Super Smash Bros. Melee, even after two decades, still manages to be an incredibly popular fighting game. The heart of Melee’s enduring popularity lies within its competitive scene, sustained by a deeply dedicated fanbase. However, when it comes to single-player content in Smash Bros. games, Melee is often overlooked. Most would be quick to refer to Brawl and it’s acclaimed story-mode, “Sub-Space Emissary.” This game mode is praised for the amount of single-player content it provides for a fighting game, which is traditionally a multiplayer genre. It is also celebrated for its impressive cutscenes which feature our favorite characters from various franchises venturing into each other’s worlds.
But this integration of single-player content with the wider universe of gaming characters began in Melee’s “Adventure Mode.” In this mode, the player could take their selected character and play through different levels inspired by game worlds represented in Smash Bros., such as the Mushroom Kingdom, Onett, Brinstar, et cetera. The Zelda franchise gets representation here as well in an interesting level titled “Underground Maze.”
After trekking through the Mushroom Kingdom, fighting a herd of Yoshis, and brawling against Mario and Peach on top of Peach’s Castle, the player will find themselves in the “Underground Maze.” This maze is not explicitly linked to any particular level in the Zelda series, though it bears a striking resemblance to the underground tunnels beneath the well and graveyard in Kakariko Village from Ocarina of Time. The player must venture through a 2D maze, reminiscent of the dungeons in The Adventure of Link, encountering hostile Redeads, Octoroks, and Like-Likes. The maze is structured around a tall, central chamber that is connected to various tunnels that are only accessible by platforming. The tunnels connect to six chambers, five of which house a Master Sword pedestal. Upon entering one of these rooms triggers a transformation; the walls will vanish and leave the room in a floating abyss where a battle with Link will ensue. Once the player defeats Link, the room will return to its place within the maze. The goal of this level is to find the one chamber which hides the Triforce, doing so will end the level and the player may continue with the adventure.
Naturally, the “Underground Maze” level is designed to evoke the essence of the Zelda franchise, not only visually, but from a gameplay perspective as well. This level cleverly combines both monster fighting and puzzle-solving, both hallmarks of a classic Zelda dungeon. While it may not offer the same level of gameplay, Adventure Mode is still a fun way to have some single-player fun in an otherwise highly competitive game and this level is a testament to the versatility and creative integration of different gaming worlds in the Super Smash Bros. series.
