Summary
- Thanks to melee-pc, Super Smash Bros. Melee has been ported to Windows, Linux, and Android.
- According to its creator, the decompilation requires a v1.02 Melee disc image and doesn't include any copyrighted data. The port features anti-aliasing, resolution sliders, anisotropic filtering, and remappable gamepad buttons.
- melee-pc isn't perfect yet, but updates have been dropping rapidly.
When it comes to retro video game decompilation ports, we've definitely been eating very well lately.
The latest in a growing line of PC and Android ports is the classic GameCube fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee. According to a recent GitHub post from emulator developer 999sian, melee-pc brings Super Smash Bros. Melee to Windows, Linux, and Android.
Like every retro decompilation, melee-pc includes no copyrighted game files. Instead, you'll need a disc image of "Super Smash Bros Melee USA revision 2 (NTSC-U 1.02, GALE01)." If you're familiar with the emulation world and Google, this shouldn't be hard to find.
New quality-of-life features include anti-aliasing, resolution sliders, anisotropic filtering, and gamepad support with remapping. It's worth noting that the project is built from doldecomp/melee, a recently completed broader Super Smash Bros. Melee decompilation effort, and on top of Aurora.
The developer behind melee-PC has a pretty good track record
AI was used in the development of this port
The developer behind melee-pc previously ported the Game Boy Advance classic The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap to Android and PC, and they've also worked on a 3DS port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Ship of Harkinian decompilation, so thankfully, they have a pretty solid track record.
That said, like many recent decompilation efforts, including the popular PC Pokémon Red and Blue decompilation, this Super Smash Bros. Melee port utilized AI in its development. That said, it's nice to see the developer being honest about it.
While the melee-pc reportedly has several performance issues, updates are dropping in quick succession following the initial v0.1.0 beta release, and the Android release (which initially didn't work) has already been fixed. With this in mind, if you're willing to wait a few days, there might soon be a very solid way of playing Super Smash Bros. Melee on your Android, Windows 11, or Linux device.
