Super Smash Bros. Melee combines gameplay from the original adventure with various new features and enhancements for the Nintendo GameCube system. Gamers will choose from a wide variety of famous characters including Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Peach, Samus, Ice Climber, and more, plus some hidden characters that can be unlocked. The popular four-player mode returns in this sequel, along with other new modes including a Coin Battle and a 64-player tournament. Players battle through 20 interactive stages, all from other hit Nintendo games. The game also features several upgraded defense techniques, including deflect, block, and evade. There are also over 30 defensive and offensive items to use. The gaming community is commending the superb character animation in the game. Real-time lighting, reflections and shadows help the characters come to life.