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Super Smash Bros. Melee review

Game: Super Smash Bros. Melee
Platform: GameCube
Genre: Fighting Action (Versus)
Developer: HAL Laboratory
AKA: Dairantou Smash Bros. DX (JP)

Reader review by aganar

Date unavailable

Deep within Nintendo's HQ where EAD and Intelligence reside stands another company not exactly up to their quality. They are called HAL. This, Super Smash Bros. Melee, was their masterpiece. In all of their games I have played this is the most fun, the most polished, the most fun, of them.

Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics are simply amazing, no doubt about it. Smooth animations with amazing character designs and backrounds. I swear, half the time I keep thinking they are rendered and it is a demonstration. While the Polygon counts in DOA3 are slightly higher, I go as far as to say that the textures in this outclass even that. Everything is amazing from the Ganandorf which almost looks like the one from Spaceworld 2000 to the almost completely spherical Kirby.

Gameplay: 10/10
The game here really shines. It's the old Super Smash Bros gameplay that you know and loved redone with added features, moves, and overall complexity. The is the most fun I have ever had in any fighting game. Everything about this game just invites you to run over and play it. Unlocking secret characters and collecting trophies is addictive, not to mention the rivalry in the game. I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed playing Link vs Ganandorf matches with my brother. Another thing to notice is that all of the characters are more balanced, thus ending the small problem from the first one. For those people who say it's not the graphics that matter, it's the gameplay, you have found your answer residing deep within this gem of a game. Let alone the fact that Event Mode is one of the coolest modes ever in a fighting game. The extra effort spent here to make the game perfect obviously succeeded with flying colors.

Characters: 10/10
Here is what makes Smash Bros. Melee Smash Bros. Melee. The characters are not original characters made up just for the game, they are Nintendo characters. These characters are from the masterpieces Nintendo has put out throughout the years. Unlike some fighting games which people don't seem to get, it is actually fun to play as these characters. I mean, who wouldn't want the chance to play as the hero of time, Link? Or the conqueror of Hyrule, Ganandorf? Or how about Nintendo's first creation, Mr. Game & Watch? These are the classics, which any Nintendo fan dreams about fighting since the game's arrival. While there are clones, I think it is a good thing. I mean, show me one really excellent fighting game, which doesn't have clones. The clones aren't even that alike. Ganandorf is completely different from Captain Falcon as is Roy from Prince Marth.
In conclusion, when you have a variety of cool Nintendo characters in a game, you get a cool Nintendo game.

Extras: 10+/10
Super Smash Bros. Melee at the moment holds the record for the largest amount of extras in a fighting game if not videogame period. Heck, this even has more than Soul Caliber! The extras range from everything from Extra characters to extra modes to extra stages to new events! All of the extras are wonderful, including the wide variety of trophies. HAL did their homework and looks like they dug up just about every Nintendo character and made them a trophy. I even saw Pit from Kid Icarus there. Not to mention there are about 300 trophies and more than 20 characters and over 25 levels! I commend HAL for putting all of these in, even if my favorite mode of all, event mode, is ripping off Soul Caliber.

Sound/Music: 10/10
Another perfect aspect here. Old songs remixed beautifully to create a new mood for the stages. I was especially surprised at the Pokemon Remix. It was so well done I actually thought it was good! The sound quality is also superb with all the characters' voices well put in. However, the one thing that lead this to a 10 was the remix of the classic Zelda 2 music. I loved it. Along with the level itself it is my favorite level because of that. My only complaint for the music is that the remix of the Super Mario World theme has been turned into a barnyard theme. Stupid HAL....oh well, everything else is magnificent.

Overall: 10/10
This is what we call a Gem. I expected no less from Nintendo, but even with my expectations the game blew me away. Never did I think collecting trophies would result in such fun, and I couldn't have seen Adventure Mode a mile away. This truly is HAL's masterpiece. Not to say that they're a bad company, but none of their games were that great up until Now. Any Super Smash Bros fan will be delighted at this new sequel. Any casual gamer will love it. All people who like fighting games will enjoy this game beyond comprehension. You don't even need the English version. The Japanese version has a screen to change it to English. Super Smash Bros. Melee, you are the greatest fighting game ever!

Pros:
Great graphics
Great gameplay
The most extras ever

Cons:
Bad Super Mario World Remix
Perfect Dark syndrome (there are so many extras that the player becomes spoiled and demands more)

To Buy or Not To Buy:

BUY IT NOW OR I WILL HAVE TO BUY IT FOR YOU!

Rating: 10/10

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