Adventure Mode (SSBM)
Adventure Mode is a single player mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is made up of different stages, in each which the player needs to complete to progress on. Like in Classic mode, The player can choose their character, the number of stocks, and difficulty. The stages generally follow a fixed pattern, but there are possible divergences depending on what actions the player performs.
Stage 1: Mushroom Kingdom
Part 1: Reach the Finishing Point
The stage is known as Mushroom Kingdom Adventure, and the goal is simple: reaching the finishing point in 7 minutes. On the player's way through the stage, they will encounter Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Koopa Paratroopas. They can attack or use items to fight them off. Halfway through the stage, the player will encounter some platforms that rise up to the next part.
The player will come to a platform with a Super Mushroom symbol on it. They will have to fight a team made up of 10 Yoshis. In order to progress, the player must defeat all of the Yoshis. The Yoshis are lighter than usual (unless on higher difficulties). The player should be able to fight the Yoshis off quickly, depending on what difficulty they are using. After the player beats the Yoshis, they will encounter a few more Goombas and Koopas. Finally, the player will see the finishing point with Toad running back and forth. Simply go to the marked area to complete the first part of this stage. Trophies are collectible in this stage.
Part 2: Team Mario and Peach Battle
This is the second part of the stage. The player must battle Mario and Peach on Princess Peach's Castle. The battle is like any regular battle, but at higher difficulties they will abuse the central tower to combo the player. Peach and Mario have a habit to run to the opposite side of the castle when Banzai Bill approaches the castle. They will not attack the player until Banzai Bill explodes, unless the player comes near. Defeating both of them will allow the player to move on to the next match.
Alternate part 2: Team Luigi and Peach Battle
Beating Adventure mode with a "2" in the seconds place (ex. 10:32:00) will make the player fight Luigi instead of Mario; along with the default Peach. Luigi fights similarly, though his misuse of the Green Missile can be used to the player's advantage, as it limits his vertical recovery. (Note: if the player defeats Luigi in under a minute and finishes the rest of Adventure Mode without continues, then the player will be challenged by Luigi after they're finished with the game and can unlock him).
Stage 2: Kongo Jungle
Part 1: Tiny Donkey Kong Team Battle
The player must defeat two tiny Donkey Kongs in Kongo Jungle. Tiny characters are light and are easier to KO on low percentages, but their small size means they can be hard to hit. At normal or higher difficulties, these tiny Donkey Kongs are harder to KO. The best way to KO them is to throw them upwards on lower difficulties. On higher difficulties, the best way to KO them is to use an attack that can meteor smash or spike. Also, the two tiny Donkey Kongs can easily self destruct on higher difficulties by having the player use a forward smash near the ledge when the tiny Donkey Kongs are in the air, trying to jump back from the rock to the raft. The tiny Donkey Kongs will then air dodge and fall helpless until they are KO'd by the bottom blast line.
Part 2: Giant Donkey Kong Battle
Part two pits the player against Giant Donkey Kong on Jungle Japes. Giant characters weigh more and are harder to KO, but they are bigger targets. Giant Donkey Kong is not the brightest computer player either. Sometimes, when he tries to attack the player, he will self destruct . Sometimes, DK gets KO'd when he hangs where the Klaptraps jump at. Beating this match will let the player proceed to the next stage.
Stage 3: Underground Maze
Part 1: Reach the Finishing Point
This part is similar to Part 1 of the Mushroom Kingdom stage. The player will have 7 minutes to reach the finishing point. But this time getting to the finishing point will be much harder. Instead of the path to the finishing point being straightforward, it is randomly determined. The finishing point is actually the Triforce that the player must reach. The Triforce is located in a random area out of 6 areas total. The other five areas contain the Master Sword. If the player comes across the Master Sword, then they must battle Link. The player can actually jump over the Master Sword area and thus avoid battling Link.
The Underground Maze is infested with ReDeads, Octoroks, and Like Likes. These enemies can cause heavy damage, especially the ReDeads. The Underground Maze is large and easy to become lost in, with one area that has lava, which has a similar effect to touching the acid on the Brinstar stage. The player can collect trophies on the way.
Part 2: Zelda/Sheik Battle
In part two the player battles against Zelda or Sheik in the Temple stage. Beating one of them allows the player to progress to the next stage.
Stage 4: Brinstar
Part 1: Samus Battle
The player battles Samus on the Planet Zebes: Brinstar stage. The player should be cautious of the acid since it will damage their character.
Part 2: Race to the finish
The goal of part 2 is to reach the finish point in 40 seconds. The player must jump on a series of platforms to get to the top of a stage known as the Brinstar Escape Shaft. The stage is complete when the player reaches the top or runs out of time. However, not making it to the goal in 40 seconds will result in a loss of one stock.
Stage 5: Green Greens
Part 1: Single Kirby Battle
When the player first arrives at this level they will be pitted against a single Kirby in a standard one-on-one match, taking place on Green Greens. If the player manages to beat this and Part 2 in fewer than 30 seconds each, they will be pitted against a Giant Kirby.
Part 2: Team Kirby Battle
The player battles against various Kirbies who each possess different character abilities. The battle once again takes place on Green Greens and the player has 4 minutes to complete it. The Kirbies' different abilities are chosen at random, but no two will possess the same ability in the same match. On easier difficulties, the Kirbies are lighter and are extremely easy to knock out. On harder difficulties, the Kirbies are heavier and more aggressive, and harder to knock out.
Part 3 (optional): Giant Kirby Battle
If the player defeated the first Kirby and the Kirby team in fewer than 31 seconds each (the player can go as much as .99 seconds past 30 seconds), they will be given the chance to fight a giant Kirby. Defeating the Giant Kirby will reward the player the Giant Kirby KO bonus and 10,000 points is added to the player's scoreboard.
Stage 6: Corneria
Part 1: Fox Battle
The player will have 4 minutes to defeat Fox on Corneria. On normal or higher difficulties, Fox will run away from the player, moving from one end of the stage to another. He will only attack if the player comes near. On very easy and easy difficulties, he'll attack the player instead of running away. Defeating Fox will allow the player to progress to the second part of the stage.
Part 2: Fox Reborn Battle
The player will battle Fox once again. This time, Fox is far more aggressive, attacking the player rather than running away. Arwings will be flying around the stage and firing their lasers, which can damage both the player and Fox. Killing Fox will be the same as last time, although he is slightly lighter this time. Defeating Fox for the second time results in the completion of this stage.
Alternate part 2: Falco Battle
If the player has unlocked Falco, they will sometimes fight him instead. Falco's tactics are very similar to Fox's.
Stage 7: Pokémon Stadium
Part 1: Pokémon Battle
The player will battle a team of twelve Pokémon. If the player has not unlocked Jigglypuff or Pichu, then all 12 will be Pikachus. If the player has unlocked Jigglypuff and Pichu, they will appear in the mix, though in smaller numbers than Pikachus. The only items that appear on the stage are Poké Balls. The Poke Ball appearance depends on difficulty. The higher the difficulty, the less often that items will appear.
Stage 8: F-Zero Grand Prix
Part 1: Reach the finishing point
The player's goal for part 1 is to reach the finish line in 4 minutes. While the player progresses towards the finish line, F-Zero race cars will speed through the track that the player is running on. A giant "!" on the screen indicates that race cars are approaching. If a car hits the player, then they will take 35% damage. The character will likely survive being hit once, but any subsequent impacts will usually lead to a KO. The player can jump on pink platforms that are situated throughout the stage to avoid being hit by the cars. The player must reach the finish line in order to progress to part 2 of this stage. There are also trophies scattered throughout that may be collected. Yoshi's Egg Roll, along with Jigglypuff's Rollout, can be used to cover long distances in this level.
Part 2: Captain Falcon Battle
The player will have 4 minutes to defeat Captain Falcon on Mute City. This battle is no different from the individual character battles that the player fought earlier. Defeating Captain Falcon will allow the player to progress to stage 9.
Stage 9: Onett
Part 1: Team Ness Battle
The player's goal is to defeat three Nesses in 4 minutes. The only item that will appear on the stage is Mr. Saturn. The Nesses will grab the Mr. Saturns and lug them at the player. The Nesses rarely attack the player's character on lower difficulties. Instead, they travel around the stage to collect Mr. Saturn's and throw them at the player. They will still attack the player comes near. On higher difficulties, the Nesses will attack the players until Mr. Saturn appears. Defeating all three Nesses will allow the player to progress to the next stage.
Stage 10: Icicle Mountain
Part 1: Reach the Top + Team Ice Climber Battle
Icicle Mountain has the player racing to the top of the stage. This stage is similar to the Icicle Mountain stage, the difference is that the movement is not random, and the speed is not random either. This stage is infested with Topis and Polar Bears. The stage starts off by going up at a slow pace. While the player is traveling upwards, they will encounter Topis and Polar Bears. The pace of the stage will start to increase as the player progresses. At the top of the stage the player must battle two pairs of Ice Climbers. Defeating the Ice Climbers will allow the player to progress to the next stage.
Stage 11: Battlefield
Part 1: Team Fighting Wire-Frames Battle
In the first part of this stage, the player must defeat fifteen Fighting Wire Frames in reduced gravity. The Fighting Wire Frames will be lighter on lower difficulties. On higher difficulties, the Fighting Wire Frames will be slightly heaver.
Part 2: Metal Mario Battle/Metal Bros. Battle
In the second part, the player must battle Metal Mario. If the player unlocked Luigi, then both Metal Luigi and Metal Mario will appear. Defeating both causes the player to win the Metal Bros. KO bonus.
Stage 12: Final Destination
Part 1: Giant Bowser Battle
In the first part of this stage, the player must battle Giant Bowser.
If the player use a continue after losing here, they will still able to fight Giga Bowser, but they lose the points for the continue.
Part 2 (optional): Giga Bowser Battle
In the second part of this stage, the player must defeat Giga Bowser as the final battle. The player can only fight him if they meet the following conditions:
- The player plays Adventure Mode on normal difficulty or higher.
- The player makes it to this stage in less than 18 minutes.
- The player has made it to Giga Bowser without using a continue.
- The player defeats Giant Bowser in the previous battle.
Once the player meets these conditions, the player is placed into the fray against Giga Bowser. Defeating him with give the player the "Giga Bowser KO" bonus, adding 100,000 points to their score; defeating him without using a continue also gives the player the Giga Bowser trophy.
Rewards
- Clearing Adventure Mode on Hard or Very Hard without using any continues gives the player the Crazy Hand trophy.
- Clearing Adventure Mode with all characters gives the player the F-Zero Racers trophy.
Trivia
- There are no staged based on the Yoshi, Fire Emblem, or Game & Watch universes. The reason for the latter two not having any stages is likely to avoid revealing the existance of these universes in Melee before any characters from those universes have been unlocked, though the reason for the former not having a stage is likely that Yoshi was simply merged with the Mario stage, by having the player fight ten Yoshis within the Mario stage.
