10 Hidden Video Game Characters You Weren’t Supposed To See

9. Master Hand - Super Smash Brothers Melee

Super Smash Bros Melee Master Hand
Nintendo

This one is bit of a misnomer. You are supposed to see Master Hand in Super Smash Brothers Melee, but only in the circumstances the game has specifically built for him. That is to say, Master Hand is one of the potential end bosses for the game’s Adventure Mode. A climatic face-off between your selected Nintendo mascot and some sort of omnipotent glove. Master Hand is designed only to be fought at Final Destination, the game’s most straightforward stage that Smash Bros tournament players the world over have a delirious obsession with.

For a long time, the possibility of playing as Master Hand was discussed and shot down and it took years for the truth to be fully revealed. With some controller trickery and pokery, it is possible to glitch Master Hand into the, uh, hands of players.

Never intended to be playable, Master Hand cannot be moved by the analogue stick but inputs on the controller can make the character perform actions to get him around whatever stage players see fit. And it’s not just the standard Melee mode either, Master Hand is playable in several other game types such as the Event Matches and the Home Run Contest.

Although the character will always spawn with an over the top introduction animation so you’d be lucky to get little more than a slap in against the very fortunate sandbag before the timer runs out.

 
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Coming from a content creation background that now spans over two decades, Psy cut her teeth on personal video production and community radio. Originally joining the team as a writer and presenter, she added video editing duties to her responsibilities over time and became the longest-standing editor of the irreverent gaming show Tues Your Own Adventure. Psy has worked on many previews and reviews, long-form editorials (either her own, or supporting as an editor), as a frequent quizmaster and more. Praised for the two-pronged attack of her hard work ethic and light-hearted editing style, Psy is otherwise known as a font of retro video game knowledge which has caused her to rack up many quiz wins. Outside of WhatCulture, Psy runs First Aid Spray Podcast - a long-running channel that focuses on Resident Evil in all of it's forms. You can follow her on BlueSky at http://psywhite.bsky.social and Instagram at http://instagram.com/therealpsywhite