At this rate, I'll be playing as Shovel Knight in two other games before I play as Shovel Knight in Shovel Knight.

What are you waiting for, WindyMan? Shovel Knight is one of the best games I've played in years!

If Shovel Knight is coming to Smash, he'd be a great addition. Hopefully, he'd have a stage as well just so we could get the music in Smash.

It's awesome that a game that got so much play from me last year will get as much, if not more, play this year.

Lame.

I am 100% OK with this announcement, but I would have wished he was a costume instead of a full character.

I am saddened that popularity contests mean currently popular characters are more likely to be made then characters that deserve it more (and would have more unique move sets) Bomberman.  Bomberman deserves to be in the game for being the first real 4 player battle game on the NES, that people remember.

But I give up on that ever becoming a reality. 

Saying a character "deserves it more" is just as arbitrary as a popularity contest. In the end, what you're saying you want simply differs from what someone else wants.

Regarding this rumor, I find Nintendo reaching out to be the most encouraging thing about it. I have no special attachment to Shovel Knight. I've yet to play the game though I generally like his design. It follows Matt Groening's philosophy on designing characters: make a character that you can tell who it is in silhouette.

I'm generally all for any additional character. We all have favorites. I'm not sore when mine aren't picked.

If I had my way, Crono from Chrono Trigger and Simon Belmont would be in the game, but that's just not a reasonable expectation these days. Pity...those 2 franchises would have excellent music for Smash.

It makes sense for Shovel Knight to represent Indie characters since he is the most popular at the moment.  DLC characters are going to be fan favorites since it's the fans who buy them.  It doesn't matter if other characters might be more deserving, this isn't the retail game anymore.  DLC characters are going to be who gets the hits and out of all the indie characters to appear on Nintendo systems, Shovel Knight is easily the most popular at the moment.

If you haven't played Shovel Knight watch the Game Grumps play through funny as fuck shit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ECTKl5F9L0

Remind me again why Shovel Knight is popular in the indie scene again? Because I can list about five or six other titłes with better gameplay and character designs.

Personally, I think it did an excellent job of capturing the feel of an NES game will still feeling like a modern game. It reminded me of what I loved about franchises like Mega Man and Ducktales while still feeling like its own thing.

Because a lot of people found it to be a great game that was very enjoyable.  The same reason many were calling for Shulk to be playable after they played Xenoblade even though it was only one game at the time as well.  Once again, just because you didn't like it doesn't mean everyone else shares the same opinion.

Just because you liked it doesn't mean other people should have to waste their time making him a character for Super Smash Bros.

You got me with the Xenoblade Chronicles argument, though. I was a huge fan of that game. However, I actually enjoyed that title.

Regarding the update: is it specifically a Super Smash Bros. Amiibo? The Amiibo could be for Nintendo versions of Shovel Knight rather than Super Smash Bros? The PS4 version got an optional Kratos boss fight and the One version got an optional Battletoads boss fight. For the Wii U/3DS versions, maybe there's a special boss fight and Amiibo support. It would be pretty neat-o to see Shovel Knight in Super Mario Maker.

Sheeeeeit, I checked out the relevant thread on NeoGAF and there are people coming out of the woodwork claiming to have various anonymous and non-anonymous sources verifying the Smash inclusion. I'm futiley holding out hope for costume status, but that wouldn't make sense with the Amiibo.

I wasn't wild about Ryu joining the roster, but Shovel Knight is like the video game equivalent of Gladiator winning the Best Picture Oscar.

That seems a bit harsh. They've already committed time to doing more DLC, whether it's Shovel Knight or someone else, and I have to imagine he was a pretty popular choice on the Smash ballot. I have no interest in Shovel Knight as DLC (or an amiibo) either, but I don't see how this would be a waste of time.

I dig it.

Go to GameRankings.com, search for the all-time best for the Wii U (min 20 reviews which is the default) and the number five title and highest ranking game not published by Nintendo is Shovel Knight.  That's the justification to include him.  This is one of the only third party games on the Wii U that anyone has even heard of that wasn't some compromised port released during the launch window.  I would say it is a lock as the most well-regarded and well known third party title on the system.

And if you're upset that it's some flash-in-the-pan character you KNOW they'll make a new SSB for the next Nintendo platforms and if Shovel Knight is the next Gex then he ain't going to show up in it (and even if it becomes a big franchise rights issues may keep him from showing up again).  SSB is a celebration of Nintendo past and present.  It isn't like some hall of fame or something.  Characters that don't hold up to the test of time will be replaced in later games and the most iconic ones will stick around.

Solid Snake was in Brawl and that is the ONLY Wii game he ever appeared in.  They even had a trophy for those Metal Gears with the lizard legs and they only appear in the PS3 EXCLUSIVE MSG4!!  A trophy in an SSB game that you would only recognize if you owned a competitor's console!  Clearly the shark has already been jumped for SSB guest characters.  At least Shovel Knight appears in a Wii U game.

Holy crap. I might actually buy one of these Amiibo thingies.

mybe the fact it can fit on and play on the nes?

No way that's true, the game does tons of shit an NES couldn't handle.

But anyway, the chatter tide has turned (for now at least), and it seems like the Shovel Knight Amiibo will only unlock some co-op mode or some shit on the Nintendo versions. Pheewwwww.

Why all the hostility?
I think Shovel Knight is Great Little title!
and pretty impressive considering its an indie.

(and plus arin from game grumps is in it...)

Smash inclusion aside (no argument will ever truly sway me on that), good for Yacht Club on getting in on the Amiibo craze. I won't get one but it seems like they're maximizing the features of the Wii U to their utmost and that's something I can commend them for despite the quality of their title.

Not sure about others, but I'm very nervous the figure won't be available in sufficient supply. Nintendo has been slow been improving the situation, but it's still bad almost across the board.  Considering they've said it will unlock some pretty significant content in the current game and content in the future, that would be kind of a kick in the balls if you can only buy it at greatly increased prices from online scalpers.

Is this sarcasm?  Of course the figure won't be available.  As far I know they don't even make Amiibos beyond the standard Mario ones.  Any photos of them are obviously photoshopped.

Which is why it's a good thing that Nintendo has taught developers to lock content in their games behind toys no one can buy, rather than DLC anyone could buy.