Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is a fighting game released on November 21, 2001, exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube. Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, the game features a roster of characters drawn from various Nintendo franchises that battle in diverse stages inspired by Nintendo worlds. Gameplay focuses on fast-paced, multiplayer fighting with up to four players competing to knock opponents off the stage. Players use an array of attacks, special moves, and items to deplete their opponents' damage resistance and send them flying, with the last player standing declared the winner.
The game's general story premise centers around characters from iconic Nintendo series coming together in tournaments held by the mysterious Master Hand, an anthropomorphic glove who functions as final boss in single-player modes. Though the focus is primarily on multiplayer competition, the single-player modes include Classic and Adventure modes that loosely tie into the broader Nintendo universe. A fun fact about Super Smash Bros. Melee is that it has one of the most enduring competitive scenes in esports history, continuing to host major tournaments over two decades after its release, celebrated for its deep mechanics and technical gameplay.