Bloodborne is out this week (read our glowing review), and one of the game's coolest features is its deadly arsenal of transforming melee weapons. A scimitar combines with a staff to create a wicked scythe, the Saw Cleaver is essentially a gigantic folding knife, and the list goes on. From Software's inventive Trick Weapons inspired us to look back at the best transforming weapons in video games, from phallic firearms to sci-fi augmentations.
Note: For this list we avoided entries like alternate fire modes, upgrades or attachments, vehicles, and robots. Sorry, Mega Man.
10. Omni-tool - Mass Effect
This orange, glowing device doesn't look like a big threat
at first glance. The holographic computer allows the engineers and soldiers of
the future to access and modify their armor and weapons with its weightless,
virtual interface. But thanks to sci-fi magic, the omni-tool can also turn into
an arm-mounted blade. It's like a fancy space wristwatch that's perfect for
wiping out groups of cybernetic zombies.
9. Laptop Gun - Perfect Dark
We've all been there. You're in the heat of battle gunning
down bad guys with your trusty assault rifle and you suddenly need to check
your email or something. Well, Joanna Dark's Laptop Gun from Perfect Dark
doesn't let you do that. However, the gun can be quickly turned into a turret.
You can toss the Laptop Gun turret onto walls, use it to guard your back while
sniping with the Farsight, and more. It may be confusingly named, but that
doesn't make it any less useful in a heated gunfight.
8. Morph Gun - Jak 2
Naughty Dog struck a decidedly different tone with this
darker, more mature sequel to Jak & Daxter. A big part of the grittier mood
is the fact that Jak starts taking out bad guys with powerful guns rather that cartoony,
Crash Bandicoot-style twirls. The Morph Gun is Jak's Swiss Army Knife of an
energy weapon. This eco-infused gun is a shotgun-like energy concussion, a
long-ranged blaster rifle, and laser Gatling gun all in one. You can eventually
unlock the power to blast a huge electricity sphere, which zaps deadly volts
into nearby enemies.
7. Kirkhammer - Bloodborne
One of the newest doodads on our list is also one of our
favorites. Players begin with some awesome Trick Weapons in Bloodborne, like a
one-handed axe that can extend into a two-handed halberd at the press of a
button, or a stylish cane that morphs into a bad-ass chain whip. The Kirkhammer
takes the bloody cake, though. In its lighter form, the Kirkhammer is an agile-yet-deadly
sword, dealing awesome damage while still letting hunters wield a gun in their
offhand. The true awesomeness kicks in when the hunter jams the sword into a
massive back-mounted gravestone, which quickly transforms the two objects into
a hefty hammer for big damage. (As a bonus, Kirkhammer almost sounds like
Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist of Metallica)
6. Switch Axe - Monster Hunter
Capcom's Monster Hunter series is chock full of weapon
variety, but not all of them transform like the Switch Axe. The Charge Blade is
a cool new addition in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - sword and shield that morphs
into a powerful, slow axe - but let's explain why we prefer the Switch Axe. The
default setting is a huge axe that deals decently quick damage. All the while,
players build up a meter that allows the axe to...switch...into a giant sword to
deal even more damage. This powerful transformation even allows hunters to jam
the sword into monsters as it glows and deals extra damage.
Up next: Some suggestive weaponry and a truly incredible piece of luggage...