Decidueye

We've had well over a month of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fun at this point, and Pokémon's fiery wrestling machine Incineroar has already become a cherished part of the family. Things could have been very different, however, as game director Masahiro Sakurai reveals that the fire-type beast almost didn't make the cut.

As reported on by Push Dustin and Japanese Nintendo, this news comes from a recent interview in Nintendo DREAM magazine in which the game's director revealed several interesting tidbits of information. As it turns out, the grass/ghost-type Decidueye was also heavily considered for that character roster slot, coming second only to Incineroar in the end. The decision would have made a lot of sense - Decidueye is already featured in the fighting game Pokkén Tournament DX - but Incineroar's wresting moveset certainly works just as nicely.

Elsewhere, Sakurai also explained that the lack of fighter representation for ARMS and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is down to poor timing, with a project plan for the game needing to be settled too far in advance. The additions of newcomers Simon and Richter Belmont, Ridley, and King K. Rool were inspired by the fighter ballot which originally polled fans for their Smash Bros. Wii U DLC picks.

Finally, he reconfirms that the upcoming inclusion of Piranha Plant was intended to be surprising. One of the main reasons behind its addition was the fact that, while it's well known, it isn't actually a hero, and it therefore hopes to add a little variety when compared to the Mario franchise's other stars.

Do you think Decidueye would have made for an interesting fighter? Would you have liked to see ARMS or Xenoblade 2 characters in the mix? Share your thoughts with us below.

[source japanesenintendo.com, via twitter.com]