Sakurai admits that Smash Bros. Ultimate has too many Fire Emblem characters, too many sword users

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai returns in Famitsu this week with his bi-weekly column. Seeing as Byleth was recently added to the Switch game, Sakurai spoke about the new character – and also addressed some fan complaints that there are too many Fire Emblem characters and sword users.

[PhoenixUp]

Byleth should’ve been saved for Fighter Pass 2 instead

[Outlawzz]

I like byleth. He's an interesting character but yea should have picked a different character.

[Sono421]

Honestly this outrage is so unjustified. Byleth plays like a unique character... what else could you ask for? The new Fire Emblem sold well, so clearly there are Byleth fans out there that probably wanted them in. Everyone complaining is just acting so entitled. Like yeah, we get it, it isn't who you wanted, no reason to keep making a fuss about it. Byleth was FAR from my first choice, not even in my top 10, heck probably even 20, but you don't see me complaining.

[Concertoine]

I bet at one point a different fighter was saved for the end of Fighter Pass 1, and Sakurai moved Byleth forward to this spot to subvert expectations and start the next Pass off strong. If they saved Byleth for the start of Fighter Pass 2 people would say "Yikes here come the filler characters, Fighter Pass 2 off to a bad start".

[jambola]

welcome to 2015

[princejb134]

i would love the chrono trigger hero to be in smash bros

[ReVibe]

But he's a ....SWORD USER!!! *points a shaking finger.*

[Tross]

I'm sure they can find a closeish Fire Emblem equivalent to him.

[Bleucrunch]

I love smash but Smash Ultimate is one BROKEN mess of a game.

[Outlawzz]

It's actually a lot more refined than the previous games. Wt is broken about it in your opinion ?

[King_Noctis]

What is broken about it?

[Bleucrunch]

yeaaaaaaa it is not refined by any standards, too many OP characters, Too many characters that can spam endlessly.

The loading times in the game are HORRENDOUS

Blocking and Grabbing...sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.

Don't let me get started on them up airs

Recovery or Recovering for characters is either OP or TERRIBLE either of which are BAD.

The online aspect is also broken with the same kinds of OP characters that have spamming abilities are the only ones generally used.

Some characters actually and basically have NO BUSINESS being in the game. For a game to have over 70 characters, why are around a dozen or so played and the others just ignored?

This game is not one I can take seriously at a tournament so I would not join one, waaaaaaay too unbalanced. If one is playing with saaaaay Bayoneta, you can basically spam her and win EVERY TIME.

[Outlawzz]

Bayonetta is one of the weaker characters in the game. It seems your not very aware of the technicalities of the game. In smash 4 she was op, not this time around.

Every character has been refined to have equal chance of winning. I know because I play as almost all characters and never feel disadvantaged.

You have to know the strengths and weaknesses of the characters. Now in regard to the online it does suck I'll admit that, and loading can be improved that has nothing to do with being broken.

[ReVibe]

I'm a swordphile and I agree that there's too many sharp sticks in Smash.

[Rachel_Alucard]

It's less to do with Sword users and more to do with one series having an overbundance of reps. I mean, FE got localized finally to the west thanks to Marth and Roy in melee. The same kind of attention could go to another series.

[AK91]

Oh wow is he bowing down to the outrage? Please don’t putting in Byleth was a mistake but just learn from it in your next Fighter Pass, actions speak louder than words.

[GameBoyColor]

No he is just stating what he thinks since he isn't the one choosing the fighters, nintendo is.

[Tross]

About time. I mean, it's not as though we don't like Fire Emblem, but maybe consider using more characters from other franchises too? When one franchise is over-represented it means that we often don't get characters from others that fans would love to have in the game due to there being only so many fighters added per season.