Strangelove

I always played Melee essentially as a party game, still liked it better than Brawl.

It has more random elements, even with items turned off. Supposedly character balance is way off but that's more noticeable by hardcore players I guess.

I don't see how more random elements makes it more of a party game. If anything balance makes it more of a party game. I think the only thing that doesn't make it a party game is playing with people way beyond everyone else's skill level.