Gaming Target - GameCube: Super Smash Bros. Melee

Written by Derek Noad on May 21, 2001

First Impressions: I can't wait to see Mario smack that monkey!

The most exciting part of E3 for many gamers was Super Smash Brothers Melee. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the best fighter, in many gamer's opinions, on the Nintendo 64, was Super Smash Brothers. It was the perfect combination of action, strategy and reflexes. Ever since the announcement of GameCube many have awaited news of a sequel. Finally those gamers can rest easy that one of the most innovative fighting games' legacy will live on. Now about the game itself, with the graphical capabilities of the GameCube all the characters get a facelift. The motions and outfits look more realistic than there N64 counterparts. The battle arenas are amazing to say the least. This is what Nintendo needs to look like to stay in the game with the other major competitors. There will be tons of voices and classic sound effects such as Mario's fireball or Yoshi's grunts.

The cast of heroes (and heroines) is extended to a few new additions. First you get some more stars from the Mario world. Welcome to the party: Princess Toadstool (Peach as she has come to be known) and the king of koopas, Bowser. Link's friend from Ocarina of Time, Sheik will join up too. The ice climbers taken from an old Nintendo game have made their way back, and gamers can assume that Pikachu will be accompanied by some new Poke-faces. So far SSBM includes Mario, Peach, Bowser, DK, Yoshi, Link, Sheik, Fox, Kirby, Ice Climber, Ness, Samus and Pikachu.

So far the game play appears unchanged. From the game play footage seen; you're still trying to play king of the hill on a setting from a Nintendo title. If you fall off you still want to double jump back on and it seems that taking too much damage will instantly blast you into oblivion. There will be new modes of play; the original stock (set amount of lives), time (most kills in the limit wins) and two new ones: coin (collect the most) and decision (all your moves are scored). SSBM will include a side scrolling one player mode different from its predecessor. Most likely you will battle through lesser opponents instead of a one on one for the story mode. Think of NES Mario or Metroid platform play in the combat style of SSB.

Expect to find new weapons, plenty of new stages, tons of hidden characters, modes, and surprises. Everything from umbrellas to fans to Super Scope 6 will be available to your fighter in his or her quest to be champion. Other additions include loads of mystery modes (things like Homerun Contest sound promising) and a tournament feature for up to 64 participants.