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Fire Emblem: Three Houses's Byleth Announced As Newest Smash Bros Ultimate Character

by Donald Theriault - January 16, 2020, 6:10 am EST
Total comments: 20 Source: Nintendo

We know who put this stupid barrel here now: it was Banjo.

The Fighters Pass will wrap up with a righteous schooling.

Byleth has been announced as the final character in the first Super Smash Bros Ultimate Fighter's Pass. Originally from 2019 NWR Game of the Year Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Byleth will use multiple different types of weapons with the different directional buttons (lance, axe, and bow in addition to sword).

Byleth will be available on January 28. Also releasing on the same day is a new set of Mii costumes featuring Altair (Assassin's Creed), Rabbids, Mega Man X, Mega Man EXE, and Cuphead (including the track "Floral Fury").

Images

Talkback

AdrockJanuary 16, 2020

Don’t know anything about Byleth, but I already bought the Fighters Pass. Not terribly excited about another Fire Emblem character especially since the other Challenger Packs were third party characters though it’s admittedly nice that Byleth seems to play way different from the others. I’ll buy the Cuphead Mii Costume just for the extra song.

Definitely buying Fighters Pass Volume 2.

BeautifulShyJanuary 16, 2020

I need to put 3 houses on my list of Switch games to get when I get a Switch Lite.  Looking forward on learning more to the characters in that game. 

I do like the different ways Byleths plays so they are not just a sword fighter.  Might be tricky to master them.

broodwarsJanuary 16, 2020

Whew...here I thought we might get through this DLC pack without Yet Another Fire Emblem swordsman, but you sure showed me, Nintendo! You even picked the most boring, personality bless character in the entire series this time, a character that can best be summed up as "DULL SURPRISE!"

They could have grabbed Claude or Edelgard for this, but no...the blocks of wood in the audience must have representation.

Watch the next DLC character be a fucking Pokemon. Because we certainly don't have enough of those in Smash yet, either.

fordrobJanuary 16, 2020

Anyone remember if there were music tracks included in any of the previous costume add-ons?

The Sans costume had Megalovania in it.

nickmitchJanuary 16, 2020

Quote from: broodwars

Whew...here I thought we might get through this DLC pack without Yet Another Fire Emblem swordsman, but you sure showed me, Nintendo! You even picked the most boring, personality bless character in the entire series this time, a character that can best be summed up as "DULL SURPRISE!"

They could have grabbed Claude or Edelgard for this, but no...the blocks of wood in the audience must have representation.

Watch the next DLC character be a fucking Pokemon. Because we certainly don't have enough of those in Smash yet, either.

I get that it not being an unrepresented 3rd party character (like the other 4) is a bit of a let down, but people have been expecting a character from Three Houses for a while.  I think it's the same with Pokemon.  We pretty much know one of the six new fighters is gonna be Pokemon.

That being said, I'm disappointed it wasn't Edelgard who would've purely female representation and would be a more unique addition as an axe user.  However, I really like that Sakurai made Byleth not just another sword user by adding in lance, bow, and axe attacks, so that only like 1/4 of their moves are sword based.  I think Sakurai understands that people are finding the FE characters a bit samey, which is why he made Robin so magic focused and emphasized Corrin's dragon transformations.  Chrom, on the other hand, was like him saying "What if Ike, but Roy?".  So he's much more squarely in the eye-roll mold.

Mop it upJanuary 16, 2020

As someone who isn't interested in the DLC, I find this absolutely hilarious. Nobody trolls like Nintendo!

steveyJanuary 16, 2020

Quote:

Fire Emblem: Three Houses's...

YES, EDELGARD!

Quote:

...Byleth Announced As Newest Smash Bros Ultimate Character

Damn it, Sakurai. Just up the DLC rating and add in female characters with personality. Stop bowing down to censors!

Luigi DudeJanuary 17, 2020

Can't say I'm that excited about the character but the moveset does look interesting to play with.  I'm rather amused by a lot of the rage I see online.  I mean, right after the DLC was first announced many were expecting a Fire Emblem 3 houses character, so it's not like it should be a huge surprise.  Reminds me of the last Direct before the base game was released when people got angry over Ken and Incineroar being the last 2 revealed because we had Simon and K Rool shown in the previous Direct.  Had Sakurai revealed Byleth before Banjo and Terry, the reaction wouldn't be as overblown.  Then again, if Joker, Hero and Byleth were the first 3 characters shown, I'd imagine the complaining about it being nothing but JRPG anime characters would have been just as vocal, so I guess they needed to get Banjo and Terry in there to show some better variety.

Of course the funny thing is, out of all the DLC characters shown, Byleth is from one of the more popular recent games.  Banjo and Terry are more 90's picks that aren't as relevant with modern audiences and 3 Houses sold a lot better in the West then Dragon Quest 11 did.  When Nintendo finally releases end of year numbers, I wouldn't be surprised if 3 Houses ends up matching or outselling Persona 5 as well.  Plus keep in mind Fire Emblem Heroes has been insanely successful for Nintendo on mobile, so it's not like Fire Emblem is some niche franchise only a few know about anymore.

If anything, you'd think this would make people more excited for the second season pass since it'll have 6 characters this time and won't have to worry about one being from Fire Emblem.  Of course as Broodwars already stated, it looks like that hate will go to the guaranteed Pokemon character instead.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Pokemon choice is Rillaboom.  We got the water starter in Wii U with Greninja and the fire starter in Ultimate with Incineroar, you can't tell me Sakurai isn't looking at the grass type of the most recent game for the DLC.  Especially when this grass type is a gorilla that plays the drums.  You know Sakurai is going to have fun with him since it has the most unique potential of the Sword and Shield starters.

nickmitchJanuary 17, 2020

Quote from: Luigi

If anything, you'd think this would make people more excited for the second season pass since it'll have 6 characters this time and won't have to worry about one being from Fire Emblem. 

The last character isn't due until the end of 2021, meaning we have two full years before the end.  There's still time for a new FE.

KhushrenadaJanuary 17, 2020

Quote from: nickmitch

Quote from: Luigi

If anything, you'd think this would make people more excited for the second season pass since it'll have 6 characters this time and won't have to worry about one being from Fire Emblem. 

The last character isn't due until the end of 2021, meaning we have two full years before the end.  There's still time for a new FE.

That's right! Don't give up the dream for more FE!!

EnnerJanuary 17, 2020

Ah, the salt today has been so delicious.

I actually share some of the disappointment, but I count my blessings in that we got 4 out of 5 surprising characters when we were first bracing for safe choices such as Byleth.

Don't worry, y'all~
We get to do this again six more times over the next 23 months!

BeautifulShyJanuary 17, 2020

I know it is early but does anyone want to theorize the ratio of Nintendo characters to 3rd party for the next 6 characters?    I kinda think it could be either 3 Nintendo/ 3 third party or 5 Nintendo and one 3rd party character.  My reasoning for the latter is because we got a majority of 3rd party characters with the first fighter pass and it would be so Sakurai to tease the last 3rd party character as the 6th character in the next pack of fighters.

MythtendoJanuary 17, 2020

I'm very disappointed in this announcement. The Fire Emblem series is already over-represented in Smash as it is. The game has 7 FE characters, we don't need an 8th. There are so many better choices, both first party and third party.

BeautifulShyJanuary 17, 2020

Quote from: Mythtendo

I'm very disappointed in this announcement. The Fire Emblem series is already over-represented in Smash as it is. The game has 7 FE characters, we don't need an 8th. There are so many better choices, both first party and third party.

This is probably the most even handed response I have seen.  I applaud you.

nickmitchJanuary 18, 2020

Quote from: BeautifulShy

Quote from: Mythtendo

I'm very disappointed in this announcement. The Fire Emblem series is already over-represented in Smash as it is. The game has 7 FE characters, we don't need an 8th. There are so many better choices, both first party and third party.

This is probably the most even handed response I have seen.  I applaud you.

Is that a "Honk!" or a "Honk!!"?

BeautifulShyJanuary 18, 2020

Quote from: nickmitch

Quote from: BeautifulShy

Quote from: Mythtendo

I'm very disappointed in this announcement. The Fire Emblem series is already over-represented in Smash as it is. The game has 7 FE characters, we don't need an 8th. There are so many better choices, both first party and third party.

This is probably the most even handed response I have seen.  I applaud you.

Is that a "Honk!" or a "Honk!!"?

It is more of a Honk! meaning that that is the most reasonable response I have seen from folks online about the reveal.  I have seen takes that this reveal was the worst thing evar and other such takes.

AdrockJanuary 18, 2020

Quote from: nickmitch

Is that a "Honk!" or a "Honk!!"?

Honesty, I was confused too.

At this point, there are so many characters in the game, I don’t think I can be disappointed. Just keep it video game related and I’ll keep buying them.

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterJanuary 18, 2020

Even with this unfortunate choice, honestly I'm content with 4/5 of the choices for the Fighter's Pass, which is a lot more than I expected when I got it more than a year ago.

SpiritMaskJanuary 21, 2020

The Assassin's Creed and Cuphead costumes are cool. As for Byleth, meh. It would be nice to see more established, western-developed characters from games that have been staples of Nintendo systems over the years; Rayman, Shantae, Sub-Zero, Fulgore, even Crash Bandicoot would fit in.

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