It may well be over two years old at this point, but there are still three more fighters yet to be revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As you'll know if you've so much as glanced at the internet before, rumours and speculation surrounding certain potential characters are always doing the rounds, but one character that keeps popping up – perhaps out of fan desire more than anything – is Halo's Master Chief.
A few years ago, the idea of Master Chief joining a Nintendo game would have been laughed out of the conversation immediately, but with Nintendo and Microsoft's relationship getting ever stronger recently, and with Ultimate receiving a hugely diverse roster of characters from across the industry, it can no longer be written off.
Interestingly, it turns out that former Halo composer Martin O'Donnell would snap up the chance to work on music for the character should Nintendo want to work with him – Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope was drafted in to create new music for Smash Ultimate, so this definitely isn't out of the question.
Of course, we're all getting ahead of ourselves here – there's no way of knowing whether Master Chief will even be included in the game in the future – but here's what O'Donnell had to say on the matter in conversation with the Kiwi Talkz podcast:
"I'd love to be asked...
"That'd be great. I haven't been asked by Microsoft to do anything in the last decade or so, so I'd be surprised because Microsoft, of course, still owns the IP and they for some reason have not asked me to do anything so...
"But if Nintendo asked me that'd be great, I'd love to do that."
O'Donnell has previously stated that as a fan of the series, he'd also love to work on a Zelda game one day, so perhaps this could all be a match made in Heaven?
Would you like to see Master Chief in Smash? Do you think it'll happen, or do you think Nintendo will stick to its own characters going forward? Let us know in the comments below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 50
The fact they haven't contacted him yet tells me that they probably won't.
Nintendo make it happen.
Not going to happen unfortunately
@KayFiOS Never say never. Phil Spencer for the longest time kept saying how he would love Banjo Kazooie in Smash, right up to not long before it was revealed. I am not saying Master Chief is going to be in Smash, but what people say and what is happening don't always marry up.
lol, he's not going to if he is implying what the future release schedule is for smash ultimate.
Mess up peoples marketing while asking for a job? great thanks.
Personally, no thank you. We don’t have a Halo game to play on a Nintendo console, so why would he ever join Smash? Banjo Kazooie was at least on a Nintendo console in the past. Even Joker was in q2 on 3ds. This...feels like a stretch on the best of days.
Aww they should totally do it. He seems excited. I hope he gets the chance. Master Chief would be interesting.
I would much rather see the Master Chief Collection ported across to switch than having him as a character in Smash.
I have no idea why they wouldn't add Master Chief, they have had Solid Snake after all and MC is far more iconic these days. In fact MC is probably one of the all time most iconic video game characters at this point, especially when it comes to action games/shooters. It would also be nice to see a character like that, would be a nice change from all the fantasy sword fighters.
So, how’s about Microsoft brings the Halo Master Chief collection to the Switch?
I’m guessing after Master Chief became available on PS4 and Switch in Fortnite, Microsoft might be a little more open to that idea these days.
Honestly I think Doomguy/Slayer has a better chance. But I'm not holding my breath as I've come accustomed at being disappointed when they announce another "anime sword fighter" or Fire Emblem character nobody wanted...
@JayJ it probably has something to do with the fact that Master Chef has never featured on any Nintendo platform and Solid Snake has.
Maybe if we ever had a Halo game then there would be reason to put Halo characters in Smash, but as it stands. We've never had a Halo game and it's unlikely we ever will.
In fact it might even be unlikely to ever be released even on a Microsoft platform. Let alone Nintendo. I believe the next installation is in development hell.
@Jakiboy you gotta remember that a large part of the player base is Japanese. A lot of the characters that you see as generic anime sword fighters are icons, e.g. Hero, Sephiroth, etc.
Your definition of "nobody" is kinda wack, my guy
Put Halo on Switch and then we can talk. But even then I don't really enjoy the idea of him getting in regardless, although I guess it's the best bet we have for an FPS rep unless you want to count Samus. Though I don't really care about that personally. Besides we already have 2 Microsoft reps now, one for both Fighter Passes. If there's a third Fighter Pass I wouldn't be opposed to it although he still wouldn't be my choice by a long shot.
I know he has a lot of fans though so for those people I'd be happy but as for me, no thanks. Martin can make music for the game though, sure.
@TurtleTurtle
"large part of the player base is Japanese"
North American and European fans say "Hi"
And I'm sure a lot of Japanese fans are pretty sick of the lack of diversity too.
Oh hell no, I don't want a generic space marine when Nintendo staples like Toad still have never featured in a Smash game.
What’s his next piece called ‘The ballad of desperately wanting to work with Nintendo’
He wants to work with a high profile company? Who could have guessed
I would prefer Master Chief, but I would still be happy with DOOM guy.
Why would/should Master Chief appear in Smash Bros. when he hasn't appeared in any games on Nintendo platforms other than in probably DLC or whatever? I think the point of Smash is celebrate all the characters from games on Nintendo platforms, be they first party or third party. I mean, don't get me wrong. I would like to see just for the heck of it, but it doesn't seen like he really belongs there to me.
@JayJ Snake was properly on Nintendo platforms, many times, in actual full games, and even got exclusive versions of games on Nintendo platforms. Master Chief...
I'm going to keep my hopes up for this, simply because A) it would be an incredible collaboration from the character, weapons, and stage possibilities to of course that amazing Halo music (including both the monks and that O'Donnell guitar riff). B) Sakurai really seems to be making this the last, best version of Smash and has gone above and beyond to get as many characters from around the industry already, and C) Master Chief is on a short list of maybe the top two or three most iconic and well-known videogame characters not yet in the game.
I don't know what Microsoft might ask in return for such an appearance in Smash, although such a collaboration timed with, say, the new launch window of Halo Infinite, would make for an incredible cross-promotion for both games and their respective publishers. And from a gamer's perspective, it'd make for some sweet and considerate fan service by both companies.
@KayFiOS True
I would love for Master Chief John-117 to come to Smash. And I would love it even more if they got Steve Downes, his voice actor in the Halo games, to voice him.
Excuse me, I have a little hot take here.
I'd take Halo over either DOOM or Fortnite any day into Smash for western shooter representation any day, but given we're talking about music... imagine if Fortnite got in.
I just wanted to share the mental image (well, mental sound at least) of THIS remixed by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.
@Jakiboy just because you didn’t want them doesn’t mean nobody does
Remember is first Japanese and for the Japanese
Let's face it. Master Chief might just be another Mii costume for Mii Gunner. Probably a deluxe pack if Martin does get drafted for one track.
@impurekind Sepheroth was in what Nintendo game again? It's a celebration of gaming not strictly Nintendo gaming.
@Desa Never say never. At one point the idea of any Microsoft games coming to Switch was deemed not ever happening. There have been rumblings of Master Cheif Collection coming to Switch. Probably won't happen, but Cheif in Smash could be an indicator if it does happen.
@Mr-Fuggles777 Why not both?😜
@SpaceboyScreams Hey, Final Fantasy VII was once in development for Nintendo 64!
I kid--although it was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5l0A3zzEgw&ab_channel=osukaa15sangatsu
And: https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FINAL-FANTASY-VII-1438906.html
Smash Bros is generally a celebration of both Nintendo first party games and characters alongside characters that have actually appeared in other third party titles released on Nintendo's consoles at some point, hence my point that Master Chief doesn't really seem to fit there--unless we're about to see a Halo game on Switch....
Nah, pleace enough of MS characters.
There are so many first party or others that deserve a spot. Maybe for smash 6.
@SpaceboyScreams
Wasnt sephiroth one of the bosses in kingdom hearts 3DS? Never played that game, but thought i read that somewhere.
@impurekind didn’t Sakurai himself say the main rule for smash that the character had to originate from a game to be in smash? Nothing about being on a Nintendo console
I do not approve.
@The-Chosen-one Maybe but I think that's a trivial stipulation, so long as someone's made even just a slight appearance in ANY game playable on Nintendo hardware, then and only then can they be included in Smash? I think if we're considering a qualifier in this realm it would be just as important that the game(s) that actually made the character famous be on the system in some fashion, otherwise who is drawing the line? Could Kratos be included if his right arm was parodied in a third party rhythm game on the DS 15 years ago?
Just because they didn't contact him, it doesn't mean Master Chief is not coming.
i highly doubt Master Chief is ever coming. They will continue to add more Fire Emblem characters most likely.
I don't know if Master Chief came to Smash, especially when a Microsoft representative is already in Smash, although Minecraft was originally an indie game, but, well, that will already be a decision (or was already a decision) of those involved.
On the other hand, if there is already a representative of a Nintendo "Rival" in Smash, in my opinion, another "Rival" could have representation, yes, I am talking about Sony, and my proposal would be Kat from Gravity Rush, especially for her skills of battle and in my opinion, she deserves a chance for her game; but, well, I repeat, "that is not in my hands".
How does no one here have a story about being buddies with an Xbox kid in school and having months long debates about who would win in a fight between the Master Chief and Samus, culminating in the discovery of Haloid and the realisation that they're both badass mother cluckers? Do people not want to be able to play out that fight for themselves?
I would pay all of the money, so much money, to get the Chief in Smash. He's an iconic character with an insane amount of potential in a moveset. Grenades and energy swords and fuel rod cannons and the classic Halo 2 BR, whatever you like. Arrives into the match via drop pod, final smash could be blowing up a Halo ring. Stage could be that last level from Halo 3 on the Ark, to THAT music. It'd be amazing.
Would be nice to have him as a fighter. Many different weapons you can use and be better than Samus.
@SpaceboyScreams
Yeah i totally agree with you there.
@Tantani
No, if you have seen a lot of the reaction to the DLC fighters most of it is negative because of lack of diversity with countless "anime sword fighters".
"Remember is first Japanese and for the Japanese"
This is wrong too, it's always what your majority/main audience wants first. In the case of Nintendo, it is westerners. Also it's pretty racist (and weak) that people always shoot down the "anime sword fighters" argument with "They're Japanese, they all like anime, so stfu lol".
@BirdBoy16 I dunno. You tell me, since you're the person claiming as much. Find the quote and we'll see....
@impurekind I don’t know if this will convince you, but it does have some info on third party characters in smash https://sourcegaming.info/2015/10/05/sakuraithirdparty/
@SpaceboyScreams You can play FF7 on Switch. It’s been a thing for a while now
@BirdBoy16 The way I read all that would still suggest the characters have to have been on Nintendo platforms in one way or another, in an actual proper game that they would likely star in and not as say a DLC skin in Minecraft for example.
@impurekind I mean It’s true that someone like DoomSlayer orCrash might have a better chance to join smash, we have been surprised before with Steve or Joker and Nintendo and Microsoft already have a strong relationship and with Xbox live being rumored to come on switch Master Chief might have a chance, though I’m not holding my breath
I’m not against Master Chief entering Smash (not that it’s my call) but there are many other characters I’d say are more iconic. I’ve only ever played one Halo game and he didn’t stand out to me as a character at all. Maybe other games fleshed him out more? If I didn’t know what a Halo man looked like and know he was the main one, I don’t think I’d recognise him.
Conversely I’d never played a Metal Gear game when Snake was added, nor a Dragon Quest game when the Hero was added, nor a Persona game when Joker was added, and I recognised them/their series all immediately.
Purely anecdotal of course but when I think iconic shooter characters I still think of the Doomslayer, BJ from Wolfenstein or even Gordon Freeman. Halo is an iconic series of course but not Masterchief as an iconic character, not for me. But then all that said if you wanted to represent the iconic series of Halo he is the character to pick.
@Wexter @impurekind perhaps take a look at the news.
343 studios and Microsoft teased "A new place and way to play" for Halo MCC.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...