A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate enthusiast has crafted a remarkable mod to pay homage to Akira Toriyama by merging Dragon Ball and the Pokemon fighter Lucario. On March 1, the anime world mourned the loss of Akira Toriyama at 68 due to a tragic medical condition. Renowned for birthing Dragon Ball, Toriyama's legacy has left an indelible mark on numerous anime and multimedia franchises for generations. In the wake of his passing, creators from various realms have found ways to honor his profound influence.
In a gesture of admiration, fans have organized vigils and tributes to commemorate Toriyama's iconic creations. For instance, Yasushi Yamaguchi, the character designer of Sonic the Hedgehog, sketched Sonic and Tails donned in Dragon Ball attire, illustrating the pervasive impact of Toriyama's imagination. A dedicated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fan expressed homage to Toriyama through a modest yet heartfelt mod featuring Lucario, the Aura Pokemon combatant.
This mod, crafted by Regen07 on GameBanana, outfits Lucario in Goku's revered Kame-Sennin-Ryu martial arts uniform, an emblematic attire of the legendary Saiyan. Prompted by a request from fellow user DShipps, this creation stands as a tribute to Toriyama's enduring legacy. The fusion of Lucario and Goku resonates deeply as both characters are adept martial artists wielding energy-based attacks. Notably, Lucario's Aura Sphere mirrors the iconic Kamehameha technique from Dragon Ball in both form and function. Additionally, Lucario's English voice actor in Ultimate is none other than Sean Schemmel, the voice behind the mighty Goku.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Lucario Goku Mod by Regen07
Esteemed modders in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community lauded the meticulous design of the mod, praising the seamless integration of Goku's attire on Lucario while maintaining the visual coherence of Ultimate. This creation stands as a beautiful tribute to Akira Toriyama, capturing the essence of his characters and intertwining them with a figure inspired by his impactful legacy. Users worldwide conveyed their gratitude to Toriyama for his profound influence on their lives.
Gaming communities in titles like Final Fantasy 14, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, and Dragon Quest 10 united online to honor Toriyama through memorials and tributes. Even Xbox paid homage to Toriyama by featuring a dynamic background inspired by the classic JRPG Blue Dragon, a game where Toriyama's character designs left an enduring mark. The widespread influence of Akira Toriyama's creativity is unmistakable, underscoring the everlasting legacy he leaves behind.