The Smash Brothers

The Smash Brothers

2013, Technology  -    -  Playlist 32 Comments
8.58
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Ratings: 8.58/10 from 618 users.

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.

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Andrew Einhorn
Andrew Einhorn
3 years ago

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.

JMFD
JMFD
4 years ago

Peak capitalist garbage.

bogman_bass
bogman_bass
4 years ago

Wife makes this doc. He humanises it.
But Isai's story is fascinating and heartbreaking

John
John
6 years ago

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.

Yusef
Yusef
6 years ago

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.

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

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.

Will
Will
7 years ago

the intro song is juicy fruit by Huw Williams

Mr Snak3_
Mr Snak3_
7 years ago

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

CG420
CG420
8 years ago

This is the documentary that got me into the game a year and a half ago. 10 / 10

Ben
Ben
8 years ago

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.

Blaice
Blaice
8 years ago

Does anyone know the name of the into song? Really like it. Fun "documentary" btw.

Hahaha
Hahaha
9 years ago

This documentary hypes the sub-culture up way too much...still, very entertaining.

Daniel Michael Abraham (Myster
Daniel Michael Abraham (Myster
9 years ago

Cool documentary, I love gaming communities and the excitement and thrill of all they do!

gwhosubex
gwhosubex
9 years ago

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.

Brandon Fernandes
Brandon Fernandes
9 years ago

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.

Rob
Rob
10 years ago

We were Smashers in Newmarket, Ontario. Great doc.depicting the culture and draw of this game.

Kieran Sweetman
Kieran Sweetman
10 years ago

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.

Christian
Christian
10 years ago

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

Pete John Watson
Pete John Watson
10 years ago

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.

Mama Leese
Mama Leese
10 years ago

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.

Deejay Es
Deejay Es
10 years ago

sweet docu !!

733
733
10 years ago

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.

Fabien L'Amour
Fabien L'Amour
10 years ago

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.

mark farley
mark farley
10 years ago

here is a completely sad commentary on a completely sad and useless class of humanity.