Okay then, forget gimping. I was never putting that much emphasis on it anyways. The fact of the matter is that Mario can approach Ness. Very easily in fact. And once Mario's in, what does Ness really have to keep him out? He can just combo and kill pretty easily and gimp if the opportunity arises. Ness has the skies, but not even marginally. But on the ground, Mario flat-lines Ness.
Ness gives Mario problems with his Fair, okay, but nothing else limits him. I don't even see him KOing reliably if it's not his Bthrow, which becomes very telegraphed, whereas Mario has a great OOS option that kills around the same % from ANYwhere on the stage, let alone the Fsmash that kills at 100% on average (meaning it can kill below as well).
It doesn't even feel like a close match, he doesn't really limit the things that Mario does best, while Mario is a danger to him offstage, on the ground and limits his projectile game. Even that Psi magnet cancel thing isn't as good as I thought, since you KNOW he'll either spot dodge or jump (most of the time jump) which is just as easily punishable. You guys can have the 50:50 if you want, it makes no difference to me really. But you'd only be lying to yourselves, Mario has advantages in this matchup.
Edit: Omfg Bo, u pwn. It looks so sexy.
Meh, I think Ness is more than slightly better in the air than Mario. Fair is not all about Ness. Fair=incredibly overated. What you say about Mario comboing Ness, applies to Ness too. He can combo Mario into oblivion too. Mario killing easily on the ground? Not really. Didn't you just realize that Ness can land 2 aerials in a SH?
His Upsmash and downsmash are weak. Stutterstepped Fsmash is tough, but not overpowering. Ness outdoes Mario in terms of killing easily.
Ness is not flatlined by Mario, in fact I think Mario's ground isn't too hot.
Anyway, on the ground Ness has his ''now limited'' PKF. Oh and his yo-yo's. Sexy yo-to's they are. Mario isn't the only one with OOS tactics. Down tilt is also overlooked, it can be a massive damage racker.
Now for killing. Backthrow is also overrated, Fsmash, bair, PK flash and PTK2 get no love whats so ever. Fsmash can be stutterstepped too. It's range is amazing, it's power is great, and it's powerful. Bair is when RAR.
I disagree with lying to myself. And Matador, your previous post was better
(goes to search it) In fact, you contradict yourself in this one.
And going back to other characters who have more **** options on Ness. It just doesn't feel like a 55-45.
Edit: Eh, it feels to quote Simna ''Like a 52-48 matchup''
But I won't end it. If most Mario mains have it as a 55-45, so will I. But rest assured, I will find a way to change this matchup to even.
PS: Kudos to the new sig.
Technically you could projectile spam him to high percents I guess, and then go for the kill. But that would be lame. I think the main thing to do here is stay aerial, but that's a given for Ness. Falcon's ground speed would make him a tough opponent for Ness, much in the way that Sonic would be... Although, staying aerial also means being wary of Falcon's up air. That mess comes out fast and is a pretty good combo starter, in my opinion.