Overwatch director offers any hero to join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster

By Aaron Mamiit Published October 6, 2019

Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan said that he is open to the idea of adding any character from the hero-based shooter to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, just before the game launches on the Nintendo Switch on October 15.

In an interview with IGN, when Kaplan was asked who among the Overwatch heroes he would like to see on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he was not shy in offering Nintendo its pick.

Recommended Videos

“To the Smash Brothers team, whatever character you want, we love them all. They’re all our babies, you can have any single one of them. We have 31 to choose from,” said Kaplan.

However, when asked if he had to pick one, Kaplan said that the would have to choose Tracer. “Tracer’s our girl, Tracer’s our mascot. She’d be my first choice.”

It is easy to imagine how Tracer’s skills in Overwatch will translate to a 2D fighting game like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Her Blink skill grants extreme mobility, and her Recall skill would have many applications. Her Pulse Bomb ultimate skill could also easily be tweaked as a Final Smash, with explosions possibly knocking opponents off the stage.

Tracer seems like such a perfect fit for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, in fact, that there were even rumors that she was the fourth DLC character, but it turned out to be Fatal Fury‘s Terry Bogard. Kaplan, however, admits that there are “a lot of great runners up,” including the brawling style of Doomfist. Wes Yanagi, the principal producer for the Nintendo Switch version of Overwatch, echoed Kaplan’s choice of Tracer but added that Winston would also make a good addition to the fighting game.

Other Overwatch heroes that may translate well as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters include D. Va and the Self-Destruct of her mech, Genji and his Dragonblade, Mei and her Blizzard, and Reaper and his Death Blossom.

It remains to be seen if Kaplan’s offer will get Nintendo thinking seriously about adding an Overwatch hero to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but a crossover would be a huge hit for fans of both games. With more DLC characters on the way, there is certainly a possibility.

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…

Gaming

It’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s subtle changes that make it special

The flagpole is knocked away in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

While I’m only partway through Super Mario Bros. Wonder, I’m already utterly in love with the game.

As our glowing review outlined, it’s a highly polished 2D platformer that’s approachable for anyone to play and elicits a joyous and vibrant sense of wonder. But for me, what makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder special aren't so much the wild Wonder effects or elephant transformations. It's the subtle touches. These elements might not be immediately noticeable or relevant to most, but they all work together to create an experience that’s a step above most other platformers.
Changes enhance enjoyment
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t afraid to show that it’s different from previous Mario games through small moments and changes. One instance that illustrates this early on is in one of the first Bowser Jr. fights. It starts like all his New Super Mario Bros. boss fights do, with him getting in his shell and spinning toward Mario. At first, I was disappointed that Nintendo was just doing the same thing again, but after the first hit, that changed. Bowser Jr. activates a Wonder effect and changes in size for the following two stages of his fight. It's a moment of surprise that subverts my expectations, which are based on decades of Mario games. This is a small moment and reference that many Super Mario Bros. Wonder players probably won’t even internalize. Still, it is a smart way to show how the platformer differs from what came before.

Gaming

All Captain Toad locations in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Toadette talking to captain toad.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is taking the series back to its 2D roots with a new and exciting art style and a ton of new mechanics. Alongside new power-ups and badges, this title has perhaps the largest amount of collectibles and hidden secrets of any game in the series. Between all the Wonder Seeds, Wonder Flowers, Flower Coins, and more, there's no shortage of things to do as you run, jump, and flip your way through all the various worlds. Among all the playable characters to choose from, one non-playable character makes his triumphant return. Captain Toad has managed to make his way to the Flower Kingdom, but this intrepid explorer is not so easy to find. Each time you interact with him, he will reward you with some Flower Coins and a hint at an upcoming world, so let's hunt down all his locations in Super Mario Wonder.
All Captain Toad locations

Captain Toad appears in five unique spots on the Super Mario Bros. Wonder world map. Talking to him at each spot will give you a little bit more of his story, plus the aforementioned rewards.
First Captain Toad location

Gaming

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has some of Nintendo’s best online features

Wiggler in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

When it comes to multiplayer integration, Nintendo can be wildly unpredictable. Unstable online servers and disappointing co-op experiences built for young players can leave its games lacking. Thankfully, that's not the case with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. In fact, the new 2D adventure might just contain the best Nintendo multiplayer experience on the Switch next to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

At any point while playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder, players can bring their game online with the press of a button in the main menu. Doing so will unlock several multiplayer features at once. For one, there's traditional online multiplayer. Simply press a button to "play with friends" and you'll be able to explore both the overworld and levels co-operatively. Like the New Super Mario Bros. series, four players can work together to complete levels (which can be very hectic fun).