This past week, the “Super Smash Bros” community saw the release of fighter number six in the first fighter’s pass, “Byleth of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.” This is the end of the first fighter’s pass, as just recently, developer Masahiro Sakurai came on the Nintendo Direct and announced a second version with six new fighters and many new costumes.
For those who don’t know, Byleth is the eighth “Fire Emblem” character in “Smash Bros” and the first Nintendo Switch based “Fire Emblem” character in the series to come to the massive fighting game. However, Sakurai’s decision to release Byleth brought up much unwarranted criticism among the “Smash Bros” community, as the Byleth release brought fans going at fans who wanted the “Fire Emblem” character in the game, or “Fire Emblem” fans in general. The reveal video “Super Smash Bros Ultimate-Mr. Sakurai presents Byleth” has the most dislikes any “Smash Bros” video or reveal has seen in a long time, with over 83,000 dislikes as of this past Friday.
Personally, I don’t understand the Byleth hate. It’s understandable as this is the eighth “Fire Emblem” character in the series, but it’s not a swordfighter like previous characters such as Corrin, Lucina, Ike or even Marth or Roy. Byleth’s moveset combinations consist of the several relic weapons in “Fire Emblem: Three Houses,” with the main weapon being the famed Sword of the Creator. By having such references to the main game (which also is on pace to become the greatest “Fire Emblem” seller in franchise history), it hopefully will give “Smash” players an incentive to maybe try the 2019 best seller and award winner, and enjoy the character of Byleth, whether male or female.
In the end, what Masahiro Sakurai has always wanted to do with these characters is to bring life and vibrancy to the game that they come from. You can see that in the surprise additions of Joker and Banjo-Kazooie this past year, because nobody believed those additions would be possible before. What everyone has been saying since Byleth’s reveal is definitely something to behold. However, I suggest giving the character a shot anyway, and while you’re at it, try “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” as well. No matter if it’s “too many” or not, it’s still a great game and that has always been the goal of bringing fighters to “Smash Bros,” even if you look all the way back to the very first game on the Nintendo 64, with the introduction of Marth.
So I suppose in the end, I’m just saying to not listen to the overall opinion on social media about this specific character.
So I suppose in the end, I’m just saying to not listen to the overall opinion on social media about this specific character. Whether it’s “too much” or “too repetitive,” if you have the time, this character and the game that it comes from is very much worth it. “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” also comes out with its Wave 4 downloadable content pack, “Cindered Shadows,” which releases on Feb. 13. Byleth is out now on the Nintendo E-Shop for $5.99, or if you have the Fighter Pass, you can play them now.
Jeffrey Babcock is a third-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism. JB884128@wcupa.edu.