Super Smash Bros. Melee added additional alternate costume options to characters by using the X and Y buttons to cycle through the available list instead of using four C buttons to pick a specific color; this removes the limit as to how many are selectable, so there are no longer any costumes exclusive to Team Battles or computer opponents. As a result, many characters now have five different color schemes, with some having as many as six, though some still only have four.
In Team Melee, if members of the same team use the same character, the second player would have a lighter tint applied to their character. A third player uses a darker tint. If a fourth player is forcibly added to a team with the Name Entry glitch, then the fourth character will be completely black; the game's data suggests that a fifth player, if possible, would be completely grey. A sixth player and afterword, would crash the game.
Seems to be primarily based on Bowser's 2P colors in Mario Golf. Also resembles a Spiny or red Koopa Troopa. Red Koopas are the second most common type of Koopa Troopa. On the character select screen, he has red eyes, but in-game, his eyes are blue.
Blue
B
Comes from Bowser's international artwork for Super Mario Bros. Also resembles Iggy Koopa's early in-game sprites.
Based on his colors in the Japanese commercial for F-Zero X.
Red
R
Based to his rival, Blood Falcon's, outfit, even altering the logo on his back to say "Blood Hawk". However, the falcon logo on the helmet is retained (Blood Falcon sports a skull logo on his helmet).
White
An infamous palette swap that is often called "Captain Fabulous" by fans. Seems to be based on the colors of Jody Summer's outfit, aside from the helmet.
Green
G
Based on the colors of Pico's outfit.
Blue
B
Based on the original, lighter colors of Captain Falcon in F-Zero.
Based on his appearance from Donkey Kong Country and the Nintendo 64 era.
Black
Resembles Donkey Kong's coloration from Donkey Kong '94 and Donkey Kong Land. It also resembles one of the colors in the "Monkey Smash" mode in Donkey Kong 64.
Red
R
Possibly based on his sprite in the original Donkey Kong.
Blue
B
Similar to the second player coloration in Mario Golf.
As can be seen in the image, the Ice Climbers' orange and red costumes will place Nana in the lead, making Popo follow.
Blue
B
Green
G
Orange
Red
R
The only costume in Team Battle that has Nana in the lead. Despite the color on the Character Selection Screen, the costume for Nana has a more maroon tone in-game.
This color swap is Keeby, who was Kirby's companion in games that featured co-op mode. It also resembles Beam and Needle Kirby, but without the hat, and an alternative palette for Kirby in the multiplayer for Kirby 64. Developer Shigeru Miyamoto also reportedly believed Kirby should be yellow in his debut game, while Masahiro Sakurai believed he should be pink.
Blue
B
The same as when he is Ice Kirby, but without the hat. It was also an alternative palette for Kirby in the multiplayer for Kirby 64.
Red
R
The same as when he is Fire Kirby, but without the hat.
Green
G
An alternative palette for Kirby in the multiplayer for Kirby 64.
White
A reference to his monochrome appearance from the original Kirby's Dream Land for Game Boy. It is also similar to the colors of Kirby's depiction on the North American box cover of Kirby's Dream Land.
A reference to Luigi's appearance in Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros., with tan gloves instead of white in order to simulate Luigi's "bare-handed" look in these games. Also, the colors to his cap, shirt, and overalls reference his Fire Luigi form. His skin is tan in-game.
Blue
B
Resembles the artwork for Mario on the cover for the NES version of Mario Bros.
Pink
R
Comes from the game Wrecking Crew, where Luigi wears pink.
Based on Wario, the same as his previous yellow costume. However, the "M" on his cap and his buttons are now colored blue and white respectively, making him more closely resemble Wario. Additionally, Mario's hat gains a white accent on its edge.
Black
A reference to Foreman Spike from Wrecking Crew '98.
Blue
B
A reversal of his traditional colors. This is seen as a partial reference to Mario's varying appearances in games prior to Nintendo's officially establishment of Mario's outfit of consisting of a red shirt, blue overalls and red hat. In various earlier games, Mario occasionally also appeared with sometimes a blue hat, red shirt with blue overalls or a red hat, blue shirt with red overalls. However, this particular combination of a blue hat, blue shirt, with red overalls was never used in any Mario game as of the release of all games in the "Smash Bros." series, but it does resemble the appearance of the Balloon Fighter and it also resembles Mario's outfit from the DIC cartoons.
Green
G
A color inverse of his traditional colors. Resembles Mario's appearance on Japanese and European box arts for Wrecking Crew. Also appears as part of the flashing animation from a Starman in Super Mario Bros. The color of his overalls are now more brown than orange, updated from the original game.
The black and yellow stripes resemble the uniform of the Hanshin Tigers, a Japanese baseball team with a large following. The shirt also bears a very similar color scheme to the Gigantic Ant enemy from EarthBound.
Blue
B
Is based on Ness's younger self that he encounters briefly in EarthBound, who was wearing a blue hat.
This costume resembles Daisy's appearance on the Nintendo 64; extra details like Daisy's flower jewelry are included to resemble Daisy.
White
Represents how she appeared in her first appearance in Super Mario Bros, without the red hair and red trim. She also uniquely wears stockings with this costume.
Blue
B
Based on an alternate color from Mario Golf (N64).
Green
G
Based on an alternate color from Mario Golf (N64).
This, like the other palette swaps, gives Pichu a boy scout's ascot in the corresponding color, similar to the "Camper" (formerly "Jr. Trainer") and "Picnicker" classes of trainers from the Pokémon series. This also gives Pichu a ribbon on it's left ear.
Blue
B
Gives Pichu goggles similar to the "Swimmer" class of the Pokémon series. Despite Pichu not returning for Brawl, Pikachu's blue costume in that game is based on these same goggles.
Has Pikachu wearing the hat of Red, the protagonist of the original Pokémon installment. The fur color also resembles that of Pikachu's shiny coloration in the Pokémon games.
All of Yoshi's costumes appear as different variations of the Yoshi species in many of his games, such as Yoshi's Story, Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island.
Green
G
Based on the Green Yoshi from Super Mario World and the Nintendo 64 era.
Red
R
Similar to the fire-breathing Yoshi in Super Mario World.
Blue
B
Similar to the flying Yoshi in Super Mario World.
Yellow
Similar to the stomping Yoshi in Super Mario World.
Pink
Similar to the Pink Yoshi from Yoshi's Story.
Cyan
Similar to the Light-Blue Yoshi from Yoshi's Story.