Super Smash Bros Melee

[DJ Sack]

When this come out it was often remarked as the gamecubes killer app, it gained 10/10 after 10/10, it looked wonderful, it played brilliantly, but was it really as good as we all thought it was? Or was it a case of it being the next big game since the launch of the cube.

Happily, it wasnt the latter as it is a damn great game.

The graphics really did show off the gamecube, never had you seen mario, bowser, pikachu or samus in such fine detail. With even the tinest bits now visable. Explosions were huge, levels looked lush with lots going on, weapons flying around, water running, 4 players jumping around and baseball bats being swung.

The levels were all fantastically designed, even if not totally different from the N64 version. I must say i enjoyed pokemon stadium the best, although others were up there. Having some nice little platforming ones was a great touch too, such as wandering through the dungeons or through the mushroom kingdom.

The sound was put to good use with every bump, hit and cheer being heard. The ping of the coins as mario upper cuts or the 'Bedum-bum!' of yoshi as he eats someone. getting a baseball bat and smacking them out of the game, hearing the whoosh of the air, the smash as they crash out of the game and a bit cheer going up.

The one player game was well catered for this time, with many different options and the best ability of all, to unlock hundreds of tropheys, each containing facts about nintendo, some so insignifcant you wonder who'd ever remember them but it was nice they were there. It really felt like they chucked in every extra they could, especially some of the mini games such as the baseball game and the shooting of the end credits.

But multiplayer is where its at, with larger than life characters, a game which doesnt favour the combo learning junkie and stacks of fun, 4 player mode is where it is at. Picking up your make and throwing them over the side, being kirby and nicking peoples abilities, being yoshi and being able to float above people, being pikachu and shooting electricity at people, being mario and grabbing someone and swinging them around. Everyone had their fav character and with a tonne of extra ones to unlock there was never a character who was at a disadvantage, all had well balanced plus points and minus points.

One of the best fighting games of this generation.

Buy Super Smash Bros Melee for 16.99 on amazon!

[Van]

I don't really like it. Then again, maybe it's because I played the original to death and don't actually have a GameCube. It's probably a really good ame though, I just haven't given it much of a chance.

[AndyB]

Button-mash-erific.

Didn't like it at all.

[FargalEX]

Ace. This is the reason I bought a cube, although I had to wait a until the 26th of May or whatever date it was for it's release. Super Smash Bros Melee is the most original twist on a fighting game I know of, the whole game reeks of quality and it's claimed so many hours of my life. Those who claim it was a "button basher" are complete twazoks, as everyone knows that you simply cannot knock anyone off if you just mash the buttons. The amount of extras stuffed into this game was unbelievable. Although the game has aged noticeably, I really cannot reccomend this enough for it's superb playability, multiplayer brilliance and longetivity.

[Stroker Ace]

Button-mash-erific.

Not so.

That's a common misconception about SSBM, that's always been wrong. Play anyone who's genuinely good at the game and they'll make short work of you without you being able to land so much as a hit. A friend of mine is a genuine master, and can go one against three and still come out in good condition with a victory.

There's a lot more strategy in there than it appears. Got a lot of hidden depth, has Smash Bros.

Whereas beat 'em ups are usually amongst the least accessible and anti-newbie of genres, the beauty of SSBM is that it's as much fun for amateurs as it is for those who have mastered the game.

[shynra]

Button-mash-erific.

The same could be said for just about every beat em up bar Killer instinkt (original)...

But also to give it more credit, it was an extreemly well polished and put together early title for the GCN, not quite a launch title (weeks after) but was easly the most polished early gcn game around....

[Professor Puzzles]

Oh, man, stop it. I already want to get Super Mario Sunshine again, and now I feel like purchasing Smash Brothers again. My bank account hates you. ALL OF YOU!!

[part]

I can only echo what DJ Sack has said. Me and my flatmates play it almost every night for a good few hours and it never gets old. I think we pretty much all agree that its one of the best games for multiplayer action on the gamecube.

[Jumble Jumble]

This isn't "an appreciation", it's "an advert", even to the point where it includes a link that will earn you money if people use it to buy the game! You could at least point that out, it's a bit sneaky mate.

[divine visitor]

Not so.

That's a common misconception about SSBM, that's always been wrong. Play anyone who's genuinely good at the game and they'll make short work of you without you being able to land so much as a hit. A friend of mine is a genuine master, and can go one against three and still come out in good condition with a victory.

There's a lot more strategy in there than it appears. Got a lot of hidden depth, has Smash Bros.

Whereas beat 'em ups are usually amongst the least accessible and anti-newbie of genres, the beauty of SSBM is that it's as much fun for amateurs as it is for those who have mastered the game.

Agreed. Not only has it got far more depth than most people give it credit for, but its also far more easy to get into than pretty much any other beat-em-up.

Fantastic game, and probably my only Gamecube game that gets still gets played on a regular basis.

[Pandy]

Very sneaky. Very sneaky indeed. I would write more, but can't be arsed. Jonny5 would like to add, that he is very disturbed, as I'm sure everyone else is. This musn't be allowed to happen! In the words of Mr J5 himself, "<J0nny5> Ed, 1500 words is what you need, not coffee"

Times are hard.... thank you.

[AndyB]

Agreed.

Disagree.

I finished the game by moving the control stck in the direction of the my foe and hitting the B button at a moderately fast pace, maybe with the odd air dodge thrown in for good measure.

Needless to say it was returned.

[Jonny5]

I didn't like it. I didn't like the single player game, I didn't like the fact that with two humans you couldn't have two AI characters too. I got bored quickly and traded it in.

And having a sneaky link to make some cash is rather sneaky.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: And although you may not like the game, then at least get and play SmaBra for the gigantic trip down memory lane it offers. Those trophies were the best unlockables ever.

PS: Kirby lovers will be gald to hear that the new GBA Kirby will contain the Smash power-up, giving Kirby all of his SSBM moves in a platform setting.

[The Grand Pursuivant]

Disagree.

I finished the game by moving the control stck in the direction of the my foe and hitting the B button at a moderately fast pace, maybe with the odd air dodge thrown in for good measure.

Needless to say it was returned.

Yeah, playing on very easy must have been a real thrill and obviously gives you a fair and well-balanced idea of what every aspect of the game is like.

[divine visitor]

Please do not judge this game on its singleplayer mode(s). These are all rubbish, as the AI are completely stupid no matter what difficulty they are set to.

If you've ever seen a 4 player free-for-all where everyone knows exactly what they are doing, Smash Bros. Melee can look like a very different game indeed.

[D-Side]

Got a lot of hidden depth, has Smash Bros.

Hidden under a mountain of shit, is it?

[Sir DangerM]

It's crap. Dont fool yourself.

[CrispinG]

I thought it was boring, and all my friends hated it in multiplayer, too.

[jah-82]

love this game - still easily one of the best multiplayer games on the 'cube...

people really should try giving it a second look - there's a lot of skill involved if you learn how to play it properly

like someone already said it's an incredibly easy game to play (great for family get togethers), but also very satisfying to master at the same time

and then there's all those trophys to collect

[Mr Spew]

I didn't like it. I didn't like the single player game, I didn't like the fact that with two humans you couldn't have two AI characters too. I got bored quickly and traded it in.

With two humans you CAN have two CPU players. I know because I played it like that today.

Brilliant game. Fantastic in multiplayer, and single player is lovely too (many different modes and things to play through).

I particularly liked the way almost every statistic you'd ever want, was displayed clearly and whatnot. Makes me smile.

[SomeNaiveChump]

the fact that with two humans you couldn't have two AI characters too

wrong. you can have any number of AI players to fill a 2,3 or 4 player match.

wonderful game.

and button mashing will get you nowhere in decent multiplayer competition. TRUFAX

[MW_Jimmy]

The Intro is the best part of the game

TRUFAX

Hate the game and find it anything but fun. Powerstone did this sort of thing better.

Still, both Pika-Kirby and Zelda-Kirby are ace.

[SomeNaiveChump]

Powerstone did this sort of thing better.

except that PS was 2-player only, and PS2 was about as much fun as dipping your nutsack into a vat of sulphuric acid while listening to Dido.

[Mr Spew]

except that PS was 2-player only, and PS2 was about as much fun as dipping your nutsack into a vat of sulphuric acid while listening to Dido.

PS2 wasn't that bad, but the original PS was such an amazing game at the time (and is still great), just such a unique game.

Ohh, memories. Thankyou for reminding me.

[mechamonkey]

Play the game for more than five minutes next time, Next.

[Wilbo]

Easily my most played and favourite Cube game. I didnt like this at all first time I played it, but as you learn how to control the chaos so this game changes into a butterfly. Its fantastic.

Managing a rolling dodge behind the opponent and throwing em off screen is amazing, though nothing can beat an excellent double-kill SMAaaASSHH! with the baseball bat, and the scorching zing sound it makes as it makes contact!

Love it.

[AndyB]

Yeah, playing on very easy must have been a real thrill and obviously gives you a fair and well-balanced idea of what every aspect of the game is like.

Yes your right that must be it

If it is primarily a multiplayer game then that is a further tick in the 'pile of shit' column as far as I'm concerned.

The day developers forget to included decent single player elements in their games is the day I give up gaming.

That's a whole different topic though.

[DJ Sack]

But they did put a lot of effort into the single player game. How many other beat-em-ups pad out the single player with mini games and things unrelated to one on one fighting? I know for a fact tekken doesnt, the one player is the same as 2 player. Nintendo did a great job of adding extras so it wasnt just fight after fight.

And as mentioned you can ALWAYS have the cpu playing in multiplayer if your less than four players.

[Barnard]

Heh, Its the same problem here that people have with Mario Sunshine and the Wind Waker.

They can all be beaten easily, much in the same way The Lord of the Rings films can be watched with the lights on whilst doing the ironing or cooking dinner.

These games need immersion to become great, the person who is playing needs to give the games some of their time. Its a two way thing, they are not Sonic or 2D Mario games where the goal is to go from left to right and finish the level.

You are given the choice to finish these games how you like, if you want you can rush to the end and say you've done it OR you can take your time and soak in the atmosphere and master the game.

Some of you may like to rush your food, maybe you people like your Mcdonalds, but when I'm having fine food from a good restaurant I like to savour it and make sure a get a good taste of what I have paid for.

oh, and the music is Smash Bros Melee is the greatest thing ever also.