Fans have gobbled up every character announcement for Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS, each time hoping to officially see one of their favorite characters enter the fray alongside Nintendo greats like Link, Mario and Kirby. While there are plenty of new and returning fighters to get excited about, when all the smoke lifted and the full roster was revealed, plenty of iconic Nintendo characters that fans dreamed to see included didn't make the cut. From Waluigi to Ridley, here are seven gaming greats who weren't quite great enough to appear as playable fighters in the new Super Smash Bros.
Toad
It's still surprising Toad isn't in Super Smash Bros. He has been in nearly every Mario title from the beginning, including the original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Sure, he technically appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl whenever Princess Peach wants to block a projectile, but is that really a fate worthy of one of Nintendo's oldest characters? He is even getting his own game later this year called Captain Toad! That seems like a good enough reason as ever to include him. If characters like Doctor Mario can make the cut, it seems criminal not to give the little mushroom man a shot. Maybe next time.
King K. Rool
Donkey Kong's arch nemesis King K. Rool may be an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, but he deserves so much more. The evil crocodile king whose name is a play on the word "cruel" is always stealing Donkey Kong's bananas or kidnapping family members in games like Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64, putting him right on up there with other classic and corrupt Nintendo rulers like Bowser and Ganondorf. He may not have appeared in the newer Donkey Kong Country Returns or Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, but that's all the more reason for him to be included. King K. Rool needs a comeback.
Phoenix Wright
Objection!!! Hear that? That was ace attorney Phoenix Wright being outraged and objecting to the fact that he has yet to be invited to Nintendo's all-star team. He definitely deserves it. He stars in one of the most successful game franchises across the Nintendo DS and 3DS, gathering evidence and pointing the finger at witnesses as he defends his clients across more than five games. Better yet, Phoenix Wright is no stranger to fighting. He appeared alongside Marvel super heroes in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, proving he has what it takes to go up against some of Nintendo's finest.
Waluigi
Wario will be returning to battle after debuting in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but his partner in crime Waluigi is relegated to an assist trophy. Much as Wario is an evil mirror version of Mario, Waluigi is the tall and lanky doppelganger of Luigi. He may not have ever carried his own game, but Waluigi is by now a familiar face to any gamer who has played any number of the Mario Kart, Mario Party or Mario Sport titles. His maniacal laugh and sure to be hilarious taunts are reason enough to give him a shot at the big leagues.
Zero
Fans absolutely flipped with the announcement that the blue bomber himself, Mega Man, would be appearing alongside video game icons like Mario and Sonic in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. If Mega Man can make the cut, why not his red, laser sword-wielding counterpart Zero? Zero made his debut in Mega Man X on the Super Nintendo, and since then has gone on to star in his own series of Mega Man titles. Not only would it be a blast to have Zero and Mega Man go at it in a battle royale, but seeing Zero cross blades with heroes like Link and Marth would be a fanboy dream come true.
Professor Layton
Like Phoenix Wright, Professor Layton has been a mainstay on Nintendo's DS consoles, with more than six games currently released and more sure to be on the way. The puzzle solving professor and his partner Luke Triton would make the perfect addition to the Smash Bros. roster. What would Layton's moveset be like? His games are basically point-and-click adventure titles with puzzle solving after all, but that's beside the point: if Nintendo can make Duck Hunt dog and the Villager from Animal Crossing work, there shouldn't be any problem creating attacks for always gentlemanly Layton.
Ridley
Of all the characters to not yet appear in Nintendo's all-star brawl, Ridley is by far one of the most requested. On paper the purple space dinosaur would seem to be perfectly at home on the roster. So far Samus (in armor and in the zero suit) is the only representative from the classic Nintendo franchise Metroid, and if another character were to be chosen from the series, Ridley would definitely be at the top of the list. He is the leader of the dreaded space pirates and the chief villain of the game series, appearing in most, though not all, Metroid games.
Even with the entire Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS rosters revealed, fans are still holding onto the hope that Ridley and other fighters may come to the game in the form of DLC. Only time will tell if those dreams come true, but if not there is always the next game.
