Introduction:

This is the sequel to the ever popular Super Smash Bros for the N64. It is the best selling Gamecube game, and has critical and financial success worldwide. It is an entertaining experience that almost never gets old, and offers a very unique experience that is unlike any other. I hope you enjoy my review.

Story:

The game itself has little, if any story. This is probably the biggest issue with this game.

Gameplay:

The most exciting, entertaining, and dazzling gameplay I have ever seen. From the fighting system, to the multiple types of fighting modes, to even more fighting modes, this game has an excellent gameplay. You can virtually always improve at this game, and it revolves a lot around skill. The gameplay seldomly faulters, but other than that a few very minor issues, the gameplay is great. Overall the gameplay is near flawless, and it is the best gameplay in a fighting game I have ever seen. You simply can't deny the greatness of the gameplay, and is simply amazing. Add the multiple modes, and you get the picture. The gameplay is simply the closest thing to perfection in fighting games, and even possibly all of video gaming!

I give the gameplay: 10/10

Graphics:

Probably one of the best games in terms of graphics at it's release. The characters are so well done, and classic courses really feel classic in terms of graphic style. Also the stages look beautiful and diverse, and the graphics are just incredible. The only issue I have is your body parts can stick out of a platform, or if you get close to another character you can go through their body. Other than that a few other small details, the graphic is definitely up there!

I give the graphics: 9.7/10

Sound:

The sound is very nice, and can easily feel like real combat. The music is even better, and can remind you of a ton of your favorite Nintendo games, and is just simply jaw dropping, fun, and spectacular. The sound test even allows you to play all the voices, sounds, and music from the game. The main menu songs are great, and almost never get old. The sounds of combat such as Mario's fireballs, and Link slashing sound very detailed, it is incredible. Also the classic sounds of Ice Climbers and Mario's jumps is fun and a feast to the ears. There is even stages with the theme to Super Mario Bros 1-3, and many stages have extra songs that add even more musical fun. Plus the past stages music is nice to revise the past.

I give the sound: 10/10

Replayability:

The replayability is amazingly high. You can always get better, and computer matches almost never get old. The single player modes, mainly the event matches will simply add more hours of play. Despite how great single player and facing computer opponents is, improving your skills with every character never gets old. You can always get better at this game. The best part of the replayability is when you face live opponents, which can virtually never get old. Anything from team play, free for all, one on ones, to special melee and tournament mode will keep you playing for a very long time.

I give the replayability: 10/10

Challenge:

The challenge only occasionally runs on low. It is very annoying trying to beat things like All-Star on the hardest difficulty. This game can be extremely challenging if you go for the hardest single player modes, but most the computers are generally not that hard and can be quite predictable.

I give the challenge: 9.7/10

Frustration:

The game can be so frustrating at times. This game drove me mad with it's hardest difficulty modes on Adventure and All-Star Modes, as well as some of the last few event matches and some of the multi-man melee matches. Still, the single player mode is all that is really frustrating, and most players stick mainly with multiplayer mode, which has few frustrating flaws.

I give the frustration: 4.5/10

Value:

Simply worth it! What is it $10-$20 for this game right now? Even if it was $100 I would still buy it! It is far beyond worth it, it is simply a steal price on a game that can last for years upon years. It is virtually flawless in value, and will almost never get old. Then again, it will probably never get old.

I give the value: 10/10

Overall Improvements:

Simply put new combos, new features, a new combat system, and new ways to fight are simply astounding! There is so much to do in this game, so many ways to fight, your head just might spin! The new smash and charge smash attacks simply add new ways to play, and don't even get me started on the Special Melees! There is so much improvements from the original, you will simply be astonished!

I give the overall improvements: 10/10

Cool Features:

I enjoyed the coin and stock match fights in the original, but the bonus and coin fights simply add tons of ways to play the game. Also all the items and how often items appear, and choosing which items appear and which item don't adds a who new level of fun and wackiness. Also the changeable damage ratio can make Ko's easier or harder, and certainly add to the greatness of this game. The cool boss fights, with bosses such as Metal Mario, Giga Bowser, and Master Hand just simply keep adding to this near endless list. Those features along would make me happy enough, but adding the special melee fights is simply awesome! There are so many ways to fight, you can take cool pictures, fight with only a certain amount of health, fight as a giant or small version of the character of your choice, fight in slow or fast mode, it goes on and on. The single button mode is great for beginners, and fixed camera is great for people who would rather play without a zoomed camera. The single player mode is simply amazing, with the training to improve your skills, the adventure, classic, and all-star modes, event matches, multi-man melee you might never be bored of this game. Heck, I haven't even called off all the cool features this game has, but it has so much you will simply be awe struck.

I give the cool features: 10/10

Unlockables:

The unlockables are vital to this game. You start out with 15 characters (Shiek included), and can earn 11 more for a total of 26 characters. Now that is a lot of ways to fight! You can also unlock 10 secret courses, with 3 of them being stages from the original Super Smash Bros. The event matches are also really cool new feature to the series. The trophies, however are the most important unlockables that really add to the game. There are almost 300 of them to collect off doing certain tasks. This feature is great for anyone who likes a really long, hard, and challenging task. The trophies add even more to the seemingly endless replay value.

I give the unlockables: 10/10

Overall:

This game has changed the way fighting games should be made. It is simply one of the most innovative and creative game of all time that reinvents itself in ways the original Super Smash Bros. never could. If you have a Gamecube you simply need this game, no questions asked. It isn't the best selling Gamecube game for a reason, now is it? The game has some of the best graphics of it's time, excellent sound, and has pure classic soundtrack, and the gameplay is just simply so amazing, it will go down as a classic.

I give Super Smash Bros. Melee: 10/10

Conclusion:

You can always get better at this game, and I guarantee almost everyone who has ever liked a video game will like this game. I give it a undoubtful perfect 10, for obvious reasons. I really do hope you liked my review on probably the best fighting game of all-time, and one of the greatest games ever created. Let us hope further sequels of this great series can be as good, if not better than this great landmark on video gaming. In simple words, you must play this game, the original Super Smash Bros on the N64, and any sequel to follow!

Written By: James Bryon
E-Mail: jmsbryon@yahoo.com
Date Submitted: April 15th, 2007