In a tribute to the most basic, yet most loved weapons in video
games, I present the top 10 video game swords. Some of them are listed
for their power, aesthetics, notoriety, or back story, but all of them
are unquestionably awesome!
Z-Saber
Mega Man X series
Closer to a light saber from Star Wars then a Conan the
Barbarian chunk of metal, the Z-Saber is one deadly sword. Normally
retracted, the blade is only visible when being swung so its pretty
stealthy and sleek looking. Like a hot knife cutting butter, robot
enemies are easily sliced in two. First introduced in Mega Man X2 when
Zero was revived, players couldn’t actually use the sword until Mega Man
X3. Then in Mega Man X4 the Z-Saber became Zero’s primary weapon and
thankfully so.
Energy Sword
Halo series
Not many swords can hold their own in a world of alien guns and
infantry weapons, but the energy sword, is one of a kind. Coupled with
an impressive lunge, this sword is capable of chopping enemies from a
fair distance. The ultra cool translucent blue blade is capable of
killing in one blow and even allows the holder to defy gravity with
target locking lunges. A controversial weapon in the game, it is loved
by some and hated by others. Personally, there is nothing more
gratifying than stalking my prey and slicing their head off.
Excalibur II
Final Fantasy
Made famous by the King Arthur tales, Excalibur has been one of the
most reoccurring swords in the Final Fantasy series, appearing in almost
all of the games. Even more powerful than Excalibur, Final Fantasy IX
introduced the Excalibur II. Hands down the strongest weapon in the
game, it was incredibly difficult to attain. The only way to acquire the
sword was to get to the final boss in under 12 hours. A very
challenging task for a game that spanned four discs.
Soul Edge
SoulCalibur series (Arcade, DC, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii, PSP)
The main antagonist in the SoulCalibur series of fighting games, the
sword was originally forged by human hands but killed its creator in the
process. At first it was just an ordinary sword, but after being bathed
in blood and hatred countless times, the sword turned into a demonic
weapon and gained a wicked soul called Inferno. Consistently referred to
as the "evil sword" throughout the series, Soul Edge has a reputation
for devouring souls. A truly wicked sword, I would hate to fight this
one!
Buster Sword
Final Fantasy VII (PS)
With the wide spread success of Final Fantasy VII, the Buster Sword
became something of an icon. Unlike its predecessors, FF VII was the
first game to always have its characters’ weapons viewable while in
battle. This gave an extra prominence to this already highly
distinguishable blade. The sword itself is a massive single edged blade,
roughly 5ft long. While not the most powerful sword on this list, it is
definitely iconic in the world of video game swords.
Sword of Mana
Mana series
"Darkness sweeps the troubled land, as Mana’s power fades… People
await a hero who will wield the sword… Excalibur, Herald, Gigas… The
blade has had many names, for it has been celebrated in myths and
legends throughout time… But all of these speak to just one weapon: The
Sword of Mana." The opening lines of an RPG classic, Secret of Mana .
While this sword was not particularly spectacular at first, after
powering it up to full strength the sword had the power to restore
balance to the world.
Dragon Sword
Ninja Gaiden
A sword with some serious history, the legendary sword of the Dragon
Lineage was crafted from the fang of a dragon thousands of years ago,
and has since been passed down form generation to generation, until it
lands in the capable hands of Ryu Hayabusa. Simple, sleek, and
absolutely deadly, the Dragon Sword takes after a traditional Japanese
samurai sword. This has got to be one of the best back stories for a
samurai sword in the video game world.
Exaccus
Fire Emblem VI (BG, DS, NES, SNES, Wii)
What do you get when a transformer and a sword have a child?
Exaccus…the huge gilded staff that transforms into a massive sword when
spun around. The sword is insanely powerful and is capable of shooting
shockwaves after a strong attack. Ill let the video do the explaining…
Gunblade
Final Fantasy VIII
One of the recurring weapons in the Final Fantasy series, the
Gunblade first appeared in Final Fantasy VIII. One of the more creative
swords out there, the Gunblade can be used either to slice ‘n dice or
shoot ‘em up. On the list here for sheer awesomeness! This sword is so
cool, people actually make real ones.
Master Sword
The Legend of Zelda series
If I list this sword I will be called a follower, and if I do not,
all the Zelda fans out there will cry. Since I do not want to be
responsible for the great flood, I will list its and take the flak. A
simple, one-handed, double-edged sword, with Tri-Force insignia, no
fuller, and a non-ornate blue pommel (thank you, Wikipedia), the master
sword is one of the simplest on this list. Basically, the Master Sword
has all that a great sword should have; history, aesthetics, powerful
abilities, notoriety, and adaptability.