Super Smash Brothers is every avid Nintendo fan's dream - all the favourite characters you grew up with crammed into one title. And you get to beat the living daylights out of them, to boot. The Gamecube update will not disappoint, as Hal Labs and Nintendo have once again teamed up to create what turns out to be - when its true depths are plumbed - an almost flawless title.

On the surface Super Smash Brothers Melee’s gameplay is shallow, but chip away and play the game on the Difficult setting (or play a multiplayer match with an experienced player) and you’ll realise that there’s much more to it than moving around the arena as fast as possible and button-beating. Each of the characters' special move executions are done in a simple manner; there’s no need to remember button combos longer than your arm: simply pressing up, down, left or right with the B button will achieve your desired move. Picking up items is done by pressing the A button, and grabbing an opponent is done just as easily by pressing Z. This creates an accessible experience that can be shared with friends that don’t even play games; it opens up a new audience to the genre.

Video - FalconatorAdvanced styles and moves are accomplished by using the shoulder buttons. As the defensive moves are somewhat overlooked, this is where elements of strategy can be used to great effect. Holding L or R will create a shield around you for a short while, blocking your opponent's attacks. Using L or R and left or right together will make your character roll backward or forward, maneuvering them about without getting hit. Finally if you're in the air or on the ground using L or R and up or down, your character will dodge an attack completely. Using these defensive tactics adds a new level of depth to the gameplay that many people don’t even contemplate.

Once you fiddle about with these moves and they become second nature, Super Smash Brothers Melee becomes a totally different game; it almost reinvents itself into a highly tactical fighter of the kind you’d normally associate with say Virtua Fighter. Techniques such as Combos will become second nature as your positional awareness will be heightened and you’ll become able to link moves together. Although Smash brothers doesn’t use a scheme of memorisation familiar to the fighting genre, the ability to use combos will come with understanding of how an opponent will react to certain moves. Other tactics include L-Cancelling, Wavedashing and Throw Chains. Although I can’t explain them all in detail (as this is a review and not a guide) there are numerous resources at your disposal via the Internet that can help you out.

Video - CoinageddonWith the vast roster list you’d expect Hal Labs to get slightly lazy, but each character has his or her own unique characteristics that make using them a completely different experience to one-another. Bowser and Donkey Kong are slow, laborious characters but pack a mighty fine punch; Fox and Yoshi are fast and nimble; Peach is graceful in the air but a complete lightweight when it comes to fighting it out; Captain Falcon is a dangerous character, mixing it up with fast pace and devastating blows; Link being a master swordsman is a class act when in close combat and finally (as clichéd as it sounds) Mario is a great all-rounder. Each character is a new experience which helps freshen the gameplay - the single player action would become tiresome extremely quickly if they played all the same.

The Trophy Cabinet
Smash Brothers encourages you to fight repeatedly, by providing the possibility of reward. You’ll earn coins that you can take to the Lottery Machine, and using your coins in the machine buys you trophies. The trophies are meticulously crafted models of your favourite Nintendo characters, which don’t stop at the All-Stars, but also include lesser-known characters from titles that didn’t make it over to the West. Each trophy you collect is like a small piece of your childhood coming alive again, which is the best incentive for collecting them.The bulk of the single player action is available within two game modes: Regular Match and Event Match. Regular match is split into two different types, the first being the Classic and the second is the Adventure mode.

Previous Smash Brothers gamers will be familiar with the Classic mode, as it’s an extended adaptation of the N64’s version single player mode. Players will move from one Nintendo character-orientated arena to another until they reach the meanest Nintendo IP on the block - the Master Hand. During the classic mode, HAL labs have included bonus stages to pick up extra points and coins: they’re the Break the Targets, Race to the Finish and Grab a Trophy games. Classic game mode challenges gamers enough to add a decent replay factor into the mix, and the inclusion of the bonus stages within the Classic mode gives the gamer time to rest between the mayhem.

The new Adventure mode spans twelve stages, where the gamer will visit all the popular Nintendo All-Stars locations. This mode sees the inclusion of new side-scrolling stages; gamers are expected to use their platforming skills to complete these missions, which are implemented in a classical Nintendo fashion.

Video - IntroHal Laboratory took the criticisms of the first title, and went away and produced a bigger and more polished sequel. Even with the new Adventure mode in place, they didn’t stop there and for the single player action they’ve added a new Event mode, which is one of the best new concepts. The Event mode sees you being dropped in at the deep end with a scenario-based mission that you have to complete. Initially you’ve only got ten missions available, but as you progress through the single player modes you’ll eventually unlock a mammoth fifty Event matches. Scenarios get crazier with each one unlocked, from beating your opponent and collecting their coins, to keeping Yoshi’s egg safe from any unwelcome opponents.

It’s clear that Nintendo really pushed themselves as no stone has been left unturned. Each segment has been implemented with an exceptional eye for detail, and the sound track doesn’t disappoint either - every recognisable Nintendo theme tune has been transferred to Smash Brothers with a grand orchestral sound or a fresh and vibrant remix. This creates not only a nostalgic feel but immerses you even further into the game, with prime examples of their talented sound team being the Dr. Mario techno remix and the magnificent Zelda track.

Each character model has been brilliantly depicted and stands out from the backgrounds and arenas. Each venue takes you on a trip to a Nintendo title, from the Pokémon Stadium to the Mushroom Kingdom and even Mute City. Every location has some great eye candy, with recognisable features and brilliantly animated backgrounds.

Video - TightropeThe heart and soul of Super Smash Brothers Melee is contained in the frantic multiplayer action. You can create totally custom matches that produce distinctive bouts via customisation of aspects like the health bar, or how many items are available during a match up. Part of the charm of multiplayer gaming is being able to take pride in your achievement - Nintendo realised this and have created leader boards and fact sheets that are stored on your memory card for up to thirty different players.

I feel very sorry for the next team to work on the Super Smash Brothers Melee IP, as this entrant is practically perfect. Graphically, SSBM is solid in every department and the accompanying soundtrack is a complete monster. This title shouldn’t be viewed simply as a Nintendo fan-boy paradise but a rewarding game that will unite friends and show gamers what a truly polished and weighty title should be.