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[Captain Toad]

There has been a few characters speculated to be joining Smash Ultimate for a while. Sora was a big one, for sure, and he was announced today as the final character. Another was Goku, but that made sense to me because, despite Dragon Ball games, he is most known as being a character from outside of gaming, which breaks the spirit of Smash.

The other has been Master Chief. We've already seen characters from Microsoft first-party studios make the roster - Steve from Minecraft and Banjo. Joker was added when, at the time, was only from a PlayStation exclusive game (we've since gotten the spin-off Persona 5 game on Switch).

So who do you think is responsible for Master Chief not being selected? Clearly not the fans, as they've clamored for him. If you believe Phil Spencer (which I do), Microsoft was more than willing to allow the character be in the game.

So, that would leave only Nintendo. Why do you think they'd block him, but not Steve or Banjo? Do they see his inclusion as free advertising for Xbox in general, as Master Chief is basically the mascot for the entire platform, much like Mario? Or what other reasons do you think there may be?

 

[ShirAhava]

 

[Captain Toad]

Smash is a worldwide hit. But, now that you mention it, I can't think of many characters in it that aren't from Japanese games.

 

[Missingnomer]

Smash is a worldwide hit.

That was footage of Sakurai when he was a child. So, that would answer your question.

 

[ViolentP]

There has been a few characters speculated...

Here is where you lost me. Have you questioned the sources of said speculation? Here's a hint: 99% of the internet is talking out their asses.

 

[StateofMajora]

Too busy putting in minecraft blockface in.

I kinda hope to not see smash next gen tbh… It’s become the video game equivalent of an exclusive nightclub.

 

[bender]

All hope isn't lost for the Spartans, there is always Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.

 

[skit_data]

It’s become the video game equivalent of an exclusive nightclub.

Getting smashed, your % goes up until you get thrown out. Pretty good analogy actually.

 

[kyliethicc]

Knack got robbed too

 

[AV]

You Trolling Toad? What was the last game with Master Chief in it that you played on a Nintendo platform?

 

[Banjo64]

I don’t think gun characters translate well, Snake included. You could argue Doom guy also in terms of relevancy, but I simply think they prefer more unique characters like Minecraft Steve, PAC-MAN and Banjo or typical close quarters fighters like Link and Mario. They make Smash what it is.

 

[SantaC]

I am over smash brothers. Anyone else? It was fun in the past though. Melee will always be remembered.

 

[Joelenheimer]

Knack got robbed too

Knack didn't get robbed, no Play Station IP had a chance of getting in. Nintendo and Sony ain't got the best relationship. Kind of Nintendo's fault really. Fucking Yamauchi.

 

[Hawke502]

Knack didn't get robbed, no Play Station IP had a chance of getting in. Nintendo and Sony ain't got the best relationship. Kind of Nintendo's fault really. Fucking Yamauchi.

If anything, an IP as relevant as Knack certainly could have made their way into smash, Knack is much bigger than Sony, they wouldn't be able to stop it, that is the power of the Knack

 

[Captain Toad]

Here is where you lost me. Have you questioned the sources of said speculation? Here's a hint: 99% of the internet is talking out their asses.

I meant that as more "characters fans have been asking for". Obviously, we now know which guesses were right and which were wrong.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Could be anything, we'll never really know. Could've just been their preference across the board. It's why they have so many Fire Emblem characters that literally no one asked for.

Folks were clamoring for DOOM Slayer for what felt like forever, and he never came. Well until he kind of got announced as a Mii Gunner.

Smash Ultimate was a great game, but I was honestly disappointed with a lot of the DLC characters. I mean, there were SO many cool opportunities that were completely avoided.

I still think it's absolutely hilarious that Waluigi continues to get robbed.

 

[Sean Mirrsen]

What do you mean "why"? Since when was Halo a game on Nintendo consoles?

 

[zeorhymer]

 

[Neff]

Nintendo won't allow characters in Smash which exclusively promote rival platforms, and Halo is MS' golden goose, they're not letting it on Switch.

 

[Captain Toad]

What do you mean "why"? Since when was Halo a game on Nintendo consoles?

Persona 5 isn't on Switch. Later, we got Strikers. There's characters like Sonic, Solid Snake, Pac-Man, etc.

I'm hardly the first person to bring the idea up. It's been talked about for years. Phil Spencer has talked personally about wanting Master Chief in Smash Bros.

 

[kyliethicc]

If anything, an IP as relevant as Knack certainly could have made their way into smash, Knack is much bigger than Sony, they wouldn't be able to stop it, that is the power of the Knack

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

Joker was also in the 3DS game Persona Q2 earlier. There must be some sony deal to never port Persona 5 for a long time.

Aww that's too bad about dudebro chief. Think of this as Microsoft's opportunity to make its own party brawler using its many beloved characters (snicker)

Tbh I don't like the character and I'm glad he's not in smash. I don't much care for Sora either though so whomp whomp

 

[Woopah]

It would have been really cool if he made it, I don't think we'll ever know why he didn't though.

 

[Cutty Flam]

Nintendo probably considered it at some point said fuck it and waved the entire thing off

Why would Nintendo associate themselves with Halo and 343 Industries when 343i has proven they have the potential to fuck up a major release in the worst ways possible? It’s a gamble. Microsoft would gain but Nintendo would be associated with a questionable company that might not even have their own game up and running smoothly on launch day with Halo: Infinite. Overall it’s just a bad look for Nintendo

Master Chief is definitely the better choice. I imagine he’d be like a more fun version of Snake to play as with more power, slightly less speed and agility

Kingdom Hearts and Disney is more targeted towards kids as well, that probably greatly influenced the final decision for final fighter on the Fighters Pass as well

 

[Sean Mirrsen]

Persona 5 isn't on Switch. Later, we got Strikers. There's characters like Sonic, Solid Snake, Pac-Man, etc.

I'm hardly the first person to bring the idea up. It's been talked about for years. Phil Spencer has talked personally about wanting Master Chief in Smash Bros.

Snake, although not necessarily "Solid Snake", was in Metal Gear back on the NES. Sonic The Hedgehog had multiple games released on the GBA. Even if the exact character or the exact source game wasn't on Nintendo consoles, as in the case of Snake and Joker, there were variants of them. Same with Sora, by the way - even if KH games weren't announced immediately after the presentation, Sora was already on Nintendo consoles, in several GBA and DS/3DS games.

For Master Chief, there isn't the faintest trace of precedence. There was only one unbendable rule for Smash character selection, in that it must be a character from a game that was on a Nintendo console. Snake fits that description, barely. Joker, Sonic, Sora, all fit that description. But Master Chief, no matter how much I would've liked him to be in the game, does not.

 

[PhaseJump]

Meh.

Use Doomguy.

 

[michaelius]

The Halo games aren't on any Nintendo platforms so why would he be ? There's Minecraft guy in smash because Minecraft is on Switch.

 

[kunonabi]

Master chief just isn't that big a deal. Hell, up until a couple years ago I thought Master chief was the black guy with the mustache.

 

[CuNi]

I don't think MC would have made a lot of sense in Smash. While there are Weapons etc. in Smash, they are more "comic" in contrary to the more realistic look in Halo. Think of Metroid, which has a T rating in contrast to Halo that has a M rating. It just wouldn't fit.

 

[yurinka]

-It's a game from the direct competition never released on a Nintendo platform
-It's artstyle maybe isn't cartoonish/kid friendly enough, maybe it's too serious/realistic/'violent'
-Maybe it isn't that relevant anymore, specially for fighting games fans or for Nintendo fans

Knack got robbed too

Knack, the 3D kiddy action platformer that outsold Mario in Japan. t should appear in the gaming history books or something xDDD

 

[GametimeUK]

I've wanted Master Chief vs Samus ever since that fan made Haloid video back in the day. That shit slapped.

 

[Rentahamster]

Because there's a lot more options that make sense than MC.

 

[packy34]

There's like a total of 2 western-designed characters in the entire roster. If you thought Master Chief, Doom Guy or Crash really had a chance... I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

[Kilau]

Snake, although not necessarily "Solid Snake", was in Metal Gear back on the NES. Sonic The Hedgehog had multiple games released on the GBA. Even if the exact character or the exact source game wasn't on Nintendo consoles, as in the case of Snake and Joker, there were variants of them. Same with Sora, by the way - even if KH games weren't announced immediately after the presentation, Sora was already on Nintendo consoles, in several GBA and DS/3DS games.

For Master Chief, there isn't the faintest trace of precedence. There was only one unbendable rule for Smash character selection, in that it must be a character from a game that was on a Nintendo console. Snake fits that description, barely. Joker, Sonic, Sora, all fit that description. But Master Chief, no matter how much I would've liked him to be in the game, does not.

Twin Snakes on GameCube makes the case for Solid Snake.

 

[kunonabi]

There's like a total of 2 western-designed characters in the entire roster. If you thought Master Chief, Doom Guy or Crash really had a chance... I'm not sure what to tell you.

Especially with Lara Croft and a Mortal Kombat rep being far more deserving of a spot.

 

[Captain Toad]

Because there's a lot more options that make sense than MC.

Like Terry Bogart?

 

[Rentahamster]

Like Terry Bogart?

Yup. I'd put him in before MC. Better match.

 

[Maestr0]

Craig ?

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Be thankful MS was gracious enough to put Banjo in Smash.

 

[Fbh]

Smash mostly focuses on Japanese franchise and only uses character that have at least some relation to their console.
Why would you expect the final character to be a western character that has never appeared on a Nintendo console?

MS already gave them the Minecraft dude and Banjo which were much better choices than MC

 

[onnextflix5]

Dose anyone in the dev team even know who master chief is?

 

[RoadHazard]

Banjo was originally a Nintendo character, and Minecraft is popular with the kids (and is on Switch). Master Chef is THE Xbox mascot. Why would Nintendo put that in their Nintendo mascot (& friends) fighting game? They might as well throw Thick Neck Guy from Gears in there. Xbox, and their whole image, is like the furthest thing from Nintendo in the world.

 

[RoboFu]

MC was never on a Nintendo platform.

 

[IntentionalPun]

It was probably that bitch Cortana.

 

[Danjin44]

Same reason Kratos is not in Smash.

 

[mcjmetroid]

Am it just comes down to 3 things:

1: Rivals mascot
2: another character with guns
3: not known in Japan

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Because we already had Arbiter in Killer Instinct -




Because we already had Nicole (Spartan 458) in Dead or Alive 4 -




Why give up a leading IP character?

Also unpopular opinion inbound...Smash sucks.

 

[CamHostage]

For Master Chief, there isn't the faintest trace of precedence.

There almost was the faintest of faint traces...

 

[Bragr]

Nintendo is Japanese and has always favored franchises and characters that are big and important in Japan. Plus, Nintendo loves family-friendly characters.

 

[Captain Toad]

Nintendo is Japanese and has always favored franchises and characters that are big and important in Japan. Plus, Nintendo loves family-friendly characters.

Have you seen the games that have been on Switch? That argument doesn't seem to hold the same weight it used to. I'd argue Switch has more non-family-friendly games than PlayStation or Xbox.