Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass Vol. 2 character predictions

Geno (Square Enix)

Perhaps the most interesting choice on this list, Geno has been a desired character for Smash fans since Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Unlike the other choices on this list, however, Geno has only ever been prominently featured in one game: the 1996 RPG classic Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Besides the less popular Mallow, Geno was the only other original party member created for the game.

Nintendo published Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the SNES, but Square Enix (officially known back then as Squaresoft) handled the game’s development under Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s watchful eye. Although Nintendo considered the game a success both critically and commercially, it never received any type of follow-up or sequel.

Nintendo released Paper Mario as a “spiritual successor” to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, but both the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi RPGs were not developed by Square Enix. Geno has not been featured in any title since his initial appearance (outside of a few small cameos). As Square Enix owned the rights to the character himself (as well as all the original content created for Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars), this made Geno a polarizing character in Nintendo’s history.

Masahiro Sakurai has wanted to include Geno as a playable fighter since development began on Super Smash Bros. Brawl, although the copyright issues with Square Enix likely prevented this from happening. However, in 2015 Geno was officially brought into Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS as a costume for the Mii Fighter character. Although Geno’s costume is currently absent from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he is in the game as a collectible spirit (along with Mallow).

Copyright issues with Square Enix may also be a thing of the past, especially since Nintendo announced Cloud from Final Fantasy VII (a title that, at the time, had never appeared on a Nintendo console) as a DLC fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS in 2015. The “Hero,” represented by various protagonists from another popular Square Enix property, the Dragon Quest franchise, was one of the DLC fighters included in Fighters Pass Vol. 1.

Fan demand has consistently been high despite Geno’s relative obscurity, showing just how much of an impression the character made on gamers. Although some may consider adding Geno to the roster more “fan service” than “financial logic,” but I think that Geno will ultimately join the roster. Until then, fans and gamers alike will have to likely wait until the next Nintendo Direct.