User blog comment:Lasifer/The Console Wars: Master Chief vs. Samus Aran/@comment-5795750-20130331235423

BG1's "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME FANBOYS" Edges:

Melee: The grapple beam may not be a deadly weapon but at least it can disarm the Chief from his Combat Knife. CQC is primarily used for disarming purposes but I do understand there is the odd choke hold that could be lethal if MC wishes. The Martial Arts Samus brings however could provide clever counter-action against CQC and perhaps turn the CQC techniques against MC.

Edge: Samus

Short Range: Note that I am taking these two weapons on face value (i.e. the Power Beam by itself, same with the Magnum); I will take the Arm Cannon's multi-purpose abilities into account later. The Power Beam has an advantage with range but it lacks firepower unless she can charge it up using the Charge Beam (which as far I can see is not listed above so...). The Magnum, while it does need to be reloaded and unlike the Arm Cannon can be lost, wins out here due to its greater firepower and accuracy.

EDGE: MC

Medium Range: The Wave Beam is harder to dodge since its shots fire out in the shape of a sine curve, it has a homing-missile-like system and it can go past through solid objects. Also, given the Beam's electric capabilities, that may cause MC some trouble when his SPARTAN armour overloads (then again, if the MC is low on armour power, then the Wave Beam could give him an extra charge but I digress)

EDGE: Samus

Long Range: "The most powerful beam in Samus' arsenal"... well I sorta beg to differ since while it does have a huge advantage in firepower since the Plasma Beam can be hot enough to melt through Chief's armour, it has a major disadvantage in terms of range. High calibre firepower + a long range = one very deadly weapon which means Chief's sniper rifle gets the edge here

EDGE: MC

Scattershot: The Wide Beam has a spread and range that is long and... wide, making it harder to dodge than the shotgun. Plus it has a higher rate of fire. Enough said.

EDGE: Samus

Explosives: As much as I like the M41 Rocket Launcher to get the edge here, I find that Samus's Missile Launcher has a seeking ability, making it hard to dodge, and a higher rate of fire.

EDGE: Samus

Elemental: Fighting fire with ice, interesting. Well... as far as I have read in the description for the Ice Beam, the Ice Beam is used primarily against other Metroids although it could have a damaging effect on non-Metroids too (which the picture shows). However, it lacks the range of the flamethrower. Also, if Chief fires his flamethrower first, then it could melt the Ice Beam in mid-air.

EDGE: MC

Special: The SPARTAN laser seems to be very powerful and has quite a good range but it is very heavy to carry (why else do you think the laser is more suited for vehicles to carry?) and it has a horrid rate of fire coupled with a 4 second charging time which Samus could exploit using the Nova Beam. Sure the laser has a targeting system but it isn't advanced as that on the Nova Beam.

EDGE: Samus

Vision: Both seem like one and the same thing to me since both can pick up heat signatures and movement.

EDGE: Even

Air Power-Up: The Screw Attack is very powerful since it allows for Samus to spin while she attacks but it is nothing more than a gimmick (methinks) - a very deadly gimmick but a gimmick nonetheless. MC with his Jetpack may have limited fuel but at least hey may have enough speed to dodge the attack plus he can use his weapons and the jetpack simultaneously whereas Samus can't use her beams while she is somersaulting.

EDGE: MC (but only just)

Balls: Both the Morph Ball and the Bubble Shield have major setbacks - for the Morph Ball to work, Samus has to be the ball which limits her ability to use her beams, and the Bubble Shield needs to have a generator to work. Looking at how the Bubble Shield works, though, Samus (as a 'personnel') can pass through the shield rendering it useless (as Beast also point out in his vote).

EDGE: Even (but slight lean towards Samus)

X-Factors: The numbers speak for themselves - Samus has the higher average.

EDGE: Samus

Overall: I came into this battle thinking MC would win... but upon further inspection, the more powerful weapons, tougher yet mobile armour, the versatility and multi-role capabilities of the weapons, cunning and creativity, and greater experience of Samus Aran will see her win through this - but not without a high degree of difficulty. Also, maybe if Chief saw the beauty within the armour, then he would kinda... distracted.