Super Smash Bros Melee How To Unlock Characters: Complete Guide & Key Details
Ever heard of a game where Mario can punch Link off a floating platform? Or where Pikachu can zap Samus right into the abyss? Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Super Smash Bros. Melee!
This isn't your average fighting game. Forget complicated combos that take hours to master. Melee is all about jumping into the action and having a blast. It’s chaotic, it’s colorful, and it’s incredibly fun, especially when you’re playing with friends. The goal? To knock your opponents off the stage! The further they go, the higher your score. It sounds simple, but oh boy, it gets intense!
What makes Melee so special? It’s the characters, of course! You start with a handful of Nintendo’s biggest stars, but the real joy comes from unlocking all the others. It’s like a treasure hunt, where each new fighter you discover adds another layer of crazy to the matches. Imagine surprising your friends with a character they’ve never seen before, or finally getting to play as your favorite obscure Nintendo hero. The sense of accomplishment is huge!
Unlocking Your Dream Roster
So, how do you get your hands on all these awesome characters? It’s not as tricky as you might think. The game rewards you for playing it, and there are a few main ways to add to your roster of brawlers.
The Classic Mode Grind
One of the most straightforward methods is playing through Classic Mode. Think of this as the game’s story mode, but with a bunch of fights instead of cutscenes. You pick a character and battle through a series of opponents, culminating in a boss fight. Every time you complete Classic Mode, you’ll often unlock a new character! The order in which you unlock them is pretty set, so if you’re aiming for a specific fighter, you can usually look up the unlock order and plan your Classic Mode runs accordingly.
Don’t worry if you don’t win every match perfectly. The game is pretty forgiving, and you’ll still get your reward for finishing. It’s a great way to learn the ropes with different characters too, as you’ll have to try out a few to get through Classic Mode.
VS. Mode Victories
Another popular way to unlock characters is by playing VS. Mode matches. This is your go-to for playing with friends or against the computer. After you’ve played a certain number of VS. matches, a new challenger will appear. Yes, that’s right! A character you haven’t unlocked will show up on the character select screen, and you’ll have to beat them in a one-on-one battle to add them to your collection.
This can lead to some hilarious moments. You might be in the middle of a super intense match with your buddies, and suddenly, BAM, a new challenger appears! It’s like a surprise party, but with more punching. The key here is consistency. Just keep playing those VS. matches, and you’ll see new faces popping up regularly.
The Mysterious Events Mode
Then there’s Event Matches. These are special challenges that are a bit more specific. They’re like mini-quests where you have to achieve certain goals. For example, you might have to beat a team of Kirbys, or defeat a giant Bowser. Completing these Event Matches will also reward you with new characters!
Event Matches add a unique twist to the gameplay. They’re not just about beating opponents; they’re about figuring out the best strategy for a specific scenario. Some are easy, some are ridiculously hard, but they’re all part of the fun and the journey to unlocking that last elusive fighter.
The Timed Unlocks
Believe it or not, Melee also has a system where characters can unlock just by playing the game over time. If you leave your game on (but not actively playing, of course!), characters will sometimes appear as new challengers after a certain amount of playtime has accumulated. This is a more passive way to unlock fighters, and it’s kind of like a little reward for just owning the game and letting it do its thing.
It’s a gentle nudge from the game saying, "Hey, thanks for playing! Here’s a new friend to join the party!"
Super Smash Bros Melee - How to Unlock All Characters - YouTube
This is perfect if you want to unlock characters without feeling like you have to grind. Just play casually, and you might find a new fighter waiting for you after your next session.
A Fighter for Everyone
The beauty of Super Smash Bros. Melee is its incredible roster. You’ve got the obvious superstars like Pikachu, Donkey Kong, and Fox McCloud. But you also get characters from less mainstream Nintendo titles, like Mr. Game & Watch, who’s literally just a flat sprite! Each character feels unique, with their own special moves and playstyles. Some are fast and nimble, others are slow but incredibly powerful. Finding your favorite is a huge part of the fun.
Unlocking them all is like collecting trading cards, but you get to actually battle with them! The sense of discovery is what keeps players coming back. It's not just about winning; it's about exploring the full breadth of what Melee has to offer. So jump in, start playing, and get ready to unlock the ultimate Nintendo showdown!