With the recent Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal of Byleth, most of the focus has been on the controversy that another Fire Emblem character will be added to the roster. This is a real shame, since it had also been announced that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would be getting other content, including costumes, that would reference prominent indie hits on the Switch platform.
While Fire Emblem took center stage in the Smash Bros. announcements, for better or worse, Cuphead and Undertale are also given their due as titles that would be featured to some degree in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Indeed, the lovable Sans from Toby Fox’s indie hit, Undertale, is already featured as a Mii costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While it would have, of course, been preferred that he was his own fighter, seeing the character join the brawl is both heartwarming for fans and promising for other indie games. It also tells us that the indie genre has more prominence than it used to.
Furthermore, Cuphead will soon be included in Smash Bros. With a Mii costume as well. Cuphead has fast gained respect as a character thanks to being in one of the most popular indie hits of recent times. Cuphead originally came out on the Xbox One but later made its way to Switch in a highly fitting way, as Nintendo consoles had once been home to a plethora of run ’n’ gun games. Thus, it’s great to see Cuphead in Ultimate, at least to some degree.
Byleth has obviously been the focus point following Thursday’s announcement, and it’s easy to see why. Byleth is simply another fighter in a long list of Fire Emblem characters who have made appearances in the Smash Bros. series. Yet, the fact that indie games are being referenced in Ultimate is getting tragically overlooked.
Cuphead and Undertale are modern day classics and are highly deserving of their Super Smash Bros. Ultimate appearances. Many might be hoping for Dante, Waluigi, or Tingle to come to Smash Bros., but maybe we ought to consider other indie games for Ultimate inclusion. Bastion, Ori and the Blind Forest, or Stardew Valley, anyone?
