Super Smash Bros.

[PLA]

^ I like using Triforce Slash, but it's "I am hitting you with a sword, and also let me remind you that the Triforce is my logo."

Edit:

[Reynard-Miri]

[CD-Man2021]

Gaiz. What if
guys listen
what if
guys srsly
guys what if we change Link's B move from the bow and arrow
into
the sword beam?
gaiz plz

More often than not, I've seen the Gale Boomerang screw Link over in Brawl. The most notable example was the number of times I played as Ike, hopped onto the return Gale, charged up my smash attack, and knocked Link out instantly with it. Then again I never play as Link myself, so I might be biased.

[Lethen]

I always thought Link was one of the stronger characters in smash bros. maybe even the strongest? then again I haven't played it all that much...

[Hong]

In SSB64, I would rate him "Good". I would rate everyone except Samus "Good" or better in that game. Bad recovery, but like every character he has lots of 0%-> death combos, and if you got really good you could setup such ridiculous traps. His air-to-air game against enemies who are above or below him is probably the best in the game.

SSBM, I would rate him "Poor". Not quite terrible like Pikachu, Pichu, Kirby, etc., but that game was horribly dominated by fast fighters like Sheik, Marth, Fox and Falco, and in the ranged department I think he was heartily outdone by Samus and her missiles. In general, the forced lag on landing aerial attacks hurt Link more than any other character, with Ness as a distant second.

Brawl, I think he would rate "Okay" at a beginner level, and he grows drastically worse as people improve and he gets picked apart. On the other hand, the game has so many bad characters (Ganondorf, Sonic, the new Captain Falcon), that he does not seem so bad. I think if he played like he did on the 64, he would rate "Decent".

It is not so much that Link in of himself is bad, but the way Brawl plays out just makes projectiles weaker than previous entries, which is why Samus suffers as well. Everyone is so floaty and has free air-dodges. Not to mention the characters are significantly larger/the stages are much smaller. You get in less damage and they have a shorter gap to close. Every projectile user except Snake and Falco is jeopardized by this direction.

All in all Link has always been a very stiff fighter. Other swordsmen have greater range, technique and/or speed. He is all about his harassment kit, then going in for the kill when the time is right. The classic boomerang just needs to return and he could do to be a bit faster overall.

[halifix]

That running jump then C-down in SMB was so annoying.

[CD-Man2021]

I agree that Link's problem is how slow he is. The only reason he is that slow to begin with is show the differences between normal Link and Young/Toon Link. Get rid of those and we're just left with Link, who would be a more faster and viable character. Not only is he supposed to be slower than Toon/Young, but he's also supposed to be stronger. I don't know the numbers, but it definitely does not feel as if Link is all that stronger than YL/TL, especially with mid air attacks.

[PLA]

^ At least Toon Link doesn't homing parry in Smash.

[Hong]

One thing Link has over Young Link is his spin attack is pretty good. It really sends the enemy reeling, comes out fast, out of a shield or dash, and if they come from below it sends them on a low trajectory. That, combined with my preference of a heavier weight class, is why I choose the older Link.

Also, while I loved Wind Waker and the DS adventures... Toon Link just seems so weird in Brawl. Kind of feels like something modders would add to the game. Just doesn't look right. I avoid playing him if I can. Much like R.O.B., I prefer to see as little of him as possible.

[Hong]

Bumpers.

[CD-Man2021]

I agree that all the clones need to be changed up or removed. We seriously do not need three Star Fox rep. Either Falco or Wolf have to go. I think it's been mentioned already, but Luigi is pretty much the standard on how characters should be when they have similar movesets to other characters.

[Hong]

My prediction and hopes, as I touched on prior, are Chrom and Lucina or Chrom and Robin as a united fighting force. Calling it now.

I think it just best represents the spirit of the series. They wouldn't fight like Ice Climbers, Zelda or Pokémon Trainer. Instead, the special moves of the character would depend on who is on point and who is on standby. So, for example, B neutral will be "Dual Strike". So if Chrom is fighting, Lucina would jump in for a rapid-hitting combo-centric move, while Chrom's assistance would instead be a slower, more powerful attack, that you would want to time with your own combo.

In general I think it would be a better attempt than previous transformation-style characters. Players can just as well "main" either Chrom or Lucina/Robin based on their own preferences and play style, but no matter who they choose, they both fight together instead of just being an involuntary guest star.

[Wolkenritter]

[PLA]

^ Isn't Wolf even less Fox-like than Falco, except for the Reflector?

[Wolkenritter]