I don't get it

[Dirty Duck]

So, I got Melee today. I was really excited to try it, since it's the only Smash game I'd never played, and I'd been watching a whole bunch of matches of it and stuff. But when I put it in and started playing it felt...strange. I've been playing a lot of Smash 4 so I expected it to take some adjusting, but Melee felt slow and somewhat unresponsive. I thought it was my controller so I changed it over but it wasn't that, there were numerous times where I attempted to dash only to have the character start walking, and when it came to jumping I found it impossible to short hop despite tapping the button, and trying to jump and then quickly attack was resulting in merely attacking.

I'm also a bit disappointed at not having the option to turn tap jump off but I'm more concerned about all the other stuff.

It's a PAL copy of Melee and I'm playing it on a PAL Wii. Am I doing something wrong or?

 

[pershona]

Are you playing it on a HD-TV, if yes, that might be the problem since gamecube games lag on HD-TVs

 

[Dirty Duck]

I am playing it on a HD TV but I don't think that can be the problem, because on the menu screen etc etc the C Stick screen tilting was almost instantaneous

 

[EPsilon933]

You might not be used to the feel and timing of Melee yet. Part of what makes the game faster than other Smashes is l canceling. You might not have it down yet. Did you hold (I think it's) B to enable 60 frames/second? PAL Melee doesn't have a 480p mode, so if you're playing on an HDTV, you're going to get a bit of additional lag (compared to playing in 480p)

 

[steakhouse]

melee is just a harder game and not being spot-on with the timing of your movement and tech will result in slow turnarounds, jumping, rolling ang spotdodging when you don't mean to, and general sloppy play all around.

Just keep practicing.

 

[Shadó Chimera / シャドーキメラ]

In Smash 4 there is a buffering system where if you input a move 10 frames before you're able to use it, it will come out right away as early as possible. This isn't in Melee so you have to time the inputs accurately yourself. Try inputting later than what you're used to.

 

[Xyzz]

You might not be used to the feel and timing of Melee yet. Part of what makes the game faster than other Smashes is l canceling. You might not have it down yet. Did you hold (I think it's) B to enable 60 frames/second? PAL Melee doesn't have a 480p mode, so if you're playing on an HDTV, you're going to get a bit of additional lag (compared to playing in 480p)

50Hz is not "a bit of additional lag". It's "freaking unplayable on any TV" :D

 

[Kadano]

I am playing it on a HD TV but I don't think that can be the problem

“Can” is a bit of an understatement. I’d say there’s a 95% chance that your TV is adding so much additional lag that none of the proposed steps will get the lag down to a level that most Melee players would put up with.

Still, you’ll want to attempt these steps in this order:
1. Hold B when starting Melee on a Gamecube controller until the 60hz query shows. Select 60hz.
2. Put your TV in game mode, if possible.
3. Softmod your Wii so that you are able to force PAL Melee into 480p60, eliminating some of the lag. You’ll also need component cables for this to have any positive effect.
4. Get a CRT TV, but not just any. Old-looking, <24", round tube Sony, Daewoo and Panasonic TVs are, in my experience, the most reliable at not lagging.

Progress with these steps until either the game does not feel sluggish any longer or you stop caring.

 

[Jebus244]

If you've been playing Sm4sh, then it's most likely your inputs. I don't want to question your ability, but it is easier to dash in sm4sh than melee. In melee, you have to move the control stick to it's dash angle in 2 frames to dash in the direction you're facing, and in 1 frame to dash the opposite direction. Also the frame timing for short hops are way stricter in melee than sm4sh.

I dropped melee a while ago when I started my new job. Sm4sh got me back into it because when it came out, all it did was fan my flame for melee, and when I picked up melee again after playing sm4sh for 4 months, not only did I have to shake off the old melee cobwebs (about 3 years of them), but I had to unlearn sm4sh habits as well.

 

[AirFair]

Yeah it's probably the tv. Besides that, melee is a lot more precise than sm4sh, as mentioned with the whole buffering issue.

 

[Dirty Duck]

Put it into 60hz and changed the TV to game mode, it feels a fair bit better, thanks a lot everyone. Timing is definitely a thing I need to learn though, the buffering system of Sm4sh has made me feel I should double jump if I tap the button twice, but in this game it seems there's a lot more precise timing to it.

Getting the hang of it slowly though, excited to have a whole new Smash to play, even if it is an old smash, haha. Thanks again everyone!

 

[JipC]

I know what you mean, I went from Brawl/PM to Melee and Melee felt so stiff at first. Really, just get on that Melee grind and practice. Solo practice is fine for just getting the feel and speed of the game and tech skill down

In Smash 4 there is a buffering system where if you input a move 10 frames before you're able to use it, it will come out right away as early as possible. This isn't in Melee so you have to time the inputs accurately yourself. Try inputting later than what you're used to.

Oh **** its 10 frames? I thought it was like 1 - 3, thats a lot

 

[Squire]

excited to have a whole new Smash to play, even if it is an old smash

Welcome to the good life.

 

[Vorde]

In Smash 4 there is a buffering system where if you input a move 10 frames before you're able to use it, it will come out right away as early as possible

Omg I thought this was true. I knew something felt weird about the controls in that game. I would press dash and it would come out as soon as I landed when i hit a platform. Such a strange game sometimes lol

 

[EddyBearr]

I blame your inexperience with melee, not the TV. I don't think TV lag is going to affect people who aren't going for constant reaction-based flux-dashes frame-tight techs.

With that said, don't get too used to playing on an HDTV, if you plan to take melee seriously. I've always considered the hindrances of HDTV practice to be overstated, but there is definitely an effect at higher levels.

 

[Hitzel]

I can definitely vouch for the OP that playing Melee or PM after being used to Smash 4 feels really, really ugly.

Tried some not too long ago and having my character not move/attack/jump/etc when I felt as though I was inputting normally was really frustrating. That being said, I know from past experience how "in-control" those games can feel so I know it's something to get used to, but the feeling is still really off-putting.

So yeah, just give it time to get a feel for it.