Summary
Survival horror games are all about grit, determination, and resourcefulness. Making it through with limited items against the odds is a gratifying experience, but it isn’t done without somesatisfying weapons that pack a punch. Even some of the less powerful weapons in these games can be the most satisfying, as they tend to convey a visceral sense of combat and an engaging feeling of significance upon use.
Survival horror game developers haveproduced some epic weaponsover the years that do just that, and some have become iconic for their rewarding nature and efficiency against all manner of evil.
Dead Space’s Plasma Cutter is one ofgaming’s most iconic weapons, delivering devastating energy blasts that satisfyingly pop Necromorph limbs off with ease. Debuting in 2008, the high-energy precision mineral cutter became an instant favorite, not only because it’s the first weapon that gamers pick up but also thanks to its unique rotation mechanic.
The Plasma Cutter shoots three projectiles in a line, and players can choose whether they fire horizontally or vertically. This adds a layer of depth to the weapon, as gamers will need to recognize when they should be changing the rotation, which often depends on whether they’re aiming for arms, legs, or enemies on walls and ceilings.
While it may not be the most impressive or effective weapon in theResident Evilfranchise, it’s extremely satisfying when the Combat Knife saves one’s life before imminent death, or when the player uses it to finish off a kill and save some precious ammo.
Once the player upgrades its durability and damage, it becomes an extremely strong sub-weapon that can execute multiple enemies before needing to be repaired. A popular technique among skilledREplayers is to drop the infected with a few leg shots and then use the knife to finish them off. This saves ammo, but it’s the audio and animation that makes the knife all the more satisfying, as players slash through the undead with violent metallic-sounding swipes. There are various knives in theResident Evilgames, but the Combat Knife fromResident Evil 2is easily the most iconic.
The Callisto Protocolhas one of themost unique combat systems in gaming, as players must dodge and attack in a rhythm-like fashion using the analog stick and melee button. To complement the distinct gameplay, players will find the Stun Baton fairly early on in their playthrough, and boy, does it feel good to smack enemies with.
The Stun Baton has a great sense of weight to it that makes melee combat feel hard-hitting and significant. After some upgrades, it becomes even more deadly, and if players can combine it with some of the environmental opportunities, they’ll be batting enemies into spikes and lethal industrial fans for easy kills.
TheSilent Hill 2 Remakecompletely modernized the combat from the beloved 2001 original, bringing it more in tune with the over-the-shoulder gameplay seen in theResident Evilremakes. While the Steel Pipe has a satisfying edge with every swing, there’s nothing quite likeblasting tough enemies with the Shotgunto kill them surprisingly fast.
Some ofthe gruesome and terrifying enemiesin the classic survival horror remake take a lot of damage to defeat. This can waste ammo and make things more difficult. However, The Shotgun is by far the most effective weapon inSilent Hill 2, as one shot to the legs will sweep enemies off their feet and leave them wide open for an easy stomp and finish, serving as an incredibly fulfilling combo.
Everything changes for the player once they get their hands on the Flame Thrower inAlien: Isolation.With just a couple of short bursts, the Xenomorph scutters away, allowing Amanda to get on with the objective. Fire is a great defense against the Xenomorphs in the iconicAlienfranchise, so getting to wield a Flame Thrower doesn’t just feel significant for fans of the movies, but it’s also extremely effective, making it one of themost satisfying weapons in the survival horror genre.
The Xenomorph is such a thorn in the player’s backside for the majority of the game, mainly thanks to itsclever AI that learns the player’s tendencies. So, getting a weapon that effectively repels the alien every time feels gratifying and significantly helps progress, as players will no longer need to sneak around the Sevastapol in fear.
