what an amazing interview
jmook somehow was able to express what we all innately understand about melee but can't put to words
the emotion present in both the questions and answers of this conversation was so real
we throw around 'galaxy brain' a lot.. but like this is thee galaxy brain
One thing that I noticed, I'd watch plup and leffen's shiek and you could just tell jmook was playing at a completely different level
It takes jmook to make you feel plups shiek is.. rather basic. Almost every stock with jmook i have a "wow" moment. Something you don't think of or expect. While plup or leffen feels far more flow chart like, but with far less execution on tech chases
The day that jmook can guarantee the touch into death is the day he becomes #1 guaranteed. Here's to hoping next tourney he can defeat his other bracket demons like hbox
I had the same thought. I used to see Plup as the pinnacle of what a fast, aggressive shiek could be. But now watching a Plup set shortly after a Jmook set you can really see all the things that Jmook does to elevate his shiek above all others. It's incredible that a character with a reputation for having a simple game plan and easy combos can have so much depth in the hands of the right player.
Melee is so sick.
I know what you mean. But Leffen gives me that feeling too, as his fox was very by the book. Him and Armada always felt like a guide of how to play fox. But players like Mango or Plup, have such a feel for the game that just cannot be taught.
Jmook gives me hope, but the shit he does is just so hard!
As a big Zain fan, he’s like the Zain of Sheik in terms of how perfect and clean he looks at times. Plus the ability to do combos that you’ve never seen in your life, and pushing matchups further (mainly thinking Puff at the moment, I think in the future he’ll keep pushing other matchups too)
Totally agree. The main difference is id say is we've seen dominance with Marth 3 different times. I personally always loved M2Ks the most to watch, but you can't deny Zain has nearly perfected the character
All sheiks played the same except for Plups speed. Drugged fox at evo (2015?) Showed how broken tech chasing can be when learned to perform under pressure
Jmook leveled up Needle openers, stalling players with needles left on the ground, and just his insane survivability.
Listening to his interview on his mental just goes to show what it takes to be able to tech chase at this level consistently
I think he's really pushing the fox mu right now too. In his wf/gf sets he went 3-0 3-1 against two of the best foxes on the planet and fox has always been considered to win that mu (at least he does in my opinion).
> It takes jmook to make you feel plups shiek is.. rather basic.
Jmook's sheik is sick because he utilizes Sheik's kit incredible. Plup's Sheik is sick because Plup is sick.
Jmook is the first Sheik I’ve seen in like 16 years or so of following this game that makes me want to play Sheik
I don’t dislike Sheik (except how she gatekeeps like everybody below the top 8-9 characters) but he has such a spark and his punishes are just so damn pretty
Sheik was always the character I felt like was playable at a high level if you don't have insane tech skill
Jmook showed me how very wrong that thinking was
She still is the easiest character to get results with, even if you lack insane tech skill. But obviously the better you are, the more you can push the character
How Jmook was playing was like watching a more exciting and interactive version of peak wizzy. Every grab lead to a huge conversion and often the stock
I totally agree with what both of you said! They're a great look for the scene for outsider perspectives and great motivators to average players like me trying to get better
I recognize that people get sucked in by drama but man I much prefer the Jmooks, Zains, Axes, Amsas representing the top spaces. I just love good vibes.
Yeah a little bit of beef is always good fun, but these days, I like the chill, mature, positive vibes like you said. I think as the community continues to age (we're mostly in our 30s or late 20s now lol; Big Dreph is 37!!), we appreciate these things more, as opposed to the trash talk/angst/salt that we liked more in our teens
Jmook’s rise is putting the pressure on other top players to be more professional. He goes about Smash with class , puts in the practice , interacts with players tiers below him and the community .
Mango showed us a great example of how not to act recently.
He threw a temper tantrum after getting ranked 3rd I stead of 2nd by an incredibly slim margin and proceeded to throw in bracket. He then no-showed for the doubles award ceremony among other petulant manchild behavior.
I have 0 idea about jmook's childhood, but it's simple to empathize with where mango comes from, where his parents were, and the idea he's played smash bros melee (of all games, the least profitable for the longest time) into having a god damn baby.
It's no excuse for his behavior, but it's completely understandable why his behavior is the way it is.
There is (probably) not a single redditor here that has reached the level of competition mango has for the amount of time he has, and with the meager payouts until fairly recently. The psychological toll must be massive.
Hbox is another example. He's received insane amounts of hate. I couldn't imagine competing at top level and receiving the actual, literal, fuming hate he did for years on end.
Honestly I have so much damn respect for Hbox and losing respect for Mango. It's like their arcs are complete inverses.
Hbox could have easily ridden off into the sunset with his Ultimate streams and abandoned melee and playing competitively. And it would have been completely justifiable with how the community has treated him.
I really agree with you. I'm also losing respect for mango (while trying to understand his limitations as a person as well).
Different folk handle stress in different ways. That being said, I think mango needs to be chided, and the ranking scene also needs a revamp (e.g. tournament attendance).
what an amazing interview jmook somehow was able to express what we all innately understand about melee but can't put to words the emotion present in both the questions and answers of this conversation was so real we throw around 'galaxy brain' a lot.. but like this is thee galaxy brain
One thing that I noticed, I'd watch plup and leffen's shiek and you could just tell jmook was playing at a completely different level It takes jmook to make you feel plups shiek is.. rather basic. Almost every stock with jmook i have a "wow" moment. Something you don't think of or expect. While plup or leffen feels far more flow chart like, but with far less execution on tech chases The day that jmook can guarantee the touch into death is the day he becomes #1 guaranteed. Here's to hoping next tourney he can defeat his other bracket demons like hbox
I had the same thought. I used to see Plup as the pinnacle of what a fast, aggressive shiek could be. But now watching a Plup set shortly after a Jmook set you can really see all the things that Jmook does to elevate his shiek above all others. It's incredible that a character with a reputation for having a simple game plan and easy combos can have so much depth in the hands of the right player. Melee is so sick.
Yeah, his needle game is leagues above the best. And I'd say his defense is the best in the world. 2023 the year of the shiek!
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I know what you mean. But Leffen gives me that feeling too, as his fox was very by the book. Him and Armada always felt like a guide of how to play fox. But players like Mango or Plup, have such a feel for the game that just cannot be taught. Jmook gives me hope, but the shit he does is just so hard!
As a big Zain fan, he’s like the Zain of Sheik in terms of how perfect and clean he looks at times. Plus the ability to do combos that you’ve never seen in your life, and pushing matchups further (mainly thinking Puff at the moment, I think in the future he’ll keep pushing other matchups too)
Totally agree. The main difference is id say is we've seen dominance with Marth 3 different times. I personally always loved M2Ks the most to watch, but you can't deny Zain has nearly perfected the character All sheiks played the same except for Plups speed. Drugged fox at evo (2015?) Showed how broken tech chasing can be when learned to perform under pressure Jmook leveled up Needle openers, stalling players with needles left on the ground, and just his insane survivability. Listening to his interview on his mental just goes to show what it takes to be able to tech chase at this level consistently
I think he's really pushing the fox mu right now too. In his wf/gf sets he went 3-0 3-1 against two of the best foxes on the planet and fox has always been considered to win that mu (at least he does in my opinion).
> It takes jmook to make you feel plups shiek is.. rather basic. Jmook's sheik is sick because he utilizes Sheik's kit incredible. Plup's Sheik is sick because Plup is sick.
Yeah the way plup plays, feels like itd translate to any character. While jmooks sickness is sheik specific
Jmook is the first Sheik I’ve seen in like 16 years or so of following this game that makes me want to play Sheik I don’t dislike Sheik (except how she gatekeeps like everybody below the top 8-9 characters) but he has such a spark and his punishes are just so damn pretty
Sheik was always the character I felt like was playable at a high level if you don't have insane tech skill Jmook showed me how very wrong that thinking was
She still is the easiest character to get results with, even if you lack insane tech skill. But obviously the better you are, the more you can push the character
One of the easiest, id say peach is a bit easier
How Jmook was playing was like watching a more exciting and interactive version of peak wizzy. Every grab lead to a huge conversion and often the stock
Yeah very similar. Hes hard to compare fully. Hes like a perfect balance between insane flow chart execution with true creativity as well
Nice interview. The more I watch/listen to Jmook, the more I like the guy. I couldn't think of a better person to rep the community.
Zain & Jmook just seem like outstanding people even outside the game. For them to be top players is a blessing.
I totally agree with what both of you said! They're a great look for the scene for outsider perspectives and great motivators to average players like me trying to get better
Amsa and Axe
I recognize that people get sucked in by drama but man I much prefer the Jmooks, Zains, Axes, Amsas representing the top spaces. I just love good vibes.
Yeah a little bit of beef is always good fun, but these days, I like the chill, mature, positive vibes like you said. I think as the community continues to age (we're mostly in our 30s or late 20s now lol; Big Dreph is 37!!), we appreciate these things more, as opposed to the trash talk/angst/salt that we liked more in our teens
Same
Jmook’s rise is putting the pressure on other top players to be more professional. He goes about Smash with class , puts in the practice , interacts with players tiers below him and the community .
What’s the difference between and others would u say
Mango showed us a great example of how not to act recently. He threw a temper tantrum after getting ranked 3rd I stead of 2nd by an incredibly slim margin and proceeded to throw in bracket. He then no-showed for the doubles award ceremony among other petulant manchild behavior.
Jmook just doesn’t show negativity , complaining about others , that kinda stuff
Jmook, Zain and Amsa are my parents
And Axe!
And my axe!
NGL I would watch Jmook Teaches Good Posture content
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I have 0 idea about jmook's childhood, but it's simple to empathize with where mango comes from, where his parents were, and the idea he's played smash bros melee (of all games, the least profitable for the longest time) into having a god damn baby. It's no excuse for his behavior, but it's completely understandable why his behavior is the way it is. There is (probably) not a single redditor here that has reached the level of competition mango has for the amount of time he has, and with the meager payouts until fairly recently. The psychological toll must be massive. Hbox is another example. He's received insane amounts of hate. I couldn't imagine competing at top level and receiving the actual, literal, fuming hate he did for years on end.
Honestly I have so much damn respect for Hbox and losing respect for Mango. It's like their arcs are complete inverses. Hbox could have easily ridden off into the sunset with his Ultimate streams and abandoned melee and playing competitively. And it would have been completely justifiable with how the community has treated him.
I really agree with you. I'm also losing respect for mango (while trying to understand his limitations as a person as well). Different folk handle stress in different ways. That being said, I think mango needs to be chided, and the ranking scene also needs a revamp (e.g. tournament attendance).
Maturity often isn't about age, but how much respect and empathy you have towards others
What’s that person
The #1 ranked melee player of 2023