Developer: HAL
Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Fighting

Year released: 2001

Number of Players: 1-4 simultaneously

Super Smash Bros. Melee is the sequel to the N64 hit, Super Smash Bros. SSB was widely known for the excellent multiplayer battles between Nintendo’s various all-stars. Super Smash Bros. Melee improves on pretty much everything from SSB. SSBM features the twelve characters from the original, such as the Mario Bros., Link, etc., and also features newbies such as Bowser, the Ice Climbers, Zelda, and also has several hidden characters and unlockables.

Visuals: (100%)
The graphics are amazing. The characters and stages never looked so good. For several of the characters, it’s their first appearance on the GameCube, and for a few, it’s their first time being in 3D.

Sounds: (100%)
SSBM has one of my favorite soundtracks; it features excellent remixes of favorites from the past and present.

Gameplay: (92%)
The gameplay is essentially the same as in SSB, but slightly improved. A lot of the “cheap” moves from SSB have been toned down. All returning characters have new moves and play a lot different than they did before. There are more modes, characters, stages, items, options, and more. The only complaint I have with the gameplay is the Computer AI is still totally cheap, and human players can use repetitive, cheap tactics to win. Of course, the latter was probably inevitable.

Replayability: (96%)
There are tons of things to unlock and it should take you a while to get everything.

Personal Score: (97%)

Bottom Line:
A must-own game for your Nintendo GameCube.

Final Score: (97%) A+

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