One of the most requested fighters for the Super Smash Bros. series. is coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch.
At the end of the Nintendo Direct presentation, game director and designer Masahiro Sakurai revealed the Metroid villain as a playable character. This is the second Metroid character to join the Super Smash Bros. roster, with Samus Aran and Zero Suit Samus, her alternate form, taking two slots.
The animation trailer shows Samus alongside Mario and Mega Man. Her friends are quickly pierced by his tail before the menacing, purple dragon bursts from the shadows. You can check out the exciting reveal trailer below.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Metroid series, Ridley is a high-ranking space pirate and the archenemy of Samus. Referred to as the Cunning God of Death in Metroid: Zero Mission, he is a ruthless, bloodthirsty monster that Samus is forced to fight multiple times throughout the series.
For over a decade, Super Smash Bros. fans have requested the iconic villain as a playable character, but his presence in the series was highly debated. With Samus being the only Metroid character available (aside from her separate form, Zero Suit Samus), Ridley would give the Metroid series more exposure. But due to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. backgrounds, cutscenes, and presence as a campaign-mode boss, as well as the debate over his size, it seemed unlikely that the menacing monster would come to the Super Smash Bros. series. Sakurai’s response in the May 2008 issue of Nintendo Power magazine nearly shut down the idea.
Nintendo Power: “There was a rumor at one point about Ridley being playable. Was that ever a consideration?”
Sakurai: “I think that would probably be impossible. If we had put our best efforts into it, we may have been able to do it. But he might have been a little slow. Would that have been all right?”
Thankfully, Sakurai was careful with his words, and fans that saw hopes in his “probably” can look forward to Ridley’s presence in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which releases December 7th, 2018. Ridley will also be receiving his own amiibo figure which, like other amiibo figurines, will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch console.
The Inkling Girl and Ridley’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo figurines.
What are your thoughts on Ridley finally joining the Super Smash Bros. roster? Let us know in the comment section below!
