Super Smash Bros Melee

by Nintendo

• It features a whole new set of characters, and some hidden ones for you to unlock
• Create your own matches in the new Tournament Mode
• New AI and smoother animation makes for a better game
• Buy trophies of classic Nintendo characters such as Pit & Mach Rider
• One to four players

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005Q8M0
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 7, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,205 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #1 in Video Games > More Systems > GameCube > Games
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

Normally, 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

Product Description

Can Mario beat Donkey Kong? Is Pikachu tougher than Yoshi? Find out as 12 of Nintendo's biggest stars battle in head-to-head competition. Battle through a tournament in 3-D fighting arenas or take on multiple players with special moves and unique strengths. Made in USA.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

273 of 293 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The game could have been released in its earliest stages ... November 12, 2001

By Chase Willey

Format:Video Game

... and sold to be a smash hit! The unexpected prequal, Super Smash Bros., for Nintendo 64 had very little excitement drawn to its release. I, myself, admit saying "That game looks stupid!" when I first saw it. In fact, I only purchased it because I was a Pokémon-freak at the time. But after getting the hang of it, SSB proves that fighters don't have to have 20 button combination moves and fatalities to be fun!
SSB is a very unique fighting game. Every character has three special moves, two throws, and a bunch of physical attacks, and they are performed all the same way. The moves are, of course, different and it takes strategy to use them effectively. And, instead of having life, you have damage. The more you get hit, the higher your damage percent goes up. The higher it is, the farther away you fly when you get hit. To die, you have to fall off the stage, which floats in the middle of no where. The true shine of SSB is its multiplayer action. It's perfect for when you have friends over and it's still the life of the party, 2 years (and growing) after I got it. Of course, fans wanted a sequal. Though one for the Nintendo 64 while it was still alive would have been nice, the wait was well worth it for Super Smash Bros. Melee, the sequal coming to the newest Nintendo console this December!
First off, the graphics are incredibly updated. They are just so beautiful! No more sharp, jagged objects. Everything is nice and round, beautifully animated, and nicely textured. The fur on Fox looks so real! Aside from graphics, and an incredibly soundtrack to boot, there is an incredible Titantic-sized ship-load of new features!
The game starts out with 14 default characters.... You get Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Kirby, Pikachu, Yoshi, Fox, Ness, Captain Falcon, and four new characters: Princess Peach, Bowser, Zelda, and the Ice Climbers, Popo and Nana! There are also at least 7 hidden ones, as Nintendo swears there are over 20 playable characters in the game. The previous title only had 12 characters (two, being Luigi and Jigglypuff, which are most certain hidden). This title also has 23 stages (5 hidden), while the previous only had 9! Want some more? Close to 30 or 40 items to use, while the previous had maybe 20. Tons of new game modes, such as Adventure Mode, Tournament Mode, Giant and Tiny Mode, One-Button Mode, Coin Battle Mode, Colessium Mode, Invisible Mode, and tons more! You'll never get bored!
The multiplayer fun factor still holds true, but HAL tried to boost the single player areas as well. The newest Adventure Mode is most likely the best. You control your character through different platformer worlds of various Nintendo stars, like through Mario levels or the castles in Hyrule!
I guess its time to give you an insight on some characters. Princess Peach is definitely gonna be a strong force! She can use a frying pan, tennis racket, golf club, parasol, explosive butt bump (no kidding), Toad, she can float, and she can throw vegetables! Yikes!
Bowser, on the other hand, is nothing but defense, power, size, and no speed. He can breathe fire, bite, body slam, butt stomp ... the usual big character stuff.
The Ice Climbers are more unique. Instead of fighting with one character at a time, you actually fight with two! You control the blue Eskimo guy, named Popo, while the pink one, named Nana, follows you around and copies your every move! Popo and Nana have to be together to use a lot of their moves, so losing one is a bad thing. Of course, they come back eventually.
Zelda is also very unique. She has love, wind, and fire attacks, as well as a special transformation move. She can transform into her male counterpart, Sheik! As Sheik, she's faster and has a new moveset, including throwing needles, a whip, and teleportation. You can switch back and forth constantly, making the strategy incredible!
Speaking of move sets, the moves are still as easy as ever to pull off. You can perform special moves by standing and pressing B, pressing Up and B (often used as an airborne jump to return to the stage), Down and B, and the new Side and B! Characters also now have four throws to chose from, as well as a multiple-hit throw. Tons of new techniques, even including tilting into the background or foreground to avoid attacks, are included as well!
Stages are incredible. Whether you're fighting in the middle of an F-ZERO race or in the peaceful town of Onett, the action is always great! Stages include a fight atop Peach's Castle from Super Mario 64, over the raging Kongo River, on an icy mountain, on a flying ship over the rainbow, in a retro 8-bit Mushroom Kingdom, on a planet of acid, and tons more! Each character has at least two stages, except for the Ice Climbers, who have 1, and Peach, Bowser, and Zelda, who share stages with related characters.
Another innovative feature is the Gallery mode. Every mode you play will reward you with Coins. You can use these Coins to play a Slot Machine game. If you win, you can win trophies of Nintendo characters! These trophies look nice and include short biographies, written by the director of HAL, but other than that, they are basically the "PokéDex" of SSBM. NES fans will be delighted to see old characters such as Balloon Fighter, Gloopy, and tons more!
If you get a GameCube, you can't possibly enjoy it without this game! People say its just a rehash of SSB, but in reality, its everything SSB had and tons, tons, TONS more! I recommend you get it, without a doubt, and buy a controller (or 3) while you're at it! It's definitely a multiplayer game. Read more ›

106 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget the orginal! October 9, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Video Game

I thought that there was no game out there better than Super Smash Bros, but then I played THIS game at the at one of cube clubs, and all I can say is WOW! The graphics were incredible, the game play was intense, there's a ton of new things to do, and once you've played it, you'll want to throw Smash Bros. for 64 in the garbage. The Items are really cool to! For example, if you throw a Poke-ball, a 3D pokemon comes out moves around and attacks. (and it's not like 64 where it's a flat pokemon that just changes position) Their facial expression changes, they move around, and let your opponent have it! And If you think that the laser gun was a cheap item, wait until you see the laser machine gun in action! Your opponent won't have a chance! Nintendo Did an excellent job on this game. The characters all have individual fingers and you can even see the ruffles in Mario's overalls! It's amazing! You will be spellbound by this game so I encourage you to buy it if you haven't already!!!!

191 of 211 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gamecube at its Multiplayer BEST!!!! June 19, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Video Game

I bought this game at its release time and played it constantly since. I read the data of Super Smash Bros. and it said I played close to 100 hours total!!!!... and I'm still not tired of this game! The massive amount of lands (around 30) with their own obstacles and real-life simulation from other Nintendo games (some levels morph, melt away, constantly moving,... just amazing!!). The characters are real and have their own special moves and abilities.
-Dr. Mario*
-Mario
-Luigi*
-Donkey Kong
-Bowser
-Peach
-Mewtwo*
-Mr Game and Watch*
-Link
-Young Link*
-Ice Climbers (Nana and Popo)
-Zelda
-Marth*(from Fire Emblem, a Japanese game never released in the U.S.)
-Roy*(from Fire Emblem, a Japanese game never released in the U.S.)
-Jiggilypuff*
-Pikachu
-Pichu*
-Captain Falcon
-Falco Lambardo*
-Fox
-Kirby
-Samas Aran
-Ganondorf*
-Ness
-Yoshi
* = Hidden Characters to be Unlocked one way or another.

Also you can collect trophies... I have 249.This game is also unbeatable with it's 4 player-support.Like Gamepro rated it:

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5 (I think it's well worth a 5!!)
Gameplay: 1 player: 4.5/5
2 players+: 10/5

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Smash Melee: A Smash Buy! November 14, 2001

A Kid's Review

Format:Video Game

This game has it all! If you like the first, this is a must buy, especially if you have many friends. There are pretty much new of everything. More stages, items, modes, and MORE than 20 characters like new characters such as Peach, Ice Climbers, Bowser and Shiek/Zelda! If you didn't like the single player, you are not alone but in Melee, single player is much improved. You have to go through levels until you get to the character. It was said to be a lot of fun. Also, if people think this is a rehash, they are very wrong. First of all, this is a Multiplayer game! Not single! Also, this game is not allowed to be compared to Tekken or Street Fighter! They are two complete different things! The last thing is that there are so many new types of gameplay like Coin Mode, or HP Mode and now there is a new Forward B move. If there are any reasons to get the Gamecube, it's this game!(Other than Zelda, Mario, Metroid...)

Pro's
*WAY better graphics
*Control is much better
*Faster paced action (60 fps)
*New Modes (Gallery, Classic, Adventure, Home Run, Coin, HP...)
*New characters, more than 20!
*New types of moves like dodging, forward B...
*Harder CP
*Pretty much more

Con's
*Lack of friends means lack of enjoyment
*No Online Gaming(...)