Super Smash Bros. Melee

A Wii, a CRT T.V., and a GameCube controller are the only things you need to play one of the best games that was ever made, Super Smash Brothers Melee (SSBM). SSBM is a fighting game that was developed by HAL laboratory and published by Nintendo. It was created by Masahiro Sakurai and Shigero Miyamoto and was first released in Japan on November 21, 2001. This game features many characters from games and franchises such as Mario, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, and Fire Emblem. In this game, you can play against up to three other people in a variety of modes, but it is most common to play either against one other person, or in doubles with a partner in order to defeat another team. With some specialty moves that apply to certain characters and other basic moves like down smash (a move where you simply push the C stick downwards on the controller), players are able to go head to head with their competitor in an intense game. You are given four lives and a percentage of health that shows how much damage you have suffered throughout the match. If you go off the map, the arena of the game, you lose a life, or more commonly known as a stock.  Being GameCube’s best selling game, SSBM is still very popular to this day and has become something much more than just a game.

All over the world, people are picking up GameCube controllers, some as a hobby, and others as a job. Although there are thousands of players across the globe, there are certain players who take it to the next step and have a natural ability with the game. Some of the best players in the world include people such as Armada (Adam Lindgren), Mang0 (Joseph Marquez), Mew2King (Jason Zimmerman), HungryBox (Juan Debiedma), and Leffen (William Hjelte). Almost all players of the game come up with their own unique nicknames and the higher ranked players are typically sponsored on a team with other high ranked players.

Individual players and teams will travel to tournaments that take place all over the world and will play in singles, doubles, or both. Some of the biggest events and tournaments in the world are EVO, GENESIS, Big House, and Apex. At these tournaments, players’ skill range from among the best in the world to regular people who just play as a hobby. Typically, these tournaments have a room for friendlies where people all over the globe can play against each other for fun. This game is much different than most games because in order to play against someone, you must sit down right next to them, unlike other games such as Call of Duty. Games like Call of Duty allow you to talk to people online and never really get the chance to see them face to face. Due to the fact that SSBM is an older game, it gives people the chance to meet opponents from different parts of the world and actually have a real conversation with them. It’s one of the many advantages of playing an old game.

Throughout the history of gaming, this videogame has continued to stand out among all others. It’s fun, it’s fast paced, it’s competitive, and it’s legendary. It’s no wonder that so many people have fallen in love with this game, and there is no doubt that it will continue to stay relevant for years to come. If you finished reading this story and gained some interest in this fun, classic game and actually want to play, you should join the Super Smash Bros. club at MHS. You don’t have to have experience and you don’t have to be good; we just all share a love for this game and we hope that you could get the same feeling. So, if you’re bored during a Red Club Day and want something fun to do, check out room 301A. Contact Isaiah Sherfick or Gary Baker if you have any questions.