During last week's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate presentation, Sakurai explained how the team considered having Xenoblade Chronicles 2's protagonist Rex fight alongside Pyra and Mythra but it simply wasn't possible due to the limitations of the game.
Sakurai has now elaborated on this in his latest Famitsu column, once again explaining how the idea the team had in mind (of two different fighters at once) was ruled out due to technical barriers. In the end, it was decided the fighter would transform into two similar but different characters.
Here's the full translation, courtesy of Ryokutya2089 (via Siliconera):
“When it was decided that we were to create a character from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the very first thing I thought about was to show and move Rex and Pyra at the same time on screen. But a conclusion that it’s impossible came at a match speed. I somewhat requested the team to inspect it, but it was impossible.”
“When we talk about 2 people who move as a single group, there are the Ice Climbers. They have the same looks and can only do the same things. When we tried Rex + Pyra, it was clear that we could not do an essential task to have their [data] capacity exceed a processing load threshold.”
“The system to have Rex as the main fighter and Pyra overseeing him was also determined to be difficult. The design was so complex that a lot of things would have to be done.”
“Rex would have to be moved on his own. But then I thought it would be better if we can change between Pyra and Mythra.”
So this is why Rex didn't make the cut as a DLC fighter. At least he got to feature in the final smash scene for the new DLC fighter. What do you think of the latest two-in-one character? Were you hoping Rex would be a playable character? Share your thoughts down below.
[source ryokutya2089.com, via siliconera.com]
Comments 67
And thus, Rex is reduced to a taunt like the simp he is.
I'm not mad manly bc one I wanted Pyra/Mythra over Rex, and two this man does so many amazing things I can cut him alot of slake for not being able to put Rex in the game its all cool Sakurai
Really dodged a very generic bullet there.
@Snatcher Why are you treating Sakurai like he's your friend? He's a video game developer doing his job, you're allowed to criticise his choices.
I think Rex as currently represented in the game is good enough.
I can see Rex being added to Smash 6 as an Echo fighter to Shulk, only instead of Monado arts, he gets Blade Arts to increase a stat (Roc for jumping, Wulfric for power, and so on.) Doesn't have to have the blades show up, just a picture like the Monado symbols.
@Noid its not that Its just i'm not mad about rex getting cut I wanted pyra and mythra since people were asking for rex, but I think he is a really hard working guy so idk I just Crap I was treating him like a friend LOL, But I have nothing to criticise any way so.
Good riddance. The constant whining and screaming made me quit Xenoblade 2 for a while. Xenoblade X is such a gorgeous beautiful game, the best rpg game that i have played. I hope that Xenoblade 3, if its coming, it distance itself from the Rex character guy. Xenoblade 2 is deff not for me, i tried it to like it. After comepleting the game i sold it.
Whining and screaming has been an anime protagonist tradition for decades. RPGs don't stray very far from that mark.
Sakura doesn't want to say straight up that Rex's milk truck just don't deliver
Could’ve had him on a platform like PT and that tether
I didn't want rex anyway, and would prefer more unique female repsentation In smash. So I appreciate them leaving him out. His outfit is cool tho. The trailer made him seem whiny.
It's actually interesting because basically what Pyra and Mythra are doing here is what Mythra can do in Torna the Golden Country (with the Driver in the background rather than the Blade). But Rex and Pyra never got to do that.
I always hoped that it would be a Pokémon Trainer situation with one in the background and the other as a fighter, but I also wasn't smart enough to think that it would be Pyra and Mythra in the foreground. I didn't see a way to do the Zelda<>Sheik thing as everyone would want if Rex was the main fighter, but I didn't expect Rex to take the backdrop.
@Noid he can say whatever he wants lol
Excuses, excuses... the real reason is that Rex looks like a Tenchi Muyo gradeschool flashback.
Okay, now let's move on from Pyra and look towards our last DLC character, Sam Porter Bridges from Death Stranding.
@Ghostbusterluigi honestly that might explains why I don't have too much issues with "silent protagonists" from games like Dragon Quest or the like.
Hmm is this also the reason why Sheik and Zelda became separated in 3ds smash?
Not mad at all by this and I say this as someone who likes Rex. Ultimately, Pyra and Mythra are simply much more important to the entire story and lore of Xenoblade 2 than Rex is on his own. Shulk has the advantage of being the center of Xenoblade 1 and having a direct connection to the final boss of that game. The same goes for Pyra and Mythra for 2 as they have a direct connection to the final boss as well.
Ultimately, they made the right choice. Especially with how complicated Steve and the Minecraft people were to make work for this game, I'm happy knowing that Sakurai and his team didn't break their backs over it.
Rex is one of the lamest MCs in Xeno franchise so im fine with the decision to put anime boob girl from my highschool romance animes instead of bland shounen kid insert.
i think that crash would have been so much cooler. people who do not play xenoblade have no idea who these people are. but most likely you will know who crash is. not saying that it was bad just for the for how long we waited for a direct someone like crash would have been much cooler
Simps hating on Rex again, nothing new. Why they hate actually nice people is beyond me, but they do.
What about like Pokemon Trainer where one of them is in the background? With Rex/Pyra you would be able to swap between them though.
@TheLightSpirit I've played a few Final Fantasy games, the best that i have played is 131-,13-2. 13-3 Was a letdown but im glad it was made, 15 is for me the worst Final Fantasy of them all. The only downside of Final Fantasy 13 game was the Hope character, he was whiney at the start but when the game kept progressing he stopped being like that. Its nowhere near the whining of Rex, that character is just disastrious.
Should of been Elma, hopefully we get her because her changing between swords & guns would be dope. Plus Smash needs more representation of PoC, and it'll be dope for each Xenoblade game to have a rep.
I think the way they worked him in is cool. Despite not being playable, he's still implied to be there somewhere with Pyra and Mythra during the battle. He's in the entrance animation, in the up-taunt, in the Final Smash... They basically implemented him the best they could.
I think that Rex being in the taunt, final smash, and victory pose is enough for me to feel like he's in the game.
I actually like using Pyra and Mythra. Trying to make them mains. Even got me interested in their series. So... If I wanted to jump in the series could I start with any game? Or is there a certain order?
How Fighters Pass 2 has handled 1st party reps. has been something I've wanted from Smash probably since the first hype cycle for Smash 4. Min Min and Pyra/Mythra are not the safe picks for Smash for ARMS and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 respectively. Smash's roster needs to continue to branch out more especially when it comes to Nintendo reps. in my opinion.
@DoubleDate I loved the game but definitely Xenoblade 1 is better. It would be perfect if DE had been better optimized for the Switch in docked mode. The arts tray is seriously annoying. XC2 had MUCH better controls that were more fun in the hands. Never played XCX, wish they would release on the Switch. I've put way more hours into XC1 than BoTW by far and I maxed out finished BoTW. Well except for hardcore mode.
@Electrichead6 I do hope as well that X gets released on the switch. I've spend more than 350 hours playing X, its the most hours that i have invested in a game, for me i couldnt stop playing. The world Mira, was interesting to explore, i spend hours trying to get the best Skells weapons, the rarest one which are hard to get. Im a Zelda fan, BOTW was for the most least Zelda of all the games that came out, i missed a lot the dungeons, the shrine thing was really boring, moving from one place in a huge map to the other place to just finish a Shrine. If the game did have dungeons it would have been the most amazing Zelda game for me. Majora's mask is for me the number 1. I trully hope that Monolith releases Xenonlade X 2.
I don’t see how Pyra just overseeing Rex is different from Arsene overseeing Joker but I’m not complaining.
@shonenjump86 You can start anywhere except Xenoblade Chronicles Future Connected and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Torna The Golden Country as they're sequels and prequels to their respective main games. I will say that you might get slightly more enjoyment out of 2 if you've already played 1 but it isn't essential to enjoy 2
I’m super happy Rex didn’t get in. If they were going to have a driver lead, it should have been a driver whose blade is usually in avatar form all the time like Morag.
I think people sometimes forget that the blade does most of the work. At least with Morag she is a trained soldier and thus can fight without her blade. Rex is not a fighter. He is a little scrappy sure but if you gave him a regular sword he would get curbstomped.
In reality Nintendo just wanted Pyra because of her big bewbs.
@tabris95 alright, thanks
I'm fine with it. Pyra/Mythra is the best dlc fighter so far. Only one in season pass 2 that I even like.
@Mr_Persona yep. And ZS Samus, Pokémon Trainer=>solo Charizard and Ice Climbers=>☠️
I loved XC2, but I'm sorry, Rex was a terrible character. Pyra/Mythra easily the better choice.
Heck any other of the main characters would have been better than him.
Rex being in Pyra's Final Smash make sense and I assure he will probably be a full fighter in the next Super Smash Bros. entry similar to how Chrom was. Chrom started as a character in Lucina's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. 4 and look how he become a full fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Same thing will happen to Rex. Not only was Rex's appearance a repeat of Chrom, in the reveal trailer that show both of them got rejected, they mention that they'll probably had better luck next time hinting that they'll probably be fully playable in the next game.
I was also happy with Pyra over Rex. In fact she was my most wanted new character prior to the original release of SSBU, but one I never expected to happen! Even better it turns out that the two characters suit my two play styles very well so she's become my preferred choice over Link and Cloud.
As someone who actually really likes Rex, i still think it's the better choice to pick Pyra/Mythra.
In XB2, Rex acts as the playable avatar, with Pyra being the actual protagonist and plot anchor.
Plus, in XB2's setting, it's the Blade's providing all the unique abilities unlike Shulk, who can use them himself.
Smash is a sausage fest as it is already, so the more female representation, the better.
@Snatcher
You‘re not made manly? Don‘t worry we all have our soft sides
Rex would have felt too like Shulk so think this way Xenoblade is nicely represented as a series.
@Mr_Persona it was because the 3ds couldn't handle transforming characters so they were all separated zelda and sheik, samus and zero suit and pokemon trainer became just Charizard.
Ice climbers were ditched too for similar issues and he wanted the 3ds and wii u to have same roster so it followed suit.
I'm not a Rex hater, I just think Pyra/Mythra brings more to Smash so I am in favor of her making it into the game.
Wow, some of the comments here are awful.
Like people claiming they know how mechanics and premises in XC2 work yet they're very inaccurate.
Anyways, I was really looking forward to a Rex/Pyra combo coming to Smash. I think it's a bit unfortunate that Rex couldn't play a bigger part, but having XC2 reps at all is amazing. I think a Pokemon trainer kinda thing might've worked with Rex swapping between Pyra and Mythra's swords? But this works too. Their moves are cooler like this and it's certainly a step up from that Rex Mii costume, lol. I appreciate that Sakurai and his team did at least try adding Rex first.
Reads like, we need more processor headway for more complicated characters. The exact same reason Ice climbers were not possible in SSB for 3DS. Cannot say i am a fan of Rex, nor Xeno 2 anyway, so it's of no concern for myself.
@nessisonett Nessionett used criticism. Rex is now poisoned. Super effective.
Im over 3party representation in smash, I want more characters from nintendo franchises. Piranha plant was such a surprise, I want so see more left field characters like that
Was really hoping Ryu Hayabusa was going to be the fighter revealed. Seeing the Ninja Gaiden collection unveiled later in the direct made it more surprising.
At least this confirms that the reason why Rex didn't make the cut is not because he was already a Mii Costume, in fact, they went for him first, hinting that no, none of the characters who are already Mii Costumes are disconfirmed and locked from being DLC forever.
Unless this decision was made before launch, before Rex became a Mii Costume, but that still shows that they gave Spirits for Pyra and Mythra, knowing that later they would become real Fighters.
Good. Shulk was one of the best boy-with-a-sword main characters in an RPG I've ever encountered (there are a lot of those, you know). And then Rex was one of the most generic boy-with-a-sword characters I've encountered. Every other character in Xenoblade 2 is more interesting than him. I still would have preferred Elma, but considering that approximately 12 people know who she is I guess I understand why she didn't make the cut.
Good call was made. We'd have been complaining about the generic boy swordsman if he made it in. Instead, we can BE the sword.
@Noid i don't think that's an issue, it just shows he respects the effort he puts in & can understand the limitations & believes sakurai when he says those things. I don't think that's so bad, or means he would never criticize him, just that this issue doesn't bother him that much 🤷.
@Electrichead64 i still need to finish XC:DE. I oened the original then sold it when it was going for lots, expecting to buy it again 1 day, possibly. I would definitely love a XCX port for the many that never owned Wii U.
I think the end result was pretty cool. Rex might be the protagonist of XC2 but having just completed my second playthrough of the game, it's honestly more Pyra/Mythra's story. The whole driving aspect of the game are the "Blades" and their role. But they serve as supporting characters in actual combat. So I like that when brought into Smash she gets to shine in her own right.
@nessisonett - This is the best first comment about this. Priceless.
But honestly, I always expected a more "zone boost" style of fighting for Rex when I imagined him.
Like Pyra is in the background, closer you are to her the more power you slowly gain for your specials and so on.
This comments section is awful, people talking trash about Rex but doesn't seem like most even played Xenoblade at all, he's a really good character, not all RPG characters are supposed to be "super cool man with a sword" you know?
I originally wanted Rex but I'm glad they went with Pyra and Mythra
Never mind the fact that Sakurai already made Rex into a Mii costume before he even got to work on a Xenoblade character.
So, that's fishy.
Because Rex sucks and Py and My have good booba.
I'm not familiar with the character but from videos he seems like a boring character-- in terms of design, voice, edginess, what-have-you. He gives the impression of a side character.
Pyra/Hikari was the way to go, Smash has too many gruff dudes anyway.
Rex is likable, but he's a protag that's not really the protag, he's really just there as a plot device to drive Pyra/Mythra & Malos' stories. XC2 has always been Pyra/Mythra's and somewhat Malos' story, not Rex's story. This carries through with the Torna DLC that continues to tell the backstory on Mythra, Pyra, and Malos, as well as a few support characters, before Rex even entered the picture.
@Noid
I'm his squire, I'm his friend.
@SalvorHardin Generic? Sakurai wanted Pyra to not just mimic what Rex was doing but his idea couldn't be implemented.
That sounds the opposite of generic to me.
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