My attempt to collect one game per Smash Ultimate character.

I've had a little goal to try to collect one game to represent each of the 86 characters on the Ultimate roster. I'll start here, and I may follow up later. My general criteria:

1) Physical strongly preferred. Digital is next, and NSO is in a distant third.
2) One game can represent multiple characters (i.e. Ken and Ryu, Mario and Bowser). But I will try to choose one game per character.
3) The character is ideally the main character or villain. Okay if they're just playable (ex. Daisy in Super Mario Wonder).
4) Ideally, the game is actually good.
5) It's preferable it's a new game, but re releases it collections will do.

I'll give my thoughts in order for now:

1) Mario - Obviously tons to choose from. Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Wonder, 3D All Stars, NSMB Wii U, etc. For Mario, I figure I'll pick Super Mario Maker 2 - a fun game which has the unique spin of community involvement in designing and sharing levels. I haven't played all that much of it, but I enjoyed what I played.

2) Donkey Kong - the best option here is DKC Tropical Freeze. The port of a highly acclaimed Wii U game, it's interesting we did not get a new DK the whole switch generation. Fun game, and I look forward to the DKCR port.

3) Link - obviously Breath of the Wild here. Absolute classic game, and his ultimate iteration is based on BotW. TotK, and the SS and Link's Awakening remakes are there as well. Plenty of options.

4) Samus - Metroid Dread baby.

4e) Dark Samus - no great choices, but technically in the secret ending to Metroid Prime Remastered.

5) Yoshi - Yoshi's Crafted World. A cute bit extremely mediocre game, but we're not left with any great options. I hear wooly world is better...

6) Kirby - between Kirby Star Allies and Kirtby and the Forgotten Land, I give it to Forgotten Land. Super fun, relaxing game which marked a very solid transition into 3D.

7) Fox - the first game where we may dredge into the NSO catalogue to pull out Star Fox 64. A shame Star Fox Zero was so panned it wasn't worth porting. Edit: post 2 reminded me of Star Link, which has Fox (and Falco) as DLC characters.

8) Pikachu - Let's Go Pikachu. Any Pokmon game would probably due, but this is the only one I've played on Switch... and I thought it was pretty good! Not amazing, but just enough of a mix up on gameplay to make the nostalgia trip a good time.

Jabodie posted...

7) Fox - the first game where we may dredge into the NSO catalogue to pull out Star Fox 64. A shame Star Fox Zero was so panned it wasn't worth porting.

The Switch version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas has Star Fox characters in it, and some consider it to be an unofficial Star Fox game.

Solar_Crimson posted...

The Switch version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas has Star Fox characters in it, and some consider it to be an unofficial Star Fox game.

That's a good point. I do own that game. I had the Fox toy that came with it at some point... not sure if I got rid of it. Is Falco in it?

Jabodie posted...

That's a good point. I do own that game. I had the Fox toy that came with it at some point... not sure if I got rid of it. Is Falco in it?

The entire Star Fox team + Wolf is in it. I believe they even have their own scenario.

9) Luigi - Luigi's Mansion 3 baby. Very solid addition to the series - I had a lot of fun in the main campaign. Great, creative level design. Scarescraper sucks in this game though. Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is also cool, but overpriced.

10) Ness - Earthbound on NSO is probably as close as we're getting. Honestly, I didn't really like this game when I tried it as a kid.

11) Captain Falcon - probably the best candidate is Smash itself... but I think F Zero 99 is probably the answer here. Digital only and tied to NSO. I never got around to playing it.

12) Jiggly Puff - let's just say New Pokmon Snap. I won't have much discussion for any of the following Pokmon entries. I will assume they are available somewhere between Sw/Sh, Sc/Vi, Pokmon Mystery Dungeon, Pokken, Legends Arceus, New Pokmon Snap, and whatever I'm missing in this list. If somebody wants to correct me as to who is in what, happy to be corrected.

13) Peach - Princess Peach Showtime. A reasonably fun game clearly catered to very young audiences. It was at least creative and entertaining for a romp, which puts it a bit about Yoshi in my eyes.

13e) Daisy - I'll give this to Super Mario Wonder. Very fun game with Daisy as a fully fledge playable character. There's an argument that a sports game should be more appropriate, but the Switch Mario Sports games all suck except for Tennis.

14) Bowser - Super Mario Odyssey because you technicallypplayed him" and he's very active as the villain in that game. I think Bowser' Fury is a good choice as well, but Odyssey takes it as my Bowser game.

15) Ice Climbers - I just now realized Ice Climbers is one of the video games represented in the NES World Championship game. An okay game, but more of a collectable than anything else. Tbh I probably wouldn't recommend it at a price higher than $10... but I had some fun with it.

16) Sheik - I think my vote goes to Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition. I think it may be the only game Sheik appears in... not sure. I like HW. Not an amazing game, but fun enough for a playthrough. I feel similarly about the BotW HW.

17) Zelda - We just got Echoes of Wisdom, baby. I'll get around to this one. The reception has been interesting, with some mixed opinions.

18) Dr. Mario - I think this is NSO only. Anybody know of some Dr. Mario cameos in other Switch games?

Jabodie posted...

let's just say New Pokmon Snap. I won't have much discussion for any of the following Pokmon entries. I will assume they are available somewhere between Sw/Sh, Sc/Vi, Pokmon Mystery Dungeon, Pokken, Legends Arceus, New Pokmon Snap, and whatever I'm missing in this list. If somebody wants to correct me as to who is in what, happy to be corrected.

Every Pokemon in Smash is available in Scarlet/Violet, actually.

Beyond that, every Pokemon from Gen 1 thru 4 are in Sword/Shield and BDSP, and only the Gen 1 and 2 ones are in Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX. Greninja is only in ScVi, Incineroar is in Sword/Shield. Pikachu, Pichu, and Lucario are in Legends Arceus. Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and Mewtwo are in Pokken.

Jabodie posted...

18) Dr. Mario - I think this is NSO only. Anybody know of some Dr. Mario cameos in other Switch games?

I believe Super Mario Odyssey has a Dr. Mario costume.

Solar_Crimson posted...

Every Pokemon in Smash is available in Scarlet/Violet, actually.

Beyond that, every Pokemon from Gen 1 thru 4 are in Sword/Shield and BDSP, and only the Gen 1 and 2 ones are in Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX. Greninja is only in ScVi, Incineroar is in Sword/Shield. Pikachu, Pichu, and Lucario are in Legends Arceus. Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and Mewtwo are in Pokken.

I believe Super Mario Odyssey has a Dr. Mario costume.

This is good data on Pokmon. Maybe I should pick Pokken for Pikachu Libre for my list...

For Doc, maybe the costume is a better compromise than NSO.

Jabodie posted...

5) Yoshi - Yoshi's Crafted World. A cute bit extremely mediocre game, but we're not left with any great options. I hear wooly world is better...

Crafted World looks nice, but its soundtrack is terrible. Woolly World's music matches its visuals and comes highly recommended.

Good luck with Lucas lol

19) Pichu - Sc/Vi or Legends Arceus.

20) Falcon - Star Link similar to Fox, but you need to buy a Star Fox DLC to use him. Technically Fox comes with the physical version, but as a toy form. I'm assuming you get digital Fox with the Star Link DLC.

21) Marth - my personal choice is probably Fire Emblem Warriors, which will apply to every FE character aside from 1. However, there is a good argument for the limited digital release of the NES FE translated to English. There was a download code collectors edition with s fake replica cart. Strong contender there, but collectors editions without actual physical games rub me the wrong way. I think the English translation is now avaliable via NSO since they stopped selling it on the eShop.

21e) Lucina - FE Warriors

22) Young Link - Hyrule Warriors DE or maybe Majora's Mask on NSO.

23) Ganondorf - there's a few options here, but the clear winner is Tears of the Kingdom. I would have liked to see Twilight Princess Ganondorf on Switch... Arguable playable Ganondorf in HW DE is a better choice, but I already use it as a crutch for several characters.

24) Mewtwo - kicking ass in Let's Go or Pokken lol

25 and 25e) Roy and Chrom - FE: Warriors

26) Mr. Game and Watch - genuinely stumped by this one. The only games I can even think of are the Mario G&W collections on the NDS.

27) Meta Knight - Kirby Star Allies or maybe Return to Dreamland. Fully playable character in both, but I like Dreamland better.

28) Pit - probably NES World Championships again. I have been hoping they port Uprising to Switch, but it never happened sadly.

28e) Dark Pit - I don't know if any viable options here.

29) Zero Suit Samus - I think Samus is depicted without her suit in a couple Dread scenes... otherwise Zero Mission NSO, where she is playable for a brief section. Good game.

30) Wario - Warioware Get it Together was a decent take on the Wario formula. The variation of micro games based on character selection was a pretty good gimmick and a nice way to mix things up. I haven't played Move It, but that's another option.

31) Snake - MGS collection baby! The ports have their issues, but sweet portable operations in a classic series.

32) Ike - FE Warriors

33 - 35) Pokmon Trainer - I gotta give this to Let's Go.

36) Diddy Kong - we'll find the upcoming DCKR to this guy. Before he was shown up by Dixie and Cranky in the sequel... a nice jetpack.

37) Lucas - Japanese NSO only for Mother 3....

38) Sonic - lots of good options for the blue blur. I'll give it to Sonic Mania as it is the least "compromised" on Switch. But there's Colors Remastered, Classic Collection, Forces, Shadow x Generations, Superstars, and Team Racing at least.

39) Kong DeeDee - I'll go with Return to Dream land again. Part of the main squad.

40) Olimar - We are privileged to have all 4 Pikmin games on the Switch. While I've only played 1-3, the collection pick goes to 4 since it was created for Switch. Plus I hear it's good.

41) Lucario - Pokmon

42) R.O.B. - I would need to search out some sort of cameo. I can't think of an when he was playable outside of Smash since Mario Kart DS.

43) Toon Link - sadly HW DE again. No Wind Waker remastered port in 2024...

44) Wolf - boss in the Star Link DLC. Of course in NSO SF64 too.

45) Villager - Animal Crossing New Horizons. Boy I played this game a lot in the pandemic lock downs.. it had its charms, but I never be able to invest time into such a slow game again.

46) Mega Man - There are several mega man collections on Switch, including Zero and Battle Network games. But I'll say fuck it and go with Mega Man 11.

47) Wii Fit Trainer - Let me fudge a big and say Ring Fit Adventure. Clear spiritual successor to Wii Fit, which was reasonably fun AND a reasonably good workout.

48) Rosalina and Luma - the "and Luma" pushes me to choose 3D All Stars, featuring Mario Galaxy, Rosalina's debut! Although she is playable in 3D World and Wonder, I think Galaxy fits better with the emphasis on Luma.

49) Little Mac - Fitness Boxing?! Maybe an NSO dredge for Punch Out. It did not make the cut for NES championship...

50) Greninja - Pokmon.

51-53) Miis - this is probably Switch Sports or Miitopia. Switch Sports sucks and I haven't played Miitopia.

54) Palutena - no Uprising port....

Jabodie posted...

28) Pit - probably NES World Championships again. I have been hoping they port Uprising to Switch, but it never happened sadly.

Jabodie posted...

54) Palutena - no Uprising port....

If you're using NSO as a last resort, the original Kid Icarus is on there.

Jabodie posted...

42) R.O.B. - I would need to search out some sort of cameo. I can't think of an when he was playable outside of Smash since Mario Kart DS.

Super Mario RPG remake on Switch has a R.O.B. cameo.

Jabodie posted...

47) Wii Fit Trainer - Let me fudge a big and say Ring Fit Adventure. Clear spiritual successor to Wii Fit, which was reasonably fun AND a reasonably good workout.

I know you said it's a spiritual successor to the Wii Fit series, but she's still not in it.

According to SmashWiki, her last appearance was as a cameo in WarioWare Gold, which is a 3DS title.

Jabodie posted...

49) Little Mac - Fitness Boxing?! Maybe an NSO dredge for Punch Out. It did not make the cut for NES championship...

Not in that, either, but yeah, you'll have to make do with either NSO Punch-Out, or his cameo in WarioWare: Move It (according to, again, SmashWiki).

Solar_Crimson posted...

If you're using NSO as a last resort, the original Kid Icarus is on there.

Super Mario RPG remake on Switch has a R.O.B. cameo.

I know you said it's a spiritual successor to the Wii Fit series, but she's still not in it.

According to SmashWiki, her last appearance was as a cameo in WarioWare Gold, which is a 3DS title.

Not in that, either, but yeah, you'll have to make do with either NSO Punch-Out, or his cameo in WarioWare: Move It (according to, again, SmashWiki).

For some reason, I didn't think Palu was in the NES game. I stand corrected.

Haha that's quite a small R.O.B. cameo. But better than nothing!

For Wii Fit, it may be a but SoL.

And if Punch Out is in Move It, I'll take it haha.

I appreciate your input. I thought this would be a no post topic...

Jabodie posted...

I think Samus is depicted without her suit in a couple Dread scenes.

NOPE

AceMos posted...

NOPE

Actually, she is, but only in some of the ending screens, as well as briefly when she runs out of energy and her suit explodes.

Ring Fit has a rhythm game with music from other Nintendo games. One of them is a Wii Fit medley and you see some Wii Fit silhouettes on the screen during the medley. It's close enough.

Jabodie posted...

21) Marth - my personal choice is probably Fire Emblem Warriors, which will apply to every FE character aside from 1. However, there is a good argument for the limited digital release of the NES FE translated to English. There was a download code collectors edition with s fake replica cart. Strong contender there, but collectors editions without actual physical games rub me the wrong way. I think the English translation is now avaliable via NSO since they stopped selling it on the eShop.

Shadow Dragon is a good choice too, since it's a remake of the first game.

Jabodie posted...

32) Ike - FE Warriors

Ike isn't even in that game, I call shenanigans!

I actually think i may own a game from every series represented.. except for Minecraft, ROB, and GaW.

I think only a few are NSO only (GaW Gallery) Pretty sure I have Ice Climbers in a box somewhere, and I dont have Duck Hunt anymore.

AceMos posted...

NOPE

Yeah you only see her out of her suit if you die in the game

Azardea posted...

Shadow Dragon is a good choice too, since it's a remake of the first game.

Ike isn't even in that game, I call shenanigans!

Then I give you my next backup... Fire Emblem Engage!

Arguably a better choice for most of then since it's an actual FE game.

55) Pac Man - There's a few options here I'm aware of like the remake of the ps1 game (which isn't very good imo) and the recent Pac Man collection (which has input last issues). For this, I'll go with Pac Man Championship Edition 2, which has a nice physical release on the Switch.

56) Robin - FE Warriors? Engage?

57) Shulk - Xenoblade Chronicles DE. I'm really feeling it! Back Slash!! I really liked this one - played it once on Switch. Being able to adjust your levels by banking xp was super nice. I liked the characters and story - it was fun with a satisfying ending.

58) Bowser Jr. - various Mario titles probably work here. I'll go with 3D All Stars for its inclusion of Sunshine, without a doubt Jr's must relevant appearance.

59) Duck Hunt - I think this is an NSO one. Make he shows up on one of the WarioWare Switch titles?

60 and 60e) Ryu and Ken - Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Maybe the new MvC collection too if you prefer.

61) Cloud - other regions have a FF7/FF8 double pack physical release, and that is my choice. Technically Cloud is in Crisis Core Reunion as a supporting character, but I strongly prefer the original FF7 here.

62) Corrin - gotta be in one of FE W or FE E....

63) Bayonetta - Bayonetta 3 is probably the best choice here, although I greatly prefer 1 and 2. 1 is an insanely fun game on harder difficulties. 2 is really fun for casual play, and I still got platinum on every chapter on every difficulty despite the bullshit introduced into some enemies (I'll admit I lollipop cheesed certain verses in places). 3 was okay, but I've only played it once on normal so maybe there is more to it on harder difficulties. But I've never felt the need to return. I wasn't huge on the enemy design of the demon summoning mechanics.

64) Inkling - Splatoon 3 baby. I probably played the salmon run tower defense mode more than any other lol. Good times.

65) Ridley - Metroid Prime Remastered for Meta Ridley

66 and 66e) Simon and Richtor - Castlevania Anniversary Collection and Castlevania Advance Collection. Simon of course stars in the original Castlevania and the SNES remake (maybe 2 and 3 as well, but IDK much about those) included in Anniversary. The Advance Collection includes a port Castlevania: Dracula X starring Richtor.

67) King K. Rool - sadly, I think we need to resort to NSO again. DKC or DK64, CLASSICS.

68) Isabelle - Animal Crossing NH again, similar to Villager.

69) Incineroar - Pokmon again.

70) Piranha Plant - Well, plants didn't start walking until Super Mario Wonder. They even get a musical number in that game.

Jabodie posted...

58) Bowser Jr. - various Mario titles probably work here. I'll go with 3D All Stars for its inclusion of Sunshine, without a doubt Jr's must relevant appearance

There's also Bowser's Fury in the Switch port of 3D World, where he's an ally for once.

Jabodie posted...

59) Duck Hunt - I think this is an NSO one. Make he shows up on one of the WarioWare Switch titles?

Unfortunately, it's not on NSO due to it needing a way to recreate the zapper. They were able to do it with the Wii U rerelease via the Wiimote, but no such luck on Switch.

And yeah, according to SmashWiki, their most recent appearance outside of Smash is in WarioWare Gold as a cameo.

So TC you're not getting any of the Wii Fit games for the Wii Fit Trainer?

I guess that there are two other options...the Smashwiki does state that she makes a cameo in WarioWare Gold and she is also a mystery mushroom costume in Mario Maker 1

MarioFan632 posted...

So TC you're not getting any of the Wii Fit games for the Wii Fit Trainer?

I guess that there are two other options...the Smashwiki does state that she makes a cameo in WarioWare Gold and she is also a mystery mushroom costume in Mario Maker 1

I realize now that I did not include "Switch game" specifically in the title, which is the real basis here. But I am considering adding a few extras to the collection outside of the Switch down the line. It's a real shame I can't edit the OP, because this limitation was the whole point and the driving logic behind the list.

This idea was born out of an idea of a Smash Ultimate collection for Switch specifically. I looked at the roster and thought to myself "How many of these characters are actually represented with (physical) games on Switch? Is it possible to get a compete collection with representation of every single character physically?" My real goal with this thread is to see if how this collection would look when limited to the Switch platform. Is it possible? How tenuous do the connections need to get to complete it? R.O.B. is probably the most extreme so far.

Moving this to all Nintendo platforms, my preferred picks would probably be very different and prefer their "premier" home console release, or the first game where they were the titular character. SMB for NES for Mario, Luigi's Mansion for a Luigi (Mario is Missing sucks), that DS game for Peach, etc. Daisy massive Super Mario Land. Dark Samus is clearly MP2 or MP Trilogy on Wii.

But some entries become much clearer. For instance, I would 100% take MM in 3DS for Young Link and WWHD on Wii U for Toon Link. All of the FE games would be their respective titles (Shadow Dragon for Marth, Awakening for Chrom / Lucina, etc).

Bump for later