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Unfortunately, even though you can battle in all of these stages, there are limitations. Remember, since these areas weren't intended to be fought in, they still operate under the same programming code as the gameplay mode they were intended for.For example, if you happen to break all the targets in one of the target test stages while fighting, the game will immediately end just as if it would normally. Similarly, in the Mushroom Kingdom stage (first level in the Adventure mode), the game will freeze when the battle against the Yoshi team approaches. Even though you can fight in these stages, HAL never finished (or started) any coding to allow for uninterrupted, non-restrictive fights to occur in them.
Here's a list of all the "extra," playable stages exactly as they appear in the debug menu:
TMario - Mario's target test
TCaptain - Captain Falcon's target test
TCLink - Young Link's target test
TDonkey - Donkey Kong's target test
TDrMario - Dr. Mario's target test
TFalco - Falco's target test
TFox - Fox's target test
TIceClim - Ice Climbers' target test
TKirby - Kirby's target test
TKoopa - Bowser's target test
TLink - Link's target test
TLuigi - Luigi's target test
TMars - Marth's target test
TMewtwo - Mewtwo's target test
TNess - Ness's target test
TPeach - Peach's target test
TPichu - Pichu's target test
TPikachu - Pikachu's target test
TPurin - Jigglypuff's target test
TSamus - Samus's target test
TSeak - Sheik's target test, beta
TYoshi - Yoshi's target test
TZelda - Zelda's target test
TGameWat - Mr. Game & Watch's target test
TEmblem - Roy's target test
TGanon - Ganondorf's target test
1-1Kinoko - Mushroom Kingdom – Adventure mode (game freezes when battle with Yoshis initiated)
3-1MEIKYU - Underground Maze - Adventure mode (game freezes when battle with Link initiated)
4-2DASSYUT - Brinstar Escape - Adventure mode
TUKISUSUE - Race to the Finish – Adventure mode
FigureGet - Snag the Trophies – Adventure mode (game freezes when a trophy falls)
HomeRun - Home Run Contest
Heal - All-Star mode healing area
Test - Beta Stage
8-1BBRoute - Big Blue - Adventure mode
Notice the two stages in bold. Yep, they're brand new.
Take a gander at these beauties. First, Sheik's target test area.
Maybe HAL didn't think it was appropriate to allow Sheik to have her own target test area, considering her alter-ego (Princess Zelda) already had one. Fascinating nonetheless.
Next, let's see what this beta stage looks like...
Notice the stage is completely horizontal. Not only that, it's easily the longest fighting arena in Super Smash Bros. history (with the exception of the Home-Run Contest stage). Along the stage lie several moving platforms and multicolored grounds with different amounts of traction when walked across. It's clear that HAL used this area as a virtual playground to experiment with several different aspects of gameplay.
Did you take note of the background? Confused? So is everyone else. The background is a giant picture of a pub. If you look closely you can spot several people enjoying tall glasses of beer atop the bar and tables. Despite the fact that it seems a little strange, it somehow adds to the illustrious prestige of Super Smash Bros. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Unsolved mysteries
Interestingly enough, four stages freeze the game when attempted to be entered. One of the stages is "Dummy." Those who read Off the Record Volume I: Animal Crossing are familiar with this title. The word "dummy" signified removed items in Animal Crossing. This "dummy" stage was probably removed just as well.
Rumors and speculation will be rampant about this next one. Supposedly HAL intended on creating a stage based on the Fire Emblem video games. Perhaps this is it. The stage is listed as "AKANEIA." Research shows that a series of Fire Emblem games for the Super NES were released in Japan under the name Fire Emblem Akaneia. Nobody will ever know for sure what this stage is or was intended to be because its contents were removed before Melee was released.
The last two unknown stages are labeled as "10-2" and "IceTop." It's thought that both of these stages represent some likeness to the Ice Climber stage Icicle Mountain, but apparently they got scrapped before release. To be honest, I don't think Melee fans wanted to see a couple more Icicle Mountain stages anyway.
More? HAL, seriously - c'moooon
Nobody said the debug menu had all the answers to Melee's secrets. Remember the events in which you fought atop objects like a giant goomba (Event Match 14), the Pokémon Entei (Event Match 26) and Majora's Mask (Event Match 47)? Yeah, you can fight melee matches on those too, but it has to be done by bypassing the debug menu with another programming code.
So in total, if someone asks how many stages are in Super Smash Bros. Melee, you might want to tell them there are theoretically 68, not 29.
It can be a bit perplexing trying to understand why HAL would not give the option to fight in at least some of the stages. I can understand not being able to fight somewhere like the Underground Maze from the Adventure mode, but why not atop the Goomba or Majora's Mask? It's clear that the argument of the stages creating a whole slew of bugs and glitches to deal with doesn't fly, as the countless trouble-free four-player battles can attest. It's a shame too, because some of these stages are absurdly entertaining.
Now that we knew we were able to unlock 39 extra stages, we wondered if that was the pinnacle of our discoveries. Nope, it wasn't. Did somebody say extra fighters?
