The 15 Greatest Moments From "Super Smash Bros." in GIFs

Super Smash Bros is one of Nintendo's golden gods. Here are some GIFs that proves us right.

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Image via Complex Original
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Super Smash Bros., the video game that started an entire series that is still going strong to this day, is turning 15 this year on April 26.

The iconic video game had a premise that was bound for success: beat the crap out of Nintendo characters with hammers, bats, guns, bombs and other deadly weapons. So many friendships were probably put in jeopardy because of this game, and just as many friendships were made because of it. And to think that once upon a time this game was supposed to only sell in Japan. (No, for real. Both the United States and Europe would've missed out on Super Smash Bros. if the game never became a success in Japan.)

In honor of Super Smash Bros. turning 15, as well as the forthcoming release of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii later this year, we've compiled the best moments from the entire Super Smash Bros. series.

From hitting our friends with a powerful hammer to unlocking a new character, these are the moments that left us dazzled and coming back for more. Here are the 15 Best Moments From the Super Smash Bros. series.

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Watching This Super Smash Bros. Commercial

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Watching This Super Smash Bros. Commercial

As soon as Mario tripped Yoshi you knew that this wasn't going to be your average Nintendo game. The promotional run for Super Smash Bros. featured everything from cover stories to reviews, but nothing encouraged kids to bug the hell out of their parents for Super Smash Bros. quite like this commercial.

Once children saw in game footage of Donkey Kong punch the crap out of Yoshi, the deal was sealed. Kids across the country were inviting their friends to come over for a marathon of ass kicking and junk food eating. Ah, if only video game commercials were still this hilarious.

Building Your Own Stage

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Building Your Own Stage

Super Smash Bros. Brawl would include many new features that its predecessors didn't have, one of which allowed players to create their own stages. From choosing the size of your stage to adding spikes and drop blocks, the Stage Builder feature let players be a video game Picasso. Customizing your own stage served as a nice break from nonstop online battling, and although you probably never used your stage more than once, the joy and gratification it brought you upon its completion was totally worth it.

Playing As Solid Snake

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Playing as Solid Snake

He's the only M-rated character a part of the series, so of course you played as him at least once. Plus, he's Solid Snake, aka the guy that you would never make fun of for having a mullet. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Snake is one of the best characters to use in a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament.

He has quick and powerful neutral and tilt attacks, and is really hard to KO because of his weight. (Not to mention that his Final Smash attack is him launching grenades and turning enemies like Pikachu into broiled rat.) If Snake didn't work out for you then at the very least you probably enjoyed his Codec conversations. (It seems that Colonel Campbell doesn't care much for Luigi.)

Releasing Snorlax From A Poke Ball

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Releasing Snorlax From a Poke-Ball

Releasing any Pokemon from their Poke Ball was often beneficial to the player that did it (unless you got Goldeen), and Snorlax is arguably the best one of them all. Seeing him disappear off screen only to take up most of it seconds after, was amusing not only for his gargantuan size but also because he essentially smashed your opponents with his ass. It's great to see Charizard will be a playable character in the forthcoming Super Smash Bros. game, but when will Snorlax get his just due? You can't keep him in a Poke Ball forever, Nintendo...

Your Friend Stepping On A Proximity Mine

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Your Friend Stepping On a Proximity Mine

What's best about moments like this is when your friend dodges the mine a couple of times, only to forget that it's there and step on it. The Super Smash Bros. series has always had a comedic element to it. After all, its entire premise is pretty hilarious. And the fact that these childhood heroes (and villains) are smacking each other with bats and throwing bombs at one another, gives the game a slapstick feel. Seeing a friend step on a mine is like seeing Moe, Larry or Curly get hit by a pie...but, like, with an explosive in it.

Throwing A Friend Into Traffic On The Big Blue Stage

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Throwing A Friend Into Traffic On The Big Blue Stage

Chances are you've been a victim of hit and run on this stage more than a friend actually KO'ing you. Like, this stage is so chaotic that it's banned tournaments. But as frustrating as the Big Blue stage is, it's one of the best when it comes to taking out your opponents quickly. You can KO your opponent at zero percent simply by luring them to the left side of the screen, and throwing them farther left. This sets them up for a quick death as they're hit by every racer passing. Talk about roadkill, huh?

Grabbing A Heart When You're At 100% (Or Higher)

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Grabbing A Heart When You're at 100% (or Higher)

It's moments like these that let you know that a Nintendo God exists and is totally looking out for you. (Or you're just really, really, really lucky.) We've all been there: you're at 120 percent while your friend is at 50 percent. They're thinking of the best and most humiliating way of knocking you off screen, and suddenly a heart appears. Both of you race towards it and somehow you manage to retrieve it before your friend does any damage. Your fighter lives to see another day...or another couple of minutes depending on the outcome of the fight. There is no kind of serendipity quite like a heart falling from a virtual sky when you need it most.

Using A Final Smash Attack For The First Time

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Using a Final Smash Attack for The First Time

If your response to using a Final Smash attack for the first time wasn't a bro-tastic "Wowe," then there's probably no hope for you. Like, how could you not freak out over Samus shooting a large beam of energy, or Mario launching powerful blasts of fire?

A Final Smash attack is the Nintendo equivalent to a Power Stone special attack, but on twice as many steroids. Smash Balls are easily one of the best things to ever happen to the Super Smash Bros. series, adding another layer of over-the-top fun to an already wildly entertaining video game.

Beating Master Hand For The First Time

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Beating Master Hand For The First Time

None of us saw it coming: a hand for a final boss.

Metal Mario was one thing, but to follow that up with a large hand that smacked, squashed and punched his opponents? Totally unfair. But that's what made beating Master Hand for the first time such triumphant occasion. The fact that you endured getting bitch slapped and crushed by this hand that doesn't understand the concept of mercy, is a noteworthy accomplishment. So much so, that the developers of Super Smash Bros. made the Master Hand explode upon being defeated. You know what they say, Master Hand: the bigger they are the harder they explode.

Battling People Online

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Battling People Online

Wii owners were able to take their battles online thanks to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Now, you could battle both friends and random players across the country and, most importantly, prove why Jigglypuff is an underrated fighter. (You know you have a friend that is ride or die for Jigglypuff.) But seriously, how is there no headset compatibility in Super Smash Bros. Brawl?

It's one thing to anonymously kick your opponent's ass. But it's another to both kick your opponent's ass and brag to them about your win. Plus, it's always fun to get an idea of who the person is behind the fighter. So, Nintendo -- try and have this taken care of for the next Super Smash Bros. game, yes?

Beating Your Friends

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Beating Your Friends

Duh.

The main reason you continue to spend money on the Super Smash Bros. franchise is so you can continue to beat the crap out of your friends. This will never change; you'll probably have Super Smash Bros.-themed get togethers, and you'll probably pass the torch on to your future children, who will compete against your friend's children. And the Super Smash Bros. circle of life will continue to prosper until the end of time. Ok, so maybe that last part is a bit exaggerated, but beating your friends at a video game will never get old.

After all, those are the moments we live for: being able to talk as much crap as we want to our friends, and them having to take it because they're losers.

Guessing Who Will Be Added To The Series

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Guessing Who Will be Added to the Series

Guessing who's going to become a part of the Super Smash Bros. roster is almost more fun than the game itself. Most predictions are often plausible and since Super Smash Bros. Brawl's incorporating third party characters, it's become a lot more fun to wonder who'll appear in future releases. Since Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U is being developed by Bandai Namco Games, we'll hopefully see Pac-Man or Ms.Pac-Man come through as playable characters.

Hopefully this crossing between parties will lead to what we've all been waiting for: Super Smash Bros. 20 featuring a Big Daddy as a playable character. (you know this is genius.)

Using The Hammer For The First Time

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Using The Hammer For The First Time

The hammer in the Super Smash Bros. series is a twisted weapon when you think about it. As soon as that upbeat melody begins you know you're probably going to die. Like, who would've thought such a joyful song would be the soundtrack to ending the lives of a bunch of video game characters? And yet the hammer is the greatest thing ever. There is no feeling quite like that of wielding a hammer that not only makes you invincible, but basically gives your character a power level over 9,000. (Ok, that's an exaggeration, but can you really escape a hammer attack? Exactly.) Using one of these bad boys for the first time

Unlocking A New Character

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Unlocking a New Character

Three words: warning, challenger approaching.

Once you saw those three words and the outline of a mysterious character right next to them, you knew you were a victory away from unlocking a new character. From Ness and Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros. to the many other characters you'd be able to unlock in Melee and Brawl, part of the franchise's appeal comes from sacrificing several hours a day to getting new characters.

Seriously, in order to unlock Mewtwo in Melee you needed to play 700 VS mode matches, or play 20 combined hours of VS matches. Unlocking new characters can be so strenuous at first, but there's nothing like being able to pick anyone you want because you've got all of them.

Super Smash Bros. Selling Worldwide

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Super Smash Bros. Selling Worldwide

Just think about it: if Super Smash Bros. had failed to become a hit in Japan, the video game would never have become a worldwide phenomenon. (It probably would've become a cult favorite considering you'd have to special order it or something.)

Like, it's insane to think that such a popular game had a small budget and little promotion. Super Smash Bros. is like the Paranormal Activity (or Clerks) of video games, making its way to the top and remaining popular still to this day. Looks like all of those broken limbs and black eyes have paid off in the long run, guys.

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