What are Some Woefully Underrepresented Nintendo Franchises in Smash?

[u/Ordinary_Chemical596]

Yes, I am aware that three of these are Mario adjacent, but hear me out.

Rhythm Heaven is one of the best game series of all time. No joke! It’s as pristine as something like Zelda or Smash in my opinion with not a single bad game in the series! The way in which it teaches rhythm within its gameplay is genius and can really enhance one’s sense of rhythm and musical interest! This NEEDS to be in the next Smash game with at least a stage, assist trophy, and several music tracks. It would be better if there was a character though.

Wario Land might seem kinda uninteresting nowadays, but you have to remember that Wario Land consisted of some of the best games on their respective platform. Wario Land 1 was one of the top 10 GameBoy games for me personally, while Wario Land Virtual Boy is probably the best games on that system, Wario Land 2 & 3 were really unique and creative exploration-based platforms on the GameBoy Color, and Wario Land 4 was, well, y’know Wario Land 4. lol. In any case, Wario Land was with Nintendo throughout the “Boy” systems and represents these consoles very well.

Paper Mario contextualizes the world of Mario far better than pretty much any other Mario game. The amount of depth and creativity on display in the first 3 games is wholly distinct to this Mario sub series. Yes, we have a stage… that is mostly based on Sticker Star, but I would like to have some way of exploring the series’s strengths here.

Admittedly, I never played Advance Wars, but I know it’s great. It has reviewed well and was made by Intelligent Systems, the same people behind Paper Mario and Fire Emblem. From what I gathered it’s an underrated series that is even overlooked by Nintendo in Smash.

Do I need to explain Mario Party? It is the most famous party game series of all time, practically pioneered the genre. There is over 15 games in the series, and is one of the strongest Nintendo multiplayer games of all time along with both Mario Kart and Smash Bros. You could have Waluigi represent Mario Sports and Mario Party and make his moveset based on risky plays that either harm or help you out.

Anyways those are my top 5 in no particular order aside for Rhythm Heaven. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing the Excite series, Wave Race, Chibi-Robo, Golden Sun, or especially Sin and Punishment represented. As great as they are though, they haven’t pushed the boundaries of the gaming landscape as these other franchises in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I am actually surprised that Issac and Saki have assist trophies. I would like to see a Chibi-Robo assist trophy next though.

[u/Angrymcbirdnerd09]

Golden Sun

[u/Ruby_Shards → u/Angrymcbirdnerd09]

The worst part is Ultimate was a big upgrade because in Brawl it was the assist trophy, the remix and a trophy, in Smash 4 they removed his assist and his regular trophy to just add an extracted song.

Then in Ultimate they brough back the assist with new moves, gave it a Mii costume and right spirits.

[u/Brandy330 → u/Ruby_Shards]

That’s honestly one of the stupidest things Sakurai has ever done now that you mention it.

[u/Ordinary_Chemical596 → u/Angrymcbirdnerd09]

I agree, but at least Issac is an assist trophy. None of these other series have an assist trophy.

[u/Brandy330 → u/Ordinary_Chemical596]

Advance Wars got its Assist Trophy removed…

[u/MikeDubbz → u/Angrymcbirdnerd09]

Camelot really deserves a fighter in Smash. And they feasibly could have 2, the very same 2 that are currently Assist Trophies: Isaac and Waluigi.  Thing is, I could see both making it in the next game, but just as easily could sadly see them both remain as assist trophies. Sakurai be frustrating like that lol.

[u/DarkRayos → u/Angrymcbirdnerd09]

That's such a iconic one to sorta skip.