What's the coolest weapon or powerup in any video game?

As the world's only interactive art form, the medium of that interaction, the locus of engagement, has always been central in video games. Hence we see why 'has cool guns' and its less violent cousin 'lets you do cool stuff' have always been pushed as selling points for video games, and in this bounty, we're going to settle the coolest.

Tell us what you consider to be the coolest, best, or most memorable weapons, guns, or powerups (things like Duke Nukem's jetpack or Doom's Berserk mode) in any video game. Anything that shifts your interaction with the world a few notches up the 'cool' meter is eligible. Tell us what it is and why it's so awesome/enjoyable!

Feeling inspired? Create your own weapon or powerup!

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Created at 5:06pm, 2nd August, 2024. Page last updated at 12:53am, 20th October, 2024.
Deadline at 11:00pm, 12th August, 2024.

Submissions (21)

Asim8/12/2024

Won$1

Is there anything better than a blue shell in Mario Kart? Your friend is destroying you, you're in last plast. The race is hopeless, however mario kart is one of the few games that keeps you in the game when you are losing, you can still make an impact. You shoot a blue shell from 8th place which hits your mate on the finish line and he ends up finishing 5th! No better way to get some revenge. The blue shell has been in the mario kart series for decades too!

Limal8/12/2024

Won$1

I think the coolest weapon in Cyberpunk 2077 is Skippy, the Gun.

I like the concept of the gun with 'personality'.

Check out the video to see it in action. Please note that the video contains violence and strong language - it's Cyberpunk 2077, after all!

Gaypengwing 🔜 Ren Faire Uk8/12/2024

Won$1

Jill Valentine’s rail gun at the end of Resident Evil 3, as it makes easy work of nemesis after him coming back again and again throughout the plot of the game. A seemingly unbeatable monster, wiped out in 2 shots. It’s not without complication as the batteries need fixing between but it’s such a satisfying ending to a foe. Not to mention it looks so cool and is a prop that I’m determined to make one day for my Jill cosplay.

Sturmer8/12/2024

Won$1

Rip and tear!

New 'Skull' Machinegun from the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages, which is a prequel to the 2016 Doom reboot and its 2020 sequel Eternal

Here is a video of the action.

https://packaged-media.redd.it/9p22ax2z4l5d1/pb/m2-res_570p.mp4?m=DASHPlaylist.mpd&v=1&s=2cd47ae85181f52aacba6157d1d8a62b50e9e8c2#t=0

I want an interview with a designer of that thing lol

Shovel8/12/2024

For me it has to be all the cool power ups in Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc. Basically in the game, you can wear different outfits for a small period of time and they give you different power ups.

My favourite was the green one, it would give you a sort of tornado punch, it’s the first one you discover in the game and you can use it to defeat enemies and bring floating toadstools lower to make it accessible to jump on.