Super Smash Bros. Melee is a video game made for video gamers.

At its simplest, it's another fighting game... with the structure of a 2D fighter filled with beautiful 3D characters. Yes, you're stuck on a 2D path (despite what some backgrounds would have you believe.) But the abundance of moves, characters, items and animations keeps you from feeling limited, Street Fighter style.

But at its best, it is a loving homage to Nintendo's entire legacy... which is, honestly, the legacy of video gaming. Nintendo knows this - this combination of nostalgia and future-algia that they have won over time - and SSBM is almost a love letter to all Nintendo fans.