Editing Super Smash Bros. Melee

{{Title|''Super Smash Bros. Melee''}}
{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|fa=y}}
{{Cquote|Within Nintendo, we've had a lot of discussion about which of our most popular characters should be ready to appear in games when Nintendo GameCube comes to market. We think we've got a great answer.|cite=[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] moments before the ''Melee'' trailer was unveiled to the public at E3 2001.}}
{{Infobox Game
|image = {{tabber|width=250px|title1=American boxart|tab1=[[File:SsbmBoxart.jpg|250px]]|title2=Japanese boxart|tab2=[[File:SSBM JP Box.jpg|250px]]}}
|developer = [[HAL Laboratory]]<br>[[Intelligent Systems]]
|publisher = [[Nintendo]]
|designer = [[Masahiro Sakurai]]
|released = {{Flag|Japan}} November 21, 2001<br>{{Flag|North America}} December 3, 2001<br>{{Flag|Europe}} May 24, 2002<br>{{Flag|Australia}} May 31, 2002
|genre = [[wikipedia:Fighting game|Fighting game]]<br>[[wikipedia:Platform game|Platforming]]
|modes = [[wikipedia:Single-player|Single-player]], [[wikipedia:multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] (2-4)
|ratings = [[wikipedia:Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: T<br>[[wikipedia:Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association|ELSPA]]: 11+<br>[[wikipedia:Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association|ELSPA]]: 3+ (re-rating)<br>[[wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 3+<br>[[wikipedia:Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]]: G8+
|platform = [[Nintendo GameCube]]
|media = [[wikipedia:Nintendo optical discs|GameCube Optical Disc]]
|requirements = 11 blocks of memory (an additional 2 or more blocks are needed for each snapshot saved)
|input = [[GameCube controller]]
}}
{{Redirect|Melee|the game mode|Versus Mode#Versus Mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee|Versus Mode}}
'''''Super Smash Bros. Melee''''' ({{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 shortened to "'''''SSBM'''''" or "'''''Melee'''''" ({{ja|スマブラＤＸ|Sumabura dī ekkusu}}), is a 2.5D fighting game for the Nintendo GameCube.  It was released on November 21st, 2001 in Japan, and December 3rd, 2001 in North America, shortly after GameCube's launch, and then on the following year in Europe and Australia on May 24th, 2002 and May 31st, 2002 respectively. It is the second game in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series, following its predecessor, ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', and was succeeded by ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

Like ''Super Smash Bros.'', ''Melee'' features [[gameplay]] unique from that of other fighting games.  Compared to characters in other fighting games, ''Melee'' characters have simple movesets and lack complicated button inputs and lengthy [[natural combo]]s.  Instead, ''Melee'' 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. The game has sold 7.09 million units as of 2008, making it the best-selling GameCube game of all time. ''Melee'' is also one of the two games in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series to be rated T by the ESRB, with the other being its sequel, ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl.''

''Melee'' received universal acclaim, with many critics praising the game's expansion and refinement from its N64 predecessor, ''Super Smash Bros.'', as well as its visuals, tight controls, multiplayer mode, and orchestrated soundtrack, although its single-player modes, lack of originality, and similarity to its predecessor received criticism. 

==Opening movie==
The [[opening movie]] of ''Melee'' mostly uses FMV scenes from its E3 2001 trailer along with some scenes of actual gameplay.

The FMV scenes were given particularly high attention by the developing team; according to Sakurai, the team wanted to create an entire, high-quality FMV sequence in the game to highlight the then newly-released GameCube console's graphical power in comparison to previous consoles. The development team worked in three different animation studios in Tokyo, Japan to finish the FMV opening.

In addition, continuing the trend started in the previous game, the opening also directly segues into the title screen with the [[announcer]] calling out the game's title.

The E3 trailer has also been found: [http://www.ssbwiki.com/Beta_elements_(SSBM)#Aesthetics early opening]. In this sequence, the clips of actual gameplay had been considerably changed from the final version.

It is the first pre-rendered cutscene in the series.

{{#widget:YouTube|id=KcLg1yBbcb0}}

==Fighters==
[[File:Character selection melee.png|thumb|250px|The character-selection screen of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' (which includes all 26 characters unlocked).]]
The cast of 25 playable characters, 26 if including [[Zelda]]'s alter ego [[Sheik]], includes all 12 characters from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and 13 newcomers (14 counting Sheik). Of these, 14 are available from the start of play (15 if Sheik is included), including all the [[veteran]] characters except [[Jigglypuff]] and [[Luigi]] and 11 more which can be unlocked.
[[File:SSBMCast.jpg|The entire cast of ''Melee'', excluding {{SSBM|Sheik}}, {{SSBM|Zelda}}'s alter ego.|thumb|250px]]
Of the new characters, the greatest number are from {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}} universe if Zelda/Sheik are counted as two characters to go with [[Ganondorf]] and [[Young Link]], although the {{uv|Mario}} series also takes three new character slots for [[Bowser]], [[Princess Peach]] and [[Dr. Mario]] added. On top of these, two universes add two characters each, with the {{uv|Fire Emblem}} series making its ''Smash Bros.'' debut with [[Marth]] and [[Roy]] (with Roy making his debut in ''any'' game), and the {{uv|Pokémon}} universe adding [[Pichu]] and [[Mewtwo]] to its two existing characters. The three other characters added are [[Falco]], a second character from the {{uv|Star Fox}} series, [[Mr. Game & Watch]], and the [[Ice Climbers]] from two highly venerable Nintendo series.
{{clr}}
{{SSBM character table}}

==Stages==
[[File:Stage Select Melee.png|thumb|250px|The stage select screen in ''Melee'']]
There are 29 stages in ''Melee'' that can be played in VS. Mode, 18 [[starter stage]]s and 11 more which are unlockable stages. Three stages return from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' as [[Past Stages]], all of which are unlockable. Each [[universe]], except for the ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' universe, has a stage. The {{uv|EarthBound}} and {{uv|F-Zero}} universes, which previously did not have any stages, receive stages for their respective universes. Most universes have two stages, the exceptions are the {{uv|Ice Climber}} and {{uv|Game & Watch}} universes which have only one, and the {{uv|Mario}} universe which has four. Counting Past Stages, the {{uv|Donkey Kong}}, {{uv|Kirby}}, and the {{uv|Yoshi}} universes have three stages. For the first time in the series, [[Battlefield (SSBM)|Battlefield]] and [[Final Destination (SSBM)|Final Destination]] can be played in VS. Mode, previously they were restricted to single-player modes.
{{clrr}}
{{SSBM stage table}}

===1-player stages===
These stages cannot be unlocked, and can only be played under certain circumstances.
*[[Target Test]] Stages
*[[Snag the Trophies]]
*{{SSBM|Race to the Finish}}
*{{b|Mushroom Kingdom|Adventure Mode}}
*[[Underground Maze]]
*[[Brinstar Escape Shaft]]
*[[F-Zero Grand Prix]]
*[[Rest Station]]
*[[Home-Run Stadium]]
*[[Goomba#As a stage|Goomba]]
*[[Entei#As a stage|Entei]]
*[[Majora's Mask#As a stage|Majora's Mask]]

==Modes==
[[File:Melee Menu.png|340px|thumb|The main menu.]]

===1-Player===
*{{SSBM|Classic Mode}}
*{{SSBM|Adventure Mode}}
*[[All-Star Mode]] (must be unlocked)
*[[Event mode|Event Match]]
*[[Stadium]]
**[[Home-Run Contest]]
**[[Target Test]]
**[[Multi-Man Melee]]
*[[Training]]

===Multiplayer===
*[[Versus Mode]]
*[[Special Melee]]
**[[Camera Mode]]
**[[Super Sudden Death]]
**[[Special Melee|Giant Melee]]
**Tiny Melee
**Invisible Melee
**Slo-Mo Melee
**Fixed-Camera Mode
**Single-Button Melee
**Lightning Melee
**[[Stamina Mode]]
*[[Tournament Mode]]

===Other===
*{{SSBM|Debug menu}}

==Unlockables==
The game featured several points to be unlocked, most of which include the [[trophies]], unlockable characters and stages. Some of them are unlocked by a special way, like achieving a certain distance on the [[Home-Run Contest]], while others are obtained by the [[Lottery]]. For a full list, see [[List of unlockables (SSBM)]].

Some unlockable elements in SSBM were left out, but can be seen with an Action Replay cheat disc. See [[Debug menu]] for more details.

==Development==
Conceptualization of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' began almost immediately after the previous entry released, even before [[Nintendo GameCube]] development kits were widely distributed. [[Masahiro Sakurai]] was quietly tinkering with the design plan mostly by himself with no knowledge of what the final hardware specifications would be. He publicly denied that he was working on a new ''Smash'' title until the 1999 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (E3) event, where he announced he was working on a "Smash game for the GameCube."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourcegaming.info/2016/05/01/smashbegins/|title=News Flash! Smash Bros. Dojo: Smash Begins!|publisher=Source Gaming|accessdate=2022-08-22|date=2001-05-17}}</ref> [[HAL Laboratory]] returned as lead developer of ''Melee'', with Sakurai as the head of production. When final GameCube development kits reached the team, they discovered that they were much easier to use then Nintendo 64 kits.<ref name=youtube>{{cite web|last=Sakurai|first=Masahiro|title=Super Smash Bros. Melee [Game Concepts]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLRRNsAVl-8|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> The optical disc format also let the team use streaming playback for the first time, which allowed the use of real musical instruments for music tracks. The final soundtrack ended up using a mix of real music recordings and synthesized instruments, though Sakurai assured that the differences would be nearly unnoticable. These tracks are an inspiration for the founding of the ''{{iw|wikipedia|Press Start: Symphony of Games}}'' concert series, which was an annual orchestral concert hosted by game industry veterans that featured arrangements of video game music that ran from 2006 to 2015.<ref name="youtube"/>

The game was one of the first games released on the GameCube and highlighted the advancement in graphics from the [[Nintendo 64]]. The developers wanted to pay homage to the debut of the GameCube by making an opening FMV sequence that would attract people's attention to the graphics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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, with Sakurai personally storyboarding the intro instead of spending the New Year with his family.<ref name="youtube"/> 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>{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/098/098158p1.html|title=A Detailed Melee|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-09-07}}</ref> The game was in development for 13 months, and Sakurai called his lifestyle during this period "destructive" with no holidays and short weekends.<ref name=sharpest>{{cite web|last=George|first=Richard|title=Super Smash Bros Creator: "Melee The Sharpest"|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2010/12/09/super-smash-bros-creator-melee-the-sharpest|publisher=IGN}}</ref> Unlike the experimental first ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', he felt great pressure to deliver a quality sequel, claiming it was the "biggest project I had ever led up to that point". Despite the painful development cycle, Sakurai proudly called it "the sharpest game in the series... it just felt really good to play", even compared to its successor, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref name="sharpest"/> Sakurai also felt pressured to make the game as content-rich as possible to help it stand out from both other games at the time and its predecessor. [[Trophies]] were born out of this desire for content. Since the team was only able to make a limited amount of playable characters, trophies acted as representation for characters and franchises that did not make the cut otherwise as fanservice and a history lesson with background information attached to each trophy.<ref name="youtube"/>

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]]'', but retained Ness in consideration of delays.<ref>{{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=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2007-11-24|language=Japanese}}</ref> The game's creators later included Lucas in the game's sequel, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sakurai|first=Masahiro|authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/lucas.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl—Lucas|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2021-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sakurai|first=Masahiro|authorlink=Masahiro Sakurai|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/characters/snake.html |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl—Snake|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2007-09-21|accessdate=2021-07-30}}</ref> Video game developer [[Hideo Kojima]] originally requested the inclusion of [[Solid Snake]] to Sakurai, but the game was too far into development. As with Lucas, development time allowed for his inclusion in ''Brawl''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Similarly, Sonic Team head Yuji Naka confirmed that [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] was ultimately not added due to time constraints;<ref>[[:File:YujiNakaInterview.jpg|Yuji Naka on the road - ''Edge Magazine'']]</ref> like Snake and Lucas, he later became playable in ''Brawl''. Wario was strongly considered for ''Melee's'' roster; while Sakurai expressed that he would have included Wario if he had time to add one more character,<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/syukeiken/return512.html]</ref> he explained that he had opted to instead allocate the team's limited development time to implementing other characters such as {{SSBM|Mewtwo}} or {{SSBM|Marth}} and {{SSBM|Roy}}, and also wanted to avoid having an excessive number of ''Mario'' characters.<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/syukeiken/return576.html]</ref> Marth and Roy 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>{{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—Roy|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2002-01-15|accessdate=2007-11-24|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{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—Marth|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2001-12-14|accessdate=2007-11-24|language=Japanese}}</ref> This decision is often credited for popularizing the ''Fire Emblem'' brand outside of Japan to the point of convincing Nintendo to release the series internationally starting with ''{{iw|fireemblemwiki|Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade}}'', localized as simply ''Fire Emblem''. Additionally, Sakurai stated that the development team had suggested characters from four other games to represent the Famicom or NES era until the developers decided that the [[Ice Climber]]s would be in the game.<ref>{{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—Ice Climbers|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-10-09|language=Japanese|quote=The four games considered were {{uv|Balloon Fight}} ("the balloon would be easily blown"), {{uvm|Urban Champion}} ("seem too small"), {{uv|Clu Clu Land}} ("they know how to fight?") and ''[[Excite (universe)|Excitebike]]'' ("would have to jump")}}</ref> The developers have noted characters that have very similar moves to each other on the website;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/0118/index.html|title=Roy|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2008-01-11|date=2002-01-15|language=Japanese}}</ref> such characters have been referred to as "clones" in the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/objects/016/016387.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros. Melee|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-01-11|date=2002-01-10}}</ref>

Nintendo presented the game at E3 2001 as a playable demonstration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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 August 2001 at Spaceworld, when Nintendo displayed a playable demo that updated from the previous demo displayed at 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>{{cite web|url=http://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> Before the game's release, the Japanese official website included weekly updates, including screenshots and character profiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/096/096718p1.html|title=Super Smashing Moves|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2001-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/index.html |title=Super Smash Bros. Melee |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |accessdate=2007-11-24 |language=Japanese}}</ref> Nintendo followed this trend with ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', in which there were daily updates by the game's developer, Masahiro Sakurai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_uk/index.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> Japanese gaming magazine ''Famitsu'' reported that Nintendo advertised the game in between showings of the ''Pokémon the First Movie'' across movie theaters in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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}}</ref> In January 2003, ''Super Smash Bros Melee'' became part of the Player's Choice, a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games that have sold more than a million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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 Nintendo GameCube for $99.99.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/632/632133p1.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Bundle|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-11-24|date=2005-07-07|first=Matt|last=Casamassina}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Reviews
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|Edge=6/10
|EuroG=10/10<ref name="Eurogamer">http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_ssbm_gc</ref>
|Fam=37/40
|GSpot=8.9/10<ref name="GameSpot">http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/super-smash-bros-melee-review/1900-2829090/</ref>
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|IGN=9.6/10<ref name="Ign">http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html</ref>
|NP=5/5 <ref name="metacritic" />
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|MC=92/100<ref name="metacritic">http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/super-smash-bros-melee</ref>
|GR=90.52%<ref name="GameRankings">http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/516492-super-smash-bros-melee/index.html</ref>
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''Melee'' was well-received in many quarters and is the GameCube's top-selling game, selling about 7.09 million copies worldwide as of December 31, 2009. It was the fastest-selling GameCube game in Japan and sold 358,525 copies within four days of its release. In North America, it sold 250,000 copies within nine days of its release. It was the first GameCube game to sell over a million copies, an achievement reached only two months after its release.

''Melee'' has received critical acclaim from reviewers, and has received high rankings on many gaming sites, such as {{s|wikipedia|GameRankings}}, {{s|wikipedia|IGN}}, and {{s|wikipedia|GameSpot}}. {{s|wikipedia|GameSpy}} commented in their review that "you'll have a pretty hard time finding a more enjoyable multiplayer experience on any other console".<ref name="Gamespy">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Bryn|date=2001-12-03|url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/super-smash-bros-melee/636813p1.html|title=Super GameSpy: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher={{s|wikipedia|GameSpy}}|accessdate=2013-06-05}}</ref> Reviewers compared the game favorably to the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', commonly due to the large amount of new content added to the sequel, with IGN's {{s|wikipedia|Fran Mirabella III}} saying it was "in an entirely different league than the N64 version".<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|last=Mirabella III|first=Fran|date=2001-12-03 |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/166/166387p1.html|title=IGN: Super Smash Bros Melee review|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2013-06-05}}</ref> The improved graphics were also welcomed, and GameSpot said that "the character models are pleasantly full-bodied, and the quality of their textures is amazing".<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Miguel|date=2001-12-01|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/supersmashbrosmelee/review.html?page=4|title=Super Smash Bros Melee for GameCube review—GameSpot|publisher={{s|wikipedia|GameSpot}}|accessdate=2013-06-05}}</ref> Planet GameCube's Mike Sklens also rated it as "one of the best sounding games ever",<ref>{{cite web|last=Sklens|first=Mike|date=2001-12-18|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3834|title=Nintendo World Report: Smash Bros Melee review|publisher={{s|wikipedia|Nintendo World Report}}|accessdate=2013-06-05}}</ref> while GameSpot's Greg Kasavin commented that "it all sounds brilliant".<ref name="Gamespot"/>

''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' has received many gaming awards. GameSpy chose it as Best Fighting GameCube Game in their "Best of 2001" awards<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={{s|wikipedia|GameSpy}}|accessdate=2013-06-05|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071220220600/http://archive.gamespy.com/goty2001/gc/gc_fighting_winner.shtml|archivedate = December 20, 2007}}</ref>, IGN's reader choice chose it as {{s|wikipedia|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=2013-06-05}}</ref>, ''{{s|wikipedia|Electronic Gaming Monthly}}'' chose it as Best Multiplayer and Best GameCube Game,<ref>{{cite web|title=2001 "Gamers' Choice Awards"|publisher=Ziff Davis, {{s|wikipedia|Electronic Gaming Monthly}}|date=April 2002|url=http://gamegroup.ziffdavis.com/presscenter/pr20020304.php?view=printer|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080306150300/http://gamegroup.ziffdavis.com/presscenter/pr20020304.php?view=printer|archivedate=2008-03-06|issn=1058-918X}}</ref>, and GameSpot chose ''Melee'' 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=2013-06-05}}</ref>.

Despite overall positive reception, common criticisms of gameplay included the controls' over-sensitivity<ref name="Gamespy"/> and "hyper-responsiveness", with characters easily dashing and precise movements difficult to perform,<ref name="Gamespot"/>, as well as the fast-paced gameplay, with Nintendo Spin's Clark Nielson stating that "Melee was too fast for its own good".<ref>{{cite web|date=2007-05-27|url=http://www.nintendospin.com/features/the-games-we-hate/|title=The Games We Hate|publisher=Nintendo Spin|accessdate=2013-06-05|last=Nielsen|first=Clark}}</ref> Many gamers additionally criticized the game for being too similar to the original, and GameCritics.com's Caleb Hale called it "every bit as good as its Nintendo&nbsp;64 predecessor. The game doesn't expand much past that point".<ref>{{cite web|last=Hale|first=Caleb|date=2002-02-20|url=http://www.gamecritics.com/review/ssbmelee/main.php|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071231122649/http://www.gamecritics.com/review/ssbmelee/main.php|archivedate=2007-12-31|title=GameCritics.com: Smash Bros :Melee review|publisher=GameCritics.com|accessdate=2013-06-05}}</ref>

==Changes from the original==
While ''Melee'' mainly follows the same formula introduced in the [[Super Smash Bros.|original game]] by retaining most elements, several differences exist between the two games. The following list, while not all-inclusive, notes several of the changes. Note that this list does not include obvious changes, such as a different button scheme/controller and Melee-only characters and items.

===Gameplay===
*The general pacing of the game has been increased; [[freeze frame]]s have been reduced, KOs off the top [[blast line]] finish sooner, and characters move faster in general, as [[gravity]] and [[falling speed]] values have been made higher, and more forward momentum is now conserved from a [[dash]] when jumping.
*[[Hitbox]]es now use spheres and tubes instead of rectangular prisms.
*[[Damage]] is now dealt and tracked with decimal numbers instead of integers, making moves of any damage equally vulnerable to [[stale]]ness.
*[[Stale-move negation]] has been redesigned; moves now feature a gradual drop in power if used repeatedly instead of a single large drop in power when used once, and using a move less frequently gives less of a penalty than using the move the same number of times consecutively. For consecutive hitting attacks, once the first hit connects, all others become one-level staler.
*[[Weight]] differences have been made less drastic; characters heavier than [[Mario]] are lighter, while characters lighter than Mario are heavier, so overall weight is slightly less of a factor in knockback.
*The amount of [[hitstun]] a character suffers has been decreased, being reduced from x0.533 the amount of knockback to x0.4.
*Midair characters can now drop through [[soft platform]]s by holding down on the Control Stick, improving aerial movement.
*[[Directional influence]] revamped: in addition to shifting into a direction while in hitlag ([[SDI]]), characters can also alter the angle they are launched into by holding into a direction, as well as get a weaker additional shift into the direction the Control Stick is held (ASDI).
*Most [[aerial attack]]s have been decreased in damage. All of them now have unique landing animations, and [[L-canceling]] now just halves the landing lag of an aerial rather than making the character assume their regular landing animation. Characters can now, however, [[fast fall]] at any time during aerials, so they can be L-canceled earlier, introducing the highly competitive [[SHFFL]] and allowing the character to perform more extensive combos within ''Melee''{{'}}s new physics.
*[[Smash attack]]s can now be charged for extra damage and knockback. Most smash attacks have received a power decrease to balance this out.
*[[Meteor smash]] knockback can now be cancelled via using an up special or jumping (with the audio and visual indicators being a loud swishing sound and the character glowing briefly white while doing so, in addition to a sparkle), though [[spike|certain moves]] "fall through the cracks" and cannot be. Moves that can meteor smash are also generally much slower in all aspects.
*[[Angling]] forward tilts and smashes now either increases or reduces their damage, depending on the angle, but most of them now have fewer angles.
*Characters now have a [[side special move]], bringing the total number of special moves per character to 4. Some veterans gain a new move for their side special, while others (like Link, Ness and Jigglypuff) gain a new [[neutral special]], with their old one becoming the side special.
*[[Shield]]s now last for a shorter time, and characters now take longer to drop them, though they receive less [[shieldstun]] from attacks. The game now uses two different sounds for when a shield is broken by either an opponent or the character itself, the former being higher-pitched.
*Characters can now [[sidestep]] dodge and [[air dodge]], which results in the addition of [[wavedashing]], as well as making [[shield platform drop]]ping more difficult.
*Characters can now [[powershield]] and lightshield (the latter function makes a character`s shield bigger than usual, but they slide farther from shielding attacks).
*Characters can now [[tech]] on walls, ceilings and ledges.
*Characters hanging on [[ledge]]s can now get up by jumping from them, and they can also be [[Edge sweetspot|sweetspot]]ted during the ending lag of [[recovery]] moves. Characters can prevent grabbing them by holding the Control Stick down.
*Characters now have a unique animation for running [[grab]]s, which is generally slower and farther reaching than their standing/walking grab.
*Character pose animations are removed in Melee’s character selection screen. Instead, when the player is selecting a character, they showed the full portrait of the character on the bottom screen in the character selection screen.
*[[Jump-canceled grab]]s are implemented: dashing characters can now use their regular grabs by preparing a jump and then grabbing before leaving the ground, making them faster and with a longer reach, depending on the characters' [[Dashing|dash speed]] and [[traction]].
*Grabs can now be escaped should the grabber wait too long before throwing, with the time until escaping dependent on the grabbed character's damage (the more damage they have, the longer they can be held). Grabs now have increased ending lag, so they cannot be used in repeated succession as effectively.
*Characters now have an [[up throw]] and a [[down throw]] in addition to a [[pummel]]. Some veterans have had throws reassigned (for example, Kirby and Jigglypuff's old [[forward throw]]s are now their up throws, Captain Falcon's old forward throw is now his down throw, and they have gained new forward throws).
**Throws are additionally weaker in general, with less damage and knockback, and most throws are now meant to start combos instead of being KO moves. This, combined with the introduction of up and down throws, introduces many more options for [[chain throw]]s. The majority of [[throw]]s now also have variable speed depending on the opponent's weight (lighter characters are thrown faster), and many others also consist of two hits, with the first hit being able to damage nearby opponents.
*Certain characters can now use their extended grab in midair to [[wall grapple]].
*Certain characters like Fox can now [[wall jump]].
*[[Moonwalk]]ing is possible (with Captain Falcon being the most prolific user of it).
*If an already struck character is hit by another attack 10 frames afterwards while still in hitstun, the [[knockback]] power and angle of both attacks is scaled for the second hit, rather than being completely replaced.
*[[Tumbling]] can be stopped by quickly tapping the Control Stick sideways.
*Characters can now only be KO'd by the top [[blast line]] if they are in hitstun when sent upwards, and foes on extensive team battles (such as in [[Multi-Man Melee]]) now cannot be Star KO'd nor Screen KO'd, making them significantly faster.
*Items can now be grabbed before coming to rest, and can also now be grabbed by aerial characters.
*All characters can walk while holding a heavy item, though very slowly; Donkey Kong remains the only one who can jump and walk at a normal speed while carrying them. They can also be thrown upwards and downwards, like regular items.
*Healing items can now be consumed while wielding a battering item, such as the [[Beam Sword]].

===Game modes===
*A stock match can now have a maximum time limit set. Many other additional rules have also been added, such as removing stages from random selection, controlling how stages are chosen, and altering the battles' [[Damage Ratio|damage ratio]].
*Bonuses can now be earned in both single-player modes and multiplayer matches. Some old bonuses have been removed while [[List of bonuses|many more]] have been added, bringing the total from 57 to 249.
*[[1P Game]] is now known as {{SSBM|Classic Mode}}, with the opponents before the final stage now being random rather than always the same, and various other single-player modes such as {{SSBM|Adventure Mode}} and [[All-Star Mode]] have been added.
*[[Training]] mode now has many more options, such as battling with more than one CPU, adjusting their damage percentage, or even controlling them by a human player if additional controllers are plugged in. The longest [[combo]] achieved with each character is also saved afterwards.
*[[Special Smash]]es have been introduced, which include battling with [[Super Mushroom|giant]] or [[Cloaking Device|invisible]] characters, using [[hit points]] as opposed to damage, and even battling at a faster or slower speed.
*A [[Tournament mode]] has been added.
*The [[Board the Platforms]] bonus game has been removed, with the [[Snag the Trophies]] bonus game being introduced, and {{SSBM|Race to the Finish}} being revamped.
*The Board of Platforms mini-game has been removed from the stadium mode, with the [[Home Run Contest]] mini-game being introduced.
*[[Trophy|Trophies]] have been added, which can be collected in the [[Lottery]], 1P modes or by specific means, then viewed in detailed ways. All characters also have three trophies of themselves, replacing the previous game's biographies.
*{{b|Coin|collectable}}s are now used for [[Continue|continuing]] on 1P modes and earning trophies: these are obtained by winning battles on either regular 1P or Versus modes, the amount depending on how long they take.
*Records are not saved if a match is forfeited.
*More complex records are saved by the game, such as the total of times it has been turned on, current characters with the most [[KO]]s, [[fall]]s and [[SD]]s, or even the total distance walked by all characters.

===Aesthetic===
*The pre-match countdown by the [[announcer]] and unique [[on-screen appearances]] for each playable fighter are absent. Instead, the announcer says "Ready... Go!" at the start of a match, and all fighters share the same animation of a [[trophy]] coming to life.
*The camera controls on the pause screen have been extended to allow freedom of focusing on other characters. A Camera Mode has been introduced where players can additionally slide it across the stage and take snapshots, which are saved into the Memory Card occupying additional slots.
*Players can now use personalized [[name]]s for battles, which also get records saved.
*The [[match timer]] will now show hundredths of a second (XX:XX.xx). In addition, the [[Match timer#Final countdown timer|final five seconds of the match]] will appear on-screen, and while the announcer counts down, the numbers will get bigger. Also, except in Japanese, the announcer will call out "Game!" and "Time!" when the match ends.

==In competitive play==
{{main|Super Smash Bros. Melee in competitive play}}
''Melee'' is widely known for its large and intricate [[tournament]] scene. The birth of the tournament scene occurred with the creation of the [[Tournament Go]] series in 2002. ''Melee'' has since been featured in the championships of many grand-scale fighting game tournaments, such as [[Major League Gaming]] in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2014, and [[EVO]] in 2007 and from 2013 to 2018.

The community has constructed a set of [[tournament legal (SSBM)|standard tournament rules]] to regulate tournament play. While rulesets may vary between different tournaments, generally universal gameplay rules include all matches being played via [[time]]d [[stock]] (four stocks and eight minutes), and restrictions on legal [[stage]]s. These regulations are enacted to ensure that gameplay at the highest level remains fair and interesting.

Competitive ''Melee'' has historically had a rocky relationship with [[Nintendo]]. Due to a combination of reasons, such as cultural differences and company policies, Nintendo is very strict with permission to broadcast competitive ''Melee'', and has had streams or even whole tournaments shut down for what players view as unfair reasons. This was exacerbated during the years of online-focused or online-only play, as ''Melee'' (being a GameCube game) cannot be played online without emulation and [[mod]]ding, two things Nintendo is very adamant on disallowing.

==Staff==
{{main|List of staff (SSBM)}}

==Gallery==
<CENTER>
<gallery widths="170">
MeleePAL.jpg|''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' European box art.
NP151Cover.jpg|''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' as seen on the cover of the 151st issue of Nintendo Power.
SSBM logo.png|English logo.
MeleeTitle.png|English title screen.
DSBDXTitle.png|Japanese title screen.
</gallery>
</center>

==Trivia== 
*As a near-launch title for the system, ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' marks the first appearance on the [[Nintendo GameCube]] for 23 out of the 26 playable characters; the exceptions being Mario, Luigi, and Bowser, who had appeared in ''Luigi's Mansion'' (the latter after a fashion, as his appearance in said game was actually an elaborate animated suit controlled by King Boo). As only Luigi was playable in said game, he is also the only character who was playable on the GameCube in a game before ''Melee''.
**This also marked the first playable appearance for [[Sheik]], [[Ganondorf]], and [[Roy]] in any series, as well as Roy's first appearance in any game, though his true first appearance in any game would later be ''Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade''. Princess Zelda, who was playable in two of the infamous CD-i games, ''{{s|zeldawiki|Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon}}'' and ''{{s|zeldawiki|Zelda's Adventure}}'', respectively, makes her playable debut in an official Nintendo game here.
*Despite there being five "?"-marked character boxes initially, there are 14 [[starter character]]s and 11 [[unlockable character]]s, with the ones not marked by a "?" being [[clone]]s.
**Oddly, on the [[character selection screen]], [[Pikachu]] initially appears next to Mario on the top row, but it relocates to the bottom row when Luigi is unlocked.
*Despite there being five "?" marked stage boxes initially, there are 18 [[starter stage]]s and 11 [[unlockable stage]]s, with the ones not marked by a "?" being [[Flat Zone]], {{uv|Super Smash Bros.}} universe stages, and [[Past Stage]]s. 
*If Zelda and Sheik are counted as separate characters, then ''Melee'' introduces four {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}} series newcomers, which is the most series newcomers in any universe.
**However, it is tied with the {{uv|Pokémon}} series in ''Brawl'' if the Pokémon used by [[Pokémon Trainer]] are counted separately.
*''Melee'' is the only game in the series to:
**Use question marks (placeholders) to represent [[unlockable stage]]s.
**Have more newcomers than veterans (not counting [[Super Smash Bros.|the original game]]).
**Have a [[Temple|stage]] used on the front of the box art.
**Not have the [[announcer]] counting down from 3 before a VS. Mode match begins. Instead, the announcer says "Ready? Go!" when the match begins.
**Not have unique [[on-screen appearance]]s for each playable character. Instead, all playable characters share the same animation of a [[trophy]] coming to life, a reference to the game's introduction.
***Only Master Hand & Crazy Hand have "true" on-screen appearances, where they both gradually enter the stage from the background while laughing.
**Not have separate announcer voice clips for [[free-for-all]] and [[team battle]], instead collectively announced as either "Melee/Battle Royale", "Survival", "Grab/Get the coins" and "Decision" (in [[time]], [[stock]], [[coin battle|coin]] and {{b|bonus|mode}} battles, respectively), or in cases of [[Special Smash|Special Melee]], respective announcements for each rules.
**Not have the announcer fully dubbed in French and German version, having only one respective voice clip used to accommodate for {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}'s name change. 
**Not have a credits music theme, a results display screen music theme, or a game clear music theme.
**Introduce more than one character that has an [[Echo Fighter]] based off of them in ''Ultimate''.
**Feature multiple {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}} characters and have them all based off the same game (''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}''). However, Young Link also appears in ''Majora's Mask''.
**Feature [[Battlefield]] and [[Final Destination]] as [[unlockable stage]]s (not counting ''Smash 64'', in which they can only be played on in the [[1P Game]]).
**Not to feature Piranha Plants in any capacity.
**Not introduce a character that can damage foes using [[taunt]]s. ''Smash 64'' added {{SSB|Luigi}}, ''Brawl'' added {{SSBB|Snake}}, ''Smash 4'' added {{SSB4|Greninja}}, and ''Ultimate'' added {{SSBU|Kazuya}}.
*''Melee'' is the first game in the series to:
**Introduce antagonists as fighters, those being [[Bowser]] and [[Ganondorf]] (not counting both Mario and Donkey Kong, who were both temporarily portrayed as antagonists early on). <!--Do not count Mewtwo as an antagonist nor use its appearance in the event match Event 51: The Showdown.-->
**Have {{SSBM|Battlefield}} and {{SSBM|Final Destination}} as playable stages in Vs. mode.
**Introduce a stage from the {{uv|EarthBound}} and {{uv|F-Zero}} series.
**Have an early box art that shows an "RP" rating.
*As of ''Ultimate'', 6 of the stages that debuted in ''Melee'' have appeared in every installment (counting the 3DS and Wii U versions of ''Smash 4'' as one entity) since, with those being, [[Yoshi's Island (SSBM)]], [[Jungle Japes]], [[Temple]], [[Brinstar]], [[Corneria]], and [[Onett]].
*Prior to ''Ultimate'', which made including every character from the series its highest priority, ''Melee'' was the only sequel in the series to not cut any characters from its predecessor.
*Gameplay of ''Melee'', in particular {{SSBM|Marth}} and {{SSBM|Roy}} fighting against each other on [[Temple]], was shown nineteen years after the game's debut for the ''[[Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' reveal trailer.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xNUYS-tJZQ]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
*[[Wikipedia: Super Smash Bros. Melee|Wikipedia's ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' article]]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/ Official Japanese ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' website]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20050403131356/http://www.smashbros.com/battle/index.html Official English ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' website (Archived)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfQ75gr2znA First announcement]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3HiXYdFz38 Elevated: the Development Story of Super Smash Bros. Melee] - documentary about Melee's conception, development, and release.

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