Another Sonic character (Sonic series)

Whether it’s Knuckles, Tails, Shadow, Metal Sonic, or Dr. Robotnik -- I refuse to call him Eggman -- it seems like a no-brainer to add in another furry friend from the blue blur’s repertoire. While I'm hoping for Knuckles, my money is sadly on Shadow.

Professor Layton (Professor Layton series)

With five games out in Japan and news that the fourth and final DS installment is coming to the States, the Level 5-developed Professor Layton series has been a huge feather in Nintendo’s cap. The Smash Bros. series' arrival on a handheld marks the perfect time to unleash the puzzling professor's pugilistic proficiency. (Seriously, have you seen him with a sword!?)

Mega Man (Mega Man series)

Character co-creator Keiji Inafune’s departure from Capcom could make the inclusion of Mega Man in Smash Bros. either more or less likely. It's possible that Inafune had been keeping the Blue Bomber's guest appearances to a minimum. At the same time, his departure could mean that Capcom will scale back Mega Man’s presence as a brand. In any case, Rockman would certainly fit right in alongside a character like Samus.

Klonoa (Klonoa series)

While not he's not the biggest coup Nintendo could achieve, Namco's Klonoa would easily gel with the current Smash Bros. roster. Since he's a "dream traveler," he could fit into whatever silly plot Nintendo might come up with -- which will hopefully be better than Brawl’s ridiculous Subspace Emissary mode.

Also, though it's been a while, Link's appearance in the GameCube version of Soulcalibur 2 may indicate a good working relationship between Namco and Nintendo.

Rayman (Rayman series)

Ubisoft’s lighthearted mascot -- I think Ezio and Altair might be a bit too violent for the series -- already appeared on the Wii in multiple games, including the highly successful Rayman Raving Rabbids spin-offs. Also, Ubisoft announced the multiplatorm Rayman Origins for the Wii at E3. But more than anything, I think he’s an appropriate addition.

A Resident Evil character (Resident Evil series)

I know I said Ezio and Altair may be too violent for the series, but with two different 3DS Resident Evil titles on the way, it appears that Nintendo and Capcom are getting pretty cozy. Also, Solid Snake has already established a precedent for the inclusion of more realistic, modern weapons.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a less gruesome character like Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, though Leon Kennedy seems most likely. His Resident Evil 4 debut on the GameCube gives him a history with Nintendo, and he is one the franchise's few main characters that hasn't yet appeared in a fighting game.

So...those are my best guesses! What do you guys think? Will Snake be back? Will he bring Raiden with him? What franchises and characters do you think will make the cut? What Pokémon will Nintendo choose this time? Who might get dropped? I hope Lucas returns. Will Roy make his triumphant return?