Rumors abound concerning an image that depicts the final character selection screen for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but is this the real deal?


By Benjamin Buday, Editor-in-Chief

Joystiq has rounded up a number of sites that are carrying an image of the alleged final roster selection screen for the upcoming Wii powerhouse, Super Smash Bros. Melee. In addition to the 25 characters the Smash Bros. Dojo has announced, 19 more have been added to the mix. But just how real is this image?

Joystiq writer Kyle Orland notes, for one, that the background of the screen is exactly like that of an older character selection screen from an earlier build of the game. Does it smack of photoshop? You be the judge. Orland also mentions that the images for the surprise characters are 2-D sprites that match pictures from the most rudimentary of google image searches.

Personally, I’m skeptical. The newly added characters seem somewhat suspect, but before I get into that, here’s a list of the new characters and their respective franchises from which they hail.

Newcomers

• Bowser Jr. — Mario Party series, Super Mario Galaxy and Sunshine
• Midna — Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Wolf O’Donnell a.k.a. Star Wolf — Star Fox series
• Krystal — Star Fox series
• King K. Rool — Donkey Kong Country
• Lucario — Pokemon series
• Ashley — WarioWare series
• Black Bull — F-Zero series
• Masked Man — Earthbound/Mother series
• Micaiah — Fire Emblem series
• Ridley — Metroid series
• Fusion Samus — Metroid series

The “newly revealed” returning characters:

• Luigi
• Mewtwo
• Marth
• Mr. Game & Watch
• Captain Falcon
• Ganondorf
• Young Link
• Jigglypuff

Ashley and Black Bull seem unlikely because of their obscurity, but that hasn’t stopped Nintendo in the past — nobody this side of the Pacific knew who Marth or Roy were. Also, cel-shaded Link probably wouldn’t be called “Young Link.” But I guess we’ll find out soon enough, as Japan receives Brawl next Thursday. I’ll keep you posted.

(Thanks to Joystiq for the story, and photo credit to Joystiq and the Smash Bros. Dojo)

Benjamin can be reached at Benjamin@megazinemedia.com.