The Rise of Competitive Giant Melee (Documentary)

Super Smash Bros. Melee has seen over two decades of competitive play, but while the world of Melee singles has been sharpened into something highly optimized and technical, it only represents a percentage of what the game has to offer, even when factoring in competitive play.
In this video, we will explore the oft-misunderstood game mode Giant Melee, the game mode where characters are more big and meet the players who have helped push the mode to new heights in recent years.
This video was a project I started last year that kind of ballooned as they tend to do. Much appreciation to @DarkGenex, @Miffee, Preeminent, Nicki, aMSa, puunk_, ycz and more for their contributions.
Join the Giant Melee Discord: / discord
song list: pastebin.com/1ThcUX9h
twitter: @wusstunes
alt channel: @Wuss2ns
donate and get new stuff early: ko-fi.com/wusstunes
random streams: twitch.tv/wusstunes
Additional Reading:
Giant Rank 2024: / giantrank-the-giant-me...
Collision 2023 Giant Melee: • Collision 2023 Giant M...
Giant Melee Whatever: • Giant Melee Whatever
GIANT MELEE: • GIANT MELEE
Giant Melee Code:
$Giant Melee
C216E750 00000008
7C741B78 3ABF0060
3AC00000 1EF60024
7C75BA14 3D80801B
618C9060 7D8903A6
4E800421 2C160003
4182000C 3AD60001
4BFFFFDC 7E83A378
3C808017 00000000
00:00 The Embiggening
02:49 The Rediscovery
05:14 To Be Big
07:53 The Undisputed Top-Tier
10:45 Large Developments
11:56 The Salty Suite
17:26 All Quiet on Giant Front
19:14 Collision 2023
42:30 Small Setbacks
44:18 Invasion by Sea
49:00 Collision 2024
1:21:43 Capacity for Growth
corrections: Avant La Fete was a british tournament! They just wrote it in frencch bc they're wild like that.

[@wusstunes]

Thanks for watching! Music list is in the pastebin in the video description! Also I know that Avant La Fete didn't happen in France.

[@mechashoujo]

I went thru the entire play list and didn't hear the song at 15:54. If I were to guess its a SF3 song but the one track listed isn't it. Do you know which it is?

[@0rio298]

@@mechashoujo I could be wrong but maybe it’s from Ape Escape? It kinda has that feel to it.

[@mechashoujo]

@@0rio298 will check it out later. Thanks!

[@0rio298]

@@mechashoujo No problem! I’m gonna double check the song list and make then see if it is part of the Ape Escape soundtrack.

[@mechashoujo]

@@0rio298 AE is not listed in the track list in the desc. I checked every song and didn't find it :/

[@princessjellyfish98]

amsa's devotion to yoshi in all game modes is so admirable

[@mrhalfsaid1389]

That's why he's my goat

[@moosesues8887]

He main yoshi in every game

[@moosesues8887]

Ever made

[@mcyogourt2071]

@@moosesues8887 I'm pretty sure he plays something else in ssbu

[@numbers4092]

@@moosesues8887except in ult he plays roy

[@Oualouidji]

Can't wait for the 2-minute long documentary on Tiny Melee

[@Zoler1]

tiny ness still has giant bat, the end

[@jepale2]

Amsa looked like he was having the time of his life in every single clip of him in collision 2023

[@1harlo]

He looks like he’s having the time of his life all the time bro only smiles and I love it

[@SSBMNicki]

Truly gigantic. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this, if anyone in Europe or on the NA East Coast wants to play Giant Melee with me they should hit me up!

[@awareclueless]

EU baby!

[@ludvig.r3341]

Wayy not good enough but I am interested in learning!

[@russiangenome9643]

You were awesome and if you ever plan to make content in the future, follow the playbook of what Zain has been doing the past month.

[@zdelrod829]

@@ludvig.r3341 Same, but I am not able to travel far, and live in SE Michigan, the home of Ginger, the 26th ranked player in SSBMRank 2023

[@DarkGenexSmash]

This is huge. Ty for having me on again after the Giga Bowser doc this is such a delight to watch. Long live Giant Melee

[@wusstunes]

You're always a very good interview. Pleasure's all mine! Excited to see where the meta goes from here.

[@zdelrod829]

Giga Bowser should be legal in Giant Melee. LET THE KOOPA COOK

[@sonatab2646]

The big boy himself

[@nahometesfay1112]

Supergiant gigabowser

[@christianwise4227]

Heh, this is huge

[@andrewbank4696]

I love the old-school sentiment here. You can feel it in the character swaps, the gimmicks, and discovery. There's no doubt in my mind that if Nicki was around during the MLG era, they would've been a threat to Ken's #1 spot.

[@RedPandaStan]

i dont play melee, but what ive gotten from various documentaries on the game is that if you do anything but the competitive stage list w no items, peach becomes broken.

[@rorbee]

Massive video talking about Giant Melee in the larger picture. What a humongous workload, an absolutely gargantuan task. Big thanks to you wusstunes for knocking it out of the park with these feature lengths every single time.

[@GanonAutumn777]

My siblings,ever since melee's release will only play on giant mode only and hyrule temple,with them only playing regular sized smash when my cousins come over to visit

[@wusstunes]

thats so cool

[@jlachman381]

15 minutes in and my brain forgot what normal size characters look like.

[@happymonkeyfish]

26:27 Hbox wishing he didn't drop out i reckon

[@chiliwong6311]

Incredible video, fun fact: nana's AI scales with popo's percent, so she'll make better decisions the higher percent popo is when she enters attack mode

[@heliumpai7627]

Oh woah that's wild- Does that mean Ice Climbers a little better since your percent would naturally rack up more in giant mode?

[@starp7675]

So basically the first comeback mechanic

[@Sunny92809]

@@starp7675in melee it was intentionally programmed that when down in stocks you can mash out of grabs slightly more easily.

[@super2thesam]

Oh man, I don’t wanna be that guy, but someone should doublecheck that fun-fact. I think it might be a melee pop myth.

[@chiliwong6311]

​@super2thesam go watch fictions "breaking the ice climbers" series or read through the ice climbers documentation, I promise it's all in there :)

[@PattPlays]

I just saw a falco hit a tipper on a reverse up tilt.... i've seen it all now..

[@JDLupus]

26:19 the double-jump armor just eating the stitchface made me laugh so hard

[@Reoko77]

9:21 Peach "what did the 5 fingers say to the face?" Pichu: "please... have mercy on my soul. I just want a chance at life. To live, laugh, learn. My family needs me. I need them. Please dont ta- Peach: 9:24

[@katswarrior]

Peach punches a baby mouse to death

[@Aflay1]

This is it Luigi...

[@guillaumechau6082]

remember, where there's smoke...

[@Finikki111]

⁠…there’s fire!

[@Baddaby]

Always remember to wash your giant f0reskin Luigi!

[@jebronlames987]

@@guillaumechau6082They pinch back.

[@Hoopryfien]

36:48 "THAT TOAD IS SO BIG" fucking killed me, I love that

[@bobthebuilder9509]

My therapist: “Giant toad doesn’t exist, he can’t hurt you” Giant Toad:

[@LiliumOrientalis]

"WHY?!" it's incredible

[@RadikAlice]

"Melee is a horror game" is up there too

[@MarMaxGaming]

Honestly, it’s a legit and fun game mode! It’s so cool that people are appreciating it as its own thing, it’s definitely entertaining!

[@shaynehughes6645]

36:47 Me when I find a cool toad after it rains

[@thanks_605]

I used to love leaving sets on giant melee, people usually don’t notice until they start the game

[@aBlackMage]

I love "LIVE HGOD REACTION: 😐"

[@SSB_Seal]

Huge video! I've been a Giant Melee appreciator since Justin first got me to play it in his hotel room at Shine 2019, and I'm super glad to see it get more recognition through videos like this and even having multiple majors. It's especially awesome to see many friends like Justin, Preeminent, Ex-Girlfriend, and basically everyone else in this video all get featured for what they have brought to this game mode. Giant Melee is a world where the unbelievable becomes the norm, and it's up to each player to get out there and discover new things. Thanks for making this!

[@Booksisgreat]

I remember you telling me about this lol, this is rad

[@GoomySmash]

30:35 Is the nastiest combo holy moly

[@electricspirit3600]

I think one compensation buff for ICs is that living to higher percents unlocks better CPU levels for Nana.

[@gargator4888]

I kind of want to see competitive coin battle now if players are looking at special melee for alternative rulesets

[@Reilia_]

18:06 that joke is so wild. Honestly, respect

[@Marinealver]

All because of Giga Bowser

[@gamesincharacter5106]

Suprised that hes not in it or bower didn’t appear in this video?

[@Bloubz77]

@@gamesincharacter5106 we see giga bowser in this video

[@splegoon4289]

Commentators now be like: “That was a HUUUGE upset right there!!!”

[@direfox712]

7:54 Ayo, no way. Miffee is using an old wallpaper engine wallpaper I made from years ago.

[@keeislegend]

auto play turned this on, i left it on thinking itd be a short video, an hour later im still watching, and still entertained. Cool vid

[@Mario1080p]

Video inspired me to try Giant Smash Ultimate with the custom balance setting I've been working on, pretty fun to go along with a feature that's local only. I just find it interesting that Ultimate's Giant characters have the same jumpsquat as normal sized ones.

[@invalidssb]

Shout out to Puunk_ we played loads of Giant melee and he also made a fun video on giant melee :)

[@Shiradrenaline]

Great video with funny and lively editing. The depth of Melee is truly infinite.

[@Zanphos]

This was so fun! Im loving the dedication to the less lauded aspects of melees competitive community. also- unrelated. your hair looks great!!!

[@heliumpai7627]

Hehehe- yeah I gasped when I saw it, their hair is FABULOUS

[@Antifrost]

I see you with that Pokemon TCG music, wonderful choice there. I've often enjoyed both participating in and hosting more specialized tournaments, so I do know the pain of seeing so many people sign up for one only for a large chunk to not show up. Even so, stuff like this is more than just a welcome break from the standard meta. My first exposure to Giant Melee was recent, when I came across some vods here on KZbin while I was looking up clips for a different tournament, and it certainly caught my attention. I do think it has the potential to cement itself as a recurring event at tournaments, though the gears in my head are also wondering what other modes could make for interesting events as well. My thoughts immediately turned to Mini Melee, but my intuition tells me that it'd actually take away most of the factors that make Giant Melee worth playing, so I'm assuming that one's off the table.

[@wusstunes]

tiny melee peach is also the best character, but in less interesting ways, is my understanding

[@PsychorGames]

I'd always ask my brothers to play on giant mode because it felt more realistic and cinematic. The idea in my head went like this: The characters aren't bigger, they just functionally don't jump as high.

[@puunk_9240]

This is giant.

[@DankAudioStash24]

The writing and music selection on this were awesome, thank you for making this!!

[@aaronsound]

You're so great in those documentary style videos! it just keeps getter better, such an interesting topic that i never heard about either!!!

[@riceballsmashpokemongamere1705]

A 1 and a half hour video about a metagame I didn't know existed? You had my attention, but now, you have my interest.

[@xelementalsupreme9308]

I think giant melee may promote a player's capacity to approach and to handle disadvantage, bc when a bad decision can throw away a stock that easily, you start to look more for ways to go around the opponent's options and start your offense

[@eizzah8323]

47:20 Avant la Fête was a British tournament, the stream mentions it's in Oxford UK

[@wusstunes]

excuse me i didnt know they spoke french there

[@Stinkbug_Ab]

Its so wild to see giant melee top players say they have no idea how good yoshi is in giant melee bc yoshi was my first thought for top tier in this mode, imroved cc and a more grounded game is so good for yoshi as long as you can get around the longer jump squat

[@aurorasksk]

just wanted to say this is a freaking well put together video that made me want to try out this game mode despite not playing melee at all due to the sheer fun and accessibility for newer players. u earned urself a new subscriber ❤

[@Birdup__]

End of meleegelion

[@JDLupus]

Absolutely loved this video! Great stuff, thank you

[@luxinfinite1394]

Regardless of how either story could've ended, as a fellow gamer with a similar philosophy I am proud of Amsa and Nicki for fighting for their favorite character no matter the obstacle.

[@queuedjar4578]

ganon down throw chaining puff was among the funniest things i've ever seen in melee

[@xelementalsupreme9308]

Amsa casually making Yoshi the first giant melee major winning character

[@adithahsan752]

So are amsa and nicki the Ken and Azen of giant melee

[@JH-pe3ro]

Giant Fox vs Giant Falco has been a meme for years

[@coolcool4525]

My weekly melee monday @ picante was shown at the end!!! I love running goofy side events (randoms, reverse mains, etc) so giant melee just fit right in and its mad fun! banger video :D

[@barnabasbf5417]

Wow amazing video! I didn’t even know these brackets existed but I already want to get my hands on it and see more brackets pop up!

[@Alex-vm6ef]

Sick video man, felt a little revival of the feeling i had when i first encountered this game while watching it

[@noved15]

What?!!!! WHAT?!!???! I can not wait to learn more.

[@Maxx00]

Another amazing doc, keep up the good work! :) (Also Pokemon TCG OST is goated)

[@xxtyphlosionxx8122]

30 seconds in and i can tell its a banger video, thank you!

[@n0lain]

30:35 That zero to death was naaaaasty

[@leonblum816]

Haven't seen the video yet but I already know I'm gonna LOVE it. You're the best!

[@robertlaghiti7228]

That luigi combo was the most complex combo in existence. He pressed the nair 4 times and it just works. Ganon needs something else on his b button to deal with projectiles.

[@johngold42]

39:00 I had seen so much giant melee that I thought this was actually normal melee 😂

[@Shmeve0]

Amsa is my favorite melee player

[@skeletongwen]

Ex-Girlfriend looking like she's taking actual damage irl during the match vs Darkgenx in collision 23 is killing me Great video!!!

[@aidandoesmusic]

this vid was sick af, amazing work !!

[@demz0c_668]

hey ? I was wondering, does someone know where that final clip "there is so much more melee to be played" at big house comes from ? thanks

[@Jamm7]

Very good video, like how many cool clip there

[@Haispawner]

I like how this turns Smash into Tekken with extra air time and falling hazards.

[@wusstunes]

I actually felt that way too! You are almost always in range or nearly in range for a strike, your movement is more committal, combos are harder to escape, it does kind of make it more like a 3D fighter.

[@Haispawner]

@@wusstunes What made me think of Tekken was seeing combos where like the guy falls on his ass with really high gravity and you can kinda kick him around from your standing position before they get to land. Never played Tekken myself but I've seen plenty of it.

[@Darentei]

We had a special melee side tournament once in my local scene. Every single person, and I mean every last one, picked Peach in Giant Melee. I stuck with Link. And it was perhaps the easiest bracket I've ever played. Also the only Melee competition I've ever sorta won lol.

[@Rubbly]

Ohhhhhh, I get it! "Giant" Melee still has room for "growth" 😂

[@SkyanUltra]

this documentary is really cool but also holy shit chaka is rocking that fit at collision 2024 it's so cool

[@chillinon3263]

I don’t even play melee at all but this was captivating, great vid

[@RadikAlice]

You could say... _They Might Be Giants_

[@penny1672]

damn now i need to watch more giant melee

[@turndownforwalt]

🅱️ig 🅱️ideo

[@wusstunes]

uge

[@karisasani7006]

If of course we could see people get the giant variants into smash ultimate tournaments, the characters that would benefit more would of course be those with the comeback mechanics like sephiroth, lucario, and more since due to the increased weight and such they can actually get to where their comebacks are at in full swing

[@vladfi1]

Whenever they show clips of regular gameplay it looks like tiny melee.

[@Controllerhead]

What a ridiculously delightful piece of media. I have ...severe reservations about calling a niche regional curiosity and 2 side events at Collision as a "Rise of Giant Competitive Melee" but gosh the video was so well done i'm just enjoying this insanity propaganda roller coaster ride of oddness. Never in my life did i expect to watch a full length feature film sh!tpost on Giant Melee but my god Rock on Donkey Kong Samox and keep doing you and i will surely keep watching 😂

[@Awesomeness-iz3dh]

40:24 okay but can we just appreciate Preeminent's shirt here?

[@RedSpXder64]

Ah yes another documentary to watch late at night while mindlessly grinding another game.

[@princeofhalcyon]

Ive literally never heard of anyone even playing giant melee mode, I guess the video and youtube algorithm did its job

[@freeformboozler]

Giant smash is truly something special, it's like having smash 4 rage turned on at all times, and from the very little I've played in slippi it's addictive at times!

[@outplayboy]

18:36 i was not ready for this tag 😂

[@sunnyzett]

a blessed day when a wusstunes vid driops

[@savedforlater7482]

I, for the life of me, cannot find the song that plays during that last match of the salty suite. I've checked the pastebin in the description and have come out of it with nothing but a headache.

[@wusstunes]

its the space fisherman song

[@namenamename390]

9:23 for some reason my brain interpreted the platform as a gun pointed straight at Pichu

[@wusstunes]

it does look like a gun out of context!

[@brycephillips153]

Incredible work

[@corbinallen4562]

I saw some of your sonic the fighters content and i was wondering if you knew any good character guides online.

[@wusstunes]

just join the discord and check out the character channels. im working on some educational material on the game rn.

[@corbinallen4562]

@@wusstunes will do thanks

[@DtrJr]

gotta love seeing josniffy and scythed at 3:41 😂

[@mario4154]

Jumpscare... Fantastic video though. Melee is so sick. Thank you for covering such a fun and niche part of it.

[@reffa2858]

As a kid, I use to have have everyone be giant and metal. And I'd choose the biggest characters like Bowser and DK. Use to play that for hours... I didnt have many friends.

[@AgentMufasa]

You do not look like what at all I imagined you're pretty majestic ngl

[@MedK001]

Watching Nicki lose every time he counterpicks FD and then continuing to counterpick FD was pain lol.

[@Bunkgungle]

amazing video!!

[@idontwantahandlethough]

whats the cel-shaded mod that some of these clips seem to be using? It looks awesome!

[@wusstunes]

animelee!

[@GoldDragon20]

So Giant Melee is a return to 64 combo level but in a larger roster neat!

[@Atlos769]

Avant la fete is a uk tournment, it has its location on the screen

[@RufioTheThird]

Chapter 7 being called "All Quiet on Giant Front" is crazy

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Will we get a doc about Giant DK competitive history and viability in smash 64 to Combine previous videos Essays together for one ultimate video?

[@dnd402]

this is so sick!