WhileSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatepredominately represents Nintendo’s history; from iconic franchises likePokemonto smaller titles likeIce Climbers, and evenhardware like the NES R.O.B. toy; it also represents the video game industry. Characters like Cloud Strife and Sephiroth are good examples givenFinal Fantasy 7is well-known for being the Square Enix title that found acclaim off of Nintendo’s hardware. However,Ultimate’s two DLC packs have brought extra attention to one publisher in particular so far: Microsoft.
The first Fighters Pass added Banjo and Kazooie, platforming mascots from the Nintendo 64 era created by Rare - a developer later purchased by Microsoft, eventually leading to the creation of games likeSea of Thieves. After that, thesecond Fighters Pass added Steve fromMinecraft, which was originally an indie game that became a cornerstone of Microsoft’s brand after it purchased Mojang Studios in 2014. While Nintendo may lean away from another Microsoft-owned character, there are others from the Rare N64 library that could easily get a slot. Namely, Joanna Dark from the first-person shooter franchisePerfect Dark.
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Rare’sPerfect Darkis a spy thriller released in 2000 that carried forth theFPS legacy laid out by its 1997 classicGoldenEye 007. It would receive a prequel in 2005 calledPerfect Dark Zero, also developed by Rare but released as a Xbox 360 launch title under Microsoft. The two titles follow Joanna Dark as she develops her skills, joins the Carrington Institute, and attempts to stop a conspiracy set in motion by a rival corporation called dataDyne.
The series' shared history is reminiscent of Banjo and Kazooie, which suggests adding Joanna Dark would carry the same appeal. Though she is arguably a less iconic “mascot” than the bear and bird, the FPS genre began to find its footing on N64 thanks to games likePerfect Dark,similar to howBanjo-Kazooiehelped define the hardware’s 3D platformers. What makes her stand out from a mechanical sense is the franchise’s sci-fi elements, making her a potential weapon-focused archetype like Snake fromMetal Gear Solid, but with an athleticism and futuristic tech reminiscent of Zero Suit Samus. In fact, her move set could offer Masahiro Sakurai and his team the chance to bring back thePerfect Dark-inspired items fromSuper Smash Bros. Melee.
However, there is one more pertinent reason why now would be a perfect time to add Joanna Dark as DLC: Marketing potential. Thefirst newPerfect Darkgame since 2005was announced during The Game Awards 2020, and is currently being made by Microsoft’s newly created development studio The Initiative. The first reveal trailer is little more than a cinematic, butSmash Bros.has a history of using its characters to market new games.
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Obvious examples of this marketing are the multitude ofFire Emblemrepresentatives. Western audiences were introduced to Intelligent Systems' strategy RPGs via Marth and Roy inMelee. In fact, Roy appeared in the party fighting game prior toFire Emblem: The Binding Bladereleasing on the Game Boy Advance, and this increased interest led to it being the first English-localizedFire Emblemgame. Something similar would happen withSmash 4, in which Corrin was announced as a DLC fighter prior to the release ofFire Emblem Fatesoutside of Japan.
Again, it is possible that Nintendo will lean away from any more Microsoft partnerships following Banjo and Steve. However, given fans have expressed an interest in seeing other FPS icons likeHalo’s Master Chief appear inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, there is room for Joanna Dark to bring the genre more attention. Microsoft has not stopped developers from referencing the series before, with Rare releasing a “Huntress Figurehead” based onPerfect DarkforSea of Thievesin 2018. With a new game on the horizon, it makes perfect sense to let the heroine revisit her old Nintendo stomping grounds.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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