Wow. I actually would have preferred Shovel Knight to this. I never would have thought that I would have this preference over an actual character that got in.

So that means SE is going all in with Nintendo, right? That FF7 remake has got to be coming to NX.

That's incredibly stupid. Unless it means FF VII will finally come to a Nintendo system, then it's less so.

This is extremely neat, but also very odd. I'm glad however.

Holy shit, I just realised that means a Cloud amiibo will be made...

Final Fantasy VII is basically the personification of Nintendo's fall from grace.  They stuck with cartridges on the N64, lost this huge killer app to the PlayStation, and pretty much every third party followed Square's lead which handed the market to Sony on a silver platter.  It is very odd that Nintendo would want to put a character from this game, which has NEVER been available on any Nintendo platform ever, in SSB.  I suppose it is historically significant for Nintendo in a "look at how stupid decisions by this company have bit them in the ass" kind of way.

And presumably we're supposed to be excited about Cloud's inclusion.  But why would a Nintendo fan be excited about a character from a prominent exclusive on a competitor's platform?  Yes, we don't all live under a rock and have some familiarity with FFVII so this is actually quite cool but it's essentially Nintendo admitting that their competition has good games and that third party releases matter - which is completely contrary to what Nintendo actually does.  You figure for the purposes of training their fanbase that Nintendo would like to carry on the illusion that non-Nintendo games are not worth one's time, particularly if they're not on a Nintendo system.  The fact that this character even matters is a failure on Nintendo's part.  Back in 1997 they sure hoped and prayed that he wouldn't.

I wonder in a way if this is Sakurai sticking it to his superiors and they're too clueless to pick up on why they should be offended.  Or Nintendo is now suddenly very savvy and is fully aware of how letting Final Fantasy VII go is their most notable screw-up and this is their way of showing that things are going to change.  Like a game like Final Fantasy VII is not going to skip Nintendo consoles in the future.

Really dude? Really? Even with all that babble there is no way you're raining on this parade. The internet mob lost its mind when this was announced.

This will be just like when we got Snake in Brawl! I can't wait to see what Square/FF games come to the Wii U.


...I would have rather gotten Snake back in Smash. He was one of my sub-mains.

Cloud!? Wow!
Was he the ballot character?
Only got to watch half of the direct.

Hey guys, we all remember the Wii versions of Metal Gear Solids 3 & 4 that released after Snake was added to Brawl, the Wii U version of Street Fighter 4 that released after Ryu was added to Smash U, and the Wii U Mega Man game released after Smash U. The FF7 remake coming to the Wii U is definitely going to happen.

As for the character himself, cool addition but anything that makes the obnoxious FF7 fanboys happy makes gaming as a whole worse so I wish we had gotten a Square character that's actually been associated with Nintendo.

No, there was nothing mentioning him as the Smash Ballot pick. The Direct ended with an announcement saying there would be another Smash-specific direct in December, though, so that would be the likeliest place to announce the ballot choices.

Sometimes when I feel like I'm being to cynical and assinine I come here to read what Ian Sane is posting and feel better about myself.


It's a much-loved character from a much-loved series showing up in a cross-over fighting game. Don't read so much into it. Either download and enjoy or go play something you like more.

Didn't see this coming, trust Sakurai to betray our expectations over and over and over. FF 7 still marks an important part in Nintendo's history despite not appearing on a Nintendo console, and what is Smash other than one giant Nintendo museum?

I'm freaking out about this, guys. Really freaking out. Having never really got into FF7 as much as most people did back in the day, I'm not freaking out about this because Cloud is going to be a playable character in Smash. I'm freaking out about this because all of the bad history between Nintendo and Square (Enix) regarding that game, about that character — history which completely altered the trajectory of the entire industry — is suddenly a part of the compendium of Nintendo history which we know as Super Smash Bros.


I can't even. I can't even even. I just…can't.



In this context, Sonic being in Brawl was a mind-blower for me. Cloud being in Smash 4 is a world-ender.

End of the World, Exhibit A.

FF7 on Wii U and a lesser (Original maybe?) on the 3DS?

I'm merely making an observation of how odd it is.  This is the oddest SSB guest character by far.  It must be the only character to make their Nintendo system debut in an SSB game!  Even Sonic had appeared on Nintendo consoles years before Brawl came out.

Should have given us Geno or a Chrono Trigger character.


In terms of every fanboy's roster wishlist this really blows the lid wide open on possibilities. I wouldn't be surprised if Goku makes an appearance at some point.

I was actually looking for to Isaac from Golden sun!

This was more out of left field than even Ryu.  I never ever ever would have expected this…


All bets are off, folks.  Master Chief for smash confirmed.

Master Chief for Smash hell yes!
I would pay a $100 bucks for that!

Not terribly surprised. Still, it's nice to see a new character.

I think Cloud's first Nintendo appearance was that Kingdom Hearts quasi-CCG brawler hybrid game on the GBA, though I can't think of any others where he even makes so much as a cameo.

Minds were blown tonight. Happy to see this addition but it certainly makes met think that the NX is very likely getting if not at least the Final Fantasy 7 Remake after it comes out on the PS4 (they're getting it first I believe) but also Final Fantasy 15 as well.


I say at least 7 because Cloud shines a massive spotlight on that game and helps nurture a interest in that game's lead character. Cloud outside of appearing as a npc in a few other games has never stared in any game on a Nintendo system since the N64 version of Final Fantasy 7 was canceled and moved to the PlayStation 1. There is no other real prerequisite for the character's appearance on Nintendo hardware which all other 3rd party characters have had. Maybe Cloud can be seen as the mascot for Final Fantasy in general but they specified Final Fantasy 7 itself. Even then as a Mascot on Nintendo systems someone from FF4 or FF6 would make more sense then Cloud. So that Remake has to becoming. We know Square Enix already let the cat out of the bag in regard to Dragon Quest 11. If that's coming to the NX then 7 Remake and just maybe 15 wouldn't be that crazy.

Cloud Amiibo resurrects Aerith

Epic soplier

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5YsTiwYi--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/1516397220030091298.gif

Well, that's it.


Now we can no longer make fun of or discount any Smash Bros. rumour or personal Smash Bros character request as being too improbable or ludicrous to happen. Anything is now possible.


Iwata for Smash and a line of his own Amiibo. Iwata's back! In Amiibo form.

The Bunny from Nintendo Badge Store 4 Smash.

Evil Lucario for smash! And then the WORLD!

Hitler for Smash.

I've already done that!
Buhahahaha!

He's name is Villager!

Everyonce in awhile, Nintendo surprises everyone.

Ah, watching this live with a chat room was glorious.

I like this addition. Also, reminds me that I haven't put enough time in to Smash 4 for me to justify getting any of the new character DLC.

I really wish time travel was possible right now.  If only I could show my younger self and high school friends that in the future Sonic, Mega Man, Ryu and Cloud would all appear in a Smash Bros game together, that would be like saying to them in the early 2000's that Aliens will make contact with humans in 2015.

Hell, that's might not even be the end of it.  Cloud was basically the final step before crossing the threshold into far out there Goku territory with non-original videogame properties making it into Smash.  Basically, this is the moment were it's now just a matter of time before characters like Goku and Mickey Mouse eventually appear in a Smash Bros game. 


Now I'm not saying they're going to be DLC in this Smash Bros, but with Snake getting the ball rolling over 9 years ago, and Cloud shattering the universe right now, the cast of Smash Bros in the next 10 years from could literally look like those old fake fan mockups everyone would laugh at back in Brawls day, only now they're a reality.

I played FF7 for about an hour years ago and that's the exent oft play time with the main line series. I don't care about Cloud either way.

Still, the fact is that FF used to be a major presence on Nintendo consoles with a few spin offs and temakes thrown Nintendo's way in the last few years. Square deserves a rep in Smash and the series that deserves to rep Square is Final Fantasy. The majority of the main line titles have different protagonists but none of them are as well known or down right revered as Cloud is. Cloud is the character to rep square and I'm glad he made it into Smash.

And for goodness sakes I know it seems like Cloud is bordering on anime character territory but he really isn't. I can't tell if people legitimately think Goku's chances are any higher than they ever were or just joking.

Not finished.

Cloud is still a video game character from birth and he has appeared in at least 2 Nintendo games before. He wasn't the star but he was there. He has not opened the flood gates for cringe worthy additions like Goku and Luffy.

And Ian, aren't you the main one always talking about how there is no conspiracy against Nintendo and some such? How all this is a business to make money? Sure FF7 was the game that turned the tides like never before but that was 100 years ago and this is now. If Sakurai wants it he has the mystical power to make it so.

Though in all honesty I do know there was a lot of bad blood between Square and Nintendo but that stuff was patched up a long time ago.

This probably means nothing for the FF7 remake for NX but I bet fans are going to expect it and demand it now. seems like the chances for that are pretty good I'd say.

You get to dress up as Cloud (and other characters from Final Fantasy games that never made it onto Nintendo platforms) in Final Fantasy Explorers so it's likely that Nintendo is using Cloud's popularity as leverage to cross-promote the game. The US release date for Final Fantasy Explorers is January 2016, and there's a Super Smash Bros.-focused Nintendo Direct scheduled next month. The timing is right. Final Fantasy VII came out almost 20 years ago and the remake probably won't release for another couple years so Nintendo isn't necessarily promoting that game either way. It's using nostalgia to hopefully sell more 3DS's and Super Smash Bros. DLC. Nintendo playing the nostalgia card to sell things? That's so unlike Nintendo.

Between the Capcom Disney games and Kingdom Hearts, I don't think anyone would mind if Mickey Mouse came to Smash.

There's no hope in hell of that happening, though. The Diz-Nee Corporation gotta get paid.

I love it! Not Wonder-Red or Viewtiful Joe but I'll take it.

I honestly don't care who is added to the game at this point- the roster is diverse and wacky enough that I really can't think of another character I personally want. I have Shulk, R.O.B., Duck Hunt, Bowser Jr.... So any character added to the game at this point is just an added bonus that I'll enjoy in some form.

Square Enix deserves a Smash Bros. rep. It has evolved past the idea of "Nintendo All-Stars" and is now just a celebration of gaming, period. Square Enix has supported Nintendo with releases in the past and is doing so now. Now, there really is no more iconic Final Fantasy character than Cloud, so the choice seems obvious. With how on-and-off Dragon Quest's relevancy is in the West, as well as SE announcing Final Fantasy VII Remaster, the time was right and the logic is sound. Would I love a character from Chrono Trigger? Sure, but despite being one of the best RPGs ever it's criminally underplayed and not relevant at all.

What we need to understand is that most, if not all of the future Smash Bros. DLC is going to push for relevancy. They are going to want people who have not considered the console or franchise to rethink their purchase and maybe even its relevancy as a crossover fighter. Ryu, Cloud, Pac and Mega Man are all smart choices for that, and I expect that trend to continue.

I am still trying to figure out how to process this. On the one hand I am optimistic for NX more than ever considering this and the recent rumor Square is all in on it. People bringing up Wii need to stop, those games Konami and Sega released that didn't come to Wii had everything to do with all the Wii's flaws, mostly power, size limits, storage limits, lack of online community, and etc, so just because characters were Brawl didn't translate to games coming to Wii has no bearing here.

Wii U is a dud but all signs point to Nintendo finally waking up to the world around them with NX so this is actually a super big deal no matter what anyone thinks. As anime boy said, sorry can't spell that name, all bets are off now.