For me, it's the ones where there are few places for an opponent to fly off (or out, in this case) of the stage. I also hate the ones with spikes all over the place; they're nothing but a nuisance. The stages that have objects randomly floating around are annoying, too. Too many people make mistakes like this when building stages, which are 99.9-% of the time rated badly, but no one is learning from their mistakes. Does anyone have anything to add to this?

All of them.

I don't blame you, since so many of them are terrible. But what about a hacked one, like that awesome Saffron City hack here on AiB?

Staged where people can be gimped easily.

Yeah, I like practical functional stages. The large stage format is usually too big for any stage, though I don't mind using it once in a while, especially for 4 player matches. Small or medium stages are usually ideal, fun, and are not a nuisance. Simple, with a few platforms is good, and I like the moving platforms and rotating platforms.

I dislike extremely simple stages. For example, the first time i accepted spectator in wifi options the stage i received was called "meteor mash" and it was so small you could barely do anything. I enjoy making large, creative stages. Some may say that's not the best way to do it and platforming area is important, but i make sure there is at least some area to brawl on, and if not, go to the regular stages, custom stages is where your creativity is supposed to unleash, and best of all, brawl on your creativity.

the kind with one way in and one way out.

stage-with-no-ledge-o-tether-recovers.


stages-apply-ideas-o-custom-stages-such-as-ps1-and-sv.

1s with 2 many spikes and not enough platform

After reading all of this , I can safely assume you guy all love going to FD >_>

I HATE SIMPLE STAGES.

Small, boring, and cramped. I love to toy with my enemies, and make them chase me down. >=D FD is too small for me. I get caught in all of the fighting, and I'm always the first one blasted out. >>.>>

The ones where you have to tech way too much. (Boxy stages)

I don't like the types of stages that you can easily survive over 200%. Characters should be able to die around 100-150%, in my opinion.

Well that in the first post, of course, but also ones designed without play and balance in mind. :0 If it's too hard to move around and fight regularly, I don't really consider it to be a good stage. :/ ...unless it's designed that way intentionally for whatever reason, I guess.

...but that probably encompasses everything that you said anyway.

Don't. :0 Sometimes there's beauty in simplicity.

It wouldn't be worth a mention if it weren't so popular on all the upload sites. Or garnering positive response.

The stages designed to form a recognizable image, say, a Pokeball. I can only assume these stages are common because some smashers actually enjoy the novelty of maneuvering through a a pokeball-shaped floating stone structure. Essentially, if it makes more sense as ASCII art then a playable stage, then the most logical answer is to try your hand at ASCII. Use the stage builder for its intended purpose.

I don't see anything inherently wrong with making a stage resemble an object or character.  I'm not saying I'd ever want to brawl on it, but who doesn't want a piece of eye candy?  It's cool to see just how far you can push the stage builder and it's terrible limits.

The stage builder's intended purpose is too... build stages.  How fun they are is up to an individual.  You can go for the fine balance of a tourney stage, something a little more hectic, or create matches of insane proportions (for those odd people who like going to 600% and bouncing around, although I don't see the appeal in that).  If the stage you build in the stage builder is better to look at than play, that's fine.  Don't play it, just appreciate it. 

Obvoiusly, custom stages aren't even tourney legal, no matter how balanced they are.  So they're for recreational purposes.  If I want to make a picture out of a stage, Sakurai isn't gonna break into my Wii and stop me.  He'll be glad I'm exploring a facet of the stage builder that others won't touch.  To exhaust every possibility... that's the purpose of the Stage Builder I use.

tl;dr?
Different strokes for different folks.