#smashbros #rivalsofaether #multiversus #brawlhalla
Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube ushered in an entirely new community of fighting game players, starting a grassroots platform fighter scene revolving around the game. Unfortunately, Nintendo has never supported Smash esports and launched a casual sequel known as Brawl with a focus on friendly fun.
Many dedicated players demanded a game that captured the spirit of Melee and some of them even ended up using their programming and developer know-how to create experimental platform games in an attempt to fill the void. The fan-made Project M (a game that turned Brawl into a more fast-paced fighter based on Melee) was born until Nintendo attempted to shut it down.
Once again, the scene turned to its own community to create platform fighters in its place. This eventually spawned the platform fighter renaissance, with games like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Brawlhalla, and Rivals of Aether reaching beyond “Smash clone” status by expanding on the game and transforming what a platform fighter truly is. For example, Rivals of Aether has implemented a ledge special that has added upon Ultimate’s off-platform play.
But to make a successful platform fighter, it takes more than an innovative game. The real heart and soul is the competitive community.
00:00 - Intro
01:25 - Meet the Devs
05:40 - How to Sustain Hype
09:30 - The Secret to Esports
15:20 - The Nintendo Challenge
18:45 - There Is No Smash Killer
25:06 - Outro
Interviews:
Dan Fornace, Rivals of Aether
Thaddeus Crews, Nickelodeon All Star Brawl
Cordell Felix and Timothy Huynh, Punkzilla (Combo Devils)
Adam Jones, Brawlhalla