Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3810 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Released on: 2003-04-11
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: GameCube
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Normally, Nintendo contract players like Mario, Pikachu, Link, Donkey Kong, Bowser and Kirby are generally happy and well-mannered, but in Smash Bros. Melee the pleasantries get thrown out and the gloves (except for Mario's) come off. This update of the N64 favourite has 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 (there are an additional 11 to be unlocked), the basic premise of having Nintendo's stars beat on each other until the timer runs out is pretty standard. However, much emphasis is put on knocking opponents off ledges while avoiding the same fate. In typical Nintendo manner, there are many power-ups to assist you in the melee. The actual combat isn't as intricate as other fighting games, however the ultra-cartoony layout of the many, many arenas sometimes adds a strategic element not usually found in fighting games.

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 of 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. There's 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 hand. --Mark Brooks

NGC Magazine
"Eye-singeing multiplayer, ingenious moves...and some of the sweetest looks yet squeezed from the 'Cube. 91%."

Manufacturer's Description
If you're looking for a roll call of famous Nintendo characters, look no further than Super Smash Bros. Melee. Based on the original Nintendo 64 multiplayer game, this title puts Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Yoshi, and a slew of other characters into a free-for-all brawl. Players can select characters based on their signature moves and weapons, and then go into fighting modes where objectives range from being the last man standing to collecting the most gold coins during a battle. There's even a point-scoring timed round where players are judged on the technical accuracy of their combos. All of the fight venues are taken from familiar Nintendo landscapes, such as Donkey Kong's jungle or Link's Zelda universe, but are upgraded to a level of detail that previous Nintendo systems have been unable to achieve. The game comes with a one-player side-scrolling mode, but it's clear that Melee is meant to be played with a group of friends--up to four can play at one time, and up to 64 people can partake in the game's tournament mode.

Customer Reviews

The game we just keep playing!
I cannot get over how good this game actually is. Me and a group of friends have been playing this since it came out on multiplayer, and we just refuse to get bored of it, even now one of us has an Xbox 360 and Halo 3, Super Smash Bros finds itself in a gaming day routine everytime, without fail.
The single player is solid; classic mode, adventure mode, all star mode and event matches are just some of the choices on offer, and with so many characters to get used to, there's plenty of life in this game for a single player, but with this just on it's own, the game would be quite unremarkable. The game is designed with Multiplayer in mind, and you have everything you could possibly want at your disposal for it.
The frame rate is continually perfect, it allows frantic and intense matches to be played. I think it's important to note that it is by no means random however (as it has been critised of being by the 1 Star review of this game previously). You learn and develop skills in this game the more you play it, and you keep on getting better. There isn't really a set "end" point where you cannot learn anymore. This is what, for me, separates it from many other multiplayer games.

And to add to this- they're all Nintendo characters! A rich tapestry of Nintendo's past and present. You simply couldn't do this with any other games developer. Sony would get as far as Spyro and Crash Bandicoot and call it a day, Nintendo characters a piling up to be added!

All in all I can't praise this game enough, it's longevity is astounding. I've given so many hours to videogames in the past, but I don't regret a minute of playing this.

greatest game ever
I believe that this game could be the greatest games ever created the effects, the stadiums, the choice of players and overall effects of the game make this one of the Best. To be good you need a good mind, quick reflects and knowledge of each character, but you pick all this up quite quickly. If you are thinking of getting this game i would definatly advise it. just some of the characters included: Link (The Legend of Zelda), Captain Falcon (F-Zero), Fox (Star Fox), Picachu (Pokemon), Donkey Kong (Guess Where he came from) and Samus (Metroid Prime) just to name a few. And if you can wait Super Smash Bros. Brawl is coming out on the Wii Soon.

when it comes to multiplayer,this game really shines
this is probably some of the best fun you will have on gamecube.having nintendo classic characters like mario(if you dont know him you should be ashamed)and link and making them destroy each other is strangely funny,fantastic and addictive.

casual gamers can just pick up the controller and master it in five minutes while hardcore gamers will love it as well.the buttons are very simple,A to attack,B and a certian direction to do a special move and X/Y to jump.

the gameplay from a fighter like tekken or soul caliber,has changed.instead of fighting until a persons life bars go down to zero,you have to keep attacking your opponent until there damage meter is quite high.the more damadge caused,the further they fly.then you have to unleash a powerful attack and knock them out the arena and at the end of a couple of minutes who ever gets knocked out the most loses!!!

as i said above its the multiplayer that makes this a must buy.the graphics arent pushing the gamecubes limits but are quite pretty.the lifespan is great on it.as long as you have another controller and a friend,this is endless fun.

my only main complaint is that some unlockable characters are clones of other character.dr mario has the same moves as mario and falco is an imitation of fox etc.apart from that,nintendo fans,people who love multiplayer,and people who are dying to smack pikachu with with a baseball bat then this is must buy.