Worry no more, the Nintendo fighting franchise has returned to the roster of the games to appear at the top class fighting video game tournament of the year, EVO 2014. Super Smash Bros. Melee was featured last year but wasn’t appearing on the official roster until now. With the success that melee brought last year (700 people in Melee alone) and the upcoming continuation of the Super Smash Bros. series it would be a mistake to not see Melee at this years EVO.

This will be the second consecutive year the 2001 GameCube “party game” makes it to the prestigious fighting game tournament EVO. Last year the Smash community met with a lot of trouble trying to get the game in. The community banded together for a charity drive that was neck-and-neck with Skullgirls for the last available spot in EVO 2013. Bringing in $94,683 Melee excitedly joined the roster for what would be an eye-opening experience for many.

Many didn’t necessarily consider Melee a fighting game, but that changed after EVO 2013. The world’s best smash players came together in one place to show off exactly how much of a fighter it really is. Combatants fighting on a 2D plane with combos, grabs, evasive skills, and a high aptitude for advanced techniques turned Melee into a battlefield of extreme skill and dedication. The pure intensity of some of the matches is simply too powerful to ignore. If Melee doesn’t stand among the most free style and unpredictable of fighting games then the genre is too muddled to enjoy what is present.

Luckily, Nintendo is on board for the inclusion of the Smash series at EVO 2014. Last year after the charity event Nintendo refused to allow Melee to take place in the tournament. After extreme backlash from the gaming community Nintendo pulled their refusal and allowed the tournament to continue. This year Nintendo commented directly on the matter. “Nintendo is happy to work with both Evo and Major League Gaming to help make their tournaments come to life using the game.”

The turn around from Nintendo is very appreciated by the community. Not to mention, it makes sense for Nintendo seeing as their next Super Smash Bros. game will releasing this year (if it doesn’t get delayed into next year).

EVO 2014 includes a roster of seven games total. Included is: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Killer Instinct, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, Ultra Street Fighter 4, The King of Fighters 13, Injustice: Gods Amoung Us, and of course Super Smash Bros. Melee. The tournament takes place July 11-13 at the Las Vegas Hotel.

The excitement builds as fans await the return of last year’s champion, Melee It On Me’s MaNgO. Last year sparked the flame for many and showed that the game required high levels of skill. This year everyone knows how high the stakes are and how crazy powerful the competitors will be. Get hype because Super Smash Bros. Melee is back in the EVO 2014 roster. In case of lack of hype watch video below.

By Garrett Jutte

Shoryuken

Polygon

Destructoid

Kotaku

Share this: Print

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Pocket

Reddit

Twitter

Facebook

Tumblr

