The Nintendo GameCube game, Super Smash Bros. Melee, has been a classic since its release in 2001. It has been the foundation for a growing community of players, a community that’s unique. Melee has been one of the more prominent competitive games and I never truly understood its complexity until recently. About a year ago, I brought my GameCube to college with only Melee and Mario Kart and was introduced to the competitive scene of Melee. I learned all about players that are sponsored by brands and play for e-sports teams.
This past Saturday I had the pleasure to attend the largest regional Smash tournament in New England, the Boston University smash tournament BUST III, hosted by Matthew Zaborowski (MattDotZeb). As I learned more about the technical skill behind the game and what it takes to be competitive, I watched several videos on YouTube and the obsession began. One of these videos was the Smash Brothers documentary, which beautifully illustrated what exactly Melee was to the community. Melee wasn’t a game or a competition, it was more of a lifestyle. Melee came with its own slang, with its own energy, and it inspired ordinary gamers to be great. It wasn’t until I immersed myself in the Melee community this past weekend, that I understood its distinctiveness and appreciated its unity. When I first walked into the venue of the tournament, I was filled with excitement to look around and see 80 CRT TVs, three huge projector screens, and people playing Melee everywhere.
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The idea of being in the same room as over 300 people who all unite over a 14-year-old video game can seem unusual. Why is it still popular? How have the new Smash Bros. games not surpassed Melee as the new competitive standard? These questions can be answered with one word: the people. People like MattDotZeb that host these tournaments bring people together and unite them over their love for Melee. Professional players that stream Melee on Twitch and draw in hordes of viewers keep Melee alive and growing. At nearly every match I played, I introduced myself and met someone that I knew loved Melee just as much as I did. Tournaments are not just a place for competition, they are a place to make new friends, watch the professionals, and learn more about such an amazing game. The truth is that the new Smash Bros. games do not contain the same complexity, and they don’t require the same skill and practice to be good. Nintendo strives to produce family friendly games where everyone can have fun and Melee did not fit that image. Smash Bros. Brawl and Smash Bros. for the Wii U and the 3DS (Smash4) just aren’t the same because they fit that "everyone is equal" mentality more than Melee.
While Melee had its low points, it continues to grow to this day. Huge tournaments like EVO, Genesis, and Apex are held all over the country featuring big name players that are recognized by everyone in the melee community. There is so much support for this game not only in the United States but throughout the world. With such a strong, supportive community and new players surfacing every day, melee’s future is bright.
