20 years ago today, all-stars collided for round two as Super Smash Bros. Melee was released for the Nintendo GameCube. The second entry in HAL Laboratory’s critically acclaimed multiplayer fighting series went on to become a cult classic and mainstay competitive fighting game. Today, Super Smash Bros. Melee is still immensely popular and cherished by the community for its many contributions to the series. However, before it was even available it was already setting standards for future titles and reactions.
There is no better time to appreciate Super Smash Bros. Melee’s reveal than now as its initial debut screams the passion of fans and developers alike. When the game was unveiled for the first time publicly at E3 2001, it quickly set a trend for all of its predecessors: every trailer came with a loud echo from Nintendo fans. While Mr. Sakurai was not present for the event like nowadays, Shigeru Miyamoto and Bill Trinen presented the next entry in the series at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The reaction to the unexpected news drop was surreal.
Like the recent Super Smash Bros. reveal trailers, of course, fans went ecstatic after getting to see some of their favorite characters being added to the game. It may have only been the second entry in a franchise yet to explode to global fame for its crossovers and reveals, but the excitement for every newcomer was there from the beginning. The showcase of the GameCube’s advanced graphics and Melee’s gorgeous cinematic opening with quick gameplay snippets still will get any fan excited to play.
Happy 20th anniversary, Super Smash Bros. Melee!
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Written by Marc Kaliroff
Ever since owning a cobalt blue Game Boy Advance, Nintendo is his preferred way of gaming. Marc is a journalist, creative writer, and video producer. While his focus may be on providing news, he spends his days preparing reviews for games of the present and past.
