Super Smash Bros. Melee

Template:FA-articleSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Developer(s)	HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Masahiro Sakurai
Released	November 21, 2001; / December 3, 2001; May 24, 2002; May 31, 2002
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer (2-4)
Ratings	ESRB: T; ELSPA: 11+; ELSPA: 3+ (re-rating); PEGI: 3+; OFLC: G8+
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube
Media	1 GameCube Game Disc
System requirements	11 blocks of memory (an additional 2 or more blocks are needed for each snapshot saved)

Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as Dairantou* Smash Brothers DX** (大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズDX, Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Dī Ekkusu), and often shortened to "SSBM" or "Melee", is a 3-D on a 2-D plane 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. It is the second game in the series, following Super Smash Bros.

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 and lack complicated button inputs and lengthy natural combos. 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.

^{* Dairantou = Great Fray

**DX = Deluxe}

Intro

<youtube>56P3-TwuRBo</youtube>

Characters

There are 26 characters in the entire game, the 12 veterans and 14 newcomers. There are 15 starter characters and eleven more which can be unlocked. All twelve characters have returned from Super Smash Bros., however ten characters from the previous game are available from the start and the other two are the same as the previous game.

Default characters

Secret characters

The entire cast of Super Smash Bros. Melee.

The entire cast of SSBM, excluding Sheik, Zelda's alter ego.

Non-Playable Characters

Stages

There are eighteen starter stages and eleven more which can be unlocked.

Default stages

Unlockable stages

* stages return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

** stages return from Super Smash Bros.

Single-Player stages

These stages cannot be unlocked, and can only be played under certain circumstances (or if the game is hacked).

Debug-Only Stages

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

Functional

Test
Zelda/Sheik's Target Test Stage

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

Debug mode

Unlockables

The game features 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 Complete Melee Unlockables.

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 Side B move. In some cases (such as Link), the character's old Neutral B got moved to their Side B, with the newly added move becoming the Neutral B.
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. Some forward or back throws have been changed to a character's up or down throw (Kirby's forward throw in SSB, for example, is his up throw in this game). A majority of the throws themselves have been decreased significantly in power and knockback, though some are great for comboing.
While grabbing, characters can now pummel the opponent.
The pacing of the game has been increased.
The amount of hitstun a character suffers has decreased.
The single-player Board the Platforms bonus game does not return.
Air dodging, moonwalking, and sidestep dodging have been implemented.
All characters can move while carrying a heavy item (albeit very slowly); in the original, this ability was exclusive to Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong is the fastest carrier, of course.
Spikes are now Meteor Smashes and all have been changed to be slightly harder to perform. (All characters' meteor smashes now have starting lag unlike the original)
Wall jumping has been implemented.
Certain characters can now wall grapple using their Tether Recovery.
Items can now be grabbed before coming to a complete stop; they can also be grabbed by a midair character.
Smash Attacks can now be charged by holding the A button.
Smash Attacks can now be executed immediately with the C-Stick. (Though, unable to be tilted, unless one tilts the control stick as the C stick is hit.)
The Heart Container's healing power has been reduced to simply healing 100%, while the Maxim Tomato's effect was also reduced to 50%.
On-Screen Appearances have been removed, focusing more on the game's concept of trophies coming to life.
There is a selection of time for stocks.
If one ends a game early, the statistics won't be saved.
The angle at which the menus are seen can be tilted with the C-stick. Also, the player can press L or R to view another fighter when the game is paused.
If you smash open a box, an enemy form the Mario or Zelda series might pop out. The chances of this are slim.

Tournament play

SSBM is widely known for its large and intricate tournament scene. The generally accepted birth of the tournament scene was caused by the creation of the Tournament Go 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.

Gallery

PA 01125 012.jpg

Super Smash Bros. Melee Japanese box art
00031424.jpg

Super Smash Bros. Melee PAL box art

External links

Template:SSBGames

Template:FA-articleSuper Smash Bros. Melee

Developer(s)	HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Masahiro Sakurai
Released	November 21, 2001 / December 3, 2001 May 24, 2002 May 31, 2002
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer (2-4)
Ratings	ESRB: T ELSPA: 11+ ELSPA: 3+ (re-rating) PEGI: 3+ OFLC: G8+
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube
Media	1 GameCube Game Disc
System requirements	11 blocks of memory (an additional 2 or more blocks are needed for each snapshot saved)