Halo DS? Apparently, it's a possibility.

Recently, IGN Wii Editor Matt Casamassina posted a blog entry that got everyone buzzing. In it, he talked about an early version of Halo that was in the works for the Nintendo DS. Far-fetched? Read on!

Once upon a time, a very smart publisher came up with a brilliant idea. It
contacted Microsoft and got the ball rolling on a very unlikely project: Halo
for Nintendo DS. Needless to say, there were many egos involved and
unfortunately because of some issues that I won't detail, the project was
eventually cancelled. But not before it was completely up and running and fully
playable. I know all his because I recently learned of the back-story and got a
chance to play a leaked build of Halo on DS for myself.

Above: a terrible mock-up of Halo on DS; the real thing actually doesn't
look much different.

Amazingly, the ill-fated DS version of the title plays remarkably well.
Think Metroid Prime Hunters but with a Halo facelift. I had the opportunity to
run through the beginning beach area and noted while playing that it looked like
Xbox Halo except on DS, it was running fast, and the control was responsive. The
trademark Halo music even played out of the tiny speakers of Nintendo's
handheld. It is really, truly a damned shame that certain publishers couldn't
make this happen because it would have undoubtedly been a huge hit and would
have only furthered the popularity of DS and the Halo franchise.

Now that DS is enjoying a clear lead over PSP and the Halo franchise is
bigger than ever, I'd like to see this game-that-could-have-been actually come
to exist on the retail market. It's too good of an idea and the execution is too
impressive to let it collect dust in the forgotten cabinet of a publisher's
vaporware library.

Would you buy Halo on DS?

Yes, Matt. Yes I would. And I know there are thousands...err...millions of people who would buy into that to. It makes sense from all circles. Nintendo could use a killer app like Halo to sell the DS to millions of gamers who may consider the DS to be subpar to the PSP (These are people who haven't actually played both systems. The DS is clearly superior.). Not only that, it'd be nothing but money for Microsoft. Sure, putting a Halo game on the Wii would lose them some money, but on a handheld they'd rake in the dough. Microsoft has already stated on numerous occasions that they are not working on a handheld console. And why would they? After seeing the graphically, functionally, superior PSP fall to the DS, why risk millions of dollars in an unconquerable market?

Simply put, Halo on the Nintendo DS would be good for Nintendo and good for Microsoft. Who knows what the deal is though? Microsoft has already allowed Age of Empires and MechAssault games on the DS, so Halo just seems right. Portable Halo multiplayer over Nintendo WiFi Connect? Yes, please.

Of course, the nerds have already started an online petition in an attempt to get Microsoft's attention. But come on, name one of those things that have ever worked. Until a miracle happens, looks like us DS owners are stuck with great games like New Super Mario Bros. and Elite Beat Agents. I think I can manage.