With the recent release of Sephiroth as the latest DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, fans are once again speculating who the next character in the Fighters Pass will be. For a while now, fans have argued that Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia deserves a spot on the roster, and there seems to be a solid case for his inclusion.
Not only is Lloyd one of the most beloved characters in the JRPG genre, but Tales of Symphonia was the first Tales game to find success in the Western market. Along with an easily implementable move set and underrepresentation from Bandai Namco Entertainment characters, Lloyd seems likely to appear as an upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter.
The Tales Franchise
Perhaps the most obvious reason why Lloyd is such a popular candidate for the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter is the popularity of the Tales franchise itself. Alongside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, the Tales franchise is frequently referred to as one of the "big three" JRPG series. With the inclusion of characters like Sephiroth and Hero, it seems like it'll only be a matter of time before Tales representation is added as well.
A massive success in Japan, Lloyd and Tales of Symphonia is also recognized as the first Tales game to break into the Western market. As a result, Lloyd is often viewed as the face of the series and is a character that most Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fans should recognize even if they have never played Tales of Symphonia.
Easily Implementable Moveset
Another interesting reason why fans think Lloyd will likely come to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is because how easy it is to implement him into the game. The mechanics in Tales games are quite similar to those of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in that they both rely on directional attacks. Lloyd's attacks in Tales of Symphonia utilize the "A" and "B" buttons together with the four directions. Tales games also feature special attacks known as artes or techs, and Lloyd even has a final smash of sorts in his "Unison Attack." Tales also deviates from turn-based RPGs by utilizing a linear motion battle system where characters can freely move and attack much like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Lloyd can essentially be ported into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate move for move as his moveset in Tails of Symphonia would require little to no changes before being added. Lloyd is known for wielding two blades together, and his fighting style consists of linking attacks together to create powerful combos. Most likely, his kit would include multiple attacks strung together with low KO potential. Although characters like Min Min and Pit dual wield, Lloyd's focus on pure offense should present a unique playstyle.
Speculation and Rumors
There has also been quite a bit of speculation over the past few years over the addition of Lloyd to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster. Though these hints remain as speculation, they do make a strong case for Lloyd's inclusion to the game. Bandai Namco Entertainment is one of the developers behind Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alongside Masahiro Sakurai's Sora Ltd, and the representation for Bandai Namco has been limited so far, only including Pac-Man as a playable character.
Third-party publishers such as Konami, Square Enix, and Capcom each have three characters so it stands to reason that Bandai Namco should get more representation soon. As far as franchises go, Bandai Namco already has Tekken ruled out as Sakurai found Heihachi Mishima difficult to implement, and left him to appear as a Mii Brawler costume instead. Thus, there's a good chance that Tales would be the franchise to next represent Bandai Namco.
Furthermore, voice actor Scott Menville, the original voice behind Lloyd in Tales of Symphonia, tweeted about an NDA project last year which led to fans speculating that Lloyd would appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Though it was never clarified what project he was referring to, fans have pointed to this as a hint for Lloyd's inclusion.
As with all fan theories, players should take these rumors with a grain of salt. However, the Tales series is one of the most beloved JRPG franchises, and Lloyd would no doubt make for a fantastic addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. With easy portability and massive popularity, Lloyd makes a great case to be an upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available on Nintendo Switch
