Great Bay
Stage Design
Great Bay is a level is Super Smash Bros. Melee that could be considered Young Link's stage, and is where you fight him when you attempt to unlock him. This level is quite fair, although the advantage goes to the large character, instead of the small. The reason why it is better to be large in this level is because of the set up of the level it's self. On the left there is a platform that is parallel with the water, and is resting on it, seemingly floating.
The water doesn't affect you much in this game, except letting you know when you are too far down. The left platform fits only about 2 people, and that is still pretty small for brawling. Until about halfway through the float, and a Bowser height upwards, there is a long platform that is the main fighting platform. It is flat without any obstacles. Occasionally there is Tingle, but we'll discuss that later. The main platform could fit 4 fighters, but only about 3 contenders comfortably. The bottom right stage is the in equivalent opposite space as the one on the far left, but does not rock. It is made of the same steel logs as the main platform, just placed the other direction. There is a huge turtle on the right of the rightmost platform, and can fit about 3 fighters.
The turtle rises up, sometimes facing different directions, and then sinks down into the ocean, where you die if you remain on it. It has green grass on it's shell, but where the shell is exposed, it is slippery as ice. You can get a wavedash boost or have a hard time turning on it. The turtle has two trees on it, that, when facing either left or right, you can stand on and down drop from them. Then there is the obstacle of the level: Tingle. Yes, Tingle. From The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask game. Tingle floats around on a balloon going up and down mostly, but occasionally gently swaying left and right. You can hit his red balloon, when then pops, causing him to flail his arms and legs and fall to the ground (or water) below. When he is flailing his arms and legs for the 1 second that he does, you can take up to 2% damage, but close to no knockback.
Artistic Design
The artistic flare of Great Bay has always been a favorite of SSBM players. The left platform of the level is apparently a moss covered rock. This can be said because, if you look underwater, you can see other rocks that look identical to the floating one underneath it on the sandbed. The main platform is a dome building with a giant hook on the top. Below the buildings are a few pots and a sign that you see all too often in the Legend of Zelda series. There is a ladder that goes from the main upper platform to the lower right one which has the owl statue just like in the game.
The turtle looks very good. His eyes open and shut, he raises and lowers his head, he opens and shuts his mouth. His shell looks like it has more detail than its head though, and it looks kind of awkward. The background is very well done. It is a beach with a small village on it no more than 200 feet from where you fight. The village and beach are surrounded by large hills, and behind them there is a mountain range that reaches through out the level.
But not all is peaceful. Probably the most remembered thing about the stage itself is the Moon. It's the same Moon from Majora's Mask, red and yellow eyes, large nose and angry mouth. Sure it's creepy enough, but what makes it so memorable? It falls to the village. It comes closer and closer and closer until you swear that you were done for. Then, at the last minute, four spirits come out from the mountains and push the moon back into the sky for another 10,000 years, showing the artistic thought put into this level.
