Super Smash Bros Melee Video Review

Here is GamersCast's written (well, typed) review of Super Smash Brothers Melee: ____________________________________________ A mere 3 years after the original and just after the Gamecube launch, Nintendo released the sequel to their immensely popular Super Smash Brothers, with Super Smash Brothers Melee. So, what has changed since the original? Well, the feel of the overall gameplay stays true to the original, but has also become much quicker in pace and and even more hectic. In fact, after you've played this game, playing the original again, makes if feel slow and lagging. It's that crazy! However, the feel isn't entirely original, as each character has their own weight and feeling in the game. Yes, some characters do feel almost exactly like the others, but for the most part the characters have their own individual attributes. And speaking of the characters, there's over two dozen of them, more than twice as many as the previous title. But as in the last title each character has the same number of moves as before, with the exception of new evasive manuevers that each character has. So, now in addition to the basic shield, you also have a standard sidestep and rolling dodge. But even the shield itslef has been upgraded, by having the strength and size of your shield depend upon how hard you press the shoulder button. This adds a surprisingly large amount of variety and strategy to the gameplay. The single player mode also contains the arcade-like mode seen in the original, along with a new adventure mode. This doesn't add much to the game, and doesn't follow any sort of set story, but is amusing and a nice addition all the same. The adventure mode has single battles, sidescrolling levels, and even certain missions like "Escape from Brinstar" or "Find the Triforce", but the adventure mode is the exact same everytime. But the classic mode is randomized, though it too follows the same general scheme every time you play. But single player goes further beyond the solo camaigns (if you can call them that), there's also loads of new single player content to enjoy in the Stadium. In the Stadium, there's loads of mini-games to choose from. Gone is the days of "Board the Platforms", since it essentially was the same as Break the Targets (which is still here), but now we also have Event Matches, Homerun Contest, and Multi-Man Melee. Event Matches you can consider a "mission mode", you have to complete a certain objective within the given constraints. This can be very fun, and the game keeps a record of your best runs. There are 51 event matches in all. Also new is the homerun contest. In the homerun contest, you have to beat the living hell out of a sandbag and smash it as far as you can, within 10 seconds (they give you a homerun bat to use). This can be very exciting and challenging all the same, and is yet another welcomed edition to Smash Brothers. And last is Multi-Man Melee, which you can choose 6 different subcategories to choose from. But ultimately, the object of all these is to either see how quickly you can beat a set number of enemies, see how long you can survive, or see how many enemies you can beat within the time limit. All of these options have you fighting against the fighting polygon team (upto 5 can be on-screen at once), and are very fun with loads of replay value. But of course, Smash Brothers is always known for one thing: the multiplayer. And this game doesn't disappoint. Unlike the limited options you had in the original, in this game there are dozens upon dozens of multiplayer options. All of them work beautifully, except for the very less than intuitive camera mode, which the camera is controlled entirely by the fourth player, and screen shots can only be taken when you are in the special mode, when support easily could have been integrated into the pause menu. But aside from this every multiplayer mode is solid. Here's a quick rundown of the many multiplayer modes of Melee: - Giant Melee, in which every character is giant sized. - Tiny Melee, in which every character is insanely small. - Lightning Melee, in which every character (and the timer) move twice as fast - Slo-mo Melee, in which every character (and the timer) move twice as slow. In fact, this is what the original will feel like after getting used to Melee. - Metal Melee, in which every character is metal, making then slower and heavier with a bit more power. - Stamina mode, in which each charcter has one life, and you die by either taking 150HP of damage or you fall off the stage. This mode doesn't work all too well, because isn't cutomizeable at all, and when a character losses the remainder of their health the entire match slows down as the dying character helps in pain. This throws off the rythem of the match and can screw you up at crucial moments. It can actually throw you off so much, that you can end up killing yourself, during the death sequence. ironic, isn't it? - Fixed- Camera mode is, well I honestly have no...

Pyro TV | December 2, 2008

Tags:. .sidestep. .evasive. .hectic. .quicker. .immensely