This article was made by AShadowLink. You can find him on twitter @AShadowLink.
Shin Megami Tensei is a legendary franchise of grand importance and has influenced many games and works. Starting in the early 90s (mid-80s if you count the first two Digital Devil Story games), it broke new ground for taking place in a grim, realistic setting where (usually) Tokyo is ravaged by demons and other forces. Seeing as it has an extensive pedigree, and Nintendo is very friendly with its developer ATLUS, Shin Megami Tensei makes sense as a third-party franchise for Super Smash Bros. Of all the protagonists in the franchise, and in particular, I want Flynn.
Who is Flynn?
Illustration by AShadowLink
Flynn is the protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei IV. He is a rogue Samurai from the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. After embarking his own path, he decided to side with the people of Tokyo, and protect them from the demons and angels.
Importance to Nintendo and the Series
Shin Megami Tensei is a long-running series and its main titles, save for two (and ports of the first three games) have been completely exclusive to Nintendo. The latest and biggest game in the series Shin Megami Tensei V is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch. Flynn is the protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei IV, which, while it is the fourth numbered game in the franchise, it can be considered a rebirth for the franchise, especially in the West.
Design and Colors
Flynn adorns a sleek blue long coat and white attire dubbed the “Samurai Uniform.” I have concocted some alts based on the color schemes of the other protagonists in the franchise, at least the mainline Shin Megami Tensei games. There are exactly eight mainline Shin Megami Tensei games so this works out quite well. I went with the female design of Kei Azuma, the protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei NINE, because it was the more different of the two.
Palette Swaps by AShadowLink
How Would He Play?
Stock Icon drawn by AShadowLink
Flynn will probably be very similar to Robin in concept, in that he uses various magic spells to his advantage. Via the Demon Whisper mechanic, demons who have unlocked all of their skills can pass selected moves on to Flynn. This gives Flynn access to nearly every move in the game.
I know how much the Smash community absolutely loathes swordfighters. While I find this prejudice unjust, I have gone out of my way to make Flynn use his blade as minimally as possible without it feeling forced. His sword will even stay sheathed while he walks around, true to the game. Flynn’s true weapon of choice is the Gauntlet on his left arm, which allows him to summon up to 3 demons. For added flair Flynn will be using this Gauntlet for all of his attacks involving demon skills.
Series Icon by Graphicsmith on DeviantArt
So in addition to his wide move pool, Flynn will summon demons for his specials. Specifically, he will summon the Jack Bros, who starred in their own Megami Tensei spinoff Jack Bros for the Virtual Boy. Jack Frost is the mascot of the series and ATLUS so it is only right for him to be in here somewhere.
Before I lay my moveset on you, here are Flynn’s stats:
- Can they crawl: Yes
- Can they wall jump: No
- How many jumps do they have: 2
- Is there any exclusive abilities they have*: No
- Weight Class: B
- Height Class: B
- Speed Class: B+
- Are they mirrored when they face left: No
*alike Peach’s float (for a more detailed look at the stats check this link here)
The series logo would be the standard Shin Megami Tensei logo. When Kirby copies Flynn he gains his doofy hair.
Kirby Hat drawn by AShadowLink
Flynn will have a unique HUD to signify his status. For an explanation of what this is, check his Neutral Special.
HUD mockup by AShadowLink
| Move Name & Action |
Description |
| Entrance | Flynn warps in, like using a Terminal in Shin Megami Tensei IV.
|
| Idle 1 | Flynn’s standard idle from Shin Megami Tensei IV.
|
| Idle 2 | Flynn fiddles with his gauntlet, with emits various beeps from the menus of Shin Megami Tensei IV. |
| Idle 3 | Flynn momentarily starts nodding off from exhaustion, and catches his head with his hand. Burroughs, the navigational AI on his gauntlet, will say “Master? You’re spacing out a little.” (Fun factoid: Burroughs and Palutena share their English voice actress.) |
| Walking | Flynn power walks. His regular jaunt from Shin Megami Tensei IV.
|
| Running | Flynn breaks out into a sprint, his arms moving with more force. |
| Jump | Flynn crouches, and then leaps upward. Similar to the jump when jumping up onto a ledge from Shin Megami Tensei IV. |
| Damage | Flynn gasps in pain, clutching his chest with his right hand. |
| Shield | Flynn holds his gauntlet in front of him, the screen facing outward. |
| Neutral | Flynn slashes Masakado’s Katana in a singular diagonal overhand arc, similar to his starting overworld attack in Shin Megami Tensei IV.
|
| Forward-Tilt | Poison Claw: With a quick flick of the wrist, Flynn slashes his opponent with his Gaunlet hand in a claw. This will add a poison effect on his foe which will last for a few seconds. |
| Up-Tilt | Tathlum Shot: Flynn holds his Gauntlet arm upward and it quickly shoots needles from each finger, mimicking machine gun fire. |
| Down-Tilt | Oni-Kagura: Flynn smashes his opponent, performing a sweeping punch down with his Gauntlet arm. |
| Dash Attack | Lunge: Flynn lunges forward, punching with his Gauntlet arm. |
| Forward Smash | Nihil Claw: Flynn takes his Gauntlet hand into a claw and slashes at his foe with it, which can be chained three times with extra button presses. |
| Up Smash | Grand Tack: Flynn will launch a massive tack from his Gauntlet arm upward, which will hit anyone in its path. It quickly dissipates after getting a short distance away. |
| Down Smash | Berseker God: Flynn quickly does a one-two punch with his Gauntlet arm; one left, one right. It has a very short range, but on contact it is Flynn’s most powerful attack. |
| Neutral-Air | Megidolaon: Flynn unleashes a burst of energy around him. |
| Forward-Air | Agidyne: A blast of fire explodes from his Gauntlet as Flynn holds it in front of him. |
| Back-Air | Zandyne: Flynn unleashes immense force behind him, which will propel him forward and anyone behind him away. |
| Up-Air | Ziodyne: Flynn shoots a bolt of lightning above him. |
| Down-Air | Bufudyne: Flynn launches an icicle beneath him, which quickly falls to the ground and shatters. |
| Grab | Flynn pulls his enemy close to him, which he grips with his Gauntlet arm. |
| Pummel | Flynn hits his opponent with the hilt of Masakado’s Katana. |
| Forward Throw | Agilao: Flynn throws him opponent forward and throws a fireball at them. |
| Back Throw | Zanma: Flynn throws his opponent behind with great force, pushing them away. |
| Up Throw | Zionga: Flynn electrocutes his foe with his Gauntlet arm and throws them upward. |
| Down Throw | Bufula: Flynn throws his enemy against the ground, hitting them with a strong ice attack, and they launch away, frozen. |
| Floor Attack | Hama: Flynn lets out a blinding light from his Gauntlet which gives him the chance to return to his feet. |
| Edge Attack | Mudo: Flynn unleashes a void of darkness from his Gauntlet upon climbing back up from the ledge. |
| Neutral Special | Smile Charge: Flynn ponders his current situation for 1 second and then smirks, granting him the ‘Smirk’ status from Shin Megami Tensei IV. His next attack will be a guaranteed Critical Hit. If used with a Smash Attack, the benefit will be minimal, but with any other move, it will essentially double the damage output. His HUD will gain the Smirk symbol from Shin Megami Tensei IV to signal to opponents that he is dangerous.
|
| Side Special | Jack Frost: Flynn summons Jack Frost, which will perform Bufula. Bufula is a medium sized ice projectile. It will hit any enemy it collides with, in a short, straight launch, similar to Ice Climbers Side Special.
|
| Up Special | Pyro Jack: Flynn summons Pyro Jack, who, because he floats, will carry him up for a short time. Flynn enters free-fall afterwards.
|
| Down Special | Jack Skelton*: Flynn summons Jack Skelton, who will use Tetanus Cut. Flynn and Jack will attack both sides with a quick slash, Flynn left and Jack right.
*This demon’s name is Jack the Ripper, but I am using the name he went by in the Virtual Boy game Jack Bros because it’s kid-friendly. |
| Final Smash | Jack Bros: Using his Gauntlet to launch a VR program, Flynn will trap anyone near him in a virtual battle arena. Then, in a short cutscene, he summons all three Jacks who unleash attacks in succession. Bufula, Agilao, Tetanus Cut, and then finally Flynn finishes with Antichthon, a severe Almighty attack that will send his opponent(s) flying.
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| Up Taunt | Flynn summons Pyro Jack, who flies around his head while he watches. Very similar to Link’s fairy taunt. |
| Side Taunt | Flynn summons Jack Frost and then gives him a high-five. |
| Down Taunt | Flynn summons Jack Skelton, who gets antsy and starts running in place and playing with his pocket knife. Flynn then hurriedly puts him away before he can attack anyone. |
| Victory Pose 1 | The camera flies in on Flynn as he strikes this pose from the promotional artwork.
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| Victory Pose 2 | Jack Frost emerges from Flynn’s gauntlet and lets out a hearty “Hee Ho” while Flynn smiles. |
| Victory Pose 3 | The Jack Bros run around in front of Flynn while he watches. As the camera comes in closer it eventually flies into a close-up of Flynn smirking.
|
Flynn’s victory theme would be an arrangement of the Victory Chimes from Shin Megami Tensei if…
Flynn is all-in-all a unique fighter and when envisioned with this level of attention to detail he could be a very fun character to play. His game, Shin Megami Tensei IV, is one of the best I’ve ever played and is available for the Nintendo 3DS. In addition, the game is half-off permanently at $20 on the eShop in North America. I highly recommend it and I hope you’ll check out Shin Megami Tensei V for the Nintendo Switch whenever that comes out. We haven’t even gotten a gameplay trailer yet. Also uh, thanks for reading my rambling. I appreciate it. Here’s a bonus image of Kirby using Smile Charge.
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Very interesting indeed! though I feel he doesn’t really have a reason to be in Smash, your moveset is interesting
Speaking of Flynn, I just noticed that there was a RTC video about him about a week ago. Guess I can cross off a Megami Tensei character off my list of suggestions for RTC articles/videos. I do wonder when we get a new RTC article, last one was on August 5th.
Great Dream Smaher article btw!