So, everyone is currently going crazy over the promotional box art of the Special Edition of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in North America:
The sides of the box depict the characters in the game in their numbered order, but in groups of nine, where one group goes over one and a half rows. So, the other side of the box probably starts with the original eight characters and Dark Samus, where it then continues on the side that we see here.
A total of 72 characters would be possible on the current box layout with six rows and six columns on each side of the box, while the current character total (counting Echo Fighters, but counting both the Pokémon Trainer and the Mii Fighters as one) would be 70. If you add Isabelle next to King K. Rool, there should be two open slots on the box, but there is only one. And that's because there is one open slot on the other side for an Echo Fighter. The numbering is off right before the last group, between the Mii Fighters and Corrin, so one of these characters might get an Echo Fighter:
The likeliest out of these is certainly Ryu with Ken, who has been rumored for a while now and who makes a lot of sense considering that he basically was the original Echo Fighter in a fighting game. But others could have Echoes as well, for example Medusa (Palutena), Celica (Robin) or even Zack (Cloud).
The sides of the box depict the characters in the game in their numbered order, but in groups of nine, where one group goes over one and a half rows. So, the other side of the box probably starts with the original eight characters and Dark Samus, where it then continues on the side that we see here.
A total of 72 characters would be possible on the current box layout with six rows and six columns on each side of the box, while the current character total (counting Echo Fighters, but counting both the Pokémon Trainer and the Mii Fighters as one) would be 70. If you add Isabelle next to King K. Rool, there should be two open slots on the box, but there is only one. And that's because there is one open slot on the other side for an Echo Fighter. The numbering is off right before the last group, between the Mii Fighters and Corrin, so one of these characters might get an Echo Fighter:
- Palutena
- Pac-man
- Robin
- Shulk
- Bowser Jr.
- Duck Hunt Duo
- Ryu
- Cloud
The likeliest out of these is certainly Ryu with Ken, who has been rumored for a while now and who makes a lot of sense considering that he basically was the original Echo Fighter in a fighting game. But others could have Echoes as well, for example Medusa (Palutena), Celica (Robin) or even Zack (Cloud).
But with this there would be only one unique fighter left... If this "box theory" holds true, I very much hope that Skull Kid will be the final newcomer, because it would be very disappointing to not have him in the game after all, considering all the things that hinted at his inclusion.
Some speculate that it will be Incinerour, because Vergeben (the possible leaker that I've mentioned before) has a 7th generation Pokémon on his list, next to Ken. All of his other suggestions - Ridley, Simon Belmont and Isabelle - all came true, so he's most likely onto something. But it would be super disappointing, if the last playable fighter was the tenth playable Pokémon. Update: Vergeben has by now confirmed that the Generation 7 Pokémon is indeed Incineroar, here.
Anyway, Vergeben also keeps mentioning that there might be another Square Enix representative, which would already be one more character than what fits on the box. There also might be content based on Minecraft, where it would be very weird, if Nintendo didn't use the chance to make a deal with Microsoft for a character. Here's a summary of what he currently has to say... Of course, all of this could simply lead to DLC and that's it for the main game.
But still, I'm having a hard time believing that there are only going to be two more newcomers. We're around the half point between the game's big reveal at E3 in June and its launch on December 7th. If there were really only eleven newcomers in total, they would have spaced the reveals out more evenly and not reveal half of them in a single Direct. There's probably going to be at least on more dedicated Smash Direct for the game, which would then pale in comparison to the one from August, if there's only one more Echo Fighter and one more unique newcomer left to be revealed. It would reduce the hype significantly...
And of course the box art isn't final yet and will most likely change before the release, where they could just make the character icons smaller and add another row or two columns, where then there would be space for 14 more newcomers. I wouldn't expect that many, but they could just leave a couple of slots open on each side... They could also keep the Echo Fighters separate or put some characters (like the original eight) on the back of the box for the final products. So, there are many possibilities, how this could change and make room for additional characters.
Overall I can think of at least six newcomers, which feel very likely at this point, judging from missing Assist Trophies, missing alt colors, still secret Final Smashes, hints dropped by Nintendo and also Vergeben's possible leaks.
Unique newcomers (Team Sun & Moon):
Echo Fighters:
Other possible Nintendo characters would be Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X, Captain Toad, Bandana Waddle Dee or even Dillon... Plus, there are many more potential semi-clones or Echo Fighters, like Impa, Princess Hilda, Black Shadow, Medusa or Jeanne.
In addition there could be more licensed newcomers from Square Enix, Bandai Namco (e.g. Heihachi from Tekken or someone from SoulCalibur) and even Microsoft (e.g. Minecraft Steve or Banjo & Kazooie).
There's so much potential that it would really hurt, if only two of all these would still make it into the game after Isabelle. Of course there could always be DLC, but there we already have newer characters waiting to be added, like Rex and his different Blades from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, where KOS-MOS and T-elos could even become their own thing, or Spring Man and Ribbon Girl from ARMS.
So, the if the box tells the truth, it will certainly be disappointing.
Some speculate that it will be Incinerour, because Vergeben (the possible leaker that I've mentioned before) has a 7th generation Pokémon on his list, next to Ken. All of his other suggestions - Ridley, Simon Belmont and Isabelle - all came true, so he's most likely onto something. But it would be super disappointing, if the last playable fighter was the tenth playable Pokémon. Update: Vergeben has by now confirmed that the Generation 7 Pokémon is indeed Incineroar, here.
Anyway, Vergeben also keeps mentioning that there might be another Square Enix representative, which would already be one more character than what fits on the box. There also might be content based on Minecraft, where it would be very weird, if Nintendo didn't use the chance to make a deal with Microsoft for a character. Here's a summary of what he currently has to say... Of course, all of this could simply lead to DLC and that's it for the main game.
But still, I'm having a hard time believing that there are only going to be two more newcomers. We're around the half point between the game's big reveal at E3 in June and its launch on December 7th. If there were really only eleven newcomers in total, they would have spaced the reveals out more evenly and not reveal half of them in a single Direct. There's probably going to be at least on more dedicated Smash Direct for the game, which would then pale in comparison to the one from August, if there's only one more Echo Fighter and one more unique newcomer left to be revealed. It would reduce the hype significantly...
And of course the box art isn't final yet and will most likely change before the release, where they could just make the character icons smaller and add another row or two columns, where then there would be space for 14 more newcomers. I wouldn't expect that many, but they could just leave a couple of slots open on each side... They could also keep the Echo Fighters separate or put some characters (like the original eight) on the back of the box for the final products. So, there are many possibilities, how this could change and make room for additional characters.
Overall I can think of at least six newcomers, which feel very likely at this point, judging from missing Assist Trophies, missing alt colors, still secret Final Smashes, hints dropped by Nintendo and also Vergeben's possible leaks.
Unique newcomers (Team Sun & Moon):
- Isaac from Golden Sun
- Incineroar from Pokémon Sun & Moon
- Skull Kid
Echo Fighters:
- Dixie Kong
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Ken Masters
Other possible Nintendo characters would be Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X, Captain Toad, Bandana Waddle Dee or even Dillon... Plus, there are many more potential semi-clones or Echo Fighters, like Impa, Princess Hilda, Black Shadow, Medusa or Jeanne.
In addition there could be more licensed newcomers from Square Enix, Bandai Namco (e.g. Heihachi from Tekken or someone from SoulCalibur) and even Microsoft (e.g. Minecraft Steve or Banjo & Kazooie).
There's so much potential that it would really hurt, if only two of all these would still make it into the game after Isabelle. Of course there could always be DLC, but there we already have newer characters waiting to be added, like Rex and his different Blades from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, where KOS-MOS and T-elos could even become their own thing, or Spring Man and Ribbon Girl from ARMS.
So, the if the box tells the truth, it will certainly be disappointing.
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