Test of Island Courage: Mike for SSB4!

[shinhed-echi]

Added 3 supporters.


Here's a crazy thought.
It's been on my mind for quite some time now, but I never bothered telling anyone about it.


Here's the thing, fellow supporter.
I have absolutely no idea how to make StarTropics more popular in NoJ's eyes, but we've got to start small.
If you guys are serious about wanting to support Mike and StarTropics as a series, then it's time we started spreading the word.


Like I said, let's start small.All I ask of you guys is that we start spreading StarTropics love.

CHAPTER 1: MUSIC.

We'll go around looking for famous youtube videogame music celebrities (Smooth Mc.Groove, Duane & Brando, 331Erock, etc)
And ask for anything StarTropics related on your mind. (Try to specify which theme you want, so that if you say StarTropics, it doesn't come across too vague)

I'd ask for either the overworld ST theme, or the dungeon cave theme. Both pretty popular as far as ST is concerned, so why not insist on Youtube talents to pull them off? This can only help increase the interest. But we have to make it sound like ST is a big deal since they only seem to play the REALLY popular stuff (for more viewers, of course).


I know this is out of the blue, but the BitF comic made me think that perhaps there IS hope for the series.


Well? Thoughts?

 

[Rubberfrog]

That's a pretty good idea. Youtube is a fantastic way to spread the word of Startropics. Heck, I would've never even heard of Startropics without Youtube, and now Zoda's Revenge is one of my favorite games ever. Music is a good way to start, but now I'm wondering where you'll go after that?

 

[Inawordyes]

So, what you're suggesting is that we band together to make StarTropics seem bigger than it is so that it can, in turn, actually, for realsies, become bigger than it is and possibly lead itself to more exposure and a possible revival/Virtual Console release, with representation in Smash at some point being optional, yet somehow mandatory?

It's devious. I like it!

EDIT: Oh, and as regards my name in the OP: Yes, I am a supporter.

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

So, what you're suggesting is that we band together to make StarTropics seem bigger than it is so that it can, in turn, actually, for realsies, become bigger than it is and possibly lead itself to more exposure and a possible revival/Virtual Console release, with representation in Smash at some point being optional, yet somehow mandatory?

It's devious. I like it!

EDIT: Oh, and as regards my name in the OP: Yes, I am a supporter.

So...
In a word, yes, you are a supporter.

 

[Inawordyes]

So...
In a word, yes, you are a supporter.

This guy gets it. At last, the true nature of my name has been revealed!

 

[AustarusIV]

I don't believe this has ever been posted before in this thread, has it? It's from Brawl in the Family.

 

[TempahRelapse]

When it comes to characters I want in super smash bros 4, I normally don't want them to be assist trophies, as that decreases the chances of them being dlc. But Mike Jones is my exception. Only because I think he needs a bit more exposure, before Sakurai considers him playable.

 

[Megadoomer]

Honestly, I'd just be happy if Mike Jones appeared at all - while I understand the reasoning behind it, I find it baffling that Star Tropics didn't even get a sticker in Brawl.

 

[smashkirby]

When it comes to characters I want in super smash bros 4, I normally don't want them to be assist trophies, as that decreases the chances of them being dlc. But Mike Jones is my exception. Only because I think he needs a bit more exposure, before Sakurai considers him playable.

I feel the same way about Panel de Pon's/Puzzle League's main protagonist, Lip. Also, I find it weird that no mention of Mike Jones has been made in Smash. Not even a freakin' StarTropics reference?!

 

[Marakatu]

Star Tropics was never released in Japan. As far as Sakurai is concerned, Star Tropics don exits.
(It makes me wonder how well it would sell if it was released on the Japanese eShop.)

 

[shinhed-echi]

I don't believe this has ever been posted before in this thread, has it? It's from Brawl in the Family.

Haha yeah, it's pretty funny. Exactly what I feel everyone thinks about StarTropics. And that makes me salty.
(Seriously, I think you only use the baseball bat in two levels. The bolas are far more recurring than the bat).
Great find, regardless!

When it comes to characters I want in super smash bros 4, I normally don't want them to be assist trophies, as that decreases the chances of them being dlc. But Mike Jones is my exception. Only because I think he needs a bit more exposure, before Sakurai considers him playable.

Heck, I'm wishing he gets in as a regular trophy at least. Not feeling too ambitious this time around. But yeah, anything helps. An AT would be incredible!

-
I suggested IGN to do a playthrough of StarTropics since they're playing like 160 best Nintendo games or something.
No surprise about ST still not popping up yet.

 

[Lilfut]

I think the first step to getting ST representation is probably a music track. I haven't played a lot of the game, but I enjoyed what I did of it and would love to see Mike in Smash.

 

[darkcat1]

I really really want to see Mike as DLC. I couldn't find this post so I did this in another thread:

People think Mike would be a Ness clone but to me this is not the case at all. Mike doesn't use PK moves and only has a generic psychic shock wave introduced in the second of his two games. In Startropics(the first game) he uses lots of items acquired in dungons plus his powered up whip-like yo-yos. I don't think I'll make a full moveset for him but I am going to talk about the options for one.

First and foremost Mike is a pitcher...meaning that he uses alot of throwing attacks and secondly his games were ment to be an update to the Zelda formula. Let's take a look at the items from his games in the context of things for a possible moveset:

Island Yo-yo/Morning Star/Super Nova - At first this seems abit like one of Ness' moves and maybe it starts out that way but the two upgrades(the Morning Star and the Super Nova) are more like chain whips and are Mike's primary weapons in the first game. In the game after they were acquired the set would upgrade or downgrade depending on damage like link's original sword that could shoot when he had full hearts. Evolving them into the modern era I'd probably just stick him with the Super Nova like Link now has the master sword.

Torches- like mario's fireball these emit flames but would probably be more like a pinwheel fireball when thrown(this is how I'd update them)

Bolas- in the game these are used abit like link's bow as generic projectiles in many places. They could be just the same but could be updated to slightly tie up and slow down the other players

Baseball Bat- Mike is not a good hitter like Ness. In Startropics he's alot like Casey at the bat doing a spin attack that usually misses

Wonder Horsehide- building on the pitcher theme we have the old bean ball! A short quick attack from this baseball weapon would probably daze you

Miracle Mirror- ever wanted to bounce back some of those pesky projectiles? Like link's mirror shield that's what this does...in a smash context Mike could pull this out of his pockets like Peach does with Toad...

Spiked Shoes- using these in Startropics has mike jumping about the screen and doing a kick attack. Would be useful in close quarters

Asterisk- two words: Ninja Stars. This can even split off in a couple of directions with a button press in the original game and might make a good high and low attack in SSB

Laser Gun/Super Laser- available in the last couple of Dungeons. Mike actually uses these to shoot. The plan old one shoots out a single beam while the super laser shoots out three(for a wide spread). Next to the Super Nova these are mike's best weapons...and abit more Star Fox than Earthbound!

Snowman Doll- this is the only one of mike's magic items I could see using as a weapon(lanterns that light up the dark and magic wands to see ghosts need not apply). It essentially freezes everything but Mike on the screen. In smash this could be made fairly short but allow you to get in a single cheap shot

Tink's axe/Cleopatra's Dagger/Leonardo's Katana- the replacements for the super nova. not as cool or even as powerful. These are throwing knives and not mele weapons but could be made into those for more close up attacks

Psychic Shockwave- used alot in Startropics 2. when fully powered up it goes the whole length of the screen as a projectile. Downgrades when you take damage to be less powerful and shorter range...probably leave this in unlike the Super Nova

Spike Ball/triple spike ball -there weren't as many weapons in Startropics 2. these are the only interesting ones as they spiral about the screen.

With abit of balancing you could so make a unique moveset out of this stuff...I'm sure

 

[NATGamer]

I'll gladly be a supporter! StarTropics is such a great, underrated and overlooked NES classic. Mike would be an awesome character in Smash. I'd really like to eventually see a 3rd entry in the series someday since it definitely deserves it.

 

[shinhed-echi]

Glad to see more supporters around. :D

Yeah, I definitely think his gimmick should be related to his health.
On one hand, the more balanced thing to do would be that on greater damage = greater attack power. And although I think Lucario covers that, Mike could take it to another level with the Shooting Star / Supernova giving him additional range and all.


On the other hand, it would be much more faithful to his character is greater damage = lower attack power. But that would put him in a similar position to P.T. with his Fatigue system.... So I always thought that if they went this way, the Supernova should pack a punch, and cover a long distance. And the yoyo would be a real fast attack with a shorter distance, not a good finisher, but definitely an awesome damage racker and combo tool. Shooting Star should be somewhere in between.

Also, if they gave him the Psychic Shockwave, it would also be health-dependant.

Other than this, Mike still has a plethora of non-health dependant tools to choose from.
And I'd definitely want to see Tink's Axe, Cleopatra's Dagger, and Leonardo's Katana (... wait...what?) as his smash attacks.

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

So it has begun again! Let's kick off the discussion my fellow Tropical Stars.

 

[Yomi's Biggest Fan]

Zoda's Revenge is a Wii Virtual Console reward this month thanks to Club Nintendo.

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

Gotta do this, this is awesome.

 

[4theRECORD]

While I personally have no knowledge of Star Tropics whatsoever(I'm Japanese, the game was never released here) but the idea of a rep from an old Western exclusive Nintendo game has definately caught my attention. Could you care to tell me what the original game was like? Is it that good of a game that its protanogist should be considered for Smash?

 

[Lilfut]

While I personally have no knowledge of Star Tropics whatsoever(I'm Japanese, the game was never released here) but the idea of a rep from an old Western exclusive Nintendo game has definately caught my attention. Could you care to tell me what the original game was like? Is it that good of a game that its protanogist should be considered for Smash?

From what I've played of it, it's a fairly unique top-down adventure game - sort of like the top-down sections in Blaster Master/Metafight, improved on and turned into a full game. Mike himself gets compared to the Mother protagonists a lot, despite the fact that all he really has in common with them is a bat and a yo-yo. He also uses some other weapons with the same sort of "American sporting goods" theme, as well as oddball alien technology. I'm not as huge of a fan of the series as a lot of people here, though - much like you, I'm mostly intrigued by the idea of a Western-exclusive character. If you're interested, you should check out StarTropics on an emulator!

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

While I personally have no knowledge of Star Tropics whatsoever(I'm Japanese, the game was never released here) but the idea of a rep from an old Western exclusive Nintendo game has definately caught my attention. Could you care to tell me what the original game was like? Is it that good of a game that its protanogist should be considered for Smash?

The best way I can explain it is to get you to imagine a Zelda 1/Zelda 2 hybrid. Top down action with RPG elements, but based in a modern day setting on an island.

 

[SuperSmashBattle]

Mike was always my favorite NES character I even bought Star Tropics on Wii virtual console to just remember the glory it is.
Also @ 4theRECORD its Zelda 1 dungeons, the map is like Zelda 2 (kind of) and The gameplay is Zelda 1 and 2 combined

 

[zack4812]

Mike Jones is currently the number 1 character I want for DLC or Smash 5.

 

[Kirbyfan391]

I support Mike Jones. Don't expect him in the game, but right now all I hope is that at least some ST music gets added in as DLC.

 

[CannonStreak]

So, Mike from Startropics, huh? If this is what we are aiming for, add me to the list!

 

[Roaring Salsa]

Add me as well to the support list. I even recall Reggie supporting him.

 

[Gallowglass]

I tried making him as a Mii. He was a sword wielder that threw shurikens. It wasn't a good representation.

 

[BluePikmin11]

Add me as well to the support list. I even recall Reggie supporting him.

I need a source on this just to make sure.

 

[shinhed-echi]

I tried making him as a Mii. He was a sword wielder that threw shurikens. It wasn't a good representation.

Although none of the Mii options make his Yoyo-fightsyle any justice, I think all 3 variations of Mii movesets could slightly represent him, one way or another.

BTW here are mine:

Wearing his Zoda's Revenge look (kinda).
Gave him a kick-centric moveset due to the cleats he uses in the first game. As well as the Shot Put because it's a round projectile, and he's an ace pitcher.
This is, btw, my favorite version of him so far.
---

Here, he's wearing his casual ST1 clothes.
I figured I wanted to keep him close to what he looks like in ST1 hecnce why I stuck with the normal sword intead of the Katana. That sword is so short, might as well be Cleopatra's dagger.
Anyway, I think this set up represents him moderately well, becase if you give him Light Shuriken, and Chakrams, that's TWO projectiles with different uses right there. Mike's supposed to be a projectile specialist, and this way, he can show it off.

--------------

Finally, I made him as a gunner, using yellow instead of his usual light blue, to represent that part in Chapter 7 of ST1 where he fights the jetpack jumpers using a blaster gun, and the anklet (hence the color). This is why I gave him the standard ST1 outfit.
As for his moveset, Laser Blaze to represent the gun, and Flame Pillar to represent the Torch you get in the first level.

-
Gotta say, although Brawler is my favorite setup for Mike, I'm starting to grow fond of Swordsman style as him.
Although I REALLY wish I could have given Swordman style that Zoda's Revenge (Biker) outfit, since it would fit so much better. :D

 

[Roaring Salsa]

I can't find the video of Reggie commenting about Mike but will update whenever I find it.

If I remember correctly he mentioned how he loved playing StarTropics and would love seeing Mike but found it difficult due to the games never appearing in Japan.

 

[shinhed-echi]

Well guys, it's time to see where your loyalties lie...

Just kidding.
Fellow Mike supporters, time to head to the Smash Bros Fighter Ballot to get our kid Mike into playable status.
I already cast my vote, obviously, hope we can make a noticeable sum so that StarTropics is at least recognized and aknowledged by Nintendo.

May the Southern Cross guide us to victory, and lots of bannana cream pie!

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

Well guys, it's time to see where your loyalties lie...

Just kidding.
Fellow Mike supporters, time to head to the Smash Bros Fighter Ballot to get our kid Mike into playable status.
I already cast my vote, obviously, hope we can make a noticeable sum so that StarTropics is at least recognized and aknowledged by Nintendo.

May the Southern Cross guide us to victory, and lots of bannana cream pie!

I through in a vote for Mikey as well.

 

[shinhed-echi]

I through in a vote for Mikey as well.

As well?
So... you can vote for more than one character? Because I could have sworn it said "please limit your vote for one per person" or something. :O

 

[NonSpecificGuy]

As well?
So... you can vote for more than one character? Because I could have sworn it said "please limit your vote for one per person" or something. :O

One per IP address.

 

[Quisciens]

YEAH!
For people saying Mike has no shot because of his absence in Japan...
If I understand correctly, Sakurai himself actually wanted Mike to be in Brawl, but, essentially, Nintendo of Japan replied "Who?"
If fans show support, there's probably a fair chance for Mike.
I bet the whole Fighter Ballot thing is an April Fools joke. I wonder how many people would be upset...?

 

[shinhed-echi]

YEAH!
For people saying Mike has no shot because of his absence in Japan...
If I understand correctly, Sakurai himself actually wanted Mike to be in Brawl, but, essentially, Nintendo of Japan replied "Who?"
If fans show support, there's probably a fair chance for Mike.
I bet the whole Fighter Ballot thing is an April Fools joke. I wonder how many people would be upset...?

You know what... Even though I indirectly caused that rumor to pop up... I'm going to let it unravel just so his popularity rises. :3 If his background is "He was supposed to be in Brawl", that could make his popularity rise a bit. (Heck, if it worked for Chorus Men when they were a rumor early in Smash 4 speculation, it can work for Mike, right?)

One per IP address.

You sneaky you....
*Loads Browsers for PS3, 2DS, and Android device*

 

[Megadoomer]

Does anyone know if either of the Star Tropics games got a Virtual Console release over in Japan? It might not be much, but at least it would mean that the games did make it to Japan if that was the case.

 

[Wolley2xjd]

Add me to the support list!

 

[Quisciens]

If this doesn't happen and we get Daisy, Snake or K. Rool, I'll scream and sledge-hammer my copy of Smash.
IN THAT ORDER.
but not really
Time to vote on every IP address I have.

 

[Gallowglass]

Although none of the Mii options make his Yoyo-fightsyle any justice, I think all 3 variations of Mii movesets could slightly represent him, one way or another.

BTW here are mine:

Wearing his Zoda's Revenge look (kinda).
Gave him a kick-centric moveset due to the cleats he uses in the first game. As well as the Shot Put because it's a round projectile, and he's an ace pitcher.
This is, btw, my favorite version of him so far.
---

Here, he's wearing his casual ST1 clothes.
I figured I wanted to keep him close to what he looks like in ST1 hecnce why I stuck with the normal sword intead of the Katana. That sword is so short, might as well be Cleopatra's dagger.
Anyway, I think this set up represents him moderately well, becase if you give him Light Shuriken, and Chakrams, that's TWO projectiles with different uses right there. Mike's supposed to be a projectile specialist, and this way, he can show it off.

--------------

Finally, I made him as a gunner, using yellow instead of his usual light blue, to represent that part in Chapter 7 of ST1 where he fights the jetpack jumpers using a blaster gun, and the anklet (hence the color). This is why I gave him the standard ST1 outfit.
As for his moveset, Laser Blaze to represent the gun, and Flame Pillar to represent the Torch you get in the first level.

-
Gotta say, although Brawler is my favorite setup for Mike, I'm starting to grow fond of Swordsman style as him.
Although I REALLY wish I could have given Swordman style that Zoda's Revenge (Biker) outfit, since it would fit so much better. :D

That's really awesome. I didn't even think about the biker outfit. I went with a swordsman because he does use swords in ST2 and it has projectiles like the chakram which and the shuriken.

In other news I did sent a ballot for Mike Jones. Now I know it says one per person but it seems I can put as many as I want in there.