This is fourth installment in our self-proclaimed "delightful countdown" to Super Smash Bros. Brawl's release on midnight, March 9th, 2008. In many ways, it's much like the fourth Planet of the Apes film. It's up to you to figure out what that means. The first one to do so gets a pair of Wii fingerless gloves. 

Our focus today will be on the varies glitches and hacks found in the Smash Bros. series. They are ranked based on three criteria: ease to perform, level of game-affecting properties, and general awesomeness. The top video displays glitch ranked number five, the infinite damage trick from the original Super Smash Bros.. 

Man, the tree's reaction in that vid is priceless.  

Hit the jump for a peek at glitches ranked four through one, but read at your own risk if you fear Brawl spoilers. 

Glitch Ranked Number Four: Hacked Brawl disk provides total insanity. 

This one ranks so low on the list because it can't be done without hacking the Brawl disk, while the rest of these entries can be performed by and Joe Shmoe without any 733T HAXXORS skills. However, awesomeness wins out over consistency in this case, as this entry is just too great to ignore. Click here and here for parts two and three of this exhibition of madness.

Bonus points also go to this entry for boding well on Nintendo's capacity to add alternate skins to pre-existing Brawl characters via Pay and Play (see #3 on yesterday's list). 

Glitch Ranked Number Three: Falco's infinite laser

This is clearly a glitch that Brawl's programmers missed in the testing phase, and it is sure to get Falco banned from many future Brawl tournaments. There is talk that skilled players can Ukemi out of this trap, but from where I'm standing, this is still a potentially game-breaking glitch.

Glitch Ranked Number Two: Giga-Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff gains no extra attack power or other advantages from this glitch. All this trick really does is take J-Piddy's size-expanding final smash and freezes it when he/she/it is at maximum girth.  Regardless, a screen-filling Giga-Jigglypuff is a site to behold, disgustingly cute and terrifyingly weird all at the same time. 

Glitch Ranked Number One: Melee's "Black Hole"

This is by far my favorite glitch/exploit in the Super Smash Bros. series, and perhaps one of the greatest glitches of all time. What other glitch lets you actually create an in-game phenomenon capable of destroying anything it touches? This is one you have to try for yourself in order to recognize its majesty, preferably with two people in on what you are up to, and a fourth oblivious party to play the role of victim. I haven't seen or heard of this tried in Brawl yet, so it may be something that you'll be able to do with friends online. Just one of the many exploits to exlore once Brawl drops on midnight, March 9th.

So, did I miss any? Know one that tops any of the above entries? Show me who's boss by posting your favorite Smash Bros. glitch here in the comments.

Other entries in this series-

Five Days to Smash Bros. Brawl: Top Five Unfulfilled Brawl pipe dreams 

Six Days to Smash Bros. Brawl: Top Five Smash Bros. alternatives

Seven Days to Smash Bros. Brawl: Hands on coverage of the WPI Brawl tournament