Smash Ultimate almost had additional Pokemon and Zelda fighters

Unseen Smash Ultimate fighters: The scrapped Zelda and Pokemon characters that almost made the roster

Introduction

While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate boasts gaming’s most impressive crossover roster, many fascinating characters narrowly missed inclusion during development. Behind the celebrated “Everyone is Here” tagline lies a trove of intriguing what-ifs, particularly from Nintendo’s flagship Zelda and Pokemon franchises.

Game files and developer insights reveal several nearly-completed fighters that could have expanded Ultimate’s roster even further, offering tantalizing glimpses into alternate Smash histories.

The Forbidden Seven: Brawl’s Cut Characters

Pokemon Replacements

Data miners discovered that Plusle and Minun were slated to replace Pichu in Brawl, evidenced by the codename “Pra Mai” matching their Japanese names (Prasle and Mainum). This electric duo would have functioned similarly to Ice Climbers, with synchronized attacks that could have created unique competitive dynamics.

The Pokemon Company

Plusle and Minun’s potential mechanics could have revolutionized duo fighters.

Dixie Kong’s Missed Opportunity

Originally conceived as part of Diddy Kong’s moveset, Dixie Kong’s development files reveal ambitious tag-team mechanics that predated Pyra/Mythra’s implementation by over a decade. Technical limitations with the Wii hardware prevented the smooth character switching the team envisioned.

Nintendo

Dixie’s hair-based attacks could have added unique aerial gameplay.

Toon Zelda and Sheik

The planned Toon Zelda would have introduced Wind Waker’s art style to the Zelda roster, complete with a transformation mechanic into Toon Sheik – a character that never existed in the original games. This creative liberty could have set precedent for more experimental fighter designs.

Nintendo

Toon Sheik’s hypothetical design remains one of Smash’s great mysteries.

What These Cuts Reveal About Smash Development

Character Selection Process

These cuts demonstrate Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with unconventional fighter concepts, often prioritizing gameplay innovation over strict franchise representation. The common thread among these scrapped fighters is their potential to introduce new gameplay mechanics rather than simply expand representation.

Technical Challenges

Many cuts resulted from hardware limitations of their respective eras. The Wii’s technical constraints hampered Dixie Kong’s tag-team mechanics, while 3DS hardware limitations during Smash 4’s development may have influenced later roster decisions. Modern hardware could make these concepts feasible in future installments.

Future Possibilities

With Nintendo’s next console generation approaching, previously scrapped concepts like Toon Zelda or duo fighters could be revisited. The success of similar mechanics in Ultimate (like Pyra/Mythra) suggests these ideas may have simply been ahead of their time.

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