Official Next Smash - Speculation & Discussion Thread

[PersonAngelo53]

I was really hoping that I watched the European version of the trailer, and the "4/2/2025" meant February 4th. Alas...

at least we'll get new information on Pokemon Legends Z-A on Pokemon day?

Yeah I thought the same. As for Pokémon I never been the biggest Pokemon fan, mostly been more into other JRPG’s. So the Pokémon stuff probably won’t do much for me but ohh well am glad for other people to enjoy it

 

[dream1ng]

Would be nice to see that same energy from Smash.

...I think all the Smash games have pretty distinct art styles. At least since Brawl.

There's also only so much you can do with a cast you need to make look somewhat cohesive and won't get full approval to give redesigns to.

 

[Louie G.]

...I think all the Smash games have pretty distinct art styles. At least since Brawl.

There's also only so much you can do with a cast you need to make look somewhat cohesive and won't get full approval to give redesigns to.

I meant giving it more of a pop of color, letting the Mario cast be even more cartoony and expressive etc.

 

[dream1ng]

I meant giving it more of a pop of color, letting the Mario cast be even more cartoony and expressive etc.

I mean, they're getting there. Gradually.

Being kinda hypersaturated was Smash 4's thing... I wonder what the next art direction will look like. Typically they mirror Zelda games, whether dark and detailed like TP/Brawl, colorful like SS/4, or pastel like BotW/Ultimate. But since we got TotK, maybe Smash will instead opt for something less expected.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Smash does tend to go for a more washed out look. Melee, Brawl, and Ultimate have a fairly muted pallet. SSB4's colors are bright, but kinda...I'm not sure what the word I'm looking for is. The shadows on each character are really soft so there's not a whole lot of contrast going on. This is how the first game is too, but there's only so much you can do on the N64.

 

[BritishGuy54]

Is there a chance we get say, a Nintendo Direct Mini for February?

 

[Swamp Sensei]

Is there a chance we get say, a Nintendo Direct Mini for February?

Maybe but what would they show?

XCXDE and MP4 and... What else?

 

[BuckleyTim]

We'll at least get a trickle of third parties mentioning that a switch 2 version of their games will exist at some point.

 

[Scrimblo Bimblo]

Ah, yes, Mario's fresh and different redesign:

 

[dream1ng]

Is there a chance we get say, a Nintendo Direct Mini for February?

Sure there's a chance but it'll probably just be the Pokemon Presents. But at least that's something.

 

[SneakyLink]

We'll at least get a trickle of third parties mentioning that a switch 2 version of their games will exist at some point.

I’m guessing Playtonic will be one of the first, since the announcement for the Yooka Laylee Remake said “releasing on Nintendo” without specifying a system.

 

[AreJay25]

Seeing a lot of people excited about 24 racers in Mario Kart.

Fools. What they don't realize is that now they're TWICE as likely to get Mario Karted. The salt will flow like we've never experienced before. Be warned.

 

[fogbadge]

I think there’s a frame where if you squint you can see a Goomba in a Kart next to Toadette in the back of a shot.

ooh you got the pic? mostly cause I haven't spotted toadette myself

 

[Ivander]

Is there a chance we get say, a Nintendo Direct Mini for February?

Possible, though curious on what they would show besides Xenoblade X, Metroid Prime 4 and any remaining 3rd party titles.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Seeing a lot of people excited about 24 racers in Mario Kart.

Fools. What they don't realize is that now they're TWICE as likely to get Mario Karted. The salt will flow like we've never experienced before. Be warned.

Fool! Now I'm excited to see a new clip of Daisy getting slammed by 23 other racer's items!

 

[Shinuto]

Ah, yes, Mario's fresh and different redesign:
View attachment 397804

Good God Mario you got a fat nose!

 

[Gengar84]

I know everyone has their own preferences, but I think Smash could look awesome with a stylized cel shaded look. The examples I tend to think of are ArcSystem Woks’ games like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ but they require hand drawn animation frames. Something simpler that still looks awesome is 2XKO’s approach. I’d love to see Smash in a style like this:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

I know everyone has their own preferences, but I think Smash could look awesome with a stylized cel shaded look. The examples I tend to think of are ArcSystem Woks’ games like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ but they require hand drawn animation frames. Something simpler that still looks awesome is 2XKO’s approach. I’d love to see Smash in a style like this:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Yasuo shouting "Break the wind!" never fails to get me to snicker.

 

[Slime Scholar]

Why is DK the only character who can't just keep using his iconic 30 years old design?
It's just weird. It's like they have a bone to pick with him.

Look at how stubby everybody is, including Bowser. DK's redesign is more obvious, for sure, but the more I pore over the footage, the more clear it becomes that they're going for a distinct look here.

I'm not sure what you mean about them having a bone to pick with DK.

Seeing a lot of people excited about 24 racers in Mario Kart.

Fools. What they don't realize is that now they're TWICE as likely to get Mario Karted. The salt will flow like we've never experienced before. Be warned.

I can't wait to see what's possible with 24 people.

 

[SMAASH! Puppy]

Look at how stubby everybody is, including Bowser. DK's redesign is more obvious, for sure, but the more I pore over the footage, the more clear it becomes that they're going for a distinct look here.

Oh jeez. Mario's torso is like, 2 cm.

 

[dream1ng]

Something simpler that still looks awesome is 2XKO’s approach. I’d love to see Smash in a style like this:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

I imagine that game will probably come to Switch 2, it's coming to everything else. Finally putting a number of notable LoL characters on a Nintendo platform (skins aside). With that and MCC seemingly coming, it's basically just Sony and Valve characters left (with a few exceptions).

Not that I'm saying it's definitively a necessity for Smash eligibility, just that... we'll be able to do away with those arguments for those characters.

 

[Opossum]

Mario Wiki is claiming that Shy Guy, Lakitu, and Baby Rosalina are in but I'm awaiting screenshot proof. Will update the list upon confirmation.

 

[Godzillathewonderdog]

If I counted everyone correctly, the current confirmed roster for Mario Kart 9 is this:

Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Pauline, Yoshi, Birdo, Toad, Toadette, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa, King Boo, Bowser, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy

That's twenty characters. We know there will be at least 24 due to the new race size.

I tallied up all of the Mario Kart characters who aren't confirmed by the amount of times they've been playable to help see who the biggest omissions are at the moment. I only included Tour in the tally if the character is exclusive to Tour, and left out the Bandai-Namco arcade games and Home Circuit for simplicity.

Three Games: Miis, Diddy Kong, Shy Guy (counting DS download play), Dry Bones

Two Games: Bowser Jr., Funky Kong, Wiggler, Lakitu, Metal Mario, Dry Bowser, Petey Piranha

One Game: DK Jr., Paratroopa, R.O.B., Honey Queen, Baby Rosalina, Pink Gold Peach, Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Kamek, Larry, Iggy, Lemmy, Wendy, Morton, Roy, Ludwig, Peachette, Link, Villager, Isabelle, Inkling

Tour Exclusive: Hammer Bro, Fire Bro, Ice Bro, Boomerang Bro, Dixie Kong, Monty Mole, King Bob-Omb, Chargin' Chuck, Poochy, Captain Toad, Nabbit


Edit: Updated to include King Boo and Birdo being confirmed.

Shy Guy is there next to King Boo.

Also worth noting that the DK redesign isn't brand new. It was first seen on this calendar they put out recently.
View attachment 397800

The main difference in Mario Kart is that his eyes are smaller and aren’t separated, which is the main problem I have with the design.

 

[Opossum]

Shy Guy is there next to King Boo.View attachment 397805



The main difference in Mario Kart is that his eyes are smaller and aren’t separated, which is the main problem I have with the design.View attachment 397806

Updating the list with Shy Guy. Thanks!

 

[Gengar84]

I imagine that game will probably come to Switch 2, it's coming to everything else. Finally putting a number of notable LoL characters on a Nintendo platform (skins aside). With that and MCC seemingly coming, it's basically just Sony and Valve characters left (with a few exceptions).

Not that I'm saying it's definitively a necessity for Smash eligibility, just that... we'll be able to do away with those arguments for those characters.

Plus, Switch already has the smaller games by Riot Forge like Ruined King. That was actually a surprisingly great game. You could tell it was made on a budget but the combat system and art style was really good. The combat kind of reminded me a bit of Legends Arceus where you can choose between normal, power, and speed lanes for your attacks, kind of like the different styles in Legends Arceus.

 

[dream1ng]

Mario Wiki is claiming that Shy Guy, Lakitu, and Baby Rosalina are in but I'm awaiting screenshot proof. Will update the list upon confirmation.

Baby Rosalina and (seemingly) Lakitu

 

[NotGenerico]

Nintendo announces Switch 2 public hands-on tour

Nintendo's just-announced Switch 2 will be available to play in London on April 11th to 13th.

www.eurogamer.net

The last announced date for the Switch 2 hands-on tour is at Seoul on June 1. I'm speculating here, but I think this means that it's very likely that the Switch 2 releases on June.

 

[Godzillathewonderdog]

Baby Rosalina and (seemingly) Lakitu
View attachment 397809

Could be a Koopaling, it’s hard to tell.

 

[Opossum]

Baby Rosalina and (seemingly) Lakitu
View attachment 397809

Thanks! Updating the list once more.

 

[Laniv]

If Mario Kart... 9? 10? ends up doing its own EiH I'm gonna laugh so hard

 

[BritishGuy54]

Mario Kart fans when they realise Baby Rosalina has returned.

 

[PeridotGX]

Ah, yes, Mario's fresh and different redesign:
View attachment 397804

The redesign is extremely visible in this image. Mario's face is wider. It's not as blatant as Bowser and Donkey Kong, but everyone seems to be getting an overhaul (for the worse)

now i understand how the sonic fans feel when they make his quills .1, mm shorter lol

 

[dream1ng]

Could be a Koopaling, it’s hard to tell.

I think the Koopalings all have more hair than that. Or a bow. Or would be easier to tell are Roy or Morton.

But yeah, it's not 100%.

View attachment 397810
Mario Kart fans when they realise Baby Rosalina has returned.

Don't worry, they'll add someone even dumber this time.

 

[BuckleyTim]

Don't worry, they'll add someone even dumber this time.

If that one character we can't make out is indeed a goomba then I'm tempted to say we're coming close to her in terms of "I can't possibly care about this".

 

[Kirbeh]

Don't worry, they'll add someone even dumber this time.

Larval Honey Queen lets gooooo!

 

[Opossum]

I think the Koopalings all have more hair than that. Or a bow. Or would be easier to tell are Roy or Morton.

But yeah, it's not 100%.


Don't worry, they'll add someone even dumber this time.

Once I realized I was looking at a pair of goggles I realized it was 100% Lakitu.

 

[dream1ng]

If they are making the Mario cast more generally squat it could be for the sake of parity if they want to include additional crossover characters ala Link, Samus, Captain Falcon, etc. who would also get reproportioned to "fit the style" - but really so as to make it a bit easier to put typically normal humanoid bodies in karts made for cartoon characters.

 

[Noipoi]

I actually don’t mind the DK redesign

 

[GoldenYuiitusin]

Don't worry, they'll add someone even dumber this time.

Red Geno.

 

[PeridotGX]

If Mario Kart... 9? 10? ends up doing its own EiH I'm gonna laugh so hard

TBF doing an "everyone is here" for Mario Kart would be piss easy. Most characters can be ported from 8 Deluxe and/or Tour, the only ones that would need to be remade are Paratroopa (who is literally just a koopa with wings), R.O.B (who has deliberately stiff animations), and Honey Queen (the only character who would take the normal amount of work). Bringing in the arcade characters would make it a little harder, but still very reasonable.