AbstractWhy are Ice Climber and Donkey Kong fighting each other? Because this is SUPER SMASH BROTHERS MELEE, and that's what they're supposed to do! Choose any of Nintendo's classic characters including Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Yoshi, Kirby, and many of the more obscure personas from the company's history then try to beat the crud out of the other ones. The premise is simple enough, but the gameplay and graphics take fighting games to a whole new level.
ESRB rating
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Comic Mischief, Mild Violence |
Full descriptionThe sequel to the surprise hit Super Smash Bros. on the N64, Super Smash Bros. Melee introduces more characters, stages, and moves to the mix. Returning to the fold is the entire cast of the original, along with a host of new combatants, including such popular Nintendo icons as Bowser, Zelda, Ice Climber, and Peach. In addition to the initially selectable cast, 11 other characters can be unlocked. These characters will challenge the player to a duel, and if defeated become unlocked for future play. Eighteen stages are primarily selectable, with a number of hidden ones becoming available throughout the course of the game.
Classic and Adventure modes make up the bulk of the single player experience. The former is set up in essentially the same format as the original N64 version, while the latter is more like a platform title and includes famous locales, such as the Mushroom Kingdom (replete with Goombas) and Brinstar. Interspersed between stages, and sometimes during the stages, are matches against various enemies, ranging from giant characters to team battles to one-on-one match-ups. Event matches provide the player with various situations that need to be completed within a predetermined set of parameters, such as rescuing Peach from Bowser, without either Mario or Peach getting knocked out of the stage. The Stadium mode includes Target Test, Home Run Derby, and Multi-Man Melee events, each of which provides rudimentary tests for the player.
Multiplayer matches can be made up of any combination of four human or CPU opponents, and feature a variety of gameplay modifiers ranging from invisible characters to instant kills. Newly added Coin Battle and Point modes complement the original's Time and Stock modes. Players can enter their names in order to keep track of such statistics as games won and lost, number of kills and deaths, time played, and characters used, among others.
Coins earned in any of the game's modes can be used to gamble for trophies of game characters, items, and power-ups from Nintendo's vast library of titles. The trophies include obscure mascots and long-forgotten characters; each of which can be inspected in real-time by the player using such functions as rotate and zoom to get a better view.
Editorial reviewSource:
AmazonNormally, Nintendo contract players such as Mario, Pikachu, Link, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Kirby are generally happy and well-mannered, but in
Super Smash Bros. Melee, the pleasantries get thrown out and the gloves (except for Mario's) come off. This update of the N64 favorite features these and other video game icons in furious, yet utterly absurd fisticuffs that usually make for a smashing good time. Just make sure you have at least one human opponent to pound on.
Starting off with 14 characters (an additional 11 are waiting to be unlocked), the game has a pretty standard premise--let Nintendo's stars beat on each other until the timer runs out. However, a lot of emphasis is put on knocking opponents off ledges while avoiding the same fate. In typical Nintendo manner, there are quite a few power-ups to assist you in the melee. The actual combat isn't as intricate as in other fighting games; however, the ultra-cartoony layout of the many, many arenas sometimes adds a strategic element not usually found in similar titles.
Super Smash Bros. Melee's strength lays in the mayhem created in four-player fights. The camera does an excellent job of positioning itself so all combatants are constantly visible. Also, Melee sports some of the best visuals seen in a Nintendo product. All the characters are highly detailed, and the movements of each are smoothly infused with personality. Donkey Kong lumbers and Princess Peach fights with grace.
As the multiplayer mode is the key reason for this game's existence, the single-player mode is decidedly weak. The game features an adventure mode that plays somewhat like an old-school, side-scrolling Mario game. Sadly, despite its good looks, its gameplay is rather uninspired. This game is clearly at its best when there are two or more players with controllers in their hands. --Mark Brooks
Pros:
- Fantastic graphics and sound keep the action upbeat
- Many new characters and other goodies to unlock
Cons: - Single-player experience is comparatively weak
- Too cute for a few folks
- Adventure mode is boring
Use special power-ups and items like Bob-ombs and the Super Scope
Adventure mode leads through 3D side scrolling worlds like the Mushroom Kingdom
Conquer melee challenges in Event Mode to unlock game secrets
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