“Take out your ft and do it”: Whether or not it is for $0 or $100,000, Huntsman won’t ever cease competing within the Smash 64 Combo Contest

There’s one irritating draw back to having too many hobbies: you miss issues. I missed the huge Supernova Tremendous Smash Bros. match final 12 months for Monterey Automobile Week, and sadly gained’t make it for a similar cause this 12 months. This has meant lacking the Combo Contest, my favourite occasion of all time. And this 12 months, 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 opponents of all time, neither has competed in opposition to the opposite. Till now. It’ll seemingly 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 prime 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 shortly clarify what the Combo Contest is. For a panel of Smash judges, Smash 64 opponents go on stage and try to carry out a really troublesome zero-to-death combo on a CPU, utilizing as a lot talent, creativity, and innovation as doable 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 bought into the sport late. I used to be in faculty, and I didn’t begin taking part in aggressive Tremendous Smash Bros. 64 till late 2018, early 2019. I believe two Combo Contests had already occurred. I bear in mind seeing combos that Prince was posting on Twitter and pondering, “That is not possible.” I didn’t assume it was humanly doable what he was doing. In 2019, I noticed my first Combo Contest reside. Till then, I watched all of them on YouTube. I assumed it was the best factor on this planet.

I fell in love with Smash 64 itself due to the combos. Folks give it a tricky 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 artistic methods to make every thing come collectively.

So once 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 only take part in a Combo Contest. That was my final aim. As soon as I bought there, I used to be so excited. I ended up profitable in 2023. My entire journey began with watching Prince and realizing that the not possible was doable with sufficient time, effort, and devoted apply.

ESI: How do you give you a few of the crazier stuff, like taking part in 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 opponents do with out a number of characters are more durable than mine, in my view.

I used to be attempting to make a combo in a really distinctive method. I couldn’t get it to work. It was taking too lengthy. I spotted, once I watched ok y s ok win in 2019 – the one particular person to beat Prince – he gained the Combo Contest as a result of he completed the combos fast and straightforward. They usually 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 entire factor about making them sophisticated and technically troublesome, I’m gonna avoid. As an alternative of utilizing an merchandise with RNG to it, I spotted I might add a special character and management it with my foot.

I’m musical and play a variety of devices. So I’ve an excellent sense of rhythm. So I can do it with my ft. I’m pushing buttons off-beat with my fingers. I must 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 reside. The others had been so troublesome I couldn’t carry out them reside. 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 problem of the combo. It’s additionally about creativity and different parts.

Huntsman: Different Smash video games are the prime viewers [for the Combo Contest]. They usually don’t know what’s troublesome and never troublesome. It’s loopy to say that. However they don’t have an excellent understanding of Smash 64. It’s arduous for them to see one thing and understand how troublesome some issues Prince does really 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 primary viewers.

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

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

ESI: You stated the Smash 64 neighborhood doesn’t actually respect 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 variety of them assume I’m taking the arduous 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 individuals haven’t appreciated 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 power is my creativity. I give you issues they’d by no means consider. As an alternative of enthusiastic about how I could make this as technically troublesome as doable. I’m the alternative – how can I carry out this hype ending the best method doable 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 attempting for 3 minutes. It’s embarrassing. You’re strolling off and need to throw your controller on the bottom as arduous as you may. 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 except you hit a combo reside. I prioritize that. I need to maintain the hype meter as excessive as doable.

ESI: This upcoming Supernova goes to be the primary time you may have competed in opposition to Prince, who retired earlier than you began doing the Combo Contest. How do you assume that may go?

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

I’m not gonna lie, this 12 months is gonna be a lot enjoyable watching him on stage. I’ve by no means seen him carry out reside. I didn’t compete till he was retired. I hope I make the finals so I will 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 of the most effective 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 may very well 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 might 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 group 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, discovered. This isn’t about creating essentially the most technical combo. That is about getting the group engaged. He was hilarious. He’d get up and provides the peace signal. Prince doesn’t present a variety of emotion. He doesn’t must as a result of his combos are insane. However the Combo Contest has changed into a present and it’s about getting the group as loud as doable.

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 maintain his combos? He’s probably the most superb gamers; he can do each. However he’s infamous for taking a bit of 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 choose, I’d do the identical. In the event that they hit it throughout 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 apply and planning go into these combos forward of Supernova annually?

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 12 months prematurely. I made a apply 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 bought nearer, in July, a few opponents stated they only completed them up! I used to be like WHAT?! Bro, I’ve been engaged on these for a 12 months.

Did you see the invisible combo I did?

ESI: Sure, I used to be there. I noticed it play out in particular person. However on the livestream, they didn’t present the combo. Within the unique broadcast, they’d 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 once I ran off the stage.

For this reason I’m glad I’m capable of give you them earlier. It offers 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 bought hit by the identical cost shot off-stage.

I assumed, “Oh my god, I can trick the group by ‘lacking’ the cost shot, after which it’ll hit off-stage and nonetheless combo.” After training that lengthy, it’s method higher than the unique combo. I can add a component no one else has performed 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 need to run behind the judges. I used to be training it backstage. I’d run backward. No method. I believe I do it. Within the stream, you may see me operating as quickly as I hit the slow-mo button. It labored precisely as I wished.

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 appreciate 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 Obligation, 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 recreation. I don’t play another 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 apply and play one recreation.

The explanation why the fireplace 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 buddies, I’ll randomly consider a cool solution to end a combo. I write it down in a notice. Then I am going house that evening and see if it’s doable. I’ll wait for a few hours and see if it’s doable.

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 doable.

What do you respect 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 attempting so arduous to create a recreation 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 recreation 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 performed earlier than the Combo Contest. I used to be primary in Utah. High 36 within the nation for 64. She wouldn’t actually wish to have a good time it; she’d simply be like, “Oh, cool.” However after watching the Combo Contest reside on Twitch, I known as her, and he or she misplaced it. That was the best factor.

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

The Smash neighborhood, no less than 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 assist at house on this pastime. Folks would simply say, “That is kinda nerdy.” The neighborhood has all the time hyped me up and made me really feel like this was price doing, that it’s superior, that individuals care about it.

The Smash neighborhood carried me by means of till my spouse noticed what it was. Now she desires me to go yearly. She’ll say, “Don’t fear, I’ll deal with the youngsters.” She’s my primary supporter.

ESI: It’s unbelievable to have the Smash neighborhood to understand what is occurring. 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 variety 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 sort of put a stamp on the sport and stated it’s inferior to 64. Me, trying 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 cherished.

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

I assumed, no friggin’ method, you ranked in such an outdated recreation. 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 recreation?! This isn’t the identical recreation I grew up taking part in. He informed me all the ideas and methods. My ardour for combos actually grew after that. I bought well-known in the neighborhood for loving combos.