Current Events > Let's get Goku in Smash 6

(+) Yeah! (+)

Hear me out

Dragon Ball as a gaming franchise dates back to 1986. That's 38 years in September. In that time it's seen more releases than I honestly care to sit down and count, but here's a full list for your perusal:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_video_games

As you peruse you'll notice that the majority of those games have been released on Nintendo hardware. Dragon Ball and Nintendo have basically been hand-in-hand for as long as either has existed in the world of video gaming.

Further, Dragon Ball is one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, and has been one of the most consistent best-sellers in the context of licensed and anime games. Dragon Ball games sell.

In fact, it could be argued that with the gap between GT and Super, Dragon Ball has actually been a gaming franchise longer than it's been a manga/anime franchise.

"But TMOG, Sakurai has said no non-video game characters can be in Smash!"

...Has he? Here's the exact quote, given in 2015:

Manga characters will not join the battle (obviously).
While its true that weve added characters from other companies,
Its not going to be anyone and everyone.
Smash is a game thats made from everyones effort.
Both companies have to want the character to join the battle.
I need them to let me take charge of the character.
In order to fit the character into the world of Smash, I need them to allow me some artistic license.
The character must carry game history with them.
Besides that, it might be something like a courtesy to include a character who has the experience of being on a Nintendo platform.
At any rate, there will probably only be one or two more.

An important thing to note here is that this quote was specifically about Smash 4, and he was discussing the qualifications for non-Nintendo characters in general. I also argue that this quote could be interpreted as saying that they're not going to add manga characters willy-nilly; the line "The character must carry game history with them" tells me that they would be willing to make exceptions. And as I outlined above, Dragon Ball and Goku do carry a lot of game history with them -- nearly 40 years worth of it.

I'll also present the Proximity/Motion-Sensor Bomb item as evidence, along with the fact that Sakurai wanted to include James Bond in Melee.

https://www.cbr.com/james-bond-smash-bros-goldeneye-nintendo/

James Bond definitely isn't a video game character, but he was in the running. If the licensing had worked out he would have been in Smash.

Also worth considering is that even if Sakurai has changed his mind and stance since James Bond, he's now retired from and walked away from the Smash series. If a sixth game happens, it will be somebody else as the director, and they'll have their own rules and qualifications to be met. (Unless this is one of those classic "I'm coming back for one more game" moments that happen all the fucking time)

Finally, and I'll admit this is more of an emotional argument than a logical one, it would be a great tribute to Toriyama, who inspired billions of people, creatives and non-creatives alike.

So do it, you cowards. Add Goku to Smash.

No

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Why not both?

No, we already have Hero.

Everyone raise your hands and give Goku your energy

The issue isn't just that Goku doesn't originate from a video game or game-adjacent franchise. It's also that Dragon Ball has way too many moving parts, legally, for it to be very feasible. There's Shueisha, there's Toei, there's Bird Studios, there's Viz Media, there's Funimation, there's Bandai Namco, and other companies involved with the global production of Dragon Ball. Legally, it would be a nightmare to hash out with all the parties involved.

That said, I'm also certain that Goku will eventually make it into Smash, even if it's decades from now. Either Nintendo could mandate it, or the series gets a new director (which it will eventually regardless, as Sakurai isn't immortal) who feels differently about which characters should be in Smash.