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!

 

Mega Man X series (SNES, PS, PS2GBA)

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.

  

Halo series (XBox, X360, PC)

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.

 

 

Final Fantasy IX (PS)

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.

 

 

 

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!

 

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.

 

 

Mana series (GB, SNES, PS, GBA, DS, PS2)

"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.

 

Ninja Gaiden (NES, SNES, PS, XBOX, PS2, PS3)

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.

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…

Final Fantasy VIII (PS)

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.

 

 The Legend of Zelda series (SNES, N64, GC, Wii)

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.