted how much discussion revolves around slots online, as many users share insights about gameplay experiences, tips for winning, and favorite game providers. By examining these trending keywords, I gained a broader understanding of what the gaming community values, whether it’s specific characters in games or excitement over popular slot titles. Here’s how I worked it out: Topsy tracks how often a word is used by Twitter users, helping reveal trending topics in real-time.
I searched both the character’s name and “smash”, and then searched the character’s name in a hashtag with 4smash at the end like this: #wonderred4smash. I combined both of these sources with the characters I believed were the most talked about and have compiled them into a list. Here is what I found as of the evening/early morning of 4th/5th April 2015.
NOTE: This is all a bit of fun. This is not proof of which characters are being voted on the most, this is how much they are mentioned and even that has variables. There may be a chance I forgot to include a character to research as well. Check it out for yourself and let me know if you came across anything different.
1) Shovel Knight
Yes, that’s right. A character from an indie game is the most requested for the game on Twitter. Yacht Club Games, the developers of Shovel Knight, have been behind the campaign for the character to be in the game. There is no indie representation in Smash Bros. yet, and with the company’s recent open stance with independent studios, it would only make sense. Plus, Shovel Knight would fit right in with its platforming attacks and variety of skills at his disposal. Also, if they were to include the stage, hearing the soundtrack within Super Smash Bros would be pretty rocking!
2) Banjo and Kazooie
Banjo and Kazooie were platforming icons on the Nintendo 64, but the developers, Rare, were bought by Microsoft in 2002. The only game they’ve been in since is Banjo and Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts for the Xbox 360. However, Phil Spencer (Head of Xbox) said on Twitter, “I think it would be cool if Banjo was in the next SSB DLC. We’ve worked with Nintendo on Rare IP before, no issues.” It just depends on whether or not Nintendo would be willing to work with Microsoft for their inclusion. Banjo and Kazooie would be cool to have included, as many fans remember playing the game on the Nintendo 64 when they were younger, and want to see them return in some shape or form. The character is being pushed by Playtonic Games, the developers of a spiritual sequel to Banjo and Kazooie, on Twitter.
3) Wonder Red
The main character from Platinum Studio and Nintendo’s The Wonderful 101 leaps in at the number three spot of this list. With the power of the other 99 heroes, Wonder Red could have some cool moves, and give Captain Falcon a run for his money on the hype factor. The vast number of mentions being made towards Wonder Red is surprising as Satoru Iwata mentioned at an investor financial call earlier that the game undersold. Popular Let’s Players, The Two Best Friends Play (actually there are 4), lend their support for this campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
4) Sora
Arguably one of the most shocking inclusions out of this list is Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series. Originally on the PlayStation 2, Kingdom Hearts has had four releases on Nintendo platforms, which include Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days, Re: Coded, and Dream Drop Distance. The characters have starred in Nintendo consoles almost as much as Sony’s platforms. Also, a few dedicated Kingdom Hearts YouTubers, HMK, and TheGamersJoint may have been behind the surge of Kingdom Hearts fans who want Sora to be a part of the game. HMK has 36,000 subscribers, and TheGamersJoint has 59,000 subscribers. With a blend of melee and ranged magical attacks, Sora could be a great addition. Personally, this is my pick.
5) Bayonetta
Another Platinum Games character, Bayonetta, has made the fifth spot on the list. The seductive witch has cast a spell on many on Twitter. With the action-heavy nature of the game, and plenty of combos to draw upon, Bayonetta could make for a great fighter. During development of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS, the director of Bayonetta, Hideki Kamiya, said that he “had enough of smash idiots.” He then uttered an f-bomb in the same tweet towards those who wanted the character in the game. Despite this, fans are still voting for Bayonetta.
So those are the top 5 from what I could find. Which character would you like to see and are you shocked by the results of the Twitter discussion so far? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources: Topsy, Phil Spencer’s Twitter, Playtonic Games’ Twitter, Wii U Daily, Two Best Friends Play Twitter and Facebook, HMK, TheGamersJoint, Hideki Kamiya’s Twitter (via Wii U Daily)