how to unlock mewtwo in super smash bros melee

Unlocking Mewtwo in Super Smash Bros. Melee is a rite of passage for dedicated players. Unlike characters unlocked through specific story mode completions or target tests, Mewtwo's arrival is shrouded in mystery and demands a significant, albeit straightforward, time investment. The process is unique, emphasizing the sheer amount of time spent playing the game rather than demonstrating a specific high-level skill. This guide details the precise methods and nuances of unlocking this legendary Psychic-type Pokémon.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Unlock Criteria
The Primary Method: Cumulative Time
The Alternate Method: Versus Matches
Verifying Your Progress and The Triggering Event
Strategies for Efficient Unlocking
Mewtwo's Impact on the Roster
Conclusion: The Reward for Dedication

Understanding the Unlock Criteria

Mewtwo is unlocked by fulfilling one of two distinct conditions. Both revolve around the total time recorded in the game, reflecting a design choice that rewards persistent play. The game tracks two key metrics: the cumulative time spent in any mode (excluding the menu and data management screens) and the total number of versus matches played. It is crucial to note that these conditions are not mutually exclusive; the game continuously checks for them in the background. Meeting either one will trigger the unlock opportunity.

The Primary Method: Cumulative Time

The most common path to unlocking Mewtwo is accumulating twenty-four hours of playtime. This time must be registered on a single save file. The clock counts time from virtually every gameplay mode: Classic, Adventure, All-Star, Event Matches, and even time spent in Versus Mode matches. Pausing the game or leaving it idle on a stage does count toward the total, which forms the basis for common unlocking strategies. The game saves this playtime data automatically, so players can accumulate hours across multiple sessions. Patience is the core requirement here, as the game rewards the dedication of simply engaging with its content extensively.

The Alternate Method: Versus Matches

For players who prefer competitive skirmishes, a secondary condition exists. Completing a total of seven hundred versus matches on a single save file will also make Mewtwo available. This method is less about raw hours and more about the volume of matches. Each match, regardless of its duration, rules, or number of participants, counts as one toward the seven hundred. This path can be faster for those who set up quick, one-stock matches, but it still represents a substantial commitment to the game's multiplayer aspect.

Verifying Your Progress and The Triggering Event

Super Smash Bros. Melee does not provide a direct, on-screen counter for either playtime or versus matches. Players must infer their progress. After meeting one of the criteria, the unlock process does not happen automatically. The game must be rebooted. Upon restarting the game and returning to the main menu, a new save file prompt will appear. After saving, the player must then enter and exit the character selection screen in Versus Mode. Upon returning to the main menu, a special announcement will appear, heralding the arrival of "A New Challenger!" The subsequent battle against Mewtwo will then commence.

This battle takes place on the Pokémon Stadium stage. Mewtwo is a formidable CPU opponent, utilizing its powerful special moves like Shadow Ball and Confusion. Defeating it requires careful play, as it possesses high damage output and good recovery. Victory in this single-stock match grants permanent access to Mewtwo on that save file.

Strategies for Efficient Unlocking

Many players seek to fulfill the twenty-four-hour playtime requirement efficiently. A widespread and effective technique involves using the versus mode setup. By setting up a match with a single, very weak CPU opponent on a small, hazard-free stage like Final Destination or Battlefield, and then pausing the game indefinitely, time will accrue without active play. The console can be left running in this state for extended periods. It is vital to ensure the television or monitor is safe for such prolonged use. Alternatively, players can combine this with the versus match method by setting up matches with a single stock and immediately self-destructing, rapidly increasing the match count while also adding to total playtime.

Mewtwo's Impact on the Roster

Unlocking Mewtwo adds a unique and complex fighter to the roster. Within the competitive tier list of Melee, Mewtwo is often placed in the lower tiers, but this belies its intriguing design. Its moveset features unusual properties, such as a teleporting recovery, a projectile that can be charged and held, and a confusing down special that reverses opponents' controls. Mastering Mewtwo requires understanding its floaty movement, large hurtbox, and precise spacing. For many, unlocking Mewtwo is not just about completing the roster; it is about gaining access to a character with a deeply unconventional and rewarding playstyle that contrasts sharply with the game's more straightforward brawlers.

Conclusion: The Reward for Dedication

The process to unlock Mewtwo in Super Smash Bros. Melee is a testament to the game's design philosophy of rewarding investment. It does not gate the character behind a skill wall like the final boss of Adventure Mode, but behind a wall of time and persistence. Whether through twenty-four hours of cumulative play or seven hundred versus matches, the unlock criteria celebrate the player's overall engagement with the game. The moment the "New Challenger" message finally appears is a satisfying payoff, granting access to one of the most iconic and mechanically distinct characters in the franchise. This method ensures that encountering Mewtwo feels like a genuine achievement, a secret revealed only to those who have truly lived within the world of Smash Bros. Melee.

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