Super Smash Bros. Melee
Main Game
RELEASED
8.9
Nov 21, 2001
Nintendo GameCubebyHAL Laboratory•Nintendo
Overview:|
This 2001 main game is a platform-fighting title where you battle across dynamic stages, aiming to launch opponents off-screen rather than deplete a health bar; its core loop emphasizes fast-paced multiplayer combat, aerial maneuvers, and precise stage control, featuring a roster expanded from its predecessor with characters from franchises like Fire Emblem, all contained within its original release structure.
This title, released in 2001 for the Nintendo GameCube, serves as the second installment in a prominent fighting game series. It significantly expands upon its predecessor by retaining all original playable characters while introducing new combatants drawn from various Nintendo franchises, including series that had not previously seen international releases at the time.
Core Gameplay and Mechanics
The primary design focus of this entry is its robust multiplayer experience, supporting competitive and casual battles among up to four participants simultaneously. Combat is characterized by fast-paced, platform-based engagements where the objective is to launch opponents off the boundaries of the stage rather than reducing a traditional health bar.
The core gameplay loop involves selecting a character and engaging in battles across dynamic stages themed after different video game worlds. Damage is tracked via a percentage meter; as this percentage increases, the force required to launch a character upon impact decreases, making it progressively easier to knock them out of the arena.
Mechanics emphasize precise control, including advanced aerial maneuvers, directional shielding techniques, and crucial recovery options, all demanding high levels of positional awareness and quick reaction times from the player.
Single-Player Content
While multiplayer functionality is central to the experience, the game provides several dedicated single-player modes. These include traditional tournament structures and various challenge modes designed to test a player's proficiency with the game's mechanics and its roster of characters.
What makes this game unique in the fighting genre?
This installment distinguishes itself by fundamentally blending traditional fighting game elements with platforming dynamics. Success is heavily reliant on stage control and a deep understanding of knockback physics, rather than solely focusing on executing complex attack sequences or depleting an opponent's life bar. The diverse roster, sourced from multiple established gaming universes, ensures a wide spectrum of distinct playstyles are available for mastery.
Available Content Status
As a main title originally launched in 2001, this version features a fixed roster and a defined set of stages. There are currently no officially released downloadable content packs, expansions, or remasters associated with this specific iteration of the game.
Game Details
Primary Name: Super Smash Bros. Melee
Alternative Names:
Melee (Abbreviation)
Great Fray Smash Brothers Deluxe (Japanese title - translated)
Dairantou Smash Brothers DX (Japanese title - romanization)
SSBM (Acronym)
Dairantou Smash Brothers Deluxe (Alternative spelling)
Type: Main Game
Series: Super Smash Bros.
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo, Gradiente
Release Information
Release Date: Nov 21, 2001
Genres & Themes
Genres: Fighting, Platform
Themes: Action
Platforms
Nintendo GameCube
Game Modes
Perspective: Side view
Player Modes: Offline Co-op, Split Screen, Multiplayer
Game Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Age Ratings
ESRB:T (Teen)
PEGI:3+
CERO:A (All Ages)
USK:12+
GRAC:ALL (All Ages)
CLASS_IND:14+
ACB:PG (Parental Guidance)
Soren