E3 2018: METROID’s Ridley Joins SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE

David Gelmini |

Jun 13, 2018

We didn’t get any news about Metroid Prime 4 at E3, but we did get a very unexpected Metroid-related announcement during Nintendo’s press conference. Super Smash Bros., which will be the fifth installment in Nintendo’s enormously popular fighting franchise, will feature none other than Ridley, the main antagonist from Metroid, in his playable debut. This is despite the fact that series director Masahiro Sakurai previously stated that Ridley would be impossible to include, so kudos to him for making the impossible possible.

Metroid was heavily inspired by the Alien franchise, which is why Ridley was named after Ridley Scott, and why many of the enemies in the games resemble Xenomorphs. He serves as the leader of the Space Pirates, a ruthless gang of intergalactic criminals, and despite looking like something from Jurassic Park, he actually possesses a keen intellect, although that doesn’t make him any less bloodthirsty. I’m also pretty sure he kills Mega Man at 0.25 in the trailer below, because not even a superhero could not survive being impaled through the chest like that.

Metroid protagonist Samus Aran has been a staple of Super Smash Bros. since day one, so it’s no surprise that she’ll also be donning her power suit for Ultimate. And seeing as Ridley killed her parents, it’s hardly surprising that she can’t wait to whoop his ass in the matches.

Regarding other playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, those returning from previous entries will include Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Link, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Princess Zelda, Pikachu, Fox McCloud, Captain Falcon, and Bowser, whilst the only other confirmed newcomers are Splatoon’s Inkling and Dark Pit from Kid Icarus. Ridley will also be getting his own Amiibo to go along with the game, something he’s long overdue, being the Nintendo icon he is.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be released on the Switch on December 7, 2018. Like all the games in the franchise, it’s bound to sell over three million copies, which may have something to do with the fact that everyone wants to give Sonic a severe beating.

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