The Smash Brothers
Made out of nine short episodes, this documentary series (The Smash Brothers) is possibly one of the best e-Sport documentary films of all time. The complete world of Smash Bros. is unraveled and producers have successfully elaborated why competitive players like this casual game. Smash Bros. was never meant to be competitive game.
It's a Nintendo simple game designed for an average gamer. But the flexibility and intensity that players found in this game turned out to be compelling and the game has become one of the uncelebrated basis of competitive gaming. This is a story about The Smash Brothers, starting with the detection of one bug that would revise the way the game was played, and continuing with the unbelievable stories about the world's best players.
A friend of the producer is coming over to play Smash Brothers: Melee. He considers himself to be pretty good having played the game for several years. What he doesn't know is he's about to play Korean DJ, one of the greatest Melee players of all time.
Each player has four lives or stocks and must take all of his opponent stocks to win. KDJ will lose three on purpose, and then he'll start to play... for real. KDJ then invited the cameraman to fight... and then the producer. How is it possible for someone to be so fast and so precise that even three opponents would be no match?
This is about a game that was never designed to be played at a competitive level, and the people who discovered just how far the game could go. But mostly this is about the seven greatest players who in their time ruled the world.
When Smash Brothers: Melee was released it was intended to be a party game. Something your family could play together, something designed for the casual gamer. The game was stocked with Nintendo characters most people would recognize: Donkey Kong, Mario, Bowser, Captain Falcon, etc.
First time I ever rated a documentary series 10/10. Maybe because I have a bit of nostalgia of gaming from when I was a kid, but I love the way they put this together - they way the developed stories of the different rivalries and the emergence of the different legends in the game. I have never played Smash Bros, but by the end of this series, I was quite into the whole thing and the different personalities. Spot on and kudos to the film makers.
Peak capitalist garbage.
Wife makes this doc. He humanises it.
But Isai's story is fascinating and heartbreaking
It's a sport guys. Get over it.
Esports makes more money in korea than any other sport.
Smash bros is a gem of a game, and these guys were applying non standard techniques, turning into something bigger than anyone could have beleived.
I didn't know anything about Smash Brothers Melee before watching this. I found it very interesting. It is a great telling of the games competitive timeline. Probably not something you'd enjoy if you aren't interested in video games though.
Amazing documentary. I had been following competitive Melee before watching, but seeing it is what made me decide to go out and compete at tournaments. The documentary perfectly captures the feel of the competitive community, in particular how close-knit it is. Amazing how this game can bring people together from all walks of life and build strong friendships. Also, learning the storied history of the game and its competitive community makes you appreciate it so much more, whether you have any interest in learning to play or not.
the intro song is juicy fruit by Huw Williams
This is the documentary where I learned 15 years from, most couldn't stand the idea of watching 4 hours, yet I seem to have been rewatching it over and over. 99% of the community has seen this documentary and learned from it. 10/10
This is the documentary that got me into the game a year and a half ago. 10 / 10
This first scene. I do this to people that play with me for the first time. I typically took 2nd-3rd in my states pro tournaments, so I am confident about my skill. First place was always taken by the same guy every year sadly :C. Still loads of fun to this day.
Does anyone know the name of the into song? Really like it. Fun "documentary" btw.
This documentary hypes the sub-culture up way too much...still, very entertaining.
Cool documentary, I love gaming communities and the excitement and thrill of all they do!
this was designed to be a casual game, but things were discovered that make it competitive. that's why it's competitive.
what does nintendo do with this big accidental boon? They intentionally crush it in their next releases.
a big bro hat deserved.
This is a very good documentary, I don't even play Melee but this was really good that I might just try it out now.
We were Smashers in Newmarket, Ontario. Great doc.depicting the culture and draw of this game.
I stayed up all night to watch this; fascinating. Amazing documentary,, much more about the players than the game itself. I dont consider myself an avid videogamer but this is one of the most compelling documentaries I have watched in a long time. If nintendo are wondering why they have lost their market share, they need look no further. It is the players that make the game, not the developers.
This shows how creative people can be in so many different ways, and how you can find friends and get to know yourself in ways that aren't shown in popular media. This particular way deserves as much respect and recognition as any other form of art or athleticism
It is always interesting to see how people can be great. ''if you see the way broadly, you can find it in everything''-miyamoto musashi. i have never played 'smash' but enjoyed watching this. A sad classs of humanity is those who fail to be kind.
Very well done. My son plays a few games competitively and I really enjoy going to the tournaments. These groups of people are always so close knit. They get to know each other through competitions and I believe, make friends for life. It doesnt matter which game they play. Ive never seen this level of respect in any other type of competitive play!
If you dont enjoy competitive gaming, Mr Farley, why would you watch the movie? You sir, are not kind. You must just hate yourself, and life.
sweet docu !!
I enjoyed this, having missed the whole smash brothers scene this was an eye opener for me. I enjoyed watching the tournament progression going from some guys house into booked out las vegas conventions then back into vacant rented halls. The rivalry between the crews was interesting, yet they had so much respect and sportsmanship for each other it would put some professional sports teams to shame. It also goes to show you don't need state of the art graphics backed by A+ titles to have a game that just "feels right" and encompasses a cult following.
Probably interesting to Nintendo Smash gamers, for non fans, I guess watching 20 minutes will be plenty. You see guys play the game, how they ranked and who they beat or lost to. The camera work is amateurish. Probably because I never played the game, it was pretty hard to find something interesting in there for me.
here is a completely sad commentary on a completely sad and useless class of humanity.
Useless class of humanity is a harsh commentary. I don't see how they differ much from competitive chess players or poker players. Would you qualify these as a useless class too?
Mark only thinks of these guys as useless because some big company did not capitalize on this scene by advertising $60 jerseys that he just had to buy to look cool.
Snap!
Great doc. It may also help to read Mark's comment as if he's speaking in the third person. Cracks me up haha
I think a more diplomatic way of phrasing your comment might be: "Here is a selective commentary on a rather unremarkable pursuit & the personalities behind such a non-redeeming pastime of little to no interest to you or your friends."
That I find the idea of little value or have never understood the whole gaming thing, most likely dates me more than any of my arguments could support or express about what I really think about "gamers" & such. The fact that it has garnered such an interest or following that someone actually made a documentary about it, does not mean that it's significance to these less athletically or cerebrally ambitious, singularly minded individuals is entirely without merit.
I happen to be fairly accomplished at Table Tennis along with 8 Ball & 9 Ball (pool) as well as Darts & used to compete & win at a competitive level in each. When I was even younger I won a few T-shirts & badges for Yo-Yo tricks in after school competitions. I have no doubt I have even further dated myself with these non-electronic games. That does not dismiss my awareness & knowledge of these sports/games/activities as being looked upon as geeky. If SeeUat Videos were to post a doc about the history of Ping Pong, (or the Yo-Yo for that matter) I would greedily swallow it up.
Just as I find the subject matter of this doc a total waste of time, you too might find my more archaic if not quaint past interests a waste of time. I sure that I could reciprocate with similar feelings toward some of your interests.
Now to add, for no other reason than to make my comment more long-winded than necessary, I will take a pass on this film as I am certain that it holds no interest for me & I am baffled & dumbfounded by those whom it may.
So? Anyone can make the exact same argument about the sport of ping pong, too, along with pool and darts. You have to note that there is a legitimate term called E-sports, whether you like or not. Under your definition, ANYTHING can be argued as ridiculous and crazy.
You have a legitimate argument here, and I agree with you, partially. As long as something can be made competitive and brought to a large-scale level, that thing has entered a legitimacy. This applies to everything and anything, even in the case of MMA sports.
The view on video games as a geeky thing is very stereotypical, and surprisingly for this community, it's quite the opposite. As background history, some of the players are chemical engineers, as well as play physical sports. Some of these guys even have families. There was even a live streamed tournament at a high school that featured all types of people, EVEN PING PONG AND POOL PLAYERS.
In the end, I'm not trying at all to put you down, because remember, I still agree with you on some points. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of things that can prove themselves in very interesting ways, and that as long as there are a group of committed people, ANYTHING can be a big hit.
Sadder than the guy who goes out of his way to say so? If it weren't for your boring old yuppie display picture, I'd assume you possess the maturity of a teenager based on that post.
What a sad commentary by a person who fails to realize this documentary is applicable to the rise of every social gathering we have today.
The bond these guys share and their story can be said of modern sports, theatre and film studios, music industry, fashion design, IT industry, you name it.
I know this might be difficult for you, but if you think for a minute, you'll quickly understand that the Smash scene is just another example of human interaction.
I pity you.
hahaha! why are you here?