"competitive reason" doesn't include because their colorful, cute designs allured me when I first saw the game, huh?

When I was a beginner in 64, Kirby's 5 jumps gave me leeway in training... now I like him for his close and floaty combat style. I think the lightweight-but-comboish fighting styles might be why I also play Squirtle, Pikachu, and Shiek.