April 13, 2019|

Filed under: Featured, Guest Article, Speculation, Super Smash Bros. Series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Dream Smasher: Hat Kid (Guest Article)

This guest Dream Smasher was created by @NickDaDroid on Twitter.

Super Smash Bros. has one of the most diverse cast of fighters out of any fighting game. Its roster has characters from over 30 different franchises; some even from third parties. From characters as well known as Cloud and Ryu to more obscure ones like Ice Climbers and Mr. Game and Watch, there’s plenty of different characters from various companies and games to choose from. However, there’s one type of game that doesn’t have a fighter to represent it yet: indies. For those unaware, indies are games developed by individuals or small teams, including titles like Yooka-Laylee, Shovel Knight, and Super Meat Boy. Due to indies’ recent growth in popularity, many have been appearing on home consoles, including the Nintendo Switch. As a result, indie games are now being represented in Smash Ultimate as both Spirits and Assist Trophies. It’s about time we got a fighter from one, and Hat Kid from A Hat In Time would do justice to the genre in Smash.

Who is Hat Kid?

(Model and Splash Art by Curiomatic)

Hat Kid is the protagonist of the “cute-as-heck 3D platformer” A Hat in Time. Having lost all her Time Pieces, the fuel for her spaceship, she embarks on an adventure to recover them. During her adventure, she defeats enemies with the use of her various hats, trusty umbrella, and charisma. Although Hat Kid doesn’t talk, we do get to see some of her personality in her hidden diary entries. In these entries and gestures, she is depicted as childlike and energetic, getting incredibly excited over the idea of being “a MOVIE star!”. Although energetic in her diary, she is quite shy everywhere else, even too shy to tell Mustache Girl her name. She’s also mischievous, as seen when she sticks her tongue out at the Mafia Goons and even pushes some of them off ledges. Brutal!

Importance to Nintendo/Series

First and foremost, Hat Kid is an indie character, a game genre that has not been represented with a fighter in Smash Bros. yet. Indie games have been apart of Nintendo history for a long time, gaining a lot of popularity with WiiWare and during the Wii U era. And considering the number of Nindies on the Switch, and that they’re getting whole Directs dedicated to them, I don’t think we’ll be seeing Indies parting with Nintendo anytime soon. Although there are many indie characters to be considered as fighters in Smash, I think Hat Kid would be perfect. Being from a 3D platformer, she would fit in with characters like Kirby, Mario, and Sonic. A Hat In Time as a game has been a gateway for new generations to experience collectathon 3D platformer-like games similar to Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario Sunshine, in a fresh new take. And with A Hat In Time coming to the Switch in the near future, she would be a great addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Colors and Design

(Courtesy of @sky_queen3)

Hat Kid would largely maintain her appearance from A Hat In Time outside of a graphical update and more expressive facial expressions. Her palette swaps would be based on various characters from A Hat In Time, including Bow Kid, Mustache Girl, the Mafia Goons, Snatcher, The Conductor, DJ Grooves, and the Badge Seller.

How Would She Play?

Now, let’s have a look at some stats:

Can they crawl? Yes
Can they wall jump? Yes
How many jumps do they have? 2
Are there any exclusive abilities they have*? Yes
Weight Class: D+
Height Class: D
Speed Class: C
Are they mirrored when they face left? Yes

*Hat Kid’s up air could be held down, keeping her umbrella open and slowing her descent.

Hat Kid would play just like she does in her game: easy for newcomers, but still viable for seasoned veterans. One of Hat Kid’s defining traits would be her recovery. Her tether grab, homing attack, and umbrella descent would allow for lots of recovery options. To balance this, she would be fairly light, allowing her to be KO’d very easily. Most of her moves would be able to rack up damage quickly, such as her Brewing Hat and Beam Badge, but she would not kill easily. This would make combos essential for Hat Kit, so players wouldn’t be able to just spam one or two moves the entire match.

Boxing Ring Title: “The Girl From Outer Space”

Series Icon

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Stock Icon

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Kirby Hat

Move Type

Description

Entrance Animation:

Hat Kid would fall from the sky and strike a pose!

Stance:

Hat Kid would stand with her hands at her side and sway back and forth.

Idle Animation #1:

Hat Kid would pull out two dolls and play with them before looking around and putting them away.

Idle Animation #2:

Hat Kid would jump in place excitedly.

Walking:

Running:

Hat Kid would use the Sprint Hat to dash forward.

Jumping:

Hat Kid would do a regular jump, then spin for additional height.

Crouching:

Crawling:

Shielding:

Hat Kid would cover her face with her hat and duck down.

Jab:

Hat Kid would whack the enemy with her umbrella, with the final jab having her opening the umbrella and spinning it.

Forward Tilt:

Hat Kid would push her hands out as if she was trying to play patty-cake. This attack could be angled forwards, upwards, or downwards.

Down Tilt:

Hat Kid would kick forward.

Up Tilt:

Hat Kid would stab upwards with her umbrella unopened.

Dash Attack:

Hat Kid would do a wheelie on her scooter.

Side Smash:

Hat Kid would leap forward, damaging any opponents in her way. If angled upwards, Hat Kid would leap at a slight arc.

Up Smash:

Hat Kid opens her umbrella above her.

Down Smash:

Using the Dweller’s Mask, Hat Kid would cause two holographic platforms to materialize to her left and right.

Neutral Air:

Hat Kid would stick her hands and feet outwards.

Down Air:

Hat Kid would ride her umbrella like a pogo stick. Similarly to Young Link’s down air, this attack would be able to hit multiple times.

Forward Air:

Hat Kid would flail her umbrella forward.

Back Air:

Hat Kid would quickly kick backward.

Up Air:

Using the Hover Badge, Hat Kid would open her umbrella. If the attack button was held, she would continue to hold it open, which would slow her descent.

Grab:

Using the Hookshot badge, Hat Kid’s trusty umbrella would be used as, well a hookshot. This doubles as a tether grab and would have a little more range than most tether grabs.

Pummel:

Hat Kid would punch the enemy.

Forward Throw:

Hat Kid would hit the enemy forward like a golf ball.

Up Throw:

Hat Kid would put the enemy on top of her umbrella and spin it.

Down Throw:

Hat kid would throw her enemy to the ground and ram her umbrella into them.

Back Throw:

Hat Kid would sucker punch the enemy and slam them backward.

Neutral Special: Umbrella Beam

Using the Projectile Badge, Hat Kid would fire a beam attack from her umbrella. It would have three levels of charge, and the longer it was charged, the larger its radius and power would be.

Side Special: Potion Toss

Using the Brewing Hat, Hat Kid would throw an explosive potion in front of her. The longer the special button was held, the farther it would be thrown. The potion would explode on contact and launch the opponent upwards. Similarly to Simon’s Holy Water, this would be a thrown projectile that could be caught and used by foes.

Up Special: Homing Attack

Hat Kid would do a homing attack. Inputting the attack once would simply boost her upwards. Hitting it once more would cause her to fly towards her opponent, dealing damage if she hits.

Down Special: Ice Statue Slam

Using the Ice Hat, Hat Kid would transform into an ice statue and slam downwards, launching anyone in her path.

Final Smash: A Fool’s End

One of Snatcher’s traps would appear in front of Hat Kid. If anyone was standing on it, they would be transported to a cutscene featuring the shadow man himself. Snatcher would then yell his famous “FOOOOOL!” and use an array of attacks on any poor souls that crossed his path.

Up Taunt:

Hat Kid would blow a kiss. Aww~

Side Taunt:

Hat Kid would balance her umbrella on her finger.

Down Taunt:

Hat Kid would do the dance seen in the “Peace and Tranquility” mode.

Victory Animation #1:

Hat Kid would collect a Time Piece.

Victory Animation #2:

Hat Kid would triumphantly ride Rumbi before carelessly falling off.

Victory Animation #3:

A figure covered in mud would be seen walking forward. It would then begin to laugh and wipe the mud from its face. It’s Hat Kid!

Victory Fanfare: Hat Kid’s victory fanfare would be a short remix of the beginning of the game’s main theme, which represents the game’s score as a whole.

Outro

All in all, Hat Kid would be an excellent addition to the Smash roster and a great example of indie representation. Being an easy character to play as, she would serve as a good fighter for new players to start with, but still be viable for experienced players who know how to use her combos well. And with A Hat in Time on its way to the Switch, it’s about time Hat Kid made her way to Super Smash Bros.

Special thanks to Angela for the palette swaps! If you’d like to see them in all their glory, click here for a folder of all the full renders. Also, be sure to follow Voyager for his wonderful artwork, and subscribe to Curiomatic for their phenomenal renders.