Over five years, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate welcomed 89 fighters into its arena, each heralded by a short cinematic meant to justify their place among legends. Now that Sora's arrival has closed the door on new additions — and with no sequel confirmed — these brief films stand as the final word on how a game chooses to say: this character matters. Looking back at them is less an act of ranking than of remembering how storytelling, even in miniature, can elevate or diminish a moment of arrival.
Kotaku Australia
· Dec 22, 2021
· technology
· 8 min read
High
Sourcing: Characterized
Ranking Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 89 Character Introductions
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Technology
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Entertainment ranking article with casual, subjective tone and minimal bias; uses informal language but maintains straightforward descriptive approach to game content.
Bias Direction
center
Confidence
MED
Entertainment listicle framing using subjective aesthetic judgments presented as authoritative rankings; casual, conversational tone creates false sense of expert consensus
weakest
meh
no charm or pizazz
straight-up boring
old shit
disappointing as that sounds
Developer/designer rationale for intro design choices
Player community consensus or survey data
Perspectives from character franchise fans
Technical/production constraints that influenced designs
Cultural context for character selections
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Video game character ranking article has no geopolitical implications; focuses on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game introductions.
Escalation Risk
low
Confidence
HIGH
Economic Lens
📈
Entertainment article ranking video game character introductions has minimal direct economic impact; reflects mature gaming market with established franchise lifecycle management.
Market Signal
neutral
Confidence
HIGH
Video game publishing and development
Entertainment and media
Digital content creation
No direct consumer impact. Article is retrospective commentary on completed DLC cycle for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Signals end of monetization period for this title, potentially redirecting consumer spending to other games.
None identified. This is entertainment journalism covering a concluded product lifecycle with no regulatory implications.