• It features a whole new set of characters, and some hidden ones for you to unlock
• Create your own matches in the new Tournament Mode
• New AI and smoother animation makes for a better game
• Buy trophies of classic Nintendo characters such as Pit & Mach Rider
• One to four players

Super Smash Brothers Melee is a great fighting game where you put your favorite Nintendo characters against each other, to find out who's the toughest of them all!

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

Super Smash Bros. 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 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. The game features 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 hands. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Fantastic graphics and sound keep the action upbeat
• Many new characters and other goodies to unlock

• Single-player experience is comparatively weak
• Too cute for a few folks
• Adventure mode is boring

This game is fun. Great when you are looking for a two player. Its nice you can battle each other or team up against others. Not bad by yourself either.

Simply amazing. I can think of no two words that describe this Gamecube title better than that. As a sequel to the N64 smash hit, Super Smash Brothers, this game improves in every way over that title. From the graphics to the sound effects, SSBM is a solid hit to purchase if you still own a Gamecube. And for those Wii owners out there, why not own this to go with Super Smash Brothers Brawl? It would compliment it nicely on your gaming shelf.

I recently acquired another Gamecube, and this was one of the first titles I sought actively for it. Although there are characters that are similar to eachother in attack moves (Pichu and Pikachu, for example), the simple diversity of being able to play one of your favorite Nintendo characters makes this title a joy to own and play over and over again. There are many things I still need to unlock in this game, and I find myself playing it every single night right before I go to bed. It's that addictive and fun.

Pros:

Simple techniques let you get into the action right away
Choose your favorite Nintendo character and have at it!
Graphics and sound are top notch. Gameplay is a breeze to learn
Many unlockable areas and characters available
Multiplayer is fast, furious, and downright enjoyable

Cons:

Single player is a weak addition to the game
Many characters are downright identical to others
Takes a long time to unlock some characters you'd like to play sooner

Overall:

This game is one you must own if you have a Gamecube, or a Wii, for that matter. The price is still on the reasonable side, and you can get it cheaper as a "Player's Choice" title. Any Gamecube owner would do well to add this title to their collection. Get it....TODAY!

The game arrived in a timely manner and even though it didn't have the instructions my son knew how to play. It was in excellent condition.

Donate hours of your life to this extremely fun game. Go for single player adventures, unlock levels with special matches, or battle with combinations of friends & computers. It's a must-have for Gamecube.

Oh, and just a note: After fighting 2995 matches, you'll get an awesome message saying something like: "You completed your 2,995th match. That means you spent a penny on each one. Was it worth it?"

Before you get this game, I want you to know a few things. first, this game has really good graphics, (most backround things are paper 3D though) this game is only left, right, duck, and jumpish, so there's no moving forward or backward, (unluckily for me, I didn't know that) multi player is the main thing, so I recomend you have 4 controlers, and 1 player mode is only to unlock new players to play in multi player. multi player is Sooo fun, and you can actualy unlock some places from the nintendo 64 vershion!

Patrick, age 9