Melee’s Secret Best Player

[@turndownforwalt]

Thank you to boot.dev! Click this link sponsr.is/turndownforwalt and use my code TURNDOWNFORWALT to get 25% off your first payment for boot.dev. That’s 25% off your first month or your first year, depending on the subscription you choose.

[@justsomeguy7042]

I remember Hugs telling a story that after MOAST 3. People started to think Isai winning was a fluke. At that point Isai had never beaten Chu dat, so he posted on smash boards “I will beat chu dat at mlg.” And then 3-0’d chu, just to let people know there’s no such thing as a fluke.

[@jsu9575m]

If you watch the full interviews from the Smash doc...it was said that Isai tried because the winner got a cape, and he wanted the cape

[@adamsexton3687]

I think it was more about the girl (Mel) than the cape… 😏

[@MightGuy-e2u]

@@adamsexton3687contexte please?

[@jw7-g3e]

The Cape stuff was speculation from another player. Ken said it was about a girl, Mel, as he's rocking the Tag. I'd take Ken's word for it as they were close.

[@clem5419]

@@jw7-g3e lol but the line about the cape is so funny and memorable

[@Eiji475]

I love that Isai still competes in 64. Its nice hes still around.

[@MrSlowpez10]

Him winning SSC last year was insane to watch. Felt good to see him win again

[@meee_5155]

Do you know if he is still good?

[@ssbm-icarus]

Won ssc last year, so i would say so ​@@meee_5155

[@flyingbutterrr]

@@meee_5155he’s in contention for GOAT in 64

[@SuperCrazyfin]

@@meee_5155 Give his games a watch!

[@ronthesleepyboi]

Fun fact: the third wheel of this era, Azen, was briefly the best Mario Kart DS player in the world early into the game's lifespan, and, by briefly, I mean for literally less than a day

[@henryreturns1397]

Azen was like a beast on other games , like he could pick any "video game" and dedicate time into it and can become a beast.

[@ln8496]

Zgetto was the best at that and he was a top eu fox during like 09-011

[@heyitsmort7744]

Lfg

[@adamsexton3687]

Azen Zagenite… ran into him online and he was so fast I thought he was cheating. 😭

[@gooby8329]

I had top 10 times on 2 separate tracks for about 3 months, but was mediocre at every other track. Yoshi falls and SNES ghost valley Usually finished 2nd or 3rd in online lobbies on other tracks

[@caleb1758]

I will always be blown away by the production quality of TDFW videos.

[@turndownforwalt]

Really means a lot. I hope I can keep on impressing!

[@yasushix3672]

It's all about the passion

[@forstaken2254]

Isai was such a beast. He was the only player in 2005 to take tournaments off Ken. Without these losses, Ken would've had a flawless year.

[@shzinprobably4663]

Isai if he tried is such a funny meme but it really is crazy he was this gifted at the game but couldn’t enjoy it as much as he enjoys 64

[@Bludgeoned2DEATH2]

“Anachronistic tech” is the perfect description for just how far ahead Isai was during his time.

[@namenamename390]

Walt really said "What if Lemmino, but Melee?"

[@LightsOutAce1]

The scene in the original smash doc where they say "Mel was watching...and Isai went super Saiyan" and somehow the line wasn't cheesy at all and made me tear up

[@Jifry]

AN ISAI (and Ken!) DOCUMENTARY IN 2024!? I never expected another well put together video about this specific part of the golden age of melee. Isai is one of my fav players, he's got this intriguing aura to him. I really loved that documentary about him, super cool. :O

[@Nintendofan184]

Thank you for covering the old days, I find them so interesting

[@Chizypuff]

Dude the combo Isai starts at 6:17 is dope

[@guitar1104]

Reverse bair -> upair -> edgecancel -> dair. Sick startup even for today. What a beast

[@stephanmirkovic9868]

My boy Brent D. Vickers killin’ it on the script here

[@brentos78]

🙏🤙

[@fisherOD]

Walt’s selection of music is just so crisp and amazing most of em are on my playlist.

[@GanonAutumn777]

Whats the track used at the beginning?i tried following the link in the description but i couldnt find it x.x

[@fisherOD]

@GanonAutumn777 it’s called firecracker by Lemmino everything’s in the description btw

[@fisherOD]

@@GanonAutumn777it’s called firecracker by lemmino

[@GanonAutumn777]

@fisherOD thank you

[@fisherOD]

@@GanonAutumn777 you’re welcome

[@cloudsevenlaser1646]

Thank you so much for this. Isai has always been one of my favorite players and stories. So I'm so happy you made a documentary about him

[@itsbmeGaming]

It seems like yesterday but yet also feels like 100 years ago. Good stuff and keep up the content!

[@bobveltman]

I just came back to that video because that intro is just so good The editing, the sound, the mood... very well done!

[@roboticismRus]

you should link to samox and the smash documentary in the description. you gotta respect your elders.

[@abandoned_green]

Awesome video Could’ve used more breakdown on the actual matches, I feel like there was not enough time spent on his comeback in the gameplay sense Really amazing editing thiugh

[@turndownforwalt]

In fairness I tried to limit showing gameplay because it's literally in 240p and some people may not be able to understand what they're looking at LOL

[@shabe99]

@@turndownforwalt i'm really hoping the community eventually figures out a tool besides frame by frame TASing to recreate old matches in HD. If I had infinite time I'd be doing a lot of that. We just need to make a tool that makes TASing much easier, and it feels like M-Ex has the pieces in place to make it happen.

[@turndownforwalt]

@@shabe99 yeah, I had initially wanted to TAS a full HD remake of the set but it was just way too much work for way too little reward unfortunately. I actually don’t really know about M-Ex, I’ll have to check that out!

[@shabe99]

@@turndownforwalt tbh i think we should try to get a community bounty/kickstarter going to make the tools. Like they figured out how to make all the crazy savestate DI editors and custom characters, in principle we can make a UI to TAS ingame and export to a slippi replay.

[@Murks33]

I thought the beginning sounded like a LEMMiNO video and lo' and behold, the track is indeed from a LEMMiNO video.

[@turndownforwalt]

Just LEMMiNO

[@CallMeAGansterOfLove]

What in the ever loving style was that intro? That was so unbelievably above anything I could have previously conceived just wtf

[@notspacegoat2000]

That thumbnail is hands down the sickest nastiest thumbnail art I've seen yet, shoutouts the the artist man I NEED more

[@LilacAndPeriwinkle]

There are 3 guarantees in this world: death, taxes, and TDFW's videos being the best.

[@legacytag]

Random thought But it's crazy to think that both parts of Sephirothken's tag are now in Smash

[@koitsuga]

He's named after Ken from Survivor, not Ken from Street Fighter

[@musketg2774]

the writing and production quality of this is insane. always a treat when you upload

[@firefly5564]

love the story telling in this, can't believe I can just watch something as beautiful as this on KZbin

[@MaximeDeflin]

The amount of work put into this! 😱 You're so talented, your team too. Thanks for this amazing video, love from France ❤

[@_willianturner]

The editing quality on this is just INSANE.

[@adesn1]

One of the best melee videos ever, congrats!

[@koca6685]

Man the editing and storytelling in your videos is really good.

[@LaArcieroProfano]

Awesome video about a Melee classic! Love all the different media references that show just how crazy Melee is

[@Luffy1923]

Loved seeing Caveman in this video. Caveman is such an integral part of Melee history, and there is such little content about him. Would love to see a documentary about Caveman and the Smash capital of the world, Crystal City

[@Dahxy]

The real sidekick to Isai is MEL. Amazing video, keep this up man!!

[@awiseman93]

Lovely video Walt. The content and writing is so clean and so precise great stuff.

[@ByrneBaby]

Those opening credits were amazing. Also shield dropping in 2004 is absolutely insane... Great documentary, man.

[@meguy7735]

this channel is so goated. insane production and style. thanks for doing what you do.

[@identity5481]

13:56 ONE PIECE MENTIONED !!

[@danielvermontlopez8640]

This is the first time I pause a video to click on the like button within the first 15 seconds. What an intro!

[@Lanman106]

Isai is my favorite smash player. He has such a fun legacy behind him. This mystic that never wears off IMO.

[@ssjayy-xs5lh]

I actually can see that and heavily relate - I like to play games socially. If it's for myself, I lose interest quickly; but, if friends are involved, I'm a lot more engaged. I was a big Isai fan. I always cheered for the underdog and he made Falcon look so good in his prime.

[@uncledoggo]

Loving the thumbnails they are very sick.

[@Buttons16]

Isai is a Smash legend that will always be one of the greatest to ever do it. Mans deserves infinite respect

[@SharurFoF]

"The best players are remembered... but legends never die." Follow your heart, kid, and you can never go wrong.

[@turndownforwalt]

You want me to whiff punish The Beast???

[@seeedey]

Probably the best melee video I have ever seen

[@Rpanda25]

I wasn't in the scene during this time, but it's always fun to hear about old school legends!

[@dudemann72]

Good shit man love your content You got me to play melee and I love you for it Thanks

[@NormalPunch-]

The production quality. Damn Great vid

[@bdbruhderpi3861]

turn down for awlt

[@turndownforwalt]

waltuh

[@drainstorM11]

Based on the thumbnail I've been eyeing all week, I assumed this was gonna be about how Wizzy is the best in the world right now

[@Kayoh1122]

This is what Melee should always be like. I miss the old days for sure.

[@Boppens-melee]

BRO THE EDITING IS NUTS

[@shengnyyj]

underated channel

[@dovesr0478]

Never forget that Isai was so good at Smash 64 that it took the rest of the field a decade to catch up

[@F0rger513]

In LOTR I'd say Frodo and Sam are both sidekicks that are thrown into the hero role without knowing wtf is going on

[@silentwater9058]

Beautifully documented. Isai the underrated goat🔥🔥

[@adamsexton3687]

People don’t know this but the true source of power pushing both Ken and Isai was Mana Cloud.

[@DonParra]

What a masterpiece Walt, it so good that looks like a movie

[@ummbr]

Awesome vid Walt! Keep up the excellent work!

[@lauxneto]

Another banger Walt, well fucking done. Watching this kind of videos always make me want to boot up and play some smash.

[@incognitowastaken]

another banger, as always

[@rudrasingh9855]

video quality is off the charts

[@DrDildus]

We love a Big Trouble In Little China citation! Great vid Walt 👍

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

10/10 thumbnail

[@Wishael]

bro dropped a movie on halloween and thought we wouldnt notice

[@skayakitty625]

INTRO IS SO CRISP🎉

[@ImightwatchTheGodfather]

That intro was fantastic walt.

[@Estus5807]

I wished i've could witnessed this era of melee...

[@lucastesting9612]

turn down for ult is the sidekick we need

[@Singleparentof20000]

The doc already covered all this

[@fading-sun-studios]

looks like i am watching a well designed short film

[@AndresAndr95]

In the beginning where your talking about side kicks made me think of MKBIGBOSS and how when MKLEO was doing super good he would bring him along and MKleo ended up picking up ROB to help because Bigboss was plateauing and honestly I thought he was going to be forgotten soon after then now Bigboss has awesome matches everytime and pretty much never gets washed and never goes out without a fight and he got much better everytime I see him!

[@Scratchist]

The joke about Ike is because of his quote in Fire Emblem Path of Radiance: "I fight for my friends"

[@Shmorpsy]

Your videos are always so good!! you inspire me a lot

[@sprout_c06]

This is peak content

[@BigSpence225]

Nice vid man, keep it up.

[@kishprime7719]

My Isai story: At FCD, one of my Indianapolis locals came running up to me after a first-round set, screaming "I just beat Isai!" I tried to celebrate with him, then after he left rolled my eyes and went over to him and kind of chewed him out, saying he was screwing over players later in the tournament by fooling around early and getting lower seeds. Sure enough, next round he was in my pool as a low seed. To tell the truth, at this point I don't remember the exact words that we exchanged, but at the end of our set, where I put up a fight but he won 2-0, he said something to the extent of "this is what you wanted right?" and I answered, "yep!" He got the 2 seed in our pool under Vidjo, eliminating poor entering-2-seed Green Mario in the process, then went on to the third round where he tanked all of his matches while I went on to the final Top 32 bracket. Isai in a nutshell lol, always loved the dude but kind of a TO's nightmare.

[@madeinshinea7371]

What's the song at start of chapter 3 and 4?

[@tashi321]

wasnt there some tourney where isai played with a tag that was a girls name and he like popped tf off? i forget which one that was at amazing video walt, truly wonderful content. never stop!!!

[@brentos78]

You are correct! He wore the tag MEL. it was this exact tournament the video is about!

[@tashi321]

@@brentos78 ah okay i didnt make the connection lol thanks for clearing that up!

[@seanmakesthings]

a hero and his sidekick, Shrek and Donkey 😎

[@Chillgolfer9664]

I have not heard 6 of the best players from the golden area in so long. Mainly the other three besides Ken, Isai, and Aden, plus there were Chillindude, Husband and Wife, Wes, and few other guys who were from east and West coast. I can’t pronounce since it sound like “the most” but a different word, but this was set in the grand finals, all the way back in early of 2005.

[@thelu5661]

Im turning up for walt right now this was great!

[@riskybusinessish]

isai is the most important person to ever play the game.

[@LuckyHamburger]

4:33 note that he's still the greatest 64 player of all time. Anyone who picks a different player is a fool.

[@MacAstraL]

Really well done video. Do you watch rhystic study? You both have similar styles of video editing

[@turndownforwalt]

I've been a member of Sam's Patreon for a couple years now! He's a huge inspiration of mine!

[@MacAstraL]

@@turndownforwalt his videos are great, i can definitely see the inspirations there

[@goateeguy11221122]

This kind of just felt like a retread of the key points from the Samox documentary, even missing some of the context from that video (that maybe it was because Isai wanted to win the cape that was a prize at that tournament). The production value is really good, and I want to keep seeing stuff from this channel, but I feel like it's a little bit of a waste using this very cool content making machine on stories that have already been told by someone else in ways that still hold up, especially with how ubiquitous the narratives of the Samox doc have become. I thought maybe this would challenge Samox's perspective or something, which I was excited for because I do think we're too uncritical of that single creator's point of view when considering our history. I would have been more excited for that kind of idea.

[@turndownforwalt]

All very fair points! I’m not sure if you’re new to my channel, but this is part of a 10-part documentary series reviewing the best sets in Melee, so this was going to be covered no matter what. I don’t really think there’s another angle to what Travis had already presented in The Smash Brothers (especially in terms of just like, it being the same set), and I also don’t think someone already telling a story disqualifies others from covering the same topic, but I did lean pretty heavily into the hero/sidekick motif to try to give a more unique perspective. I hope that makes sense and thanks for the comment!

[@goateeguy11221122]

@@turndownforwalt I wasn't aware it was a part of a series actually, thanks for that context. I'll definitely go check out the other installments

[@JMalaby89]

Is there perhaps a way there can be a link to the source of the footage you’re using at any given time? Maybe something in the video description crediting the source of your clips? Unless I’m missing something and there is and I’m just not seeing it lol

[@Migota_]

4:27 I liked the little reference

[@lgachaboyyt]

Isai was a time traveller

[@MrGetownedLP]

Sick vid Walt PogChamp

[@wesleymcbob]

melee man, what a game

[@siancaz]

Why didnt you tell them why he tried that one time?

[@ethanpritt542]

I feel like I've seen this before!

[@somebol9047]

Ken was on Survivor he's my GOAT

[@Companion__]

Yooo, great topic already :D

[@thegreattony]

Hes not secret if he had a whole episode in the doc

[@malachihill8677]

Isai is a legend

[@joelweber9900]

Good film walter

[@xT0xicz0mbi3x]

It’s insane how shit Ken is by todays standards but that’s just how far the game has come