LogFAQs > #978706748

I think the only way you really successfully cut down on the roster (outside of third-party characters) and have it justified within the Nintendo fanbase is if you revamp all of the Nintendo characters you include. Not just remaking them for a new system with new animations, but more of a per-character overhaul of how they work.

Mario - toss FLUDD for Cappy, let go of the cape, only fireball he keeps is his final smash, etc.

Link - Tears of the Kingdom-treatment, see what Ultrahand allows, let Up-B also have Ascend, etc.

You see where I'm going with this. Reinvent everyone you can and start the game with those reinvented characters. Some characters are harder to reinvent than others to be fair -- they can be unlockables or DLC, or maybe try something new anyway and then just change it back in the next SSB-game if it doesn't work well after some patches. Ridley ain't that small. Sheik didn't always have grenades. Take new chances like that with everyone you include, and then keep what works in future games if you want.

If you keep characters mostly the same, the fanbase won't understand why you're not including them. Some will still be mad their characters are different now, but it's probably the way to how you keep a cast reduction feeling fresh.