Sora's Triumphant Entry as the Final Smash Ultimate DLC Fighter

Table of Contents

• The Smash Ballot's Impact on Sora's Selection
• Overcoming the Disney Hurdle
• Sora's Impact as the Final Fighter
• A Tribute to Smash Ultimate's Journey
• Conclusion: Sora as the Perfect Ending

The Smash Ballot's Impact on Sora's Selection

The final reveal of Sora as the last character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was met with mixed emotions. While some fans were disappointed that their personal picks didn't make it, many recognized that Sora was a great choice overall. His inclusion can be attributed to two main factors: his victory in the Smash Ballot and the significant challenges involved in securing a Disney character.

The Smash Ballot, introduced at the end of Smash 4, allowed fans to vote for characters they wanted to see in the next Smash game. The ballot was never meant to influence the roster of Smash 4 itself, but rather to guide the development of Ultimate's base roster and DLC.

The Ballot's Role in Influencing Ultimate's Roster

When Ultimate's development began, the Smash team had already compiled the results of the Smash Ballot. They used this data to inform their decisions on which characters to include, both in the base roster and as DLC fighters. The inclusion of Bayonetta as DLC for Smash 4 was a hint that the Smash Ballot was never intended for that game. Her files were found in the Smash 4 data early on, suggesting that she was a 'realizable' character – meaning the team was open to including her in Smash 4, but her popularity in the ballot made her a strong candidate for Ultimate's roster or DLC.

Sakurai's Reasoning for Not Revealing Ballot Results

Despite the community's curiosity about the ballot's top contenders, Sakurai and Nintendo chose not to reveal the specific results. This decision was made to avoid the intense pressure and harassment that developers often face from overzealous fans. Katsuhiro Harada, the director of Tekken, had previously called out Twitter accounts that spammed him with character requests, even though he had no direct involvement with Super Smash Bros. Revealing the ballot's top picks could have exacerbated this issue, subjecting the Smash team to similar harassment.

Overcoming the Disney Hurdle

Beyond the ballot's influence, Sora's inclusion was significant because it marked the first time a Disney character had made it into Super Smash Bros. Despite doubts about the feasibility of including a character from a Disney property, the Smash team managed to secure the necessary permissions.

Sora's status as a Square Enix original character likely played a role in making this possible. While Disney owns the rights to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, Sora was created by Square Enix for the series.

The Challenges of Including a Disney Character

Fans had long debated the possibility of including a Disney character in Smash Bros., with concerns about legal issues and character rights. The prospect of securing permissions from Disney, a company known for being protective of its intellectual property, seemed like a significant hurdle. In his presentation, Sakurai alluded to the difficulties involved in getting Sora into the game. The team had to navigate complex legal and licensing discussions to make this a reality.

Sora as a Square Enix Original

While Kingdom Hearts is a Disney franchise, Sora was originally created by Square Enix as the protagonist of the series. This distinction likely played a crucial role in the Smash team's ability to secure the necessary permissions. The game already featured another Square Enix character, Sephiroth, from the Final Fantasy series. This may have paved the way for negotiations with Square Enix, who could provide the permissions needed for Sora's inclusion.

Sora's Impact as the Final Fighter

As the last character revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sora's inclusion carried immense weight and significance. The build-up and anticipation surrounding the final fighter made his reveal an emotional and impactful moment for fans.

The realization that the Smash team had overcome the challenges of securing a Disney character, while also fulfilling the wishes of Smash Ballot voters, made Sora's arrival a perfect ending for Ultimate's journey.

The Build-up and Realization of Sora's Inclusion

As the final character to be revealed, Sora's inclusion carried tremendous anticipation and build-up. Fans had speculated endlessly about who the last fighter might be, with hopes and fears for various candidates. When Sora finally appeared, floating in through a bright light with his iconic music playing, it was a moment of realization and catharsis for many fans. The Smash team had achieved the seemingly impossible – securing a beloved Disney character as the final fighter.

Sora's Aerial Gameplay as a Highlight

Beyond the significance of his inclusion, Sora's playstyle and moveset have also garnered praise from the community. As a character focused on aerial combat, Sora promises to bring an insanely high-flying and acrobatic playstyle to the roster. His unique aerial abilities and combos set him apart from other fighters, making him an exciting addition to the game's mechanics. Sora's moveset serves as a fitting representation of the hard work and dedication that the Smash team poured into Ultimate.

A Tribute to Smash Ultimate's Journey

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has been a significant part of the journey for many content creators, including the author of this article. As the first Smash game they've covered as a full-time YouTuber, Ultimate holds a special place in their career.

To honor the game's impact and the hard work of the Smash team, the author has put together a tribute video, showcasing the highlights and memorable moments of Ultimate's life cycle. From the initial excitement of the game's reveal to the anticipation surrounding each new fighter, this video serves as a heartfelt sendoff to a game that has meant so much to the community.

Conclusion: Sora as the Perfect Ending

In many ways, Sora's inclusion as the final fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate serves as the perfect ending to the game's journey. His selection, driven by the Smash Ballot and the team's dedication to securing a Disney character, represents the culmination of the Smash community's wishes and the developers' tireless efforts.

Sora's aerial gameplay and iconic status as a beloved character further solidify his position as a fitting choice to conclude Ultimate's roster. His reveal was a moment of celebration and closure, honoring the game's legacy and the hard work that went into making it a reality.

FAQ

Q: Who was the final DLC fighter added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
A: Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series was the final DLC fighter added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Q: Why was Sora's inclusion in Smash Ultimate significant?
A: Sora's inclusion was significant for several reasons: he was the winner of the Smash Ballot, making his inclusion a long-awaited fan request; his affiliation with Disney made securing his rights challenging; and his reveal as the final fighter created a huge impact among fans.

Q: What was the Smash Ballot, and how did it influence Sora's selection?
A: The Smash Ballot was a fan poll conducted by Nintendo to gather requests for characters fans wanted to see in Smash. Sora emerged as the top choice, which likely influenced his inclusion as the final fighter in Ultimate.

Q: Why did Sakurai and Nintendo not reveal the Smash Ballot results?
A: Sakurai and Nintendo chose not to reveal the Smash Ballot results to avoid fans aggressively lobbying for specific characters to be included, as they knew it could cause problems with game companies and developers.

Q: What made Sora's inclusion challenging from a legal perspective?
A: Sora's association with Disney posed a significant legal hurdle, as Nintendo had to secure rights from both Disney and Square Enix to include him in Smash Ultimate.

Q: How did Sora's reveal as the final fighter create a significant impact?
A: Sora's reveal as the final fighter was a huge moment for fans, as it marked the culmination of years of speculation and anticipation. Seeing him float in amidst a bright light and hearing his iconic music created a sense of awe and excitement.

Q: What is unique about Sora's gameplay in Smash Ultimate?
A: Sora is known for having an incredible aerial game in Smash Ultimate, with his ability to fly around the stage and perform powerful aerial attacks making him stand out from other fighters.

Q: How did the creator of Smash Ultimate, Masahiro Sakurai, describe the challenges of including Sora?
A: In the presentation revealing Sora, Sakurai alluded to the significant headaches and difficulties involved in securing Sora's inclusion due to the legal complexities of his association with Disney.

Q: What is the significance of Sora being a Square Enix character in Smash Ultimate?
A: Sora's inclusion as another Square Enix-adjacent character, following Sephiroth's addition, helped alleviate concerns about including multiple characters from the same company in Smash Ultimate.

Q: How did the creator feel about Smash Ultimate's journey and Sora's inclusion as the final fighter?
A: The creator expressed a deep appreciation for Smash Ultimate's journey, as it was the first Smash game they covered as a full-time YouTuber. They saw Sora's inclusion as the perfect ending, given his status as the Smash Ballot winner and the challenges involved in securing his rights.