No need to dust off your GameCube, Smash Bros. Ultimate is Smash Bros. Melee for this weekend only

News
By published

Party like it's 2002

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Smash Bros. Ultimate is running a weekend-long event that explicitly pays tribute to an old classic and a favorite of the Smash community, Super Smash Bros. Melee. The aptly-named 'A Tribute to Melee' event is live now and runs through the weekend, giving you ample time to relive the glory days of the GameCube and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

To see just how closely the character selection screen in Smash Bros. Ultimate resembles that of Smash Bros. Ultimate, check out this handy comparison posted by a fan on Twitter:

The Melee-inspired Smash Bros. Ultimate event throws player together in two-and-a-half-minute timed matches. The characters and stages you choose will be limited to those available on the Smash Bros. Melee roster, same as the items that appear in matches. Item drops will be set to medium frequency and the Final Smash meter will be turned on.

Super Smash Bros. Melee has long been the competitive eSports community's favored Smash Bros. entry, and it doesn't look like Smash Bros. Ultimate will steal that crown despite a fairly active competitive scene. With this latest themed event, it seems Nintendo is keenly aware of Melee's rank in the competitive hierarchy, as we've yet to see a similar event themed around any of the other entries.

You have until 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on Monday, January 6 to take part in the nostalgia-fueled festivities. Here's the announcement straight from the Smash Bros. Japan Twitter account.

It's always fun to revisit the days of gaming past, but older isn't always better. Here are the best upcoming games of 2020 and beyond.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.