Now that Sora's arrival has sealed the deal on the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster for good, I can finally say what I've been holding back for years: the game does not have too many "anime sword users." It's the most screeched complaint about the game, and it drives me up a wall. While I get where it comes from, it's also completely overblown and inaccurate. I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned with such a thing – variety is the spice of life, and no one wants an overabundance of the same character type. But it isn't nearly as much of an issue as sword-haters would have you believe, and I'm here to prove it in every scientific and absurd way imaginable.
First, let's break down the term "anime sword user." What does that actually mean? The label "anime" doesn't make sense as none of the characters in Smash come from an actual anime. They're all original video game characters. There is no anime to be had.
You may now be saying, "You're arguing semantics. They look like anime characters." I guess? I mean, if you're saying they look like Japanese cartoons, then news flash: nearly the entire roster falls into that distinction. In fact, the only non-Japanese fighters are Banjo Kazooie, Minecraft Steve, and – to get super duper technical – the tie-wearing Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and King K. Rool (because Rare, a British studio, conceived these guys despite Nintendo owning the characters).
Don't mind me; I'm just poking fun at this objectively silly part of the complaint. I know the "anime sword user" term arose from the perceived abundance of Fire Emblem characters, fighters who best fit the prototypical "anime look" (whatever that is). What people really seem to mean is that there are too many Fire Emblem representatives in Smash, though even that criticism barely holds water. Has anyone counted the roster? There are eight Fire Emblem fighters in a game of 80+ characters. Really take that in. Out of 82 characters (89 with Echoes, but we'll stick to the official number), only eight hail from Fire Emblem. Barely 10 percent of the roster is too much?
Ultimate's roster has 11 characters from the Mario series. Twelve when you include Donkey Kong (which he totally counts, but I'm being ultra-specific for the sake of argument). That's roughly 14 percent of the roster, still very little in the grand scheme, but why does no one flip their lids about this? Not only that, but people were screaming at Sakurai to add Waluigi! Hey, I'm one of them – I've wanted that purple goof in the game for years. But I also don't complain about any series having too many representatives. I smell some bias against Fire Emblem.
Would it be acceptable if Luke Skywalker, an American-made swordsman, joined the roster? That's a rhetorical question, as I know the main problem lies in the swords themselves. But for those who just hate anyone who uses such a weapon no matter what they look like or where they come from, let's break down how many pure sword wielders the game truly has.
Out of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 82-character roster, only 22 use a sword as their primary weapon. Here they are below:
Byleth
Chrom
Cloud
Corrin
Dark Pit
Hero
Ike
Link
Lucina
Marth
Meta Knight
Mii Swordfighter
Pit
Pyra/Mythra
Robin
Roy
Sephiroth
Shulk
Sora
Steve
Toon Link
Young Link
These fighters account for just shy of 27 percent of the total roster, or a little over 1/4. That might sound substantial, but it also means 60 characters don't use swords as their main weapons. Sixty characters! Most fighting games are lucky to have 30 or 40 characters total. "Too much" would suggest that at least half the roster swings a sword. They don't! To further drive this point home, and because nothing says "I'm right" better than a visual aid, I painstakingly created this helpful and exciting pie chart for reference:
As you can see, the visual representation of non-sword users resembles Pac-Man. You know who also doesn't use a sword? Pac-Man. Coincidence? I think not. What does it mean? Something.
Looking at it like this, you'll see that there's an overwhelming number of fighters that wouldn't fall into the detested sword category. Thus, in reality, there are a plethora of alternatives for those who despise sword users with the burning passion of a thousand Hotheads. So why are we still on about "too many sword users"?
There are also a few caveats to consider that further reinforce my argument:
Sora's keyblade isn't a sword. It's a big ol' key. Sure, he swings it like a sword, but no one would call me a swordsman if I swung a broom around. Sometimes it turns into something more blade-like, but it won't in Smash (likely due to the lack of Disney involvement).
Pit/Dark Pit are essentially the same character, so you could argue they count as one sword user. They also wield dual swords that play more like twin daggers than anything. Not your grandmother's sword user at all.
The Link trio plays largely the same with some slight differences, so you could also argue they're just variations of a single sword user.
Steve barely cracks this list as his sword is definitely not the star of his moveset. He could easily be cut.
No one cares about Mii Swordfighter. Period.
Look, I'm not saying you have to like Sephiroth, Lucina, or Shulk. I, too, get tired of Ike batting me around like his personal shuttlecock. I'm just saying that now Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is effectively finished, it's time to retire the lame, worn-out "why can't I hold all of these anime sword users???" complaint with it. Just say you don't like them. The numbers don't lie. Ornery fans, on the other hand? Maybe just a little bit.
*Final notes to squash some potential rebuttals:
Ganandorf wasn't included because he throws hands as often as he whips out his broadsword.
That's a knife that Joker uses.
You're seriously going to try and lump in Kirby? Really?
Everybody's got that one snack they like to eat while gaming (unless you're pure of heart and keep snacks away from controllers) and if Trolli's gummi worms are your thing, you're going to want to sit down. That's because Trolli is giving away 20 custom gummi worm-themed Xbox Series S consoles.
Four Trolli snacks have received new packaging to showcase some of Xbox's biggest games and partners: Halo Infinite on Sour Brite Crawlers, Sea of Thieves on Sour Brite Crawlers Very Berry, Psychonauts 2 on Sour Crunch Crawlers, and Destiny 2 on Sour Gummi Creations.
Each of these packages features a code for one month of free Xbox Game Pass. If you upload your receipt to Trolli's Xbox landing page, you'll be entered in for a chance to win one of the 20 exclusive Xbox Series S bundles. Each of those comes with the custom Xbox Series S, a matching gummi-wormified controller, and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Nintendo has a special place in the games industry. For many of us, a Nintendo controller was the first we ever held and remains one of our favorites to pick up today. This is not because of the form factor or the visual aesthetics of the controller itself, but rather because of the magic that plays out on-screen when we hold it. For nearly the last 40 years, Nintendo has played a crucial role in our gaming lives and the industry at large, and now we're creating a special place to celebrate that.
The All Things Nintendo podcast is a place where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, I'll be joined by different guests to talk about what's going on in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, we'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we grew up with. I've been covering Nintendo for more than a decade now, and I can't wait to bring that experience into this exciting new venture.
The All Things Nintendo podcast will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts. Join me every Friday and get your weekend started right with a nice dose of Nintendo.
Onion Games is a studio with some much admired developers in the team, and has won a number of fans on platforms like Switch with recent releases like Moon and Dandy Dungeon - Legend of Brave Yamada. Well known for its eccentric style, the developer is sticking to its approach with the bizarre but intriguing Mon Amour.
You can see some of its weirdness in the trailer above - described as a 'flappy kissing game', you need just one button to try and navigate increasingly tricky stages, seemingly with those you have kissed following behind.
One minute into my first match of Battlefield 2042, I accidentally fell out of a helicopter. I somehow survived, then blew up a wall with my rocket launcher and took out the enemy hiding behind it. I died seconds later...not totally sure how, but it must've been badass. My lively outing ended as I called out for a…
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This week's Steam Next Fest, during which hundreds of in-development PC games released demos, features a game that really seems to care about how you're doing just now. Please, Touch the Artwork is a puzzle adventure in which you're allowed to prod at the paintings in an exhibition, and it picks the difficulty based…
It's Wednesday, and while that normally means we'd have another Minecraft snapshot to take a look at, this week's beta preview has been delayed - so what better time to dig into the world of Minecraft creations? Today we've got a particularly impressive take on Rivendell as it appears in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films.
Creator 1nsinuating says on Reddit that the build took around three to four weeks to complete, using a combination of WorldEdit, VoxelSniper, and old-fashioned construction by hand for the structure itself. Look closely and you'll see a small number of trees repeated throughout the environment, but that doesn't make the effort any less impressive.
Other than the tools, it's all vanilla Minecraft - the visual effects you see above are simply for the photo, rendered in Blender and Photoshop. 1sinuating is a member of Sapphire Studios, a build group that does commissions and contributes DLC to the official Minecraft marketplace.
Wondering whether to choose male or female Dani in Far Cry 6? Ubisoft's latest title in the massive open-world FPS series departs from the formulae of the previous games in more than a few ways - one of which is the addition of two fully voiced versions of the main character, Dani Rojas: one male, and one female. But which should you choose, and is there any difference between them? Find out below.
Confused about how to get Gunpowder in Far Cry 6? Gunpowder is a fairly sparse but very important resource in Ubisoft's colossal open-world FPS title, as it is a required component for upgrading your weapons arsenal throughout the game. There are only a few ways you can get your hands on Gunpowder in Far Cry 6, so follow the tips below to learn how to amass a healthy stockpile of Gunpowder while you play.
Want to know where to find Depleted Uranium in Far Cry 6? Depleted Uranium is a very important resource in Far Cry 6, the latest title in Ubisoft's massive open-world FPS series. Although in this case, it's actually less of a resource and more of a currency which you can use to purchase powerful and unique gear from your comrade, Juan.
Learn how to get Depleted Uranium in Far Cry 6 below, along with how to use it up purchasing awesome new equipment once you have it.
Want to know about the different ammo types in Far Cry 6? Each type of ammo in Ubisoft's behemoth of a FPS deals a different type of damage to enemies, and each of them is particularly effective against certain foes in Anton Castillo's army.
Learn about the different damage and ammo types in Far Cry 6 below, and how you can learn which enemies are susceptible to certain types of damage.
Wondering how to fish in Far Cry 6? First you'll need a Fishing Rod. Sounds obvious, doesn't it? Sadly, you can't just walk up to those fishing points dotted about the coasts of Yara in Far Cry 6 and start catching fish, though.
Below we'll teach you how to get the Fishing Rod, how the actual fishing minigame works in Far Cry 6, and how to use the fish you've caught to cook delicious meals and trade for crafting materials.
Confused about how to destroy Anti-Aircraft Cannons in Far Cry 6? There's a very respectable number of in-game tutorials in Ubisoft's latest open-world FPS, but they really could have done with a tutorial about what it takes to destroy those giant, seemingly invulnerable skyward-pointing turrets. Without the right weapons, these things are pretty much impossible to take down - so read on to find out exactly how to destroy Anti-Aircraft Cannons in Far Cry 6.
Is it possible to save your progress in Far Cry 6? Like many Ubisoft games, Far Cry 6 uses an autosave feature to save your progress rather letting you save manually, but how does the game decide when to autosave? In such a colossal open-world FPS game, where you're often spending time crossing large distances and getting lots of different things done in a short space of time, it's important that Far Cry 6 features a robust save system. But what can you do to ensure that your progress is saved when you need it to be? Learn the answers to these questions below.
Want to know about the different Amigos in Far Cry 6 and how to get them? Guns For Hire are a thing of the past in this latest installment of Ubisoft's open-world FPS franchise, and replacing them are Amigos - animal allies you can give orders to in combat and stealth situations.
Some of these Amigos are very easy to unlock, while others require far more work to obtain. Learn how to unlock all seven Amigos in Far Cry 6 below, and the strengths and abilities of each one.
Want to know which territory you should go to first in Far Cry 6? In true Ubisoft fashion, Far Cry 6 drops players into an incredibly large and open-ended map, where shortly after the first starting missions you'll have the freedom to pick where in the enormous island of Yara you want to visit. Each of the three major territories is packed with content, characters, and pets - so have a read about each one below and find out which territory you should start with in the Far Cry 6 map.
Looking for tips and tricks on how to begin your Far Cry 6 journey with a bang? Ubisoft's latest installment in their flagship open-world FPS series is the biggest we've seen so far. Far Cry 6 unleashes players on the colossal, fictional Caribbean country of Yara, and it is jam-packed with things to do. It can be a daunting prospect when you're first starting out, particularly if you've never played a Far Cry game before.
In this beginner's guide to Far Cry 6, we'll walk you through our top tips and tricks that will help you get prepared and equipped for any situation early on. From crafting weapons and piloting choppers to getting unique weapons and animal companions, we'll show you the things worth knowing on day one.
Earlier today in a press release from Gearbox Entertainment, it was officially announced that the CTO of the company will, Steve Jones, has been promoted to the position of President, effective today. Co-founder, Randy Pitchford, will also remain with the company as CEO and President along with his title of President of the company — […]
Chorizo is one of the amigos that you can recruit in Far Cry 6. He is a dachshund puppy, also known as a wiener dog or sausage dog. Because he's disabled, he has a makeshift wheelchair to help him get around. Here's our Far Cry 6 Chorizo amigo guide to help you obtain this sausage dog companion. Note: For more information, check out our Far Cry 6 guides and features hub. Likewise, you can take a look at our other amigo/animal companion guides for Guapo, K-9000, and Champagne. Far Cry 6 Chorizo amigo guide: How to get the sausage dog companion Acquiring Chorizo in Far Cry 6 To get Chorizo in Far Cry 6, you'll need to reach the Madrugada region of Yara. There, you'll meet the Montero family who are trying to fight back against Anton Castillo's lieutenants. After completing a couple of introductory missions, you'll be able to go to Montero Farm. In this guerrilla base, you'll find Chorizo. Once you interact with him, you'll be give...
Guapo is one of the amigos that you can have in Far Cry 6. This crocodile companion is extremely tough and fierce, able to withstand damage and rip apart your foes' limbs. Here's our Far Cry 6 Guapo amigo guide to help you obtain this crocodile companion. Note: For more information, check out our Far Cry 6 guides and features hub. Likewise, you can take a look at our other amigo/animal companion guides for Chorizo, K-9000, and Champagne. Far Cry 6 Guapo amigo guide: How to get the crocodile companion Acquiring Guapo in Far Cry 6 Getting Guapo the crocodile amigo in Far Cry 6 is actually fairly straightforward, so much so that you can't miss it. All you need to do is complete a mission called "Juan of a Kind." It takes place in Isla Santuario very early in the campaign. The mission itself is given to you by Clara Garcia, the leader of the Libertad freedom fighters. She wants you to find Juan Cortez, an ex-KGB spymaster who's chilling in a ne...
People have long considered shipbreaking jobs as among the most dangerous in the entire world. Workers constantly have to deal with risks involving harmful chemicals, unsafe equipment, and other safety hazards. Additionally, many workers do not receive the proper training that would ensure maximum safety, and wages often remain dangerously low. Understandably, most people would not want to get a shipbreaking job if they had the option not to. On the other hand, a virtual shipbreaking job, which would allow people to partake in the activity without any of the risks normally associated with it, may come off as appealing to some. Developer Games Incubator's Ship Graveyard Simulator aims to provide exactly this kind of hands-off shipbreaking experience, and interested Steam players can try out the free prologue on October 7 at 11 AM ET. This free prologue, dubbed Ship Graveyard Simulator: Prologue, sees players navigating "a huge beach filled with shipwrecks waiting for demo...
Far Cry 6 has plenty of weapons that you can add to your arsenal. You've even got Resolver variants that are more akin to makeshift firearms than normal guns. Still, you're bound to wonder which armaments are ideal. Here's our Far Cry 6 guide to help you with the best weapons and attachment mods. Note: For more information, check out our Far Cry 6 guides and features hub. Likewise, please remember that this guide is based on my experience after reviewing the game and completing its campaign. Far Cry 6 guide: The best weapons and attachment mods For the sake of clarity, my suggestions for the best weapons and attachment mods in Far Cry 6 are solely for standard weapons from FND caches and guerrilla vendors. The vendor NPCs unlocked by the Guerrilla Garrison camp facility will sell stuff depending on the building's upgrade tier. Meanwhile, FND caches give you random loot. As for mod attachments, you'll need gunpowder and other materials. Primary 1:...
More makeshift contraptions are available for the freedom fighters of Libertad. That's because you can acquire Resolver weapons, homemade firearms with lots of quirky uses. Here's our Far Cry 6 guide to help you with the best Resolver weapons for your arsenal. Note: For more information, check out our Far Cry 6 guides and features hub. Likewise, please remember that this guide is based on my experience after reviewing the game and completing its campaign. Far Cry 6 guide: The best Resolver weapons Before we continue, we have to answer this question: are Resolver weapons in Far Cry 6 worth your while? The short answer is no. I actually finished the campaign without bothering to use most of them. Instead, I simply relied on a few ideal weapons with great mods. So, what exactly do these Resolver weapons entail? Well, the first one you'll acquire is the Tostador. You'll receive it after completing the Du or Die mission, similar to the requirement to obtain...
Onion Games is about to put its insta-death kissing-action game Mon Amour on Switch, the developer announced today. The title is slated for an October 14 launch. Here's an overview of Mon Amour, courtesy of Onion Games: There's a 99% chance you'll instantly die as soon as you press start… that's Mon Amour! Welcome to our pastel-colored, world of wonder,...
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It's the spookiest time conceivable for Blade & Soul once again as the annual Blade & Ghoul events roll onto the live servers once more. Take part in a variety of events starting today and running until November 10th, ranging from polishing up some ancient lamps for treasures like festival coins to helping close rifts to […]
Last spring, we covered a new-to-us MMO called Polity by Jib Games. It's essentially a Turkish indie social game that borrows ideas from The Sims and Stardew Valley to foster a roleplaying environment where players can join and rule countries, trade, travel, play minigames, and participate in lifeskilling professions – everything from farming to foresting. […]
They may not yet be a company of instant recognition, but Fellow Traveller Games have built up a pretty damn decent little project library. With the likes of The Church in the Darkness and Genesis Noir under their belt, they have now moved back onto the scene with a bit of a point-and-clicker - No Longer Home.
The Far Cry franchise has come a long way since the early instalments, yet whilst the series highlights of Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4 are long behind it, there's still just something about it which means gamers will be clamouring to take a look. That's the case with Far Cry 6 - a game which provides access to the most expansive Far Cry experience yet.
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