CHROM
Fighter Number: 25
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Fighter Group: Ultimate Newcomers/Echo Fighters
Franchise: Fire Emblem
Game of Origin: Fire Emblem Awakening (Nintendo 3DS, 2012 (JP,)/2013 (NA, EU)
Ahhhhh Chrom, Chrom, Chrom
This is an interesting way to start this off, since for the most part Chrom was one of the few times in Smash Bros. reveal history where people were generally ok with a new Fire Emblem character. Granted there's a lot of context involved when it comes to why there was less complaints about Chrom joining the fray, especially compared to both Corrin and Byleth. But let's start with some history.
Chrom was once thought to be inevitable back in the speculation days for Smash 4. Fire Emblem Awakening was this super mega hit that saved the franchise from the brink of going extinct. He was the blue-haired lord of the game just like Marth and Ike were. Sure there was an Avatar character in Robin that would have potential for a more interesting play style, or there was Lucina who herself was a popular character. But with her being Chrom's daughter, there's no way she makes it
BEFORE her father… right…
right? RIGHT?!
Chrom even was named in what was called the Gematsu leak. That was correct about Wii Fit Trainer, Pac-Man, and Miis just to name a few. When many fighters from said leak were confirmed, it added to the Chrom is inevitable talk.
But then it all came crashing down when the Smash 4 site announced a new Smash trailer would be popping up on the website to watch live. Most were expecting the announcement to be Shulk (Who would still come later, but nonetheless it didn't help that Monolith Soft retweeted the direct). And when the trailer started BOOM there was… Chrom… laying on the ground having obviously been no match for Captain Falcon. Is Chrom going to get back up and put the beatdown on his opponent? Was he finally being confirmed for Smash?
Suddenly NOPE, we start with
"Lucina Wakes Her Blade!", but perhaps Lucina is here to get her father back up. And either they confirm both are individual fighters, or even a father-daughter tag team fighter of some kind. But no, we get
"Robin brings the Thunder!". With Chrom only saying "Perhaps, I'll get my chance another day". Which for a while made Chrom a pretty big meme in the Smash community. And many felt that maybe this was a deconfirmation of the Gematsu leak.
Though as it would turn out, the only discrepancies (Aside from characters making it that weren't named such as Greninja) in the Gematsu leak was Chrom as the Fire Emblem rep, and the Chorus Men being present (Which sadly for Rhythm Heaven fans, I guess they didn't even find a way to do them correctly for Ultimate either.) I think it became obvious that the Gematsu leak was not
wrong per se, but outdated. Based on a list that Sakurai had early on, but things changed during development.
But either way, the seemingly inevitable Chrom suddenly became a laughing stock in the speculation community. Probably to a point where it got too far, and people actually felt bad for not just the character that he had been done dirty by having his own daughter and his best friend (And/or wife if you prefer the female robin) get in before him. But also for the fans of the character that were legitimately excited to play as him. Sometimes meme culture can be cruel, as it can often come at the expense of others misery. And anyone who actually legit wanted Chrom probably wasn't having a good time once the Robin and Lucina trailer dropped.
There was not even a hope for DLC, given they placed Chrom in Robin's final smash. He even got dunked on in the Palutena's Guidance by Viridi. And he got a Mii costume. Amusingly portrayed in this vid with audio from ProZD
But fast forward to Ultimate. Came the concept of Echo Fighters. Fighters based on other fighters that don't take long at all to make because for the most part they play exactly the same as their counterpart. Luciina and Dark Pit were made retroactive echo fighters. Daisy was our first new echo fighter revealed at E3, but then came an August Smash direct. And who was the first of the two Echo Fighters revealed?
BOOM, it was Chrom. He had finally gotten his chance, and in a way that wouldn't actually make people who didn't want him that mad since he would turn out to be Roy's echo fighter. Though he did at least have something of a difference with his Up+B being closer to Ike's. That said after all the torture Chrom fans must of had to go through with the nasty memes trash talking their character, it had to have been a huge relief.
Though what's funny, is despite being an Echo Fighter. I believe he is the only one that actually has more merit then the original fighter he's based on. Roy's game never made it out of Japan, and he's not that popular in the general Fire Emblem fanbase. Most fans of Roy are actually just fans of him through his rather cool looking fire sword moves in Melee. But Chrom on the other hand was a popular major character in Awakening, he is the good dad, and a generally likable character. He was part of the game that saved Fire Emblem from Nintendo burying the franchise. And now Fire Emblem is almost Pokemon levels when it comes to representation in Smash (To the chagrin of many an Anime swordsman hater)
He just became the one Fire Emblem character that even non-FE fans could root for. No character should feel done dirty as he did just appearing in a trailer defeated and having 2 characters confirmed from his game instead of him. Perhaps, one day… Spring Man will follow in Chrom's footsteps. As he was probably done the most dirty out of any Smash Ultimate trailer (He even had the letter in his hands for a short time), even if understandably if Spring Man is upgraded from Assist. Then you would've kinda had to do Waluigi at that point.
Nonetheless though, I like Chrom. I'm not a Fire Emblem fan by any means. But I'm happy he did get his chance. He's not the most unique of course, he was basically the fourth character that's derived from Marth's moveset after all. But I was happier for him then either of the more unique Fire Emblem characters revealed as DLC fighters.
Anything can indeed change… (Albeit it's funny that it's possible to have Chrom attack himself through Robin's final smash. Since they didn't bother changing it to a different character. That'll always be sort of amusing.)
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He's the only character so far. So for a time, Chrom will be top of the leaderboard!… with the caveat that likely isn't going to last there TOO long anyhow. Chrom's probably just leaving that throne nice and warm for whoever surpasses him. He is a pretty good guy, after all.
1. Chrom
