‘Like it or not, it’s not up to me whether another swordsman comes into play’
If you count both variants (a la Sheik and Zelda), Smash Ultimate just got it two more sword users with the addition of Pyra and Mythra.
This follows several other sword users in both Fighters Passes, including the most recent addition of Sephiroth. So what gives? Well, serial dad Masahiro Sakurai says you can’t blame him!
Speaking to Washa Live (via Nintendo Everything) this week, Sakurai had a few short things to say Smash Ultimate‘s DLC choices, but also had their hands tied a bit by how much they could work out. When asked why there are so many swordsmen (a question he often gets), Sakurai explains with laughter, “Like it or not, it’s not up to me whether another swordsman comes into play.”
When pressed again, saying that the player base often groans when another sword user is announced, Sakurai follows up and notes, “Even if it’s another swordsman, it will be fine as long as we balance them properly.” He also states that swordsmen are “easy to implement,” especially when compared to insanely complex characters like Steve.
But beyond that brief overview, Sakurai says he can’t really expand beyond that, and that if he goes “ a little further, [he] gets something from Nintendo. “A deafening, it sounds like! Sakurai is very careful in what he says in situations like this, but has made it clear on several occasions that he is not in charge of who gets picked.
Washa Live [YouTube via Nintendo Everything]
