8. Mark 2 Lancer – Gears of War
If you are a fan of explosive action movies, you owe it to yourself to dive into the Gears of War franchise. Each game is a seamless series of big budget set pieces with gun fights, explosions, and wild, uncanny destruction that would impress Michael Bay himself. So what do you give your badass soldiers in a universe like that? assault rifles with god damn chainsaw bayonets. While explained in the narrative as being a necessity to cut down the Locust and their thick hide, the truth to the guns design is more simple than that: its super badass. The Lancer is easily one of the most recognizable guns in gaming and every time it falls into your hands you feel like a badass by default.
7. Masamune – Final Fantasy VII
While some argue the Buster Sword is the most iconic weapon of FF7, Cloud will frequently change his weapon through the game. Sephiroth, however, the most iconic villain of gaming, sticks with his incredibly large Masamune through-out. This special katana is slick, slender, and wildly powerful. Its simple design reinforces the focus that it does not have to be wildly flashy or do some crazy trick – it does exactly what it was designed to do and it is wielded expertly by one of the more complex and terrifying villains of the 90s. It is a symbol that strikes fear in those who know what it represents.
In a series built around two iconic and opposing weapons, it better rank fairly high on this list! While Soul Calibur is the only weapon that can truly stand against the might of its counterpart, it is Soul Edge which is truly iconic. This living weapon corrupts the minds of those who wield it, twisting itself to whatever weapon they choose and granting immense power in the name of devastation and chaos. Often depicted as a fleshy mass with a large eye, Soul Edge held its corruption over Siegfried for so long that when he finally rid himself of its curse, the weapon enchanted his armor and became the entity, Nightmare. Even those with the most noble intentions for its power will be corrupted and twisted into abominations of their former selves, with the battle between Soul Edge and Soul Calibur to rage on forever.
We all know the terror of this unstoppable, rampaging weapon of sheer annihilation screaming towards us. Who thought the Mario Kart series would have something so rage-inducing? The Blue Shell has been obliterating friendships for quite some time but nothing has been quite so brutal as its current iteration in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Homing with deadly accuracy for the player in first, the Blue Shell flies through all obstacles only to slam the hammer of god down from above with an explosive shockwave. What’s worse, if you were in first when the shell was fired and are then passed it will STILL hit you! While it CAN be stopped with the special horn item, it doesn’t appear nearly often enough to make for a fair fight.
4. Blades of Chaos – God of War
In the original iteration of God of War, Kratos is defined by his Blades of Chaos, the hellish swords bound to his flesh through magical chains as a gift from Ares. These swords were the defining experience of the game, adding a new layer to the hack and slash genre with huge sweeping attacks and brutal grappling abilities, paired with expertly used quick-time events. As the series has progressed, Kratos’ arsenal has expanded extensively and in the latest God of War game he only reluctantly retrieves his blades, preferring to use the new Leviathan Axe. While the Demi-God of Rage has been through a lot and used many weapons, the Blades of Chaos are still the defining mainstay of the franchise.
There are many iconic weapons in Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64, but going into multiplayer with the most powerful handgun in the game was a test of your mettle, skill, and prowess with the three-pronged controller. The Golden Gun may not have fired quickly or carried many bullets in the chamber, but this devastating pistol was a guaranteed one-hit kill. Goldeneye’s multiplayer is already a thing of legend which helped define the first-person shooter genre, but it was the Golden Gun which made it the true test of skill in battle. Anyone who grew up with this title will have potent memories of this weapon, for better or worse.Â
2. Hidden Blade – Assassin’s Creed
If we are talking about a game using a weapon as a key feature, the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise revolves around the phenomenal hidden blade. From the early games in the series where it was used for the most stealthy of kills, to later iterations where you would run and leap off roof tops and land with your blade plunged in the back of their necks, it has always been a crucial part of the series. Only since the latest game, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, have they ditched the hidden blade in favor of the broken spear of King Leonidas. The hidden blade is more than just a weapon, it is a central part of the Assassins and their story. When you hear the name ‘Assassin’s Creed’ it’s hard not to picture some sort of immaculately timed stealth kill with this simple yet deadly weapon that has persevered through the ages.
1. The Master Sword – The Legend of Zelda
Could it have been anything else? The blade of evils bane, the one that vanquishes the darkness, the symbol of power and hope, wielded by the chosen one who would protect the realm. The Master Sword is the most iconic weapon in gaming today. The blades unique but simple design is instantly recognizable whether as a pin, keychain, knick knack, or whatever other form it takes. Despite not being the ultimate goal of the series (that honor of course falling to the Triforce) the Master Sword is nonetheless a product of hard work and determination to give the Hero of Time an appropriate weapon to help save the world. It is a symbol of good, kindness, and strength. Before you started reading this article you probably already had a feeling the Master Sword would be at the top of this list because it is without a doubt the most iconic weapon in gaming.
And that is our list. Are there any entries we missed? Do you feel these should have been in a different order? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, or the Comments section below.
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