Update: Nintendo has clarified that Chrom will not be a playable character in the game.
Nintendo has just revealed three new characters joining the cast of Smash Brothers. Captain Falcon from F-Zero, as well as Lucina, Chrom, and Robin from Fire Emblem: Awakening have been confirmed for Super Smash Brothers 4 for Wii U and 3DS.
Captain Falcon, of course, is the mascot and protagonist of the F-Zero series, which has not seen a new game release in a decade. This is a shame, as the original game's frenetic pace and revolutionary use of Mode 7 influenced a spawn of other classic racers, including WipeOut and Daytona. Captain Falcon himself is a bounty hunter / racer, possibly made more famous for his appearances in Smash than in his own franchise. Still, it's good to be the Captain, as his Falcon punch meme has made him more famous than any of the games could have made him.
As for the new characters from Fire Emblem: Awakening, there is no doubt that getting three characters from the one game all at once is a genuine shock, and great news for fans. We'll go through each character in brief below.
Chrom is the protagonist of the game. He is a direct descendant of Marth, and starts the game as the prince, and eventually Exalt, of Ylisse. Whatever form your character (the Avatar) takes, he will be your constant companion. He is one of the most powerful characters in Awakening, and is no doubt a formidable character in Smash as well.
Lucina is Chrom’s future daughter, from either Sully, Sumia, Maribelle, Olivia, or the Avatar herself. She proves herself a worthy swordswoman, and as players know, spends part of the game ‘pretending’ to be the Hero-King Marth himself.
As for Robin? Well, that is the default name of the Avatar himself / herself. I won’t reveal story elements from Awakening here, but suffice it to say Sakurai went above and beyond what fans expected bringing him / her in. As you may have already surmised, Sakurai has given you the option to play either as the male or female Robin.
The trailer seems to indicate that Robin, Lucina, and Captain Falcon are all playable characters for sure, but Chrom’s role is not as clear. He could be an assist, or a skin for another character, or a fully playable character on his own. We’re sure to learn from Sakurai all the details in the coming days.
Super Smash Bros. 4 is coming to the 3DS October 7 and to the Wii U this holiday season. Check out the trailer below.
