Behind the Samus-vs.-Master Chief video that spawned a timeless match-up

polygon.com:

The internet loves to argue about who would win in a fictional battle, but sometimes, the debate can even be more interesting than the battle itself. With fan-favorite duelists Samus and Master Chief, it all comes back to a specific video.

People have always loved to compare Samus Aran and the Spartan known as Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 for two simple reasons: Metal suit and gun. That’s it. They’re both beefy badasses who blast their way through a sci-fi setting, while obscuring their faces behind a metal power suit.

But this feud between Master Chief and Samus also has its basis in an iconic bit of internet history. A fan animation “Haloid,” created by Monty Oum and posted to YouTube in 2007, imagined the two in intense battle — but with a twist that made a lasting impression. As a result, Master Chief versus Samus exploded into one of the biggest, most passionately debated fictional feuds out there.

We decided to look back and dig into how they actually shape up.

The 2007 cult classic video “Haloid” had a chokehold on the internet in the early 2000s.

The video is exactly what the title suggests — a mashup of Halo and Metroid, which starts with Master Chief bashing on a group of Covenant. Half machinima, half animated, Master Chief dunks on the Covenant in far flashier fashion than we’re used to, complete with early 2000s Matrix moves. Then once the super soldier has cleared out the Covenant, Samus arrives on the scene to tackle the Spartan. In a key moment, her armor gets shredded — but she continues to dart through the air, wielding her weapon, which looks equal parts whip and lightsaber.

After several minutes of cool, well-animated combat between our heroes, the Covenant return to interrupt the couple’s