Lots of big video game announcements recently. Along with all that recent Pokemon news (highlighted by the Pokemon Snap sequel we’ve waited over two decades for), yesterday brought some cool gaming news.
First off, we had the announcement of the first new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character from the six-character “Fighter Pass 2.” It’s Min Min from Nintendo’s ARMs!
Some people were disappointed when Nintendo announced early that the first character of the new batch would be from ARMs, but personally, I think it’s overdue! Why wasn’t an ARMs character added into the game to begin with? It seems like an obvious way to promote ARMs, and it would bring something new to Super Smash Bros. It’s like how Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS decided not to make the Inklings a DLC character. It seems like adding characters from newer Nintendo IPs into Super Smash Bros. would be an easy way to help build prestige for them, so it’s weird how Nintendo is repeatedly late in pulling the trigger on them. And yet, they add new Fire Emblem characters before the game said character appears in has even been released. I don’t get it.
At the very least, I suppose some good came from the delay. Had they added an ARMs character from the get-go, they probably would have gone with Spring Man, since he’s – by default of being the most basic representation of the game’s concept – the de facto “main character” in most peoples’ eyes. But since he was made into an Assist Trophy, we ended up getting Min Min instead, and she’s a far more fun character.
Not only does Min Min look like a fun and unique addition to Super Smash Bros., and represents a game that really should have been represented when Ultimate launched, but also puts an end to the whole “Spirits deconfirm characters” nonsense the internet loved to spew out. Min Min, you see, was one of the countless “spirits” in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which basically means she was a power-up you could use in certain modes represented by a stock promotional image of the character.
For too long, people have been deadset on the idea that a character appearing as a spirit in Ultimate means they have no chance of being made into a playable character. Well, now that nonsense can stop. Now the possibilities for future characters are nearly limitless. There’s hope for Geno and Dixie Kong yet.
Another source of gaming news that broke yesterday was the official announcement and reveal trailer of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Although the game’s title and box art leaked a couple of days ahead of time, it’s cool to have the official announcement. And the trailer’s pretty cool (despite the questionable song choice). See?
The character redesigns naturally have some gamers complaining, but I don’t mind them for the most part (Dr. Cortex looks a little odd). But the game looks like a lot of fun. Also, I love how they’re making the game Crash Bandicoot 4, following up the 2017 remake compilation Crash Bandicoot: The N. Sane Trilogy. I appreciate that they’re ignoring everything from the series post-PSOne era.
Of course, the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy was created by Naughty Dog, back in the 90s, and I hold the unpopular opinion that the studio was at their best when they were making the series. The more “serious” the studio has become, the more they just feel like they’re giving themselves a pat on the back. Crash Bandicoot 4 is being developed by Toys 4 Bob, but it actually looks like a more worthwhile continuation to something Naughty Dog started than a certain other recently released Naughty Dog sequel made by Naughty Dog themselves…
Interestingly, Crash Bandicoot 4 is planned for release this year on October 2nd. So it looks like I’ll be getting at least one more PS4 game by the year’s end.
Yeah, this isn’t much of a post. Just some recent video game announcements I’m excited for. Been slow at updating this site lately, so, this is something I guess… More “real” content soon. Sorry.
Wizard Dojo 
I’ve compared Nintendo to A24 in the past, and they are inasmuch that they’ve been gigantic boons to their respective indie scenes, but otherwise I’d say the developer most like A24 is Naughty Dog. Like A24, I’ve always felt that Naughty Dog’s best ideas tend to come across as happy accidents whereas their purposeful attempts at challenging the status quo invariably results in their worst material. Because of this, I think both companies have a knack of producing capable artists, but not visionaries. When Lucas Pope left the company and made Papers, Please, my conclusion is that Naughty Dog was holding him back.
I haven’t played any of the Crash games, but I do feel compelled to try them out at some point because there is something to be said of an experience that sells itself purely on its gameplay. Plus, it’s nice to be able to experience a work of a team capable of staying out of the drama.
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the addition of Min-Min was ok, I’m personally indifferent to Arms, but I understand why they did it and fully respect the choice (unlike glorified self insert #3 from when FE became a hybrid with dating sims). I’m just glad all these months of mystery for who from Arms could be wasn’t for naught to just announce the most boring choice possible in Spring Man, who I believe would only generate a buzz from an AT being promoted to playable in the same game (and I’m guessing that still flies so far alongside DLC Mii costumes likely disconfirming). I do think that base game spirits are a-ok for upgrades after this reveal (if not something I expect will happen throughout this entire fighters pass), but those added as special events like Resident Evil? Ehhh I doubt they’d negotiate to get those characters featured for such events if they planned to add them playable down the line, it’d be a weird play from Nintendo’s end for sure.
I’m just ready to move on to fighter 7, who I can only hope is more on my line of interest than the last 2.
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