Super Smash Bros. Melee was my most anticipated GameCube title to be sure. Before launch, I was mostly amped about getting the system itself, and I didn't really think about any of the games. They all looked pretty cool and they each stand out in their own way, but none of them are quite as awesome as Smash Bros.

What sets SSBm apart from the other launch titles so much is a really thick layer of Nintendo polish. So far, I've unlocked a few of the easier to get secret characters and played through some of the hidden stages (even though they're not unlocked yet) in the event modes and the game just keeps surprising me. There is so much innovation in the level design that it's crazy. Everything from the animation to the variety of music is just perfect. It seems like there's been a ton of music created just for the event matches and certain single player stages alone. You'll find plenty of old tracks from each game that's for sure.

Then there's the plethora of new modes. You have the coin battle and the style mode for vs. games, and a ton of new one player modes like event mode and the much talked about adventure mode. You can customize the options for your vs. battles to your hearts content. Want a stock battle with a time limit? No problem. Want to play a special vs. battle where all the players are giant sized? Easy.

In summation, there are about a million reasons to buy this game. If you're a big Nintendo fan, you'll want it just for nostalgia purposes alone. If you're looking for an interesting fighting game, this is perfect. If you want an awesome multi-player game, you got it right here. If you're looking for all three, you might just consider SSBm to be one of the greatest games of all time. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some smashing to do...