Nintendo has often (quite rightly so, I might add) been criticised for not pushing new IP and dusting off old characters. It's hard to argue against the games themselves when the Wii's limited hardware cranks out the likes of Super Mario Galaxy 2, but how many Wii U games have been announced that don't feature a Nintendo fan-favourite? They've even taken games mid-production and inserted their characters with varying success, from the infuriating Starfox Adventures to the 'oh my god it's so adorable I just want to die' Kirby's Epic Yarn. Regardless of your stance on Nintendo, almost all of us can agree that the best thing to come out of its tendency to reuse the same characters is the Super Smash Bros. series. The concept is simple, get all those classic Nintendo cast members, put them in one game and let you play fantasy deathmatch to your heart's content. Sick of Pokémon? Then punch Pikachu in the face. Hate Falco's snide remarks? Blast him off the stage. Even third party characters get into the mix with Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii letting you give Sonic everything he deserves for not being in a good game since the Dreamcast. With the latest incarnation in the hit series taking shape, every Nintendo fanboy is compiling his list of dream additions to the game's roster. E3 brought the announcements of the iconic Mega Man and the unusual Wii Fit Trainer, but who else should be in the game? Because let's face it, when you consider Ness has been in it from the start and we only got to play Earthbound for the first time last month, all bets are off. Let's start with an honourable mention...
Honourable Mention: Reggie Fils-Aime
In my research for this article I came across a petition, which you can sign here to persuade Masahiro Sakurai to place none other the President of Nintendo of America himself, Reggie Fil-Aime, into the next Smash Bros. game. This idea is given an honourable mention as I don't believe it'll happen, or that anyone involved in the development of Smash Bros. would even consider it. But I have considered it and I don't think there's a better bonus character to unlock. Even if you don't have him as a selectable character from the main menu, just a bonus level or unlockable mode will do. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing Reggie beat up the very characters he promotes? His body is ready, after all.