Unlocking characters in the final version?

[Decade]

Alright, so I know you guys are still drafting out the final plans for the full release, but would it hurt to ask how and when we'll be able to unlock all them characters?

From what I understand, you'll unlock all the main characters as you progress through the game as normal, but the secret characters have extra conditions to fulfill as well.

The main question I have in mind though, is that will we be able to use all normal characters by the time we're about halfway through the game?
If not, at what points can we be expected to unlock them?

I ask this because there may be some characters who I or some other people really like who might not be unlocked until the last world of the game, which would kinda be unfair to fans and people who like using that character.

It would totally be fine if the secret ones would be unlocked very late game, they are SECRET after all, right?
This isn't the case with the normal characters, though.
It would totally be a low blow to Samus fans for them to find out that you unlock her only at, say, World 9, meaning that you'll only be able to use her for about, 10% of the entire game.

I hope I didn't come off as too demanding or entitled, but yeah. It's just something I wanna find out.

[Divadale]

As far as I know some of them will be unlocked in secret levels.

[Aura]

All ten "main" characters will be unlocked before world 6.  The others could be anywhere.

[Gibbering Mouther]

Yeah. You'll have all ten core characters before you set foot in World 6.

And I don't believe any of them are unlocked by completing secret levels. They're the core characters. You should find them in plain ol' levels as the plot marches on.

[Decade]

That's quite pleasing to hear, thanks

[Divadale]

I meant that some secret characters will be unlocked in secret levels.
 

[Zemik]

I'd like to know which level unlocks the core 10. I'm thinking of doing a Let's Play and want to be accurate to the full game.

[Queen Chrysalis]

I'd like to know which level unlocks the core 10. I'm thinking of doing a Let's Play and want to be accurate to the full game.

They're acquired as the game progresses. For example, you start with Mario and Luigi right from the get go, and it was stated somewhere that Wario would appear in World 2, Roll in 3, Arthur in 4, but not too sure about the others.

Just accept that the character locations are...

 
A SECRET TO EVERYBODY.

[Divadale]

link also appears in world 2. The forest temple to be exact.