During this afternoon’s Super Smash Bros for the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct, Director Masahiro Sakurai announced not just one but five new characters in Nintendo’s seminal fighting series, two ladies, two monsters, and an adorable dinosaur.

The ladies are Sheik and Zero Suit Samus, both the alter-egos of Princes Zelda and Samus respectively. This time around they are individual characters rather than alternate forms that can switch in and out of battle.

Sheik is, of course, the ninja that Princess Zelda masquerades around as during Ocarina of Time, and she has a much more melee focused attack pattern than her normal form’s magic based skills.

Zero Suit Samus is the Metroid star appearing without her iconic armor on. The character has been redesigned from the ground up and no longer looks like a candied up Barbie doll. Not only does she look tougher, but she is equipped to the teeth with fire arms on her arms and high heels, not unlike Bayonetta.

It took a while, but Nintendo also finally confirmed Mario’s dinosaur friend Yoshi to be appearing in the game. He will appear much more bipedal and upright than his previous iterations in the fighting series, but his moves base remains largely unchained. Eating enemies and turning them into eggs, and his annoying floating jump. People skilled as Yoshi in Super Smash Bros. are the worst.

The two monsters are two new Pokemon added to the line-up. Charizard appeared before as backup for the Pokemon Trainer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but now he stars front and center as his own character. Also making an appearance in the game is Greninja, the final evolution of Pokemon X and Y starting Pokemon Froakie. I don’t really know him as I chose Fennekin as my starter in Y.

Their announcements makes you wonder if Mewtwo will be coming back. He only appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee, so it’s not like he’s a mainstay.

All decent choices, and the first three weren’t exactly big surprises. Beyond them, I was most excited to see Mega Man Voltnut from the Mega Man Legends appear, even if it was just a supporting role in Mega Man’s final smash attack.

Still waiting for Wario, Ness, and Captain Falcon. As long as Waluigi remains an assist trophy, I am not worried about Wario not making the cut. However, given that Nintendo has no plans for a new F-Zero game on the Wii U, and most definitely has no plans to ever acknowledge Earthbound again after they met their decade quota last year, Captain Falcon’s and Ness’ absence is downright nerve wracking.

Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS will be released later this summer, so we still have about five more months to get the reveals we want. The clock is ticking. Super Smash Bros. will launch for the Wii U this winter.

Super Smash Bros. – Nintendo 3DS

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Super Smash Bros. – Wii U

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