Super Smash Bros is the most famous fighting game franchise in video game history, starting in the Nintendo 64 and it's latest installment being on Nintendo Switch.

No matter which gaming generation you run into, you'll always find someone who either started with Melee or Brawl, or they're newcomers through Wii U/3DS or Ultimate.

If you want to cement your character as part of gaming legend for years and years, even getting put in as a Mii costume is an achievement.

Though the biggest achievement is obviously getting your game character to be a fighter in Smash Bros, which many people constantly try to prove their case for why certain characters should get in.

Ever since Brawl introduced Sonic and Solid Snake, Smash Bros has been inviting 3rd party characters left and right, and the demand for more is still going.

Though not all requests are going to be answered, given Nintendo can't just get anything into the games with the snap of their fingers.

You really think Nintendo can just put Shrek and Goku into the game like that, even though they would have to pay tons of money for the rights and it wouldn't make sense in the slightest?

I what you're thinking....

"Then how can you get into Smash Bros if popular characters can't get in?"

Well I've been paying attention to the characters added to the roaster and have come up with a list of requirements to give your character even a small loophole to get in.

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Super Smash Bros Qualifications

1) Must be a popular GAME character

The "game" part is critical since Smash Bros is made by Nintendo, a company that has it's own gaming franchises since they started in the market.

It isn't like Activision where they get the rights to characters from an animation studio to make a kart racing game.

I'm talking Mario, Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, game series that people grew up with as kids and have plenty of nostalgia when holding a handheld or controller.

If you drop an anime or movie character in the roaster, a lot of gamers are going to be ticked off that they got in but not a popular game character, and we don't want World War Meme to start that way.

The character that gets in must be born from a game, even if it's simple like Pac-Man and Game & Watch or a complex plot like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.

2) Your franchise must at some point have been on a Nintendo product.

I noticed this about every character that they all have in common: Their franchise appeared on Nintendo consoles and handhelds at some point in their careers.

I know people will point out Snake, Cloud, Sephiroth, Terry and Sora never appeared in past Nintendo consoles, but I have an explanation for how.

Solid Snake actually did debut on the NES in 1987-1988 in the first Metal Gear game, though Metal Gear Solid series didn't come out until the late 90's.

The Snake we see in the first game and the Solid series are technically the same guy, just designed differently in graphics.

Final Fantasy 7 finally got to appear on the Nintendo Switch after being denied appearances on Nintendo products for years, meaning Cloud and Sephiroth are technically still allowed through this rule.

Final Fantasy games prior to 7 have appeared on the Gameboy for a long time, so they have a long history with Nintendo even before Cloud and Sephiroth.

Cloud and Sephiroth might not appear in future games since Sony (PlayStation owner) are usually pretty strict with their property rights, and Final Fantasy 7 is one of the things that gives them the big bucks, but at least it was good while it lasted.

Kingdom Hearts got to also put their main games on the Nintendo Switch, despite the fact Disney and Square Enix would've been in the way, so Sora is right where he needed to be.

Though like with Cloud and Sephiroth, Sora may only appear in Ultimate since Kingdom Hearts isn't that easy to keep on a Nintendo console.

Fatal Fury may have been on one 3rd party console only, but Nintendo managed to get that game as part of the Switch's game library, which leaves a loophole to get Terry at least on Ultimate.

There's a lot of game characters people asked for that may be 3rd party, but have been on Nintendo consoles and handhelds since they were born, which means you could have lots of ideas.

You just have to look at how likely Nintendo could fit them in on the roaster or if they can at least get a Mii costume.

3) Have enough lore or world building to make lots of content.

In order for the franchise to get in, it makes sense to bring more than just your fighter if you want a spot in.

You'll have to bring enough content to make...

-the fighter

-movesets (including a Final Smash)

-taunts and victory screens

-a stage and multiple soundtracks

-various skins of fighter to choose (most referencing other characters)

-collectables (like trophies or spirits)

If you only got your fighter to present, then you don't really have a reason to get in Smash Bros.

4) Be playable for young kids

People of many ages play Smash Bros, which is why the series is still a success.

While I mostly know teenagers and young adults play it professionally, Nintendo does still make majority of their content for kids, which means they have to be careful with what's in the game.

Characters like Bayonetta and Zero Suit Samus walk the tightrope a lot given their questionable outfits.

Doomguy/Doomslayer probably didn't get to be a fighter because parents probably don't want their kids introduced to death metal music, which is what 100% of his soundtrack is.

(Sorry Doom x Isabelle memes, but all you can do is dream.)

If parents can't tolerate it, then it won't sell because kids are easily impressionable.

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Now I know this entire book is about Sonic material that Sega should put out there to make the brand better, so I'm going to give my thoughts on what to do.

Most people usually point to these characters as candidates to get in.

-Tails

-Knuckles

-Dr Eggman

-Shadow

These guys are always the first ideas that pop up when you ask someone who Sega's second representative should be.

Though it can't be that easy to put them in and just make them an Echo fighter of Sonic.

In my opinion, Nintendo would probably want to pick a character that can be half Echo and still have their own moves too, so just slapping spin dashes and homing attack on them. (Think Isabelle and Villager as an example.)

Tails probably could have a chance of being the other guy, but if you're limited on using flight, spin dash and choosing whatever gadget from the games you could use, there's not a lot of appeal in using him.

Knuckles was recently put as an assist trophy, but I'm not sure if Nintendo would want to part with him or not from the selection of assistance.

Plus there's already a lot of characters with punches similar to Knuckles', so it wouldn't be enough to gain people's attention.

Eggman would depend on what Nintendo feels like making his vehicle to ride in since everyone pictures him going around in a mech-like robot, and there's also the Egg Mobile to consider too.

People thought for a while when Sephiroth came out that Eggman would be the next fighter, based on the dumb assumption that Nintendo was trying to add more villains in it.

Just because Ridley and Sephiroth got in doesn't mean EVERY villain should get in.

Shadow is the most requested out of all the characters, and I can see the reasoning of wanting to make him an Echo of Sonic since that's what he basically almost was in his debut in Adventure 2.

The Ultimate Lifeform has been in the assist trophy list since Brawl and it hasn't been changed since.

I think that may be the flaw: Shadow is too good of a time slowing trophy to let go of.

Can you really picture anyone else slowing down time other than Shadow's Chaos Control?

You could argue Infinite could fill in for Shadow since the Phantom Ruby warps reality and makes illusions, which is a lot you could do with that, but Forces didn't do well compared to other games in the franchise.

Anything is possible, but every decision made is being agreed between both Nintendo and Sega, so they would have to come to an agreement on something.

If you wanted me to put a top 5, then here's what I think is the most likely if we're talking about the mainstream Sonic characters.

5) Knuckles

4) Amy Rose

3) Eggman

2) Shadow

1) Tails

But do I see another Sonic character getting in anyways?

No.

Sega seems content to just stick with Sonic, and I doubt Nintendo would ask them for characters to fill in for the 3rd party characters leaving the roaster in the future Smash Bros games.

Then again, Sakurai is the guy who suggested a Piranha Plant be a fighter, so maybe he might look at the characters and decide who he feels would be fun to use.

Kazuya got in because Sakurai was friends with one of guys who make Tekken games, so I'm pretty sure him and Miyamoto could pick who's in their favorites.

Sakurai was asked if he would make another Smash Bros, and he answered that he might if there's interest in continuing it, so the next game is a coin toss for whoever gets on board next.

For now, we wait to see what the next generation console will bring.

But if you want to know my personal favorite idea for Smash fighters from Sonic are, I'm going to do two more parts for this.

Part 2) Who I think Nintendo should pick

Part 3) Who I think Sega should prop up as a candidate

If you want to, you could request me to talk about movesets and stuff for other Sonic characters, and I'll make more parts for this in return.

I'll see you guys later. Bye!