Super Smash Bros. Melee: Difference between revisions

From SmashWiki, the Super Smash Bros. wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
m (→‎Default characters: - consistency)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Game
[[Image:SsbmBoxart.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Boxart]]
| title        = Super Smash Bros. Melee
'''''Super Smash Bros. Melee''''' (Japanese: {{ja|大乱闘 スマッシュ ブラザーズDX}}, ''Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Derakkusu'', '''Great Fray Smash Brothers Deluxe''', often known as "SSBM" or "Melee") is a 2-D fighting game for the Nintendo Gamecube. It was released in late 2001 in America and Japan, shortly after Gamecube's launch, and early 2002 in Europe.
| image        = [[Image:Super Smash Bros Melee Players Ch.jpg]]
| caption      = Official box art for ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.
| developer    = [[HAL Laboratory]]
| publisher    = [[Nintendo]]
| distributor  =
| designer    = [[Masahiro Sakurai]] (director)
| engine      =
| version      =
| released    = [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|22px|Japan]] November 21, 2001<br />[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|22px|USA]]/[[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|22px|Canada]] December 3, 2001<br />[[Image:Flag of Europe.svg|22px|Europe]] May 24, 2002<br />[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px|Australia]] May 31, 2002
| genre        = [[Wikipedia:Fighting game|Fighting game]]
| modes        = Single-player, multiplayer
| ratings      = [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: Teen (T)
| platforms    = [[Nintendo GameCube]]
| media        = GameCube Optical Disc
| requirements = 11 blocks of memory (an additional 2 or more blocks are needed for each snapshot saved)
| input        = [[GameCube controller]]
}}


'''''Super Smash Bros. Melee''''' (released in Japan as Dairantō Smash Brothers DX with ''Dairantō'' meaning "Great Fray"), is a popular crossover action game released for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] shortly after its launch in 2001 (2002 in the PAL region). It is the sequel to the 1999 [[Nintendo 64]] fighting game ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', and is followed by the 2008 [[Wii]] game ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. [[HAL Laboratory]] developed the game, with [[Masahiro Sakurai]] as head of production.
Like ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', its predecessor, ''Melee'' features [[gameplay]] unique from that of other fighting games.  Compared to characters in other fighting games, Melee characters have simple movesets, lack complicated button inputs and lengthy [[natural combo]]s.  In contrast, however, Melee greatly emphasizes movement and ringouts.  Indeed, [[edge-guarding]] in Melee takes on much more significance than it does in most other games due to copious mid-air jumps and other methods of reaching the edge unfettered.
== Characters ==
There are 26 characters counting Sheik and Zelda separately: 15 [[Starter character|starter characters]] and 11 more which can be unlocked.
===Default characters===
* [[Bowser (SSBM)|Bowser]]
* [[Captain Falcon (SSBM)|Captain Falcon]]
* [[Donkey Kong (SSBM)|Donkey Kong]]
* [[Fox McCloud (SSBM)|Fox McCloud]]
* [[Ice Climbers (SSBM)|Ice Climbers]]
* [[Kirby (SSBM)|Kirby]]
* [[Link (SSBM)|Link]]
* [[Mario (SSBM)|Mario]]
* [[Ness (SSBM)|Ness]]
* [[Pikachu (SSBM)|Pikachu]]
* [[Princess Peach (SSBM)|Princess Peach]]
* [[Samus Aran (SSBM)|Samus Aran]]
* [[Yoshi (SSBM)|Yoshi]]
* [[Princess Zelda (SSBM)|Princess Zelda]]/[[Sheik (SSBM)|Sheik]]


The game is centered on dueling characters from Nintendo's video gaming franchises such as ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda]]''. The stages and gameplay modes make references to and or take their designs from popular games released by Nintendo.<ref name="Stages">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_29.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Stages|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> ''Melee's'' gameplay system offers an unorthodox approach to the "fighter" genre as percentage counters measure the level of damage received, rather than the traditional health bar in fighting games.<ref name="Percentage system">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefreaks365.com/review.php?artid=127|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Game Freaks 365|publisher=Game Freaks 365|accessdate=2007-12-22|date=2001-12-03}}</ref> It builds on the first game's broad appeal by adding new features related to gameplay and playable characters. Following the popularity of the game's multiplayer gameplay, the game has been the subject of several multiplayer gaming tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lenzi|first=Chris|| date=2003-02-03 |url=http://www.gotfrag.com/cs/story/10451/|title=Counter-strike News Story| publisher=GotFrag|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
===Secret characters===
* [[Dr. Mario (SSBM)|Dr. Mario]]
* [[Falco Lombardi (SSBM)|Falco Lombardi]]
* [[Ganondorf (SSBM)|Ganondorf]]
* [[Jigglypuff (SSBM)|Jigglypuff]]
* [[Luigi (SSBM)|Luigi]]
* [[Marth (SSBM)|Marth]]
* [[Mewtwo (SSBM)|Mewtwo]]
* [[Mr. Game & Watch (SSBM)|Mr. Game & Watch]]
* [[Pichu (SSBM)|Pichu]]
* [[Roy (SSBM)|Roy]]
* [[Young Link (SSBM)|Young Link]]


The game received a generally positive reception from the media,<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|last=Mirabella III |first=Fran|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref><ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|last=Lopez |first=Miguel|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref><ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|last=Bramwell |first=Tom|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> as well as awards and acknowledgments from well-known gaming publications.<ref name="Game FAQs awards">{{cite web|author=|Date=Spring 2004|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/c04spr|title=Game FAQs best games ever|publisher=Game FAQs |accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref><ref name="Game FAQs anniversary contest">{{cite web|author=|Date|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10|title=Game FAQs anniversary contest|publisher=GameFAQs| accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref><ref name=" 1UP 200">{{cite web|last=Semrad |first=Steve|Date|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147448|title=1UP 200 Greatest games of all time|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> It achieved commercial success upon release,<ref name="Japanese weekly sales">{{cite web|author|Date=2001-29-11|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/100/100174p1.html|title=Smash Bros. Melee hot in Japan|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> being the best-selling game that has been released for the GameCube with six million units sold worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14501 | title=Opinion: Wii Won't Rock You | last=Radd |first=David | publisher=GameDaily | accessdate=2006-11-27 | date=2006-11-17}}</ref>
===Character Weight List===
Each character has a different weight. Here is the full weight list:


==Gameplay==
* Bowser (117 lbs)
* Samus (110 lbs)
* Ganondorf (109 lbs)
* Yoshi (108 lbs)
* Link / Captain Falcon (104 lbs)
* Mario / Luigi / Dr. Mario (100 lbs)
* Ness (94 lbs)
* Peach / Zelda / Sheik (90 lbs)
* Nana / Popo (88 lbs)
* Marth (87 lbs)
* Roy / Young Link / Mewtwo (85 lbs)
* Fox (75 lbs)
* Kirby (70 lbs)
* Jigglypuff / Mr. Game and Watch (60 lbs)
* Pichu (55 lbs)


Like its predecessor, ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is different from traditional fighting games in that inflicting damage does not guarantee victory. In play, a player must force the opponent beyond the stage's boundaries,<ref name="Throw off stage">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/index.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> referred to as a "Knock-Off" and abbreviated in the game as a KO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.replacementdocs.com/request.php?3524 Super Smash Bros. Instruction Booklet|title=Super Smash Bros Manual Booklet| publisher|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> Most attacks both inflict damage and can, if enough damage is dealt, knock back the enemy; inflicted damage increases that distance, so sufficient damage must be accumulated before attempting a "KO". Each character's health is measured by a percentage damage counter.<ref name="Percentage system">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefreaks365.com/review.php?artid=127|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Game Freaks 365|publisher=Game Freaks 365|accessdate=2007-12-22|date=2001-12-03}}</ref> The higher the percentage value, the weaker the player is, and the easier they are to knock off the stage.<ref name="Explanation of percentage">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/index.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Introduction|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-29|date}}</ref> Unlike other games of the same genre, most moves in the game can be accessed via one-button presses and a joystick direction.<ref name="Simple controls">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_2.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Basics|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref>
Now this is the weight list for the PAL Version of this game:
 
During battles, items related to Nintendo games or merchandise fall onto the game field.<ref name="Items">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_53.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Items|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> These items have purposes ranging from inflicting damage on the opponent to restoring health to the player's combatant.<ref name="Items">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_53.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Items|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> Additionally, most stages have a theme relating to a Nintendo franchise or a specific Nintendo game and are interactive to the player.<ref name="Stages">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_29.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Stages|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> Although the stages are rendered in the third-dimension, players cannot move along the Z-axis in any of them. Not all stages are available immediately, so some stages have to be obtained by the player by meeting particular requirements.<ref name="Stages">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_29.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Stages|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref><ref name="Eighteen stages">{{cite web|url=http://www.bestprices.com/cgi-bin/vlink/045496960070|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; BestPrices.com|publisher=BestPrices.com|accessdate=2007-12-29|date}}</ref>
* Bowser (118 lbs)
===Single player===
* DK (114 lbs)
Single-player mode provides the player with a variety of fighting and side-scrolling challenges. The applicable modes range from the "Classic mode", which involves the player battling against opponents in multiple stages until he or she reaches the boss character,<ref name="Classic">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_44.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Classic Mode|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> to the "Home Run Contest", which is a minigame involving the player trying to launch a sandbag as far as possible with a Home Run Bat.<ref name="Home Run contest">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_51.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Home Run Contest|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> Some of these modes are personalized for the character; for example, the "Target Test" sets out a specialized area for a character in which they aim to destroy ten targets within the time limit. These areas may include references to that particular character's past and legacy.<ref name="Target test">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_46.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Target Test|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> "Adventure mode" takes the player to several predefined universes of characters in the Nintendo franchise. Like the battle stages in the game, they make references to some conventions of particular series.
* Yoshi (111 lbs)
* Samus (110 lbs)
* Ganondorf (109 lbs)
* Link / Captain Falcon (104 lbs)
* Dr. Mario / Luigi (100 lbs)
* Mario (98 lbs)
* Ness (94 lbs)
* Peach / Zelda / Sheik (90 lbs)
* Nana / Popo (88 lbs)
* Marth / Roy / Young Link / Mewtwo (85 lbs)
* Falco / Pikachu (80 lbs)
* Kirby (74 lbs)
* Fox (73 lbs)
* Mr. Game and Watch (60 lbs)
* Pichu (55 lbs)
 
Credit to [[Simna ibn Sind|SimnaibnSind]] for the weight list for both the NTCS and PAL Version which is who I got the full list from.
 
== Stages ==
There are 18 [[Starter stage|starter stages]] and 11 more which can be unlocked.
===Default stages===
* [[Brinstar]]
* [[Corneria (SSBM)|Corneria]]
* [[Fountain of Dreams]]
* [[Great Bay]]
* [[Green Greens]]
* [[Hyrule Temple]]
* [[Icicle Mountain]]
* [[Jungle Japes]]
* [[Kongo Jungle]]
* [[Mushroom Kingdom (SSBM stage)|Mushroom Kingdom]]
* [[Mute City]]
* [[Onett]]
* [[Pokémon Stadium]]
* [[Princess Peach's Castle]]
* [[Rainbow Cruise]]
* [[Venom]]
* [[Yoshi's Island (SSBM)|Yoshi's Island]]
* [[Yoshi's Island: Yoshi's Story|Yoshi's Story]]


[[Image:SSBM-Mario2.jpg|thumb|300px|Mario and Luigi fight in multiplayer mode on the Mushroom Kingdom II stage (the game is paused).]]
===Unlockable stages===
===Multiplayer===
* [[Battlefield (SSBM)|Battlefield]]
In the multiplayer mode, up to four player or computer characters may fight, either in a free-for-all or in teams.<ref name="Teams or free-for-all">{{cite web|author|Date|url=http://www.geocities.com/games_mark/gcreviewssbm.html|title=GamesMark: Super Smash Bros. Melee review|publisher=GamesMark| accessdate=2007-12-29}}</ref> The CPU characters' AI difficulty is ranked from one to nine in ascending order of difficulty. There are five ways in which the victor can be determined, depending on the game type. The traditional mode is "Stock mode",<ref>''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' instruction booklet, p. 32.</ref> a solo or team-based battle in which the last player to lose their lives wins, but this can be changed to less conventional modes like "Coin mode", which rewards the richest player as the victor; they must collect coins by hitting enemies and try not to lose them by falling off the stage.<ref name="Coin mode">{{cite web|url=http://videogames.yahoo.com/gc/super-smash-bros-melee/preview-1062341|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee previews &ndash; Yahooo|publisher=Yahoo|accessdate=2007-12-22|date=2001-11-27}}</ref> A number of other options are available, such as determining the number and type of items that appear during the battle.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
* [[Big Blue]]
* [[Brinstar Depths]]
* [[Congo Jungle N64 Version|Kongo Jungle N64 Version]]
* [[Dream Land N64 Version]]
* [[Final Destination]]
* [[Flat Zone]]
* [[Fourside]]
* [[Mushroom Kingdom II]]
* [[Poké Floats]]
* [[Yoshi's Island N64 Version]]


===Other modes===
===Single-Player stages===
*[[Stadium]] mode, a variety of tests where solo players can test their abilities.
These stages cannot be unlocked, and can only be played under certain circumstances.
*[[Special melee]], a selection of melees with special rules.
* [[Target Test]] Stages
*[[Tournament]], along with winner out/loser out functions for when there are more players than controllers.
* [[Trophy Collector]]
*[[Adventure]], a one player mode where the player can journey through Nintendo's many worlds.
* [[Race to the Finish (SSBM)|Race to the Finish]]
*[[All Star]], a one player endurance test where the player faces all 25 characters back to back.
* [[Mushroom Kingdom Adventure]]
*[[Event Match]], a series of situational one player matches.
* [[Underground Maze]]
*[[Classic]] one player mode and free for all melees remain as game modes.
* [[Brinstar Escape Shaft]]
* [[F-Zero Raceway]]
* [[All-Star Teleporter]]
* [[Home-Run Stadium]]
* [[Majora's Mask (stage)|Majora's Mask]]
* [[Goomba (stage)|Goomba]]
* [[Entei (stage)|Entei]]


===Trophies===
===Debug-Only Stages===
[[Awards|Trophies]] (known as "Figures" in the Japanese version) of various [[Nintendo]] characters and objects can be collected throughout the game. These trophies include figures of various playable characters, accessories, and items associated with them as well as secondary characters not otherwise included in the game. The trophies range from the well-known to the obscure, and even characters or elements that were only released in Japan.<ref name="Trophies">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_54.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Trophies|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> Some of the trophies includes a description of the particular subject and details the year and the game in which the subject first appeared.<ref name="Mario Trophy">{{cite web|url=http://www.themushroomkingdom.net/mariopedia/trophy/mario.jpg|title=TMK: SSBM|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|accessdate=2007-12-29|date}}</ref> ''Super Smash Bros.'' had a similar system of plush dolls (Biographies); however it only included the twelve playable characters. There is one more trophy in the Japanese version of the game than in the [[NTSC]] and [[PAL]] versions.<ref name="Secrets">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_55.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Secrets|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref>
These stages can only be used when the game is hacked. Some are functional, some are not.
====Functional====
* [[Test]]
* Sheik's [[Target Test]] Stage
====Non-Functional====
* [[AKANEIA]]
* [[10-2]]
* [[IceTop]]*
* [[DUMMY]]*


==Playable characters==
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Can be activated with other hacks, but not Debug Mode.
:See Also: [[Characters]]


''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' features twenty-five characters, of which fourteen are available initially. Every character featured in the game derives from a popular Nintendo franchise.<ref name="Characters">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_3.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Characters|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> All characters have a symbol that appears behind their damage percentage during a fight; this symbol represents what series they belong to, such as a Triforce symbol behind [[Link]]'s damage percentage and a [[Super Mushroom]] behind [[Mario]]'s. Some characters represent popular franchises while others were less-known at the time of the release&mdash;[[Marth]] and [[Roy]] represent the ''[[Fire Emblem (series)]]'' , which never had a game released in the West at the time.<ref name="Marth in FE">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_27.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Marth|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> This led to a rise in popularity of games and characters that were more obscure than such series as the [[Mario (series)|''Mario'' series]].<ref name="Fire Emblem Details">{{cite news|title='Fire Emblem Database'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/agb-ae7.shtml|accessdate=2007-12-22|date|work=Nintendo Database}}</ref> References are made throughout the game to the relationship between characters of the same universe; in one of the events from "Event mode", [[Link]] and [[Zelda]] battle together to defeat [[Ganondorf]], the main antagonist of [[The Legend of Zelda (series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]].<ref name="Events">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_45.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Events|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref> Furthermore,
== Modes ==
each character has recognizable moves from their original game, such as [[Samus]]'s firearms from the [[Metroid (series)|''Metroid'' series]] and Link's arsenal of weapons.<ref name="Samus Aran">{{cite web|url=http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_18.html|title=Guides: Super Smash Bros. Melee &ndash; Samus Aran|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-22|date}}</ref>


===Default Characters===
[[Image:MenuScreen.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The main menu screen for ''[[Melee]]''.]]
=== 1-Player ===


These characters come with the game.  Everyone will automatically have them when they start playing.
* [[Classic Mode]]
[[Image:MeleeCharacters.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Melee's character roster at the selection screen]]
* [[Adventure Mode]]
* [[All-Star Mode]] (must be unlocked)
* [[Event Mode|Event Match]]
* [[Stadium]]
:* [[Home-run Contest]]
:* [[Target Test]]
:* [[Multi-Man Melee]]
* [[Training mode]]


* [[Mario]] from the Mario series.
=== Multi-player ===
* [[Link]] from the Legend of Zelda series.
* [[Kirby]] from the Kirby series.
* [[Pikachu]] from the Pokémon series.
* [[Yoshi]] from the Mario and Yoshi series.
* [[Samus Aran]] from the Metroid series.
* [[Donkey Kong]] from the Donkey Kong and Mario series.
* [[Princess Peach]] from the Mario series.
* [[Fox McCloud]] from the Star Fox series.
* [[Ness|Ness]] from the EarthBound/Mother series.
* [[Bowser|Bowser]] from the Mario series.
* [[Captain Falcon|Captain Falcon]] from the F-Zero series.
* [[Ice Climbers|Popo and Nana]] from Ice Climbers.
* [[Zelda|Zelda\Sheik]] from the Legend of Zelda series.


===Hidden characters===
* [[Versus Mode]]
[[Image:MeleeCharacters2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The character roster ready for battle.]]
* [[Special Melee]]
These characters must be unlocked and defeated in battle before they can be used.
* [[tournament mode|Tournament Mode]]


*[[Jigglypuff]] from the Pokémon series.
=== Action Replay ===
*[[Dr. Mario]] from the Dr. Mario series.
* [[Debug mode]]
*[[Pichu]] from the Pokémon series.
*[[Falco]] from the Star Fox series.
*[[Marth]] from the Fire Emblem series.
*[[Young Link]] from the Legend of Zelda series.
*[[Ganondorf]] from the Legend of Zelda series.
*[[Mewtwo]] from the Pokémon series.
*[[Luigi]] from the Mario series.
*[[Roy]] from the Fire Emblem series.
*[[Mr. Game and Watch]] from the Game and Watch series.


==Changes from the original==
==Changes from the original==
Line 110: Line 181:
*[[On-Screen Appearances]] have been removed.
*[[On-Screen Appearances]] have been removed.


==Development and release==
==[[Tournament]] play==
<div style="float:right"><youtube width="320px" height="240px">0rl3bnQhKRY</youtube></div>
SSBM is widely known for its large and intricate tournament scene, which is the second largest video game tournament community in the world (Behind Halo 2 for the Xbox). The generally accepted birth of the tournament scene was caused by the creation of the [[Tournament Go|TG]] series. Recently, the tournament scene has been bolstered by grand-scale tournaments such as the [[Major League Gaming|MLG]] series.
 
[[HAL Laboratory]] developed ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', with Masahiro Sakurai as the head of production. The game was one of the first games released on the [[Nintendo GameCube]] and demonstrated the advancement in graphics from the [[Nintendo 64]]. The developers wanted to pay homage to the debut of the GameCube by making an opening full motion video sequence that would attract people's attention to the graphics.<ref name="FMV opening">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/097/097950p1.html|title=Smash Bros. FMV Explained|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-08-31}}</ref> ''HAL'' worked with three separate graphic houses in Tokyo to make the opening sequence. On their official website, the developers posted screenshots and information highlighting and explaining the attention to physics and detail in the game, with references to changes from its predecessor.<ref name="Changes">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/098/098158p1.html|title=A Detailed Melee|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-09-07}}</ref>
 
On the game's official Japanese website, the developers explain reasons for making particular characters playable and explain why some characters were not available as playable characters upon release. Initially, the development team wanted to replace [[Ness]] with [[Lucas]], the main character  of ''[[Mother 3]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]], but they kept Ness in light of delays.<ref name="Ness and Lucas">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0717/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee|date=2001-07-17|publisher|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> The game's creators instead placed Lucas into the game's sequel, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref name="Lucas!!">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/lucas.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl&mdash;Lucas|publisher|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref><ref name="snake">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/snake.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl&mdash;Snake|publisher|date=2001-09-21|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> Video game developer Hideo Kojima originally requested [[Snake]], the protagonist of the ''[[Metal Gear (series)|Metal Gear]]'' series, to be a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', but the game was too far in development for him to be included.<ref name="Snake's inclusion">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/nintendo/e306-super-smash-bros-brawl-qa-173071.php|title=E306 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Q&A|publisher=Kotaku|date=2007-05-11|accessdate=2007-12-30|date}}</ref> [[Roy]] and [[Marth]] were initially intended to be playable exclusively in the Japanese version of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. However, they received favorable attention during the game's North American localization, leading to the decision for the developers to include them in the Western version.<ref name="Roy">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0115/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee&mdash;Roy|publisher|date=2002-01-15|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref><ref name="Marth">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/1204/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee&mdash;Marth|publisher|date=2001-12-14|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> Additionally, Sakurai stated that the development team has suggested four other games to represent the Famicom or NES era until the developers decided that the Ice Climbers would be in the game.<ref name="Ice Climbers">{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/1009/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee&mdash;Ice Climbers|publisher|date=2001-10-09|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref>
 
Nintendo presented the game at the E3 event of 2001, in which a playable demonstration of the game was available.<ref name="First showing">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/094/094823p1.html|title=IGN: E3: Hands-on Impressions for Super Smash bros Melee|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-05-17}}</ref> The next major exposition of the game came in ''Spaceworld 2001'' in August, in which Nintendo displayed a playable demo that had updated upon the previous demo displayed in E3. Nintendo offered a playable tournament of the games for fans in which a GameCube and ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' were prizes for the winner.<ref name="Spaceworld">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/097/097777p1.html|title=IGN: Spaceworld 2001: Super Smash Bros Melee hands-on|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-08-25}}</ref> Prior to the release of the game, the Japanese official website of the game included weekly updates on the game, including screenshots and character profiles.<ref name="Weekly updates">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/096/096718p1.html|title=Super Smashing Moves|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-7-19}}</ref><ref name="Weekly updates on website">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee|publisher|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> Nintendo followed this trend with [[Super Smash Bros Brawl]], in which there are daily updates by the game's developer, [[Masahiro Sakurai]].<ref name="Weekly updates of SSBB on website">{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_uk/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl|publisher|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> The popular Japanese magazine Famitsu reported that Nintendo advertised the game in between showings of the ''Pokemon'' movie across movie theaters in Japan.<ref name="Advertising">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/096/096528p1.html||date=2001-07-12|title=Nintendo kicks-off GameCube hype in Japan|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date}}</ref> In January 2003, ''Super Smash Bros Melee'' became part of the Player's Choice, which was a category of the best-selling games on the ''GameCube'' that had been reduced in price.<ref name="Player's choice">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/383/383504p1.html|title=Nintendo Expands Player's Choice Line-up|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2003-01-23}}</ref> In August 2005, Nintendo bundled the game with the ''GameCube'' for $99.99.<ref name="Bundle">{{cite web|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/632/632133p1.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Bundle|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2005-07-07}}</ref>
 
==Music==
: See Also: [[Smashing...Live!]] and [[Super Smash Bros. Melee music]]
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' featured music from some of Nintendo's popular gaming franchises. Nintendo released a special musical album in 2003 called ''[[Smashing...Live!]]'', which it gave away as a bonus for subscribing to ''Nintendo Power'' magazine in North America, and also as a free gift in an issue of the British ''Nintendo Official Magazine''. It is not music taken directly from the game like most video game soundtracks, but a live orchestrated performance by the New Japan Philharmonic of many of the songs from the game.<ref name="Orchestra">{{cite web|url=http://www.themushroomkingdom.net/mania/ssbmsl.shtml|title=Soundtracks|publisher=The Mushroom Kingdom|accessdate=2007-11-25|date=2001-08-31}}</ref> The soundtrack is only available for purchase in Japan.<ref name="Only in Japan">{{cite web|url=http://www.mininova.org/tor/639909|title=Smashing Live! OST|publisher=Mininova|accessdate=2007-11-25|date}}</ref>
 
==Reception and sales==
<div style="font-size: 90%;float:right;border-left:1em solid white">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+'''Reviews'''
!colspan = 2|Compilations of multiple reviews
|-
|Game Rankings
|colspan=2|90%<ref name="Game Rankings">{{cite web| url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/516492.asp?q=melee|title=Super Smash Bros Melee Ranking | publisher=[[Game Rankings]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|-
|Metacritic
|colspan=2|92% <ref name="MetaCritic">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gamecube/supersmashbrosmelee/|title=Super Smash Bros Melee at MetaCritic | publisher=[[MetaCritic]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|-
!Publication
!Response
|-
|GameSpot
|8.9/10<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|author=Miguel Lopez|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|-
|''Official Nintendo Magazine''
|95%<ref name="ONM-1">{{Citation |date=March 2006| title= rated GameCube| periodical= [[Official Nintendo Magazine]]|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|issue=1|pages=125}}</ref>
|-
|Eurogamer
|10/10 <ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|author=Tom Bramwell|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|-
|IGN
|9.6/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|-
|''Famitsu''
|37/40<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite web|url=http://geimin.net/da/cross_review.php|title= Geimen.net (Japanese)|publisher=GEIMEN.NET| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|}
</div>
 
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' generally received a positive reception from reviewers, most of whom credited ''Melee's'' expansion of gameplay features from ''Super Smash Bros''.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref><ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|author=Miguel Lopez|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref><ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|author=Tom Bramwell|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> Focusing on the additional features, ''Gamespy'' commented that "Melee really scores big in the "we've added tons of great extra stuff" department."<ref name="Gamespy">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Bryn|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/super-smash-bros-melee/636813p1.html|title=Super Gamespy: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=Gamespy|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> Reviewers compared the game favorably to ''Super Smash Bros.''&mdash;''IGN's'' Fran Mirabella III stated that it was "in an entirely different league than the N64 version";<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> ''GameSpot's'' Miguel Lopez praised the game for offering an advanced "classic-mode" compared to its predecessor, while detailing the Adventure Mode as "really a hit-or-miss experience."<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|author=Miguel Lopez|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> Despite a mixed response to the single-player modes, most reviewers expressed the game's multiplayer mode as a strong component of the game.<ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|author=Tom Bramwell|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> In their review of the game, ''Gamespy'' stated that "you'll have a pretty hard time finding a more enjoyable multiplayer experience on any other console."<ref name="Gamespy">{{cite web|author=Bryn Williams|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/super-smash-bros-melee/636813p1.html|title=Super Gamespy: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=Gamespy|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
 
The visuals gained a positive reaction, although Matt Casamassina thought that "some of the backgrounds lack the visual polish endowed upon the characters" when giving a second opinion about the game.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> Most of the critics have praised the game's orchestrated soundtrack;<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|author=Miguel Lopez|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref><ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> ''Nintendo World Report's'' Mike Sklens rated it as "one of the best sounding games ever."<ref name="Nintendo World Report">{{cite web|last=Sklens|first=Mike|Date=2001-12-18|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=3834&CFID=34203647&CFTOKEN=25fbb14f4df4a5ae-DECEFC3A-C09F-3E62-0584D434E0F928A9|title=Nintendo World Report: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=Nintendo World Report|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref>
Most reviewers have welcomed the simplistic controls,<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|author=Fran Mirabella III|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> yet its "hyper-responsiveness" has been expressed as a serious flaw of the game by ''Gamespot''.<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|author=Miguel Lopez|Date=2001-12-01|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview&page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review&mdash;Gamespot|publisher=[[GameSpot]]| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> With a milder criticism of controls, Bryn Williams of ''Gamespy'' commented that "movement and navigation seems slightly too sensitive."<ref name="Gamespy">{{cite web|author=Bryn Williams|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://uk.cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/super-smash-bros-melee/636813p1.html|title=Super Gamespy: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=Gamespy|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> The basis of ''Melee's'' gameplay system is the battles between Nintendo characters, which has been suggested as being overly hectic; ''N-Europe'' questioned that the gameplay is "too Frantic?", even though they enjoyed the variety of modes on offer.<ref name="N-Europe">{{cite web|author|Date=2001-04-11|url=http://www.n-europe.com/review.php?rid=59|title=N-Europe: Smash Bros :Melee review|publisher=N-Europe|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref>
 
The media has criticized ''Melee'' for a lack of originality and for being too similar to its predecessor, ''Super Smash Bros''; Caleb Hale from ''Game Critic'' rated as "every bit as good as its Nintendo 64 predecessor. The game doesn't expand much past that point."<ref name="Game Critics.com">{{cite web|last=WHale|first=Caleb|Date=2002-02-20|url=http://www.gamecritics.com/review/ssbmelee/main.php|title=GameCritics.com: Smash Bros :Melee review|publisher=GameCritics.com|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> The nostalgic nature of the game received a positive reaction,<ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|author=Tom Bramwell|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> as well as the accompanying stages and items that made references to past Nintendo games.<ref name="N-Europe">{{cite web|author|Date=2001-04-11|url=http://www.n-europe.com/review.php?rid=59|title=N-Europe: Smash Bros :Melee review|publisher=N-Europe|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> Gaming journalists have welcomed the roster of twenty-five Nintendo characters,<ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|author=Tom Bramwell|Date=2002-05-23|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=3047|title=Super Smash Bros Melee//GC//Eurogamer|publisher=Eurogamer| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> as well as the "trophy system", which ''Nintendo Spin'' labelled as "a great addition to this game."<ref name="Nintendo Spin">{{cite web|last=Zuk|first=Michal|Date=2004-04-25|url=http://www.nintendospin.com/article50.html|title=Super Smash Bros Melee &ndash; Nintendo Spin|publisher=Nintendo Spin| accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> When considering ''Melee's'' gameplay, reviewers have questioned its status as a fighting game;<ref name="Metacritic review blurbs">{{cite web|author|Date|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gamecube/supersmashbrosmelee/|title=Metacritic: Smash Bros :Melee review|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> ''GamePro'' summed ''Melee'' as "Not quite a fighting game, not quite a party game."<ref name="Gamepro">{{cite web|author|Date=2001-12-03|url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/18760.shtml|title=Smash Bros on GameCube at GamePro.com|publisher=GamePro|accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref>
 
===Sales===
When released in Japan, it became the fastest selling GameCube game with 358,525 units sold in the week of November 19 to November 25, in 2001.<ref name="Japanese weekly sales">{{cite web|author|Date=2001-29-11|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/100/100174p1.html|title=Smash Bros. Melee hot in Japan|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> The success continued in Japan as the game sold over a million units only two years after its release, which also made it the first GameCube title to reach a million copies.<ref name="A million JP copies">{{cite web|author|Date=2002-16-01|url=http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/100/100981p1.html|title=Smash Bros. Melee "Million" in Japan|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> The game also sold well in North America, in which it sold 250,000 copies in nine days.<ref name="North American sales">{{cite web|last=Satterfield|first=Shane|Date=2001-12-14|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/news.html?sid=2832770|title=Nintendo announces more sales|publisher=Gamespot|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> To date, ''Super Smash Bros Melee'' is the best selling GameCube game, with over six million copies sold worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14501 | title=Opinion: Wii Won't Rock You | last=Radd|first=David| publisher=GameDaily | accessdate=2006-11-27 | date=2006-11-17}}</ref>
 
===Awards and lists===
Several publications have acknowledged ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' in competitions and awards. In their "best of 2001" awards, GameSpy chose it as Best Fighting GameCube Game,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/goty2001/gc/gc_fighting_winner.shtml|title=GameCube Fighting Game of the Year: Super Smash Bros. Melee
|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> IGN's reader choice chose it as Game of the Year,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insider.ign.com/articles/317668p1.html|title=Insider: Reader's Choice awards|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040813070819/http://insider.ign.com/articles/317668p1.html|archivedate=2004-08-13|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=2001-01-19|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' chose it as Best Multiplayer and Best GameCube Game,<ref>{{cite journal
  | last =
  | first =
  | authorlink =
  | coauthors =
  | title = 2001 "GAMERS' CHOICE AWARDS"
  | journal = Electronic Gaming Monthly
  | volume =
  | issue = 153
  | pages =
  | publisher = Ziff Davis
  | location =
  | date = April 2002
  | url =http://gamegroup.ziffdavis.com/presscenter/pr20020304.php?view=printer
  | doi =
  | issn=1058-918X
  | accessdate =  }}</ref> and GameSpot chose it as the Best GameCube Game and tenth best game of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2001/p5_04.html|title=The Best and Worst of 2001: Best GameCube Game|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2001/p6_01.html|title=The Best and Worst of 2001: The Top Ten Video Games of the Year|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref>
GameFAQs placed it sixth in two competitions: the ''"Best... Game... Ever."'' contest, and a poll of the 100 best games ever.<ref name="Game FAQs awards">{{cite web|author=|Date=Spring 2004|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/c04spr|title=Game FAQs best games ever| accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref><ref name="Game FAQs anniversary contest">{{cite web|author=|Date|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10|title=Game FAQs anniversary contest| accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> In the 200th issue of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', the editors selected ''Melee'' as the 92nd most influential game on their "Top 200 Games of Their Time" list, defining ''Melee'' as "Billions of things to unlock, plus Yoshi pummeling Pikachu with a bat".<ref>Semrad, Steve. [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147448 The Greatest 200 Video Games of Their Time]. 1UP.com. February 2, 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2006]].</ref> <!-- In a similar competition, ''Nintendo Power'' named ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' the 16th best game ever to appear on a Nintendo console,<ref>''Nintendo Power'' #200</ref> and selected it as the 2001 "Game of the Year". --> ''IGN'' named it the third best GameCube game of all time in 2007 as a part of a feature reflecting on the GameCube's long lifespan, citing it as "the grand stage of fighters, much like Mario Kart is for racing fans",<ref name="3rd">{{cite web | author=IGN GameCube Team | date=2007-03-16 | url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/772/772300p5.html | title=The Top 25 GameCube Games of All Time | publisher=IGN.com | accessdate=2007-03-18}}</ref> while GameSpy chose it as fourth in a similar list.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cube.gamespy.com/articles/639/639689p23.html| title = Top 25 GameCube Games of All-Time - #4: Super Smash Bros. Melee| publisher = GameSpy| date = [[2005-08-12]]| accessdate=2007-09-13}}</ref>
 
==Legacy==
===Sequel===
[[Image:TempleBrawl.jpg|right|[[Diddy Kong]], [[Wario]], and a graphically enhanced [[Bowser]] fighting in the returning "Temple" stage in ''Brawl''|200px|right|thumb]]
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is the second installment of the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], following the release of ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' two years earlier. At the pre-E3 conference of 2005, Nintendo announced ''Melee's'' sequel, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref name="E3 2005">{{cite web|last=Casamassina |first=Matt |authorlink=Matt Casamassina | date=[[2005-05-17]] |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/670/670552p1.html |title=E3 2005: ''Smash Bros.'' For Revolution| publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2006-12-01}}</ref> Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata requested Masahiro Sakurai to be the director of the game after the conference.<ref name="director">{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/667/667525p1.html |title=''Smash Bros. Revolution'' Director Revealed|author=IGN Staff |accessdate=2007-12-01 |date=[[2005-11-16]] |publisher=IGN}}</ref> The game retains some of the gameplay features of its predecessors while having major gameplay additions, such as a more substantial single-player mode and [[Wi-Fi]] compatibility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64601&page=2 |title=Miyamoto and Sakurai on Nintendo Wii |accessdate=2007-12-01 |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=[[2005-05-11]] |publisher= Eurogamer}}</ref> Like ''Melee'', the game makes references to games and franchises, even those that debuted after the release of ''Melee''; for example, Link's design is taken from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'' and a [[Nintendogs]] puppy is present as an Assist Trophy (a new item which summons characters from different games to briefly participate in the fight or hinder it).<ref>{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai | date=[[2007-05-23]] |url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/link.html |title=Link| publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/smash-bros-brawl-to-include-nintendogs-hammer-bros-and-samura/ |title=Puppies|accessdate=2007-12-01|last=McElroy |first=Justin |date=[[2007-07-02]] |publisher= Joystiq}}</ref> Sakurai has announced that stages from ''Melee'' will be included in the upcoming sequel with the "Temple" stage shown on the official site as an example.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai | date=[[2007-11-30]] |url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/stages/stage18.html |title=Melee Stages| publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref>
 
===Tournaments===
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' has been the subject of several high-profile gaming tournaments beginning in 2003 which has been credited to [http://www.smashboards.com Smash World Forums] also known as ''"Smashboards"''.<ref>[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/43964 http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/43964]</ref> In March 2003, the IVGF NorthWest Regional Gaming Festival and Tournament took place, the first corporate sponsored tournament. During this time, IVGF gave out a record $US 12,500 for the top three finishers of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', a record that would be held for almost three years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Lenzi| date=2003-02-03 |url=http://www.gotfrag.com/cs/story/10451/|title=Counter-strike News Story| publisher=GotFrag|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> In 2004, Major League Gaming added ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' to its tournament roster.<ref>{{cite web|author| date=2006-09-10|url=http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/50132|title=Major League Gaming| publisher=Major League Gaming|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref> In the summer of 2005, a crew in Mishawaka, Indiana hosted ''Melee-FC3'', a tournament with nearly 200 participants from 30 states, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.<ref name="smashtakesover">{{cite|Nintendo Power, Issue 196, Page 106|author=Myers, Andy|date=October 2005|title=Smash Takes Over|publisher=Nintendo Power|access date=09, 11, 2006}}</ref> In two separate issues, ''Nintendo Power'' covered the independent and corporate Smash scenes, including Smashboards, Major League Gaming, and FC3.<ref name="smashtakesover" /><ref>{{cite|Nintendo Power, Issue 195, Page 76-79|author=Myers, Andy| date=September 2005|title=Smash Planet|publisher=Nintendo Power|access date=09, 11, 2006}}</ref> Smash Brothers Melee also made it into the Evolution Tournament of Fighting in 2007, a fighting game tournament held in Las Vegas with Ken Hoang, winner of MLG's 2004 and 2005 National Smash Championships, winning the 2007 EVO World Finals.<ref name="Gaming tournament">{{cite web| date= |url=http://evo2k.com/tournament/games/ssbm.php|title=EVo 2007 Championship series &ndash; SSBM| publisher=EVP 2007 Championship series|accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref>
 
== Items ==
*[[Food]]
*[[MaximTomato]]
*[[Heart Container]]
*[[Warp Star]]
*[[Ray Gun]]
*[[Super scope]]
*[[Fire Flower]]
*[[Lip's Stick]]
*[[Star rod]]
*[[Beam Sword]]
*[[Home run bat]]
*[[Fan]]
*[[Hammer]]
*[[Green shell]]
*[[Red shell]]
*[[Flipper]]
*[[Freezie]]
*[[Mr. Saturn]]
*[[Pokéball]]
*[[Bob-omb]]
*[[Motion sensor bomb]]
*[[Super Mushroom]]
*[[Poison Mushroom]]
*[[Starman]]
*[[Parasol]]
*[[Screw Attack]]
*[[Metal Box]]
*[[Bunny Hood]]
*[[Cloaking Device]]
*[[Barrel Cannon]]
*[[Crate]]
*[[Barrel]]
*[[Egg]]
*[[Capsule]]
 
== Stages ==
[[Image:Meleestages.jpg|thumb|right|400px|All 29 stages, with Fourside selected]]
 
There are 29 stages available in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
 
===Default stages===
 
These stages are avaiable as soon as one purchases the game.  They do not require unlocking.
 
*[[Icicle Mountain]] from Ice Climbers.
*[[Princess Peach's Castle]] from the Super Mario series.
*[[Rainbow Cruise]] from Super Mario 64.
*[[Kongo Jungle]] from the Donkey Kong series.
*[[Jungle Japes]] from the Donkey Kong series.
*[[Great Bay]] from Legend of Zelda:Majora's Mask
*[[Temple]] from the Legend of Zelda series.
*[[Yoshi's Story]] from Yoshi's Story.
*[[Yoshi's Island]] from Super Mario World.
*[[Fountain of Dreams]] from the Kirby series.
*[[Green Greens]] from the Kirby series.
*[[Corneria]] from the Star Fox series.
*[[Venom]] from the Star Fox series.
*[[Brinstar]] from the Metroid series.
*[[Onett]] from the Earthbound/Mother series.
*[[Mute City]] from the F-Zero series.
*[[Pokémon Stadium]] from the Pokémon Stadium series.
*[[Mushroom Kingdom]] from Super Mario Bros.


===Hidden stages===
The community has constructed a set of [[tournament legal (SSBM)|standard tournament rules]] to regulate tournament play.  All matches are played with [[time]]d [[stock]] (usually four lives and eight minutes), with [[item]]s turned off and restrictions on legal [[stages]].  These regulations are enacted to ensure that gameplay at the highest level remains fair and interesting.


*[[Brinstar Depths]] from the Metroid series.
== See Also ==
*[[Fourside]] from the Earthbound/Mother series.
*[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]
*[[Big Blue]] from the F-Zero series.
*[[Super Smash Flash]]
*[[Poké Floats]] supposedly from the Pokémon series.
*[[Mushroom Kingdom 2]] from Super Mario Bros. 2.
*[[Flat Zone]] from the Game and Watch series.
*[[Battlefield (SSBM)]] from the Super Smash Bros. series.
*[[Final Destination]] from the Super Smash Bros. series.
*[[Kongo Jungle (N64)]] from the Donkey Kong series and [[Super Smash Bros.]]
*[[Yoshi's Island (N64)]] from the Yoshi series and [[Super Smash Bros.]]
*[[Dreamland (N64)]] from the Kirby series and [[Super Smash Bros.]]


==External links==
{{SSBSeries}}
*[[Wikipedia:Super Smash Bros. Melee|Wikipedia's ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' article]]
*[http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Super_Smash_Bros._Melee ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' guide at StrategyWiki]


[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Melee|*]]
[[Category:Games| ]]
[[Category: Super Smash Bros. universe]]

Revision as of 08:18, January 19, 2008

Boxart

Super Smash Bros. Melee (Japanese: 大乱闘 スマッシュ ブラザーズDX, Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Derakkusu, Great Fray Smash Brothers Deluxe, often known as "SSBM" or "Melee") is a 2-D fighting game for the Nintendo Gamecube. It was released in late 2001 in America and Japan, shortly after Gamecube's launch, and early 2002 in Europe.

Like Super Smash Bros., its predecessor, Melee features gameplay unique from that of other fighting games. Compared to characters in other fighting games, Melee characters have simple movesets, lack complicated button inputs and lengthy natural combos. In contrast, however, Melee greatly emphasizes movement and ringouts. Indeed, edge-guarding in Melee takes on much more significance than it does in most other games due to copious mid-air jumps and other methods of reaching the edge unfettered.

Characters

There are 26 characters counting Sheik and Zelda separately: 15 starter characters and 11 more which can be unlocked.

Default characters

Secret characters

Character Weight List

Each character has a different weight. Here is the full weight list:

  • Bowser (117 lbs)
  • Samus (110 lbs)
  • Ganondorf (109 lbs)
  • Yoshi (108 lbs)
  • Link / Captain Falcon (104 lbs)
  • Mario / Luigi / Dr. Mario (100 lbs)
  • Ness (94 lbs)
  • Peach / Zelda / Sheik (90 lbs)
  • Nana / Popo (88 lbs)
  • Marth (87 lbs)
  • Roy / Young Link / Mewtwo (85 lbs)
  • Fox (75 lbs)
  • Kirby (70 lbs)
  • Jigglypuff / Mr. Game and Watch (60 lbs)
  • Pichu (55 lbs)

Now this is the weight list for the PAL Version of this game:

  • Bowser (118 lbs)
  • DK (114 lbs)
  • Yoshi (111 lbs)
  • Samus (110 lbs)
  • Ganondorf (109 lbs)
  • Link / Captain Falcon (104 lbs)
  • Dr. Mario / Luigi (100 lbs)
  • Mario (98 lbs)
  • Ness (94 lbs)
  • Peach / Zelda / Sheik (90 lbs)
  • Nana / Popo (88 lbs)
  • Marth / Roy / Young Link / Mewtwo (85 lbs)
  • Falco / Pikachu (80 lbs)
  • Kirby (74 lbs)
  • Fox (73 lbs)
  • Mr. Game and Watch (60 lbs)
  • Pichu (55 lbs)

Credit to SimnaibnSind for the weight list for both the NTCS and PAL Version which is who I got the full list from.

Stages

There are 18 starter stages and 11 more which can be unlocked.

Default stages

Unlockable stages

Single-Player stages

These stages cannot be unlocked, and can only be played under certain circumstances.

Debug-Only Stages

These stages can only be used when the game is hacked. Some are functional, some are not.

Functional

Non-Functional

* Can be activated with other hacks, but not Debug Mode.

Modes

File:MenuScreen.jpg
The main menu screen for Melee.

1-Player

Multi-player

Action Replay

Changes from the original

While Melee mainly follows the same formula introduced in the original game by retaining most elements, several differences exist between the two games. The following list, while not all-inclusive, addresses several of the changes. Please note that this list does not include obvious changes, such as a different button scheme/controller and Melee-only characters and items.

  • All characters have four special moves; veterans now have a new Smash B move.
  • The number of throws each character can perform has also been increased to four; all veterans now have an up throw and a down throw.
  • The pacing of the game has been increased drastically.
  • The game has much less of a focus on comboing.
  • Grabs have been decreased in power and knockback.
  • The single-player Board the Platforms bonus game does not return.
  • Air dodging and Sidestep dodging have been implemented.
  • All characters can move while carrying a heavy item (ex: a barrel or crate); in the original, this ability was exclusive to Donkey Kong.
  • Wall jumping has been implemented.
  • Items can now been caught in mid-air.
  • Smash attacks can now charged by holding the A button.
  • The Heart Container's function has been changed; rather than clearing all damage for whoever uses it, 100% damage is subtracted from the player's damage percentage.
  • The Maxim Tomato's function has also been changed; rather than clearing 100% damage for whoever uses it, 50% damage is subtracted from the player's damage percentage.
  • On-Screen Appearances have been removed.

Tournament play

SSBM is widely known for its large and intricate tournament scene, which is the second largest video game tournament community in the world (Behind Halo 2 for the Xbox). The generally accepted birth of the tournament scene was caused by the creation of the TG series. Recently, the tournament scene has been bolstered by grand-scale tournaments such as the MLG series.

The community has constructed a set of standard tournament rules to regulate tournament play. All matches are played with timed stock (usually four lives and eight minutes), with items turned off and restrictions on legal stages. These regulations are enacted to ensure that gameplay at the highest level remains fair and interesting.

See Also