The Case for Why Marina (Splatoon 2) Should Be in Smash Bros

[Deleted member 33533]

Exactly, & I'm surprised that more people don't bring it up. While having an exclusively-black character is preferred, having a character who's at least primarily dark-skinned is still a big step forward with regards to representation.

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Idk, this seems like it would be such a cop out. We already have dark skinned alts in Villager and Inkling. I don't want another generic avatar with no personality that just happens to have one or two dark-skinned alts. I don't see how Octoling would be a big step. It's an incremental step, I guess but hardly anything noteworthy. I think it just further highlights Nintendo's lack of diversity that we have to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this. We shouldn't have to be like "look this race of humanoid octopi sometimes have dark skin! Put them in Smash!" At least Marina is a distinct character.

In conclusion, Twintelle was robbed.

 

[WellbornWarrior]

First the thread about Minecraft Steve and now this? Are people really that desperate for a black character that they would rather accept someone that can at best be an echo fighter of an existing nondescript character than something actually more exciting?

 

[Taka]

First the thread about Minecraft Steve and now this? Are people really that desperate for a black character that they would rather accept someone that can at best be an echo fighter of an existing nondescript character than something actually more exciting?

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There's a whole arsenal of weapons from Splatoon that haven't been touched for Inkling's moveset.

If Isabelle can be unique from Villager (and she is) then there's no good argument for why Marina can't be unique from Inkling.

 

[Yolkghost]

I was expecting more of a discussion on how cool Marina is in universe - like the fact that she is known to be EXTREMELY intelligent and created the shifty stations stages alongside many other inventions. Marina's a genius and I would LOVE to see her show up.

Especially if they give her some of the alt colors she had in the splatoon concerts.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

My vote for second Splatoon character is actually agent 8 as default octoling, but they both achieve the same goal. Give them a moveset based around the new Splatoon 2 weapons, brella and dualies, as well as some of the ones missing from the inkling moveset, or influenced by things from octo expansion such as the repeated 8 balls or something.

If they put marina in, they'll definitely be doubled up with pearl and that's not a risk I'm willing to take, lol.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

First the thread about Minecraft Steve and now this? Are people really that desperate for a black character that they would rather accept someone that can at best be an echo fighter of an existing nondescript character than something actually more exciting?

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Yes? I mean, a spot went to Piranha Plant. Why not Marina?

 

[Gold Arsene]

First the thread about Minecraft Steve and now this? Are people really that desperate for a black character that they would rather accept someone that can at best be an echo fighter of an existing nondescript character than something actually more exciting?

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I've been asking for Pearl and Marina since the Octo Expansion came out. You can do a lot with them I feel.

Marina being a woman of color is a bonus for me but I've wanted these characters for a while.

 

[Zarckoh]

These echo arguments are reminding me of those that wanted Isabelle to be echo. But unlike Animal Crossing there is way more combat material and unused weapons to make a moveset.

Like it or not Splatoon deserves far more than an echo as a second rep.

 

[Crayolan]

Marina would only ever be added as part of a duo with Pearl.

I think if we are to get another Splatoon rep, Octolings as a semi-clone/echo of Inklings are far more likely.

 

[Gold Arsene]

My vote for second Splatoon character is actually agent 8 as octoling, but they both achieve the same goal.

If they put marina in, they'll definitely be doubled up with pearl and that's not a risk I'm willing to take, lol.

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Why would you want to separate Nintendo's best couple?

 

[HotHamBoy]

why can't Marina & Pearl be an Ice Climbers-style duo fighter?

 

[Weebos]

I can't see them adding Marina without her being a duo with Pearl, like Ice Climbers or something, (same with Callie and Marie).

I would love to see it either way.

 

[mopinks]

why can't Marina & Pearl be an Ice Climbers-style duo fighter?

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Marina's a lot taller

 

[Kitty Paws]

Marina is my favorite Splatoon character, she's sooo cute!

I think they should add her as a standalone fighter, with various other Octoling skins available similar to the Inkling character, and then add Pearl as a skin for the Inkling too.

 

[Deleted member 18161]

She's a great design. I'd be in favour.

 

[Menx64]

You probably need a better argument that representation ( I agree representation is important and it matters) for a character to be included in Smash. Smash seems to be a combination of Nintendo requested characters and iconic third party IPs. Of course Sakurai has a say, but we need to start asking companies to be more open to represent more people. I for one wish Latinos were not represented as gang members, drug dealers, or just casualties.
I bet the same happens with a lot of people around the world.

 

[Jakisthe]

Nah.
Inklings are already here, it's enough for splatoon imo.

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This. Sales seem to be less of an indicative factor than number of games a character is in/number of games in the series. I'm sure there's some way of tweaking the perspective based on added characters, some exception to the rule, but that's always the sense I've gotten overall. I think we're good on Splatoon characters.

I'm still holding out for Tetris block myself. I'd love to see what Sakurai does with such an esoteric concept.

 

[Mr. President]

No, Agent 8.

 

[KaiserGuillermo]

They'll have their chance, not sure if in this season or in the next Smash

 

[We_care_a_lot]

literally 15 games worth of final fantasy characters I would like to see before another splatoon character. admittedly I'm not really into the lore of splatoon, it being an online shooter and all but I definitely would not be exicted for another splatoon character. or raiden from metal gear solid. or pyramid head from silent hill although I guess that would be iffy since there was like 1 silent hill game ever on nintendo consoles and it wasn't 2. same with raiden I suppose.

What about the dog from okami? viewtiful joe? Leon from resident evil?

i dunno, another splatoon character just seems a bit redundant. I guess it would be fine, for those who love splatoon

 

[Alastor3]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Vol. 2 is mostly first-party.

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why

 

[XaviConcept]

You gotta include characters that actually do something. If you want black representation, theres plenty of characters out there like Elma from X Chronicles they could add but Sakurai isn't really going to go for a character who sits there, is not playable, and just talks

 

[Gravidee]

Can't do Marina without Pearl, they are a literal set

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She can be part of Marina's final smash, like Chrom is to Robin.

 

[Camjo-Z]

You gotta include characters that actually do something. If you want black representation, theres plenty of characters out there like Elma from X Chronicles they could add but Sakurai isn't really going to go for a character who sits there, is not playable, and just talks

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[Gold Arsene]

You gotta include characters that actually do something. If you want black representation, theres plenty of characters out there like Elma from X Chronicles they could add but Sakurai isn't really going to go for a character who sits there, is not playable, and just talks

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Someone should tell Zelda I guess.

 

[XaviConcept]

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Exception that proves the rule, etc

Someone should tell Zelda I guess.

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Have you .. played a Zelda game? She does plenty

 

[Deleted member 31092]

Marina without Pearl would be extremely lame after their entire character arc in the game and DLC is about them being a pair in everything.

Give me Octoling instead

 

[Deleted member 31092]

You gotta include characters that actually do something. If you want black representation, theres plenty of characters out there like Elma from X Chronicles they could add but Sakurai isn't really going to go for a character who sits there, is not playable, and just talks

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Marina is an ex soldier, an hacker, an engineer and she was part of a team that stopped a racial genocide. She did plenty of stuff.

 

[Gold Arsene]

Have you .. played a Zelda game? She does plenty

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Have you....played a Splatoon game? She does plenty.

 

[XaviConcept]

Marina is an ex soldier, an hacker, an engineer and she was part of a team that stopped a racial genocide. She did plenty of stuff.

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Have you....played a Splatoon game? She does plenty.

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You know what, I have not beaten the SP in SPlatoon 2 so I'll happily eat crow on this one and retreat back to my cave

 

[McNum]

Agent 8 with the Dualies, and a Solid Snake style gadgets and traps moveset would be fun, too, and not an Inkling clone, with the sole exception of needing to restock ink. Her hold A attack would be cancellable by moving left or right into a dodge while still firing.

Of course, her Final Smash would be calling in Pearl and Marina to recreate the climax of the Octo Expansion on the opponent. If it's a game winning KO, the Good Guys/Bad Guys bar will shatter, just like in Splatoon 2.

But I definitely won't say no to just Marina. She's cool.

 

[Gold Arsene]

You know what, I have not beaten the SP in SPlatoon 2 so I'll happily eat crow on this one and retreat back to my cave

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It's mainly in the Octo Expansion. We also know she can fight because it's mentioned in dialogue that her and Pearl play Turf Wars and such.

 

[Dyle]

I will be absolutely shocked if she isn't part of challenger pack 2, she's the closest thing to a hard lock imaginable. My hope is that Pearl and Marina will both be in as co-echos similar to Simon and Richter, but with some unique characteristics and animations.

 

[Gartooth]

I was also thinking of Agent 8 upon seeing this thread, since her default look is with a dark skin tone and shes the protagonist of the Octo Expansion. I'm hoping to see Agent 8/Octolings as a semi-clone of Inkling similar to the relationship between Isabelle and Villager so that they can use Splatoon weapons not yet covered like the dualies.

Marina is also cool too though if she gets in, since I imagine she could summon Pearl for combination moves. I'm just more pessimistic on her chances compared to Octoling so Im keeping lower expectations.

 

[sredgrin]

I'll vote the creepy gremlin over the lady that apparently has trouble finding pants that fit.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Yeah, the octolings as an echo have more of a chance

 

[Zomba13]

Marina > Callie >>> Marie >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sleep paralysis > Pearl.

 

[Taka]

You probably need a better argument that representation ( I agree representation is important and it matters) for a character to be included in Smash. Smash seems to be a combination of Nintendo requested characters and iconic third party IPs. Of course Sakurai has a say, but we need to start asking companies to be more open to represent more people. I for one wish Latinos were not represented as gang members, drug dealers, or just casualties.
I bet the same happens with a lot of people around the world.

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You could name almost any available Nintendo first party character and I'd say that Marina deserves to be in just as much or more. Splatoon is due for more than one rep. There isn't a better case for any other Splatoon character than Marina.

Inklings already serve as the player stand-in character, so it wouldn't make much sense to add a generic Octoling.

 

[Gold Arsene]

You could name almost any available Nintendo first party character and I'd say that Marina deserves to be in just as much or more. Splatoon is due for more than one rep. There isn't a better case for any other Splatoon character than Marina.

Inklings already serve as the player stand-in character, so it wouldn't make much sense to add a generic Octoling.

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What I don't get is why just Marina when she's firmly part of a duo.

 

[Taka]

What I don't get is why just Marina when she's firmly part of a duo.

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I confess part of it is because I hate how the Ice Climbers play and tend to prefer single characters.

While "Ice Climbers" play and operate a single unit in their own game, I don't think Marina and Pearl are the same. They're best friends and a two person act as performers, yes, but from a gameplay perspective there's nothing really keeping them from being separate. It'd be easy enough to incorporate Pearl into the Final Smash (recreating the Octo Expansion) as others have suggested.

 

[mopinks]

While "Ice Climbers" play and operate a single unit in their own game

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not really

 

[Yamanote Line]

I would prefer a third party well known character over half the crew I try to skip every time I boot the game.

She would be a really boring choice.

On the other hand, I support having a Octoling echo fighter and I am 100% sure is coming.

 

[Gold Arsene]

I confess part of it is because I hate how the Ice Climbers play and tend to prefer single characters.

While "Ice Climbers" play and operate a single unit in their own game, I don't think Marina and Pearl are the same. They're best friends and a two person act as performers, yes, but from a gameplay perspective there's nothing really keeping them from being separate. It'd be easy enough to incorporate Pearl into the Final Smash (recreating the Octo Expansion) as others have suggested.

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I understand why you want just Marina but as a fan of both as a duo I'd honestly be very disappointed if Pearl was reduced to a Final Smash. I view them to close to separate them like that.

 

[Xaszatm]

I'd accept Pearl with Marina if they made it explicit they were girlfriends. And Pearl could be a Partner-type character ala Kazooie.

Otherwise it be better to just be Marina because we need a black fighter in Smash.

 

[Menx64]

You could name almost any available Nintendo first party character and I'd say that Marina deserves to be in just as much or more. Splatoon is due for more than one rep. There isn't a better case for any other Splatoon character than Marina.

Inklings already serve as the player stand-in character, so it wouldn't make much sense to add a generic Octoling.

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I would have Marina Join any day before Rob or Pichu... Maybe half the cast, but the reason they are in and Marina is not is just that they were already available from old versions.

Nintendo doesn't have many if any, western devs, so I dont expect a black main character for one of the games tbh, maybe a new platinum game would, but for the most part most Nintendo new IPs are not even human.
We need more diversity cast in the west, we need new game locations (The USA is already tried and tired) for the industry as a whole to advance.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

I understand why you want just Marina but as a fan of both as a duo I'd honestly be very disappointed if Pearl was reduced to a Final Smash. I view them to close to separate them like that.

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I mean, that's literally Pearls role in octo expansion though.

Marina is the one who does everything important to help agent 8 and then tells pearl at the very end that they need her super shrill screaming as what would inevitably be the final smash in the game should they get in.

 

[Spine Crawler]

First the thread about Minecraft Steve and now this? Are people really that desperate for a black character that they would rather accept someone that can at best be an echo fighter of an existing nondescript character than something actually more exciting?

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i think the problem really is that the japanese game industry (and the western too) has not produced any black protagonists or even side characters for a long time and they are still rather bad at it.

 

[Deleted member 36578]

She's an awesome character for a variety of reasons and can totally see Splatoon getting a second rep. Would love to see her in Smash!!

 

[Gold Arsene]

I mean, that's literally Pearls role in octo expansion though.

Marina is the one who does everything important to help agent 8 and then tells pearl at the very end that they need her super shrill screaming as what would inevitably be the final smash in the game should they get in.

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Ok we get it you don't like Pearl.

Sorry I don't want my fav couple to be split up.

(Plus I think the two of them working together would make for a more interesting move set.)

 

[Neiteio]

No Marina without Pearl