The top five characters who should be in Super Smash Bros.: Brawl
September 10, 2007

By Lacy Adams
Crusader staff

Introduced in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, the series was originally sold on a simple idea: what would happen if all the stars of different video games came together and fought each other in a no holds barred royal rumble? Bring together Nintendo mainstays Mario, Link, Samus Aran, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox McCloud and Pikachu, the idea quickly caught on.

However, it wasn't until 2001, with the introduction of the GameCube, that the series really took off with SSB:Melee. More than doubling the character roster, with Zelda, Peach and Bowser leading the fray, the game became a cult hit, becoming the top selling video game for the GameCube.

During 2006 E3, the latest incarnation was revealed with SSB:Brawl for the Wii. Since that time, the roster has grown, but we won't know the full story until Dec. 3. Until then, we can only guess at who will make an appearance ...

5. Sonic

First appearance: "Sonic the Hedgehog," Sega Genesis, 1991
Why: Created by Sega in direct response to Nintendo's plumber mascot, Sonic has recently featured on its former rival's consoles, and some players of the series still think he's unlockable in Melee, thanks to an April Fools joke by gaming mag EGM.
Likelihood: Fair. The reveal of Snake, the first non-Nintendo character in the SSB series makes it more likely, plus there's and upcoming "Mario vs. Sonic" game.

4. King Dedede

First appearance: "Kirby's Dream Land," Game Boy, 1992
Why: Though he may sound like a Carlos Mencia joke, he's the villain of the Kirby series, and was actually designed by Masahiro Sakurai, the man behind Smash.
Likelihood: Decent. MetaKnight was revealed, showing Sakurai is now letting his own in.

3. Bowser Jr.

First appearance: "Super Mario Sunshine," GameCube, 2002
Why: First introduced as "Shadow Mario," Bowser Jr. began a long career of kidnapping Princess Peach, just like his father before him, with a few side games of soccer, tennis and kart racing.
Likelihood: Okay. Mario will be equipped with "Sunshine" items in Brawl. Maybe Jr.'s why.

2. Olimar

First appearance: "Pikmin," GameCube, 2001
Why: The protagonist of the Pikmin series, Olimar is an explorer from outer space who finds himself on a bizarre Earth like planet, with only an army of carrot people to help him.
Likelihood: Good. He's the protagonist of the only major Nintendo storyline since Smash's inception.

1. Krystal

First appearance:"Star Fox Adventures," GameCube, 2002
Why: Surving a retconning of her original game to make it fit in with the Star Fox series, Krystal has been denied status as a video game vixen, despite the fact that she won a Nintendo Power poll as "newest sweetheart" for her role in "Adventures" and that she is, in fact, a vixen.
Likelihood: Great. Sakurai introduced a poll throughout Japan to help decide the game's roster. Krystal became the most specifically asked for character.

Other characters worth mentioning:
Wolf O'Donnell (Star Fox series)
Ridley (Metroid series)
Muddy Mole (Molemania)
Midna (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)