Back of Box
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: GameCube
Release: December 3, 2001
Summary
One of the finest sequels ever made with a legacy that extends further than anyone probably expected. The expanded roster, stages, modes, and offerings made it a must own game for the console. It's jank and highly competitive scene have kept it alive and thriving for decades.
Acquisition
My dad bought it for me at Walmart alongside a memory card and an extra controller when my GameCube finally rolled in from eBay that I had saved up for as a kid.
Memories
Where do I even begin? Hundreds of hours spent playing with friends in the prime of youth. All nighters spent grinding away at the events, especially Event 50 and 51. Spending far too much time to try and unlock Sonic & Tails. Late night LAN parties in college in a rental home basically filled with cheap furniture, small CRT televisions, and the raucous cry of Smash competition. I have countless and endless memories with Melee.
To lay out a couple of specifics, I do fondly remember my dad buying this for me. I had saved up for a GameCube, bought it second hand, and he took me to Walmart and got me the game, an extra controller, and a memory card. He could have had me save up for those too. Instead he decided to let the GameCube be a lesson in finances and the rest be a lesson in grace.
I remember having a green notebook where I wrote down in detail all of the tells for the Master and Crazy Hand in Event 50. I was a Peach main at the time and basically wrote my own guide on how to beat the challenge. Arguably paved the way for guide and technical writing.
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Miscellaneous
This opening movie is engrained into my mind.
In college, I had to do a slideshow video news story for a class. I did it on a group of guys that took over the breezeway at UCF to play Melee regularly during the week. I wonder if students still do play there.
Of course, I'd be remiss if I did not include the EGM April 2002 edition where the infamous Sonic and Tails "rumor" started. To eventually, by pure happenstance, become friends with the man behind said joke, is a delight of my life that I cherish.
