Super Smash Bros. Ultimate concluded its post-launch development with a roster consisting of 86 fighters. Of course, most of the roster is made up of returning challengers due to its “Everyone Is Here” theme.
With this in mind, we could’ve ended up with alternate characters had certain decisions during the development of the Super Smash Bros. series been different. For example, there is a character that was considered for Super Smash Bros. Brawl that got scrapped and then replaced by someone from the same franchise.
With Fox and Falco returning from Super Smash Bros. 64 and Super Smash Bros. Melee respectively, Sakurai had apparently considered adding a third challenger from the Star Fox series into Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
It would seem that Sakurai initially wanted Krystal to be this third rep, but she ended up getting scrapped due to time constraints. Due to Krystal’s relevancy back then, it seemed like many fans were expecting her to join around this time as she offered some unique possibilities considering her debut in Star Fox Adventures.
However, the development team instead went with Wolf, a different newcomer from the Star Fox series. There were a variety of factors that ultimately led to Wolf’s addition over Krystal in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
During an interview with Nintendo Dream featuring reader questions, Sakurai elaborated on specifically why Wolf was selected over Krystal, who was perceived to be the more obvious choice at the time. Translations have been provided by Source Gaming.
“Wolf was a character that barely made it in due to time constraints. He was added because there was high demand for his inclusion on places like ‘Smash Bros. Dojo,’ and he’s a popular character,” said Sakurai. “Of course, if he didn’t have that backing him, I don’t think I could have put him in. Among the characters with high popularity, I chose one who had a high possibility of becoming realized in the game, and as a result you could say Wolf was created.”
“Among the characters with high popularity, I chose one who had a high possibility of becoming realized in the game, and as a result you could say Wolf was created.” — Masahiro Sakurai
By this point, we know that Wolf was one of the final characters added to Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As stated by Sakurai, he is a character that “barely made it in due to time constraints.”
What’s interesting about Wolf is that, although his moveset if fairly unique, it’s actually made up of a variety of recycled animations from other characters. Of course, his moveset and animations would see some adjustments for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate since more development time was devoted to him in that game since he was planned for early on.
Sakurai would go on to mention that much of Wolf’s design in Super Smash Bros. Brawl was based around the knowledge already gained by developing Fox and Falco. Indeed, it was believed that these same practices wouldn’t have applied for Krystal.
“For Krystal, we didn’t have any of the technical modeling knowledge that we had cultivated with Fox and Falco, so it was like making a brand-new character from scratch,” continued Sakurai. “And because of the limited amount of time we had, creating Krystal wasn’t realistically possible. On that point, with Wolf we already have some knowledge of how to model his character, and would require about 70% of the effort required to create a whole new character.”
“And because of the limited amount of time we had, creating Krystal wasn’t realistically possible.” — Masahiro Sakurai
When Krystal was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Assist Trophy, she was based on her appearance in Star Fox Adventures rather than Star Fox Assault. More than likely, this is how Krystal would’ve also appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl had she been made a playable fighter.
Rather than utilizing a blaster and reflector like Fox and Falco (and Wolf), Krystal instead handles a staff capable of abilities that would be better described as magical rather than science fiction based. Additionally, Krystal’s body type from a modeling perspective probably has less in common with the already developed Fox and Falco when compared to Wolf.
In a manner of speaking, Wolf didn’t actually take Krystal’s slot. It was ultimately determined that the development team wouldn’t have enough time to add Krystal in time for the game going gold. Either we got Wolf as the third Star Fox rep, or there would be no third rep.
“In the end, the three playable characters in this game from ‘Star Fox’ are Fox and Falco, and on top of that, Wolf, because he was popular and easy to create,” declared Sakurai.
“If it was a situation where it wasn’t easy to create this character, and we had to make him from scratch, ‘Star Fox’ may not have had three representatives.” — Masahiro Sakurai
“On the other hand, if it was a situation where it wasn’t easy to create this character, and we had to make him from scratch, ‘Star Fox’ may not have had three representatives. So, please think of Wolf as a lucky inclusion.”
It would seem that this decision would pay off by the time of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as Krystal had become less relevant in the Star Fox series as time went on. Wolf on the other hand, had roles to play in Star Fox Zero, Star Fox 2, and Starlink: Battle for Atlas (exclusive Star Fox themed missions for the Nintendo Switch).
Regardless, Sakurai has shown that he’s open to promoting Assist Trophies into playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. series as he had done it before with Little Mac, Isabelle, and Dark Samus.
We’ve only just recently received official word of the Switch 2 from Nintendo. Incidentally, Masahiro Sakurai has also revealed that he’s been working on a secret game project since April 2022.
At this point, it’s highly likely that Sakurai’s secret game project is intended for the Switch 2. There’s also a fairly good chance that this could be the next Super Smash Bros. entry after Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Switch.
While Krystal’s relevancy and popularity have seemingly declined since the days of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it feels like she could still someday make her way into the Super Smash Bros. series. The most compelling thing about her is the unique moveset possibilities that she can offer.
Should she get added, we’d likely see a scenario where her moveset is based around her appearance in Star Fox Adventures. Of course, she’d probably also have an alternate costume that was based on how she looks in Star Fox Assault.
There’s a Nintendo Switch 2 focused Direct scheduled to take place on April 2, 2025. There’s a good chance that Sakurai’s secret game project could be revealed on that date. We’ll just have to see how things unfold from here.
Source: Event Hubs
