Why is it Called Melee?

The term "melee" traces its origins back to the French word "mêlée", meaning a confused fight or struggle. This in turn comes from the Old French "meslee", also referring to a mixture or medley. So at its core, "melee" refers to close combat that is chaotic and tangled.

Definition and Etymology

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, melee is defined as:

noun. a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people. confusion; turmoil; jumble: the melee of Christmas shopping.

The word comes from the French "mêlée", which in turn is derived from the Old French "meslee", meaning "mixture." "Meslee" comes from the Old French verb "mesler" or "medler", meaning "to mix."

So the root of "melee" refers to the mixing and close intermingling of combatants in a brawl or fight. It evokes a sense of confusion, turmoil, and struggle.

Melee in Gaming

In video games, especially multiplayer online battle arenas, first-person shooters, and fighting games, "melee" refers to close combat involving directly striking an opponent at very short range. This is typically done using melee weapons or unarmed martial arts strikes.

According to Wikipedia:

The term melee has been adopted and popularized in wargaming, table top, and video games to encompass all forms of close combat. This can include any combat that involves directly striking an opponent at ranges generally less than a metre, especially using martial arts or melee weapons.

Some examples of melee combat in games include:

• Punching, kicking, and grappling in fighting games like Street Fighter or Super Smash Bros.
• Hitting enemies with swords/knives at close range in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.
• Bashing heads with the butt of guns in shooter games like Call of Duty.

Melee stands in contrast to ranged combat and projectile weapons like guns, bows, and throwing weapons that allow attacking from a distance.

Unique Pronunciation

An interesting fact about "melee" is that it is pronounced differently than its spelling would suggest. The correct pronunciation is "MEE-lay" or "MAY-lay", with the stress on the first syllable. This comes from its French roots.

Powerful Melee Weapons in Fiction

In fantasy and sci-fi, there are many powerful melee weapons that are iconic. For example:

• Mjolnir – Thor‘s legendary hammer from Marvel Comics that can summon lightning.
• The Master Sword – Link‘s magical blade in The Legend of Zelda games.
• Lightsabers – The plasma swords used by Jedi and Sith in Star Wars.
• The Vorpal Blade – The sword used by the hero to slay the Jabberwock in Lewis Carroll‘s Through the Looking Glass.

Historical Evolution of Melee Combat

Melee combat mechanics in gaming have evolved over time alongside graphics, computing power, and input methods. Some notable milestones:

• 2D fighting games like Street Fighter II (1991) defined combo systems and special moves for melee.
• MMORPGs like Ultima Online (1997) introduced large scale melee battles with dozens of players.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) brought platformer-style melee combat into the arena fighter genre.
• Chivalry: Medieval Warfare (2012) used advanced physics systems to simulate real-time blade collisions and dismemberment.
• VR headsets have enabled even more immersive first-person melee experiences, like Blade & Sorcery (2019).

Conclusion

In summary, "melee" refers to the up close and personal combat involving direct hand-to-hand fighting and melee weapon strikes. It‘s all about the mingling and confusion of a close-quarters fray. Melee mechanics have formed the core of many popular gaming genres for decades. So next time you charge into the thick of battle in your favorite game,you‘ll know exactly why it‘s called "melee"!