Well, Nintendo was revolutionary with it's first SSB title when it came into motion. Back then, most fighting games had the mentality of...
"OK, HERE WE, GO, GET READY.... GOOOOOOOOO!!!! OK, OK, CMON, GOTTA MASH THAT "A" BUTTON FASTER THAN MY OPPONENT... OOH, LOOK AT THAT MEAN COMBO MOVE... AND SWEET! A FIVE-SECOND KO! PWNED!!!"
Smash Bros. for the N64 totally changed that, though, and the only reason why we still play Melee and Brawl is for that same awesome feel that the N64 version first introduced. It's sad, really, how so many people overlook that and say, "DEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, MELEE HAS BETTER GRAPHICS, so it's betteEEERRRRRRRR!!!"
So there you have it. The game behind the mentality.