False character: Difference between revisions

'''False characters''', also referred to as "puppet fighters", are enemies featured in [[Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. They are, for all intents and purposes, evil doppelgängers of [[character|fighters]] that serve the modes' respective main antagonists. In ''The Subspace Emissary'', a false character is created when [[Shadow Bug|Shadow Bugs]] gain physical forms after swarming over a fallen fighter's [[trophy|trophy form]]; in ''World of Light'', the fighters are captured and replicated by either [[Galeem]] or [[Dharkon]], to which the replicas are then possessed by spirits bound by the duo's influences.

Most false characters in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' retain the appearance and abilities of the original with the addition of a smoky purple aura, solid and glowing yellow eyes and a matching darker tinge (outliers that do not entirely conform to these schematics include Samus and Mr. Game & Watch); in battle, they are simply rendered with a purple tint and constantly glowing eyes, but lacking their auras. Like their original counterparts, they are reduced to trophies upon defeat, but quickly disintegrate into Shadow Bugs afterward due to the entities having lost their physical form. Similar to [[Metal Box|metal]] fighters, they are voiceless. All false characters are slightly larger than their normal counterparts (or much larger in the case of the false {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}) and deal slightly more damage while having slightly more [[knockback resistance]].

False characters in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' initially appear as inanimate and colorless replicas, but once spirits are forced to animate them, the puppets gain color; said color represents one of the original characters' many costumes (typically their alternate costumes outside of a handful of exceptions)—sometimes colored similarly to the spirit possessing them or something else related to said spirit (e.g. the Yoshi puppet fighters containing Eevee's spirit are blue, yellow and red in reference to Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon—Eevee's original evolutions), and their eyes gain a distinct red glowing color (the color is instead purple for when Dharkon is controlling the fighters), though the color's pattern varies — the Mario puppet fighter containing a Smoky Progg's spirit displayed lighter red for his irises and darker red for his pupils during the opening cutscene, while outside of this the puppet fighters inverted this while also having pink sclera (in the case of the puppet fighters cloned from Samus or Dark Samus, their entire visor becomes illuminated, rather than their eyes simply shining through it); the Marth controlled by Dharkon in the {{SSBU|Hero}}'s reveal trailer displayed a dark purple pupil, even darker purple sclera and almost white lavender irises while the other characters displayed darker irises and brighter pupils much like they do in gameplay. In gameplay itself, all fighters under Galeem's control (and later [[Dharkon]]'s) display glowing eyes while only the original fighters possess an aura during gameplay (they do display such a characteristic in the Hero's trailer).

The false Bowser makes its first appearance in [[The Lake]], attacking {{SSBB|Fox}} and Diddy Kong at the very end of the stage. Once being defeated by Fox and Diddy, its trophy form dissolves and then the real Bowser makes his entrance in an attempt to capture the duo. It is believed that Bowser ordered a swarm of Shadow Bugs to create his false counterpart, so he could use it as somewhat of a decoy.

Another False Bowser appears later during the opening cutscene of [[The Lake Shore]] after Bowser uses a [[Dark Cannon]] on the princess that was rescued by {{SSBB|Kirby}} in the [[Midair Stadium]]. The clone is ordered to take on the trophified princess' form.

As Fox and Diddy are walking through [[The Swamp]], they become ambushed by Bowser, who uses his Dark Cannon against Diddy to reduce him to his trophy form. Bowser then orders some Shadow Bugs to swarm the trophified Diddy, creating the false Diddy. As it was starting to worsen, Falco then flies down in an Arwing and destroys the Dark Cannon, forcing Bowser to retreat by means of his [[Koopa Clown Car]]. Afterwards, the false Diddy then increases its size, effectively making it [[Boss|a minor boss]]. Fox revives Diddy, who freaks out at the sight of his clone and the trio defeat it. Once defeated, the clone's trophy form disintegrates into Shadow Bugs.

Unlike previous false characters, the false Mr. Game & Watches are perfect clones of him, perhaps because he was the Shadow Bugs' progenitor.

The story segment here changes depending on if the player (as {{SSBB|Kirby}}) saved Peach or Zelda in the beginning when fighting [[Petey Piranha]]. After the Shadow Bugs cover Peach/Zelda's trophy, they morph into a false Peach/Zelda. While {{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}/{{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}} are running, the false princess attempts to shoot them with a [[Dark Cannon]]. However, right before it is able to, the other duo arrives and Link/Pit destroys the Dark Cannon. The false princess glares at the arriving duo and they fight. The duo wins the battle, reducing the false princess to its trophy form as it disintegrates. At the same time, Mario/Link mistakes the other character as having defeated the real deal and attacks. The previous duo then defeats the arriving duo, reducing the latter to their trophy forms which are taken by King Dedede. Kirby saves the two and the princess's trophy is later taken away by Bowser when he and his Koopa Troop storm Dedede's castle.

|{{CharHead|Marth|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=2|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Fire Emblem|Against the Dark Knight}}''

Unlike in ''Brawl'', Kirby can get Copy Abilities from the false characters in this game. However, after he defeats them, he will be stripped of the abilities.