Fans have been eagerly awaiting new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate news since the Nintendo Direct was delayed last week. The Direct didn't contain as much Smash news as fans might have hoped, but it did reveal one new fighter: Animal Crossing's Isabelle.
Isabelle, the kind secretary from Animal Crossing: New Leaf is joining the roster of playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Her introduction trailer shows her thinking over how the Mayor has been absent for a long time due to their spot on the Smash roster. She then receives mail containing an invitation of her own.
Isabelle has a wide variety of weaponry, all stemming from Animal Crossing. She can be seen using a bucket, confetti popper, buried gyroids, and even a fishing rod to attack players that are off the stage. She's also able to pocket incoming projectiles and can use a bug net, just like Animal Crossing's Villager. She appears to use a swing attached to balloons to levitate, which will likely be useful in getting her back onto the stage when she's knocked off.
Isabelle's overall appearance is as cute and clumsy as players of Animal Crossing: New Leaf would expect. Thankfully, her trailer doesn't include one of the Smash Bros. Ultimate Trailer deaths that have been popping up recently for the game. This also means, however, that no new information has been revealed regarding the mystery game mode that Nintendo is keeping under wraps and whether it has anything to do with said deaths.
Although Nintendo didn't specifically state it during Isabelle's trailer, if she follows the same pattern as every other fighter announced so far, players who already own the Isabelle Animal Crossing Amiibo should be able to use it in-game. Amiibo have been compatible with Super Smash Bros. Since its Wii U and 3DS release, and tapping the Amiibo to the surface would unlock an NPC fighter that could gather up items and gain experience the more it fights. It remains to be seen if the multiple Amiibo card releases she received will all be accepted by the game, and if the unique outfits on them will have any impact on her appearance in Smash.
Although Sakurai noted during the Super Smash Bros. Direct that gamers shouldn't expect many new characters, it's clear that Nintendo still has a few surprises up its sleeve. With three months left to go before the game launches, it's likely that there are still a few new faces that will make the playable roster before then.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will release on December 7th exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.