Few Smash players are more accomplished than Juan 'Hungrybox' DeBiedma. The Argentine-American has risen through the Melee ranks to the top of the game, cemented as one of the Five Gods of old, leaving plenty of rivals in his wake and forging a love-hate relationship with the community as the pantomime villain. Every good sport needs a heel, and Hbox knows just when to ham it up.
While many know Team Liquid's veteran Smasher for his mastery of the unusual playstyle demanded from Jigglypuff mains, we're after what makes him tick inside and outside of Final Destination. So we caught up with HBox to find out why Melee is still going strong, and how fans in an alternate universe are settling down to watch him in his latest movie.
What is your passion outside of gaming?
Collecting vinyl and watching good movies. Really have always loved critically acclaimed albums and film.
What were you planning to do with your life before you became an esports star?
Engineering, probably working at a tech company or getting into investing. In another life I might have gotten into acting as well.
Who do you most want to go a best-of-5 with in the entire world?
I think I really want to beat Leffen again, and figure out how to break down his style since he’s shifted it recently.
In your career, what’s been your favorite fighting game to play or watch?
It’s always been Melee. The game is timeless and offers some of the most intense narratives and in-game action that I’ve ever seen.
Why do you think Melee is so enduring?
Because no game like it has ever been made. The sequels for Smash are a far departure from Melee’s style, and it probably never will have a true sequel.
The top spot for Melee is hotly contested right now. Who do you think is the number one player right now, and is that likely to change in the near future?
I think I’m currently Rank 1. I’ve definitely gone to the most events and won the most. I do have two losing records but every other player in the world has at least two of those as well. I always put myself on the line and challenge myself to play the best that I can, no matter what.
How has Armada’s retirement affected the top level of Smash. Has that opened the way for other players to win majors, or were they likely to make it anyway?
I think it’s definitely allowed the ranks 6-10 to jump up into the Top 5. Axe, Wizzy and Zain are all arguably Top 5 right now, with Mango and Plup right below them or sharing those spots. You get to see a lot more matchups that you normally wouldn’t see, which probably allows for deeper bracket runs and more of those players to rematch me.
Genesis 6
— hungrybox (@LiquidHbox) September 23, 2019
Pound 2019
MomoCon 2019
CEO 2019
Low Tier City 7
Shine 2019
DreamHack Montreal 2019
and today,
Mainstage 2019 pic.twitter.com/lkKgp5izVC
Do you ever see Melee returning to EVO in the future?
Probably not. Unless the new documentary gives a giant new interest in Melee. [Metagame, the follow-up to 2013's The Smash Bros Documentary which saved Melee from near-extinction. The film is reportedly finished but is currently stalled in talks with networks like Netflix to find a distribution platform]
So with Melee out of EVO (at least for now) and prize pools for Ultimate at Smash events usually outweighing Melee, How do you feel about the game’s future?
As long as people play it, the game will live.
What are your favorite Melee tournaments throughout the year?
Smash N Splash, CEO, and usually the Smash Summits are a fun experience.
Even after 18 years, we’re still seeing players discover new things in Melee and surprise us with characters. Do you think the game can keep evolving?
Every game has its limits, but Melee never ceases to surprise us with how many secrets it has.
Wizzrobe won Smash ‘n’ Splash with Falcon, Axe won Summit with Pikachu. Which character do you think the community and players are underestimating right now?
Yoshi is probably secretly a high-tier character all along. And I think it’s only a matter of time before someone pushes Doctor Mario or Luigi to a crazy new level.
How did you decide on your main? Is there a character you wish you could play at the top level?
Puff just felt the most natural when I started using her against my friends. It would be nice to be a super consistent Fox player.
You’ve been doing a lot of commentary work recently. Is that an area you’d like to move into more for Melee or Ultimate?
For Ultimate and for the future titles for sure. In Melee I’ll always be a competitor first.
What are your long term plans - would you like to keep playing Melee for as long as possible? If not commentary, do you see a role for yourself in the community when you do decide to retire?
Playing Melee until the ship sinks, and hopefully by that point making a career in the business or content end of esports with Team Liquid or other opportunities that come from my history of being involved in the industry.
It’s an interesting time for Melee, with players like Axe and Wizzrobe finally finding themselves at the top of their game. Not long ago people were discussing if Jiggs should be banned because of how dominant you were. Do you feel like the top place being so contested right now takes some of the pressure off you, or do you want to be the clear number one for Melee again?
Whenever I start to lose it does take pressure off, but it comes right back as soon as I start to win again. I know what I have to do to win events, and I won’t change a strategy that I know works.
