Topic: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

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How many villains from games do you know that got so popular that you can now buy a plushie doll of them?
What I'm trying to say here is, there are hundred thousands of Sephiroth plushies out there in childrens rooms and fan shrines. Sephiroth is a staple in any freaking cosplay party.

I have played through FF7 on PS1, and 2 years ago again on Switch. Don't underestimate FF7 - It has one of the most hardcore fanbases in the world. Much about the game impacted so much in the gaming industry at the time. That title in particular also made the first Final Fantasy movie possible, and FF merchandise.

Even if FF6 and others are better in many aspects, FF7 was the most successful, the most hyped and talked about, and brought the series into the mainstream. A cult gathered around its lore! Many were possessed by the contents of its story, as FF7 did things in an RPG no one else has done before. It singlehandedly opened the floodgates for JRPGs in Europe, a time where Nintendo did not dare to release a game like Super Mario RPG, or EarthBound, or Final Fantasy 6, or Dragon Quest, or Chrono Trigger, in Europe.

And having a final boss like Sephiroth presented with full motion video cutscenes, minute long magic attacks, a brooding song with vocals, and relentless attack patterns that needed a unique strategy was something new and intriguing at the time.

So, if Sora is number 1 on so many wishlists and you can't get him because of Donald, Goofy, and Mickey, then you need to get another big shot from the same company to make everyone shut up which Sakurai just did with Sephiroth.

And yeah, usually one fighter is enough to represent a third party series. But in this case, more songs, another stage, and more spirits are welcome (because Cloud came with almost nothing).
Though, that means goodbye Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana Hero Randy, Terranigma Hero Ark, fan-favourite Geno, Bubble Bobble, Space Invaders, Lara Croft, and phew, Sora.

I personally can't wait to play as Sephiroth. I bought Fighters Pass 1&2 because "everyone is here" and whatever they release, it can only be a brandnew fighter with a brandnew stage, spirits, and music, so that's good enough for me, even if I don't like to play all of them.

Joker - I know that Persona is a spin-off of Megami Tensei which debuted way back on the Famicom/NES. I know the mainline series has 5 Nintendo games, the latest one still being developed exclusively for Switch (which will be my entry point). I know there are at least 2 Nintendo games with Joker, so yeah, the series he's from has a rich Nintendo legacy. I like the stage and character but I'm not good with his fighting style.

Hero - I know that he's from Dragon Quest, another RPG that debuted way back on the Famicom/NES. I played several titles in the series. Again, a very rich Nintendo legacy. The Smash fighter though is too stressful for me with his menu options for a random set of attacks, but the music and stage are great.

Banjo-Kazooie - I still have both N64 games in mint condition, completed them 100%. In a time where Crash Bandicoot was merely a basic, digipad controlled "tunnel runner", Mario and Banjo showed the world what a 3D platformer is. Banjo should have been in Smash 64 or Melee at least and never been sold to Microsoft, nuff said. Except, I also love playing him in Smash.

Terry Bogard - Know him from a friend who's a fighting nut. I learned that SNK is a master of the fighting genre, and even though I'm more of a Samurai Shodown and The Last Blade guy, I know about The King of Fighters legacy and SNK's place in the gaming world. Apart from that SNK released plenty of great ports for the NES, Game Boy, and SNES back then. Long history shared with Nintendo. You see a pattern? Anyway, he's another Smash fighter that is fun and smooth to play.

Byleth - I love Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. I have my Ike and I'm happy. And even with Fire Emblem over-saturation, Byleth is actually absolutely my main from the first Fighters Pass. She's got a great moveset. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is on my list of games I wanna get next.

Min Min - Unfortunately not fun to play, at least for me. The stage is unremarkable. I like her as an opponent though. The music is good as well. My least favourite of the bunch though. In my opinion an ARMS character (as well as other first party characters like Byleth, and hypothetically another Pokémon or Rex&Pyra) belong to the starting roster of a new Smash game, and not in DLC.

Steve - I know Minecraft is the global megahit of the last 10 years. I always say Virtual Lego to Minecraft. I know Nintendo put in Mario in the Wii U and Switch versions of Minecraft. They sell a Switch with Minecraft installed. Nintendo in general loves Minecraft. Japan loves Minecraft. Everyone loves Minecraft. Almost. No surprises here. It's just freaking me out that he's so minecrafty and not smashified like all the other characters. He's an extremely technical fighter if you don't spam easy disturbances. Great stage, great to fight against, but he hasn't clicked for me yet.

Sephiroth - I know he's from Final Fantasy, a series that started on the Famicom/NES. I have many and played dozens. Long history with Nintendo again, etc. Iconic villain. One Winged Angel. More FF music.
And best of all: No Sora. Thanks for saving us, Seph!