The handgun, also known as the sidearm or pistol, is a semi-automatic firearm used in survival horror, third-person, and first-person shooter video games.
I love the handgun, and much like how the sword is my main weapon in role-playing games, the handgun is my go-to weapon of choice in many shooters — especially games like Dead Space and Resident Evil.
I love the handgun because its versatility; it’s a good all-arounder type weapon that can be beneficial in just about any combat range. I’m decent at using it from a distance, as well as up-close and personal in the Uncharted series. Since it’s semi-automatic, I’m able to fire it rapidly and pull off many headshots in that game.
Clicking heads is as easy as finding treasure.
Much like how medieval knights wore their swords on their hips as their trusty weapon, many characters have their loyal sidearm always by their side — ready to draw for a quick duel at any time.
When it comes to survival horror games, that’s where I love the handgun the most. In a game all about resource management and ammunition limitations, the handgun is almost always in-luck to have ammo hidden in a barrel or stuffed in a locker. Bullets for the sidearm are almost always guaranteed, making it a viable option to carry with you in the inventory.
I love doing challenge runs in games using mainly the pistol, paired with the Magnum or Shotgun (for an extra edge on attack power).
Regardless of if I’m challenging myself in a game or not, I will usually always carry the handgun anyway.
You could say it’s become my signature weapon in shooters, just as it is Leon’s!
For a lot of characters, the handgun is used in promotional material. A lot of the characters I assume the role of being soul-bound to are displayed with their trusty sidearm. A lot of my favorite characters are shown to use the pistol.
It couldn’t make me any happier!
In some rare instances, the handgun is the most overpowered, versatile, and useful tool to use in the game. In Dead Space for PlayStation 3 for example, Isaac Clarke uses his “plasma cutter” (the game’s handgun) to shoot off the limbs of any necromorphs that have the misfortune of attacking him. It’s the best gun in the game, and even has a trophy for beating the game using it.
For this reason, the plasma cutter has become one of my favorite guns in gaming history, and a major inspiration behind this blog.
While the sidearm is a great tool to have in your inventory, it won’t always be the best and most necessary gun to use in-game. I’ve often found myself without ammo, or without enough power to finish off bosses.
I remember a scenario in Resident Evil 4, specifically, where I tried to “main” the handgun and ended up running out of bullets during the Salazar fight. I contribute this as the main reason why I never finished re4.
I haven’t gone back to the game in many years, but I would love to redeem myself eventually…
The handgun pairs well with other weapons, like the shotgun (as a get off me tool), the Magnum for super damage, or the grenade-launcher/RPG to... you know…finish bosses off. ;)
You should know when it’s safe to use the pistol, and when it’s necessary to switch off. It can be used as a primary gun for challenges, but proper planning is needed. You don’t want to be caught in the open in PUBG or Apex Legends with just a pistol, for example. While it’s fun to use in multiplayer games like Halo, Call of Duty, or even the first round in Valorant, I much prefer a fun challenge play-through in offline story-driven games. I plan to do a handgun/shotgun run in Far Cry 3 at some point!
If the sword is my primary weapon for JRPG, then I’d love for the handgun to become my main in other games. It’s a tough weapon to use all the time, but even I often off-hand magic or a shield (or another sword) in fantasy games like Dragon Quest and The Elder Scrolls, just for that extra edge.
If “Vohris” became synonymous with the handgun, much like a samurai with his katana, I’d be okay with this, because I’d be just like Leon, Jill, Ethan, Chris, Isaac Clarke, Nathan Drake, and hell — even Dante dual-wields Ebony and Ivory!
All-in-All, the handgun is probably my most favorite weapon to use in games involving guns. They may not be the absolute best when it comes to range or damage, but they’re decent all-around versatile guns to keep in your inventory for the entirety of most games.
I love the handgun because it’s unique, versatile, good at almost any range, always has plenty of ammo around, is a fun gun to use on challenge play-throughs, and is used by a majority of my all-time favorite characters in video game history.
What’s your favorite gun to use in video games?
