LogFAQs > #895686768

i don't even know if people remember that Melee was considered "dead/dying" for a time or at least in a "Dark Age". it was just that Brawl was viewed as so awful by a large portion of the competitive community that they continued playing/went back to Melee. they literally called one tournament series "Revival of Melee"

there are still smaller dedicated communities today who still play older games, hosting gatherings, smaller tournaments and whatnot. Super Turbo and 3S are the more notable ones afaik.

Melee is a notable case in that its resurgence wasn't only old players coming back but a sizable group of younger, new players joining the competitive community.