Son of a Gun

Noel Vermillion is an artificial human and the main heroine in the BlazBlue series. She’s shy, clumsy, socially awkward, and extremely self-conscious. Noel could be described as a shrinking violet, but she exhumes confidence in combat situations thanks to the large-barreled handguns she wields. These guns are collectively known as Bolverk and can pierce through space itself. They can even be used to target opponents through walls, but Noel seldom uses them as long range weapons. Instead, she incorporates “gunkata” into her fighting routine and frequently uses her guns as close-range melee weapons. Whether she’s swinging her guns like baseball bats or giving you a front row seat to her bullet ballet, Noel is basically defined by her guns. She’d be completely lost and helpless without them.

The cold-hearted Vincent Valentine was one of the most intriguing characters in Final Fantasy VII – which is why he was chosen to be the primary focus of Dirge of Cerberus. His preference of firearms over swords helped him stand out from most characters in the series and made him a perfect candidate to star in an action game. He uses rifles, machine guns, and an assortment of accessories, but his weapon of choice is a three-barreled handgun called Cerberus which fires three rounds with each pull of the trigger. Gun customization plays a big role in Dirge of Cerberus, and Vincent’s trademark handgun can be upgraded to be more powerful, weigh less, or hold more ammo. When fully upgraded, Cerberus can hold an astounding 84 rounds! Needless to say, an immortal vampire with a gun in hand is not someone you should take lightly.

In a future covered in poisonous fog, Zephyr was brought up in a seminary and protected from the harsh outside world. Sadly, he was also experimented on by those looking for a solution to the fog. The experiments were technically a success and effectively granted Zephyr immortality, but they had adverse affects on his mental state and set him off on a murderous rampage. Zephyr carries tremendous guilt for his past, but he meets supportive friends and finds employment and purpose by joining a merry band of mercenaries. His lifestyle is self-destructive at times, but this makes him a guy who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He typically arms himself with handguns or sub-machine guns, and he is able to dual wield either weapon type. Despite his dangerous line of work, Zephyr’s skills are so advanced that he finds his job to be dull and predictable.

Lara Croft is arguably gaming’s biggest sex symbol and likely the most recognizable female video game character since Ms. Pac-Man. Her physical appearance was the biggest contributing factor to her immense popularity, but I’d argue that her pistol holsters are every bit as iconic as her short shorts or her too-tight tube top. The holsters let everyone know that she means business and prove that she’s not just another pretty face. Her double handguns are just as significant as her double Ds, and the fact that she downs Buick-sized dinosaurs with a pair of pistols says a heck of a lot more about who she is as a person than her revealing clothing does. She couldn’t aim for shit, but Lara was one of the first video game characters to rock the dual handgun look and she’s still one of the industry’s definitive action girls.

Many characters from Sony’s bizarre western-themed steampunk RPG series would have been appropriate for this list, but the star of the first Wild Arms is as good a choice as any. Rudy Roughknight was orphaned as a child and found work as a farmhand. After a chance encounter with a zombie, he was able to save his village by making use of a forbidden weapon known as an “ancient relic machine” (or ARM, for short.) Rudy doesn’t necessarily have the technique or precision as most of the gunslingers on this list, but what he lacks in efficiency, he makes up for in volume. Who needs accuracy when you can create a curtain of bullets? In fairness to Rudy, he didn’t exactly have a lot of time set aside for practice. The fact that he can even operate the ancient firearms in the first place is an accomplishment in of itself.

Max Payne would be right at home in a 1990s Hong Kong action film. The John Woo influence is particularly noticeable, and the chaotic action scenes, dual wielding gunfights, and heavy use of slow motion are all trademarks of Woo’s films. The developers made no effort to hide their inspiration, and “John Woo” is even used as a password to one of the game’s underground hideouts. The gameplay in Max Payne revolves around an innovative mechanic called “Bullet Time” that basically gives Max superhuman abilities. When activated, everything around Max will appear to slow down and give him the opportunity to target his moving opponents in real time. Naturally, he’ll also be able to see enemy bullets and react accordingly. Bullet Time gives Max a distinct advantage over his enemies, and allows him to take out large groups of gunmen.

Dante was left off of the list of best swordsmen in favor of his twin brother Vergil, but he certainly deserves recognition for his gunslinging abilities. Vergil doesn’t even consider guns to be true weapons, but Dante’s skills with firearms are beyond reproach. His trademark handguns (Ebony and Ivory) are semi-automatic pistols that rapidly fire bullets instilled with his demonic power. Ebony was designed for long-distance targeting and built for comfort, while Ivory was optimized for rapid firing and quick draw situations. There’s an unmistakable elegance to the way Dante uses his guns. He can simultaneously shoot in different directions, charge his shots with magical energy, or shoot incoming bullets out of the air. His red leather duster jacket is the perfect fit for a demon hunter wanting to play homage to the wild west.

Bayonetta arms herself with swords, whips, and even her own hair, but her four hand guns (collectively known as Scarborough Fair) are an ever-present part of her ensemble. The large calibur guns help accentuate the fact that she’s a modern witch. Two of the jeweled guns (Parsley and Sage) are held in her hands, while the other two (Rosemary and Thyme) are strapped to her ankles like stilettos. The guns are known for their high rate of fire and incredible stopping power, and they can effectively hit opponents in any direction thanks to Bayonetta’s absurd flexibility. To make use of her ankle guns, Bayonetta will often lay on her back with her spread legs in the air as though she was on stage at a strip club. She clearly enjoys putting on a show, and I don’t know if there’s another character who has more fun with their guns than Bayonetta.

Anyone who uses “Revolver” as a first name has got to be considered a prime candidate for this list. In a series occupied by super soldiers and telekinetic mind-readers, Revolver Ocelot is a throwback to a simpler time. With his duster jacket and Sam Elliot moustache, he looks like he walked off the set of a Spaghetti Western. Ocelot is a renowned spy with a penchant for torture, so the fact that he’s best known for gunplay speaks volumes about how skillful he is with a firearm. Armed with a Colt .45 Single-Action Army Revolver, Ocelot is referred to as a “ricochet genius.” He doesn’t have a supernatural guns or magic bullets at his disposal, but he has a knack for using his surroundings to his advantage. Ocelot would have ended Solid Snake’s life in a duel if it wasn’t for outside interference. Billy the Kid never had to deal with cyborg ninjas.

No game does a better job of capturing the spirit of the wild west than Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption. John Marston is the kind of tragic hero you’d expect to read about in a Larry McMurtry novel. After his father was killed in a bar fight, John squandered his youth riding with a gang of outlaws who robbed and murdered their way to infamy. He eventually left his criminal past behind him, but gun fighting was a part of his identity and he continued to hone his skills in the years that followed. Red Dead Redemption uses a targeting system called “Dead Eye” which functions in a manner similar to the “Bullet Time” mechanic in Max Payne. By initiating the Dead Eye, John can effectively slow down time in order to make precise shots or hit multiple targets in quick succession. This makes him one of the fastest hands in the west.