Before the announcement, I was expecting to be bitter if it was Sora even though I really like Kingdom Hearts, but watching the direct today was lovely.
He seems a little unbalanced but most dlc fighters do. He just looked so cool! He's all floaty and hits people into the air for big aerial combos just like in the games!!! And the particle effects on his hits are the same cartoonish clouds! He has a reflector and a very spammable special, but I really like how they were changed to make them distinct from the other fighters and hopefully less abuseable. And he's so floaty like in his home series! Bouncing and jumping around. I just loved watching Sakurai get excited about the character and all the little details they added, like how he's lighter than Isabelle not because of his mass but "because of his characteristics." That's so cute and fun! AND HIS OUTFITS OH MY GOSH
Seeing Sora kind of helped me see the game a little less seriously and get excited about it again. We get to see Sora team up with Link and Banjo and Kazooie to fight everyone from Ryu to straight-up Pac-Man!!! And he kept all of his delightful adventurous charm to boot!
Watching Sakurai get sentimental through the whole thing really hit home. He talked about how long he worked on the game and how it'll be the last time he gets to play to show something off like this and I wanted to cry. It was really nice to see him be so sentimental about something that's been so close to my heart.
I think I get more upset about online play and the nature of competitive Smash and the game's balance more than anyone I know, but I think this update really helped me take a step back and get excited about it again. I think I get so upset because it's been so close to my heart for so long and meant so much to me every step of the way, so I want it to be good and to be able to have fun with it while it grows with me and my skill level. It always feels like a DLC fighter will in some way take away from the game by making other characters less viable (Kazuya), but watching base game characters still be significant in tournaments and still getting bodied when I play as DLC characters I think helps me see past that.
I'm still gonna be mad about netcode and complain about balance, but I think Sora was the perfect character to bring a playfulness back to a game full of so much wonder and, well, play. I think Sakurai knew that too, and it was reflected in Sora's announcement trailer. The fire of Smash slowly dimming and dying out until Mario reaches out to invite someone to breathe new life into it and its other characters. Of course that someone would be an adventurer that already travels distant lands to return joy and hope to them. They really let him ooze charisma and charm and poured so much love into his design, it took me back to the excitement of the games' roots. We get to see all these characters mushed together in one place! And have fun with them all while getting to show my friends!
This seemed like Sakurai's farewell to the game, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's not involved in the next game. Again, I'm sure I'll still find plenty to gripe about, but for the first time in a while I'm excited about Smash again. I think I'm ready to really, truly have fun with Smash again.
Thank you Sakurai. For everything.