Nintendo's knack for making fun yet competitive games means they've been popping up all over this list. Super Smash Bros. is a series so bizarre on paper that you might wonder how it ever got made; a variety of Nintendo characters meet up and have a brawl, with heroes bidding to take each other down whilst the villains sit on the sidelines and watch those that have thwarted them so many times tear each other apart. Perhaps it's that bizarre appeal that makes Smash Bros such a fun series. The original N64 game was limited in some regards (though still a great introduction); you simply cannot describe Melee as limited. The Gamecube sequel ups the ante in many ways; more characters, more stages, more fun. With 25 characters from a range of Nintendo titles, there should be enough inclusions to please everyone. There's plenty of crowd-pleasing in the selections too; Mewtwo from Pokemon probably wouldn't have featured highly on many peoples' wish-lists but he's a welcome addition, and same goes for Mr. Game and Watch. So the cast is great but what about the gameplay? Each character comes with their own unique special moves which are easy to pull off and have various uses at various ranges. For example, Fox has a variety of close quarters moves to dish out damage but can also unleash his energy pistol to keep the fight up against distant enemies. Fox has probably become the fan favourite character in Smash as a result; there's a running joke about how all competitive players do is pick Fox and play on the map Final Destination (literally one platform floating in space). Competitive players love Smash Bros too. Techniques like wavedashing and L-Cancelling have become familiar terms on the competitive scene and mastering them takes hours and hours of practice. Melee's speedy core gameplay also ensured it remained popular despite the launch of a sequel Brawl for the Wii. The Evo Fighting Game Championships this year will feature Melee as one of 8 key tournaments; that's just how important it is to that community. Even if you've never heard of wavedashing in your life, Melee is a ton of fun. The variety in characters means there's plenty to do and smashing your friends off into the distance is immensely satisfying. The game is thirteen years old and it still feels fresh and original - that's a huge achievement that could only have been pulled off by Nintendo.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
