Whether it’s for $0 or $100,000, Huntsman will never stop competing in the Smash 64 Combo Contest

There may be one irritating draw back to having too many hobbies: you miss issues. I missed the large Supernova Tremendous Smash Bros. match final yr for Monterey Automobile Week, and sadly gained’t make it for a similar purpose this yr. This has meant lacking the Combo Contest, my favorite event of all time. And this yr, I used to be simply knowledgeable that the Combo Contest would have the 2 GOATs of the esport: Hunter “Huntsman” Cummings and Prince.

Regardless of being the highest Combo Contest rivals of all time, neither has competed towards the opposite. Till now. It’s going to probably be probably the most insane tournaments you’ll ever witness. Previous-school versus new-school. Technical prowess versus hype. Stoicness versus showmanship.

Despite the fact that I didn’t actually need to be reminded that I’ll be lacking this momentous match, I had the superb alternative to talk with Huntsman, a high Smash 64 participant from Utah, about his ardour for the Combo Contest, how he got here up with the concept to play together with his naked ft on stage, and the unbelievable ardour of the Smash 64 scene.

First, let me rapidly clarify what the Combo Contest is. For a panel of Smash judges, Smash 64 rivals go on stage and try to carry out a really tough zero-to-death combo on a CPU, utilizing as a lot talent, creativity, and innovation as attainable with out dropping the combo.

And in contrast to me, these gamers have this one single focus. This one aim. And that’s what it takes to be the GOAT of the Combo Contest.

Esports Insider: How did you get into the Combo Contest?

Huntsman: I received into the sport late. I used to be in faculty, and I didn’t begin enjoying aggressive Tremendous Smash Bros. 64 till late 2018, early 2019. I believe two Combo Contests had already occurred. I keep in mind seeing combos that Prince was posting on Twitter and pondering, “That is unattainable.” I didn’t assume it was humanly attainable what he was doing. In 2019, I noticed my first Combo Contest dwell. Till then, I watched all of them on YouTube. I assumed it was the best factor on the earth.

I fell in love with Smash 64 itself due to the combos. Folks give it a troublesome time as a result of it’s so dramatic. However that’s why I really like the sport. I really like combo’ing somebody, discovering inventive methods to make the whole lot come collectively.

So after I noticed Prince win once more in 2022 – his fourth championship – I dedicated. “I’m gonna begin making combos and see if I can do that.” Prince utterly impressed me to assume I might even take part within the Combo Contest.

Not gonna lie, the primary time I competed, I used to be a last-minute entry. My aim was to simply take part in a Combo Contest. That was my final aim. As soon as I received there, I used to be so excited. I ended up profitable in 2023. My complete journey began with watching Prince and realizing that the unattainable was attainable with sufficient time, effort, and devoted follow.

ESI: How do you give you a few of the crazier stuff, like enjoying with a number of controllers and utilizing your ft?

Huntsman: This sounds horrible. This isn’t good for me to say. However the combos that Prince and different rivals do with out a number of characters are tougher than mine, in my view.

I used to be making an attempt to make a combo in a really distinctive means. I couldn’t get it to work. It was taking too lengthy. I noticed, after I watched ok y s ok win in 2019 – the one individual to beat Prince – he gained the Combo Contest as a result of he completed the combos fast and simple. And so they had been hype. ok y s ok used two Donkey Kong at a time. He managed one controller with the highest of his hand and the opposite with the underside. I assumed it appeared so cool to have two playable characters.

I assumed, this complete factor about making them sophisticated and technically tough, I’m gonna keep away from. As an alternative of utilizing an merchandise with RNG to it, I noticed I might add a unique character and management it with my foot.

I’m musical and play a number of devices. So I’ve a superb sense of rhythm. So I can do it with my ft. I’m pushing buttons off-beat with my arms. I have to make this combo doable and constant. Once I added a second character, I felt I might make combos I had by no means dreamed of, and I can carry out them dwell. The others had been so tough I couldn’t carry out them dwell. Utilizing my ft made the Combo Contest simpler. It created all the weather that the combo must succeed.

ESI: Proper, as a result of the Combo Contest isn’t solely in regards to the issue of the combo. It’s additionally about creativity and different parts.

Huntsman: Different Smash video games are the prime viewers [for the Combo Contest]. And so they don’t know what’s tough and never tough. It’s loopy to say that. However they don’t have a superb understanding of Smash 64. It’s onerous for them to see one thing and understand how tough some issues Prince does actually are. I might by no means even try them. Due to that, I’d be doing all this technical stuff for actually no one. The 64 scene is so small and never the principle viewers.

I’m not admired a lot by them. I discovered a option to carry out combos by eradicating the technical issue. Timing could make combos tough – they’re tough timing-wise. It must be pressed in point-five milliseconds, or it should drop. However I want that to a very technically tough transfer with a particular character. Or counting on randomness. I hate doing that.

For individuals watching, they assume enjoying with my ft is insane. However I believe it’s made my combos simpler.

ESI: You stated the Smash 64 neighborhood doesn’t actually admire your combos as a lot. Have they ever come ahead to say this?

Huntsman: Completely. I hate saying this, however sure. There are individuals who say we must always ban multiple-character combos. It’s humorous as a result of I get glazed by Melee and Final communities. Thanks guys, so freakin’ a lot. However the individuals I care about are within the 64 neighborhood. And a number of them assume I’m taking the onerous half out.

Which is my aim. My aim is to take advantage of hype combo on stage so individuals can watch it and go loopy.

ESI: You’re making combos extra for the Smash neighborhood.

Huntsman: Precisely. Many previous contributors haven’t favored them both. I inform them on a regular basis – in case you assume it’s simple, you do it. Take out your ft and do it. My energy is my creativity. I give you issues they’d by no means consider. As an alternative of fascinated by how I could make this as technically tough as attainable. I’m the other – how can I carry out this hype ending the best means attainable so I can get my combos on stage?

There’s nothing worse than strolling on stage and never hitting a combo. You’re up there making an attempt for 3 minutes. It’s embarrassing. You’re strolling off and need to throw your controller on the bottom as onerous as you possibly can. You need to rage.

It’s unhappy since you need to carry out for the occasion. You need your clips to go viral for Smash. It’s extra than simply for you. This video might attain individuals who haven’t performed Smash in years. They get nostalgia from watching it. That may’t occur until you hit a combo dwell. I prioritize that. I need to preserve the hype meter as excessive as attainable.

ESI: This upcoming Supernova goes to be the primary time you’ve got competed towards Prince, who retired earlier than you began doing the Combo Contest. How do you assume that can go?

Huntsman: Prince is my hero. In terms of idols in Smash, he’s within the high. It’s humorous how individuals have pinned us towards one another. However many of the rivals, it sounds loopy, I’m cheering them on. We’re cheering one another on. I need Prince to hit each single considered one of his combos. I hope all people else does, too.

I’m not gonna lie, this yr is gonna be a lot enjoyable watching him on stage. I’ve by no means seen him carry out dwell. I didn’t compete till he was retired. I hope I make the finals so I might be up there with Prince – or whoever else makes it.

I believe Prince has all of the stress.

ESI: Yeah, he retired whereas he was thought-about one of the best there’s.

Huntsman: He’s the GOAT. He’s anticipated to win. I’ve gained twice. I’m grateful, however I don’t have a lot to lose. If I beat Prince, no one noticed that coming. But when he loses, individuals will then must have that dialog that I could possibly be the GOAT. I don’t see that taking place. I don’t see myself as higher than Prince. However it’s a dialog different individuals could have. So he has all of the stress.

ESI: Proper, to maintain that title. What do you assume the judges might be into: his technical expertise otherwise you getting the gang going?

Huntsman: The judges are all about crowd response. It is a contest of showmanship. That’s what ok y s ok, in my view, found out. This isn’t about creating probably the most technical combo. That is about getting the gang engaged. He was hilarious. He’d get up and provides the peace signal. Prince doesn’t present a number of emotion. He doesn’t have to as a result of his combos are insane. However the Combo Contest has was a present and it’s about getting the gang as loud as attainable.

I believe Prince is aware of that, although. He’s posting on X, debating what he ought to do. Ought to he go for hype or preserve his combos? He’s probably the most superb gamers; he can do each. However he’s infamous for taking a bit longer to complete his combos. These days, the final three years, it’s actually taking a flip the place you get additional factors in case you hit the combo early.

If I had been a decide, I’d do the identical. In the event that they hit it inside the first three tries, I’m giving that combo a ten, even when it’s a 9. Simply due to how cool that’s. The clutch issue.

ESI: How a lot follow and planning go into these combos forward of Supernova every year?

Huntsman: That will depend on the competitor. I believe that’s why I gained in 2023. They don’t put as a lot time as I assumed they did. I began training a yr prematurely. I made a follow schedule the place I practiced them 3 times every week. I gave them 200 makes an attempt every.

ESI: I didn’t need to embarrass myself up there, particularly as a last-minute addition. Because it received nearer, in July, a few rivals stated they only completed them up! I used to be like WHAT?! Bro, I’ve been engaged on these for a yr.

Did you see the invisible combo I did?

ESI: Sure, I used to be there. I noticed it play out in individual. However on the livestream, they didn’t present the combo. Within the authentic broadcast, that they had ended it early.

Huntsman: Yoshi grabs Fox, and Samus double jumps and shoots a cost shot. They thought I missed, so that they didn’t livestream it after I ran off the stage.

For this reason I’m glad I’m capable of give you them earlier. It provides me an opportunity to improve my combo. I make [the original idea] in lower than a day. Then I actually hone in on perfecting them. So whereas training, one time, I missed the cost shot. I used to be about to restart, however my finger slipped, and I didn’t restart… And I noticed Fox received hit by the identical cost shot off-stage.

I assumed, “Oh my god, I can trick the gang by ‘lacking’ the cost shot, after which it’ll hit off-stage and nonetheless combo.” After training that lengthy, it’s means higher than the unique combo. I can add a component no one else has accomplished earlier than. A shock. I can have individuals assume that I failed.

I made a decision to run behind the judges half-hour earlier than I went up. Raz informed me I had a lot time, you must run behind the judges. I used to be training it backstage. I’d run backward. No means. I believe I do it. Within the stream, you possibly can see me working as quickly as I hit the slow-mo button. It labored precisely as I needed.

Whereas I used to be standing behind Hungrybox, he stated, “Bro, you missed.” He was embarrassed for me. “What are you doing?” Then he began to comprehend it was going to hit off-stage. It was a lot enjoyable the way it all turned out.

The Combo Contest clearly doesn’t have the identical prizing or viewership as League of Legends, Name of Responsibility, and even Road Fighter. What makes you so passionate in regards to the Combo Contest regardless of its area of interest presence?

Huntsman: I really like this sport. I don’t play every other video video games. Folks will come up and say I’m a gamer. I don’t know if I take into account myself a gamer. I follow and play one sport.

The rationale why the hearth continues to be there… I see myself doing this for one more 10 to fifteen years. I like it. In my thoughts, I’m consuming dinner with my spouse and child and pals, I’ll randomly consider a cool option to end a combo. I write it down in a be aware. Then I’m going house that night time and see if it’s attainable. I’ll look forward to a few hours and see if it’s attainable.

I used to be curious whether or not my motivation would drop after I gained the primary time. 2024, I couldn’t attend. However 2025, I made the choice I’m not lacking considered one of these once more. Having two trophies in my closet and with the ability to present clips to my youngsters… I actually like training for achievement, and the Combo Contest makes that so attainable.

What do you admire in regards to the Smash neighborhood?

Huntsman: Simply the general ardour for this online game is insane. I like it. What’s loopy is Nintendo is making an attempt so onerous to create a sport the place the aggressive facet isn’t there. They don’t just like the aggressive world of Smash. However the gamers don’t even care. They make it into the best aggressive sport anyway. It’s so enjoyable to look at.

This may sound bizarre, however my spouse hates video video games with a ardour. She hates them. She’s by no means acknowledged something I’ve accomplished earlier than the Combo Contest. I used to be primary in Utah. Prime 36 within the nation for 64. She wouldn’t actually wish to have fun it; she’d simply be like, “Oh, cool.” However after watching the Combo Contest dwell on Twitch, I known as her, and he or she misplaced it. That was the best factor.

I keep in mind crying backstage. It was the primary time my spouse has truly confirmed curiosity in considered one of my hobbies, this pastime particularly.

The Smash neighborhood, a minimum of 64, they’re simply so good at hyping one another up. You do one thing cool, you make an upset, they’ll come up and shake you and scream and cheer. For a very long time, I had no help at house on this pastime. Folks would simply say, “That is kinda nerdy.” The neighborhood has at all times hyped me up and made me really feel like this was value doing, that it’s superior, that individuals care about it.

The Smash neighborhood carried me via till my spouse noticed what it was. Now she needs me to go yearly. She’ll say, “Don’t fear, I’ll handle the youngsters.” She’s my primary supporter.

ESI: It’s unbelievable to have the Smash neighborhood to understand what is going on. Oftentimes, no one else actually understands. Earlier than the Combo Contest, had been you taking part in any Smash locals or tournaments?

Huntsman: I’ve been competing since 2019. I’ve a number of siblings. Seven brothers. My oldest brother, Tommy, is 10 years older than I’m. He performed Smash 64. He was just like the cool man in our group. He destroyed us left and proper. When Melee got here out, we fell in love, however Tommy wasn’t pretty much as good. He type of put a stamp on the sport and stated it’s inferior to 64. Me, wanting as much as my older brother, I stated Melee isn’t pretty much as good as 64 – since he thought that. We’d simply compete in 64 collectively. It’s the online game that we liked.

It wasn’t till I used to be in faculty and a household buddy stated, “Hey, you guys play? I’m ranked twelfth in Utah. You need to come and compete.”

I assumed, no friggin’ means, you ranked in such an outdated sport. I performed him for an hour and couldn’t transfer. He comboed me the complete time. My eyes had been open. What is that this sport?! This isn’t the identical sport I grew up enjoying. He informed me all the ideas and methods. My ardour for combos actually grew after that. I received well-known in the neighborhood for loving combos.