We're quite positive you will be able to unlock many more characters like Luigi and Jigglypuff (who were also available in the N64 Smash Bros.), but Nintendo isn't saying so either way. As well, Nintendo has dropped hints that we'll see brand new faces from franchise characters like Kid Icarus, Gannondorf, and other Pokemon. In fact many who've watched Nintendo's pre-rendered opening sequence for SSB Melee are already speculating that Samurai Goroh, Star Wolf, or Pichu will also be playable in the game. However, you must keep in mind that the opening movie is meant to present the main characters in their element. So, that's why you see Ridley fighting Samus, or Samurai Goroh ramming Captain Falcon off the tracks of Mute City.
With that said we'll be running a brand new feature, where we present one of the playable Super Smash Bros. Melee characters with a biography, screenshots, and a Quicktime movie. Enjoy the feature and be sure to participate with fellow fans in our board topic as well.
Profile: Today's featured character is that lovable, fluffy, pink blob, Kirby. Sure, he looks happy and relatively harmless, but when he opens his mouth and sucks it is best to get out of his way. Kirby's strongest power lies in his ability to suck opponents in and steal some of their powers. Your strengths can quickly become your weaknesses when you are fighting against Kirby. Another powerful advantage to using Kirby in a Smash Bros. bout is that you can float back to safety from unheard of distances.
See Kirby pummel the competition (5.1MB)
Origin: The character was originally created by Masahiro Sakurai -- and the happy little blob was actually just meant as a placeholder for the final character design. But the members of the development team soon grew to like the smiling blob and the first Kirby for Game Boy Color developed from there. Kirby was first called Popopo, but Mr. Sakurai eventually came up with the name Kirby. Popular Nintendo lore has it that Kirby was either named after NOA lawyer John Kirby or the famous vacuum cleaning company (get it, he sucks, too!) -- but nobody at Nintendo today remembers how the name came about. Since Kirby's debut was on the black and white handheld, his final color wasn't completely clear until 1993, when a pink Kirby appeared for the first time on the cover of the NES classic Kirby's Adventure.
Game History:
- 1992 - Kirby's Dreamland (Game Boy)
- 1993 - Kirby's Pinball Land (Game Boy)
- 1993 - Kirby's Adventure (NES)
- 1993 - Kirby's Dreamland 2 (Game Boy)
- 1995 - Kirby's Dream Course (SNES)
- 1995 - Kirby's Avalanche (SNES)
- 1995 - Kirby's Blockball (Game Boy)
- 1996 - Kirby Super Star (SNES)
- 1996 - Kirby's Dreamland 3 (SNES)
- 1997 - Kirby's Star Stacker (Game Boy)
- 1997 - Kirby's Super Star Stacker (Super Famicom)
- 1998 - Kirby Baseball (Super Famicom)
- 1999 - Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64)
- 2000 - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (Nintendo 64)
- 2001 - Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble (Game Boy Color)
- 2001 - Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube)
What do you think of Kirby's reappearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee? Do you like him? Do you hate him? Have you made a pillow in the shape of him? Discuss what you like or dislike about the famous pink blob in our new Super Smash Bros. Forum! Also, as a tribute we've added Kirby icons for IGNinsider members. Click here to get them.
