From the classic medieval knight to the honorable samurai, swordsmen have greatly influenced the world of gaming, and it makes perfect sense. It’s amazingly fun to play as a character that can perform skills and tricks that we ourselves could never pull of with a blade. Swords just make combat enjoyable, and watching characters use them well adds admiration for them. Because of this, we thought it would interesting to discuss our top five video game swordsmen.
Riku (Kingdom Hearts)
Yes, technically a Keyblade isn’t a sword per se, but Riku has used more than just Keyblades in the past. That’s right, before he wielded the famous Way to the Dawn, Riku was the owner of the Soul Eater. With the darkness powering his attacks, Riku used his sword to defeat some of the most powerful members of Organization XIII. Even after he departed with Soul Eater, Riku still proves his worth as a swordsman. He naturally picked up amazing Keyblade skills quickly while fighting alongside Mickey and Sora – sometimes even saving them from peril. Riku even managed to surpass Sora (who has used the Keyblade longer than him) during the Mark of Mastery exam and became a Keyblade master. It seems safe to say that Riku can use a blade well.
Zero from the Mega Man X series knows how to use his futuristic blade. While Mega Man himself was the master of the blaster, Zero showed that a more close-combat technique can still be effective. His saber can cut down even the toughest of enemies. Heck, people loved Zero’s skill with the sword so much that he manged to get his own series. Zero was the action that distinguished the X series from the original Mega Man, and fans couldn’t get enough. Who says you need to use an actual sword to be a great swordsman?
Alucard (Castlevania)
While most swordsmen in gaming use their weapons in brash and aggressive manners, Alucard tends to handle his blade in a more elegant fashion. This vampire hunter controls each sword in his armory with finesse and grace, yet still manages to take down even the most powerful monsters. It’s probably Alucard’s combat style that made Castlevania: Symphony of the Night one of the best games in the series. When it comes to mastering the art of the sword, Alucard proves that you don’t have to use brute force to effectively use a blade.
Link (The Legend of Zelda)
How could we make a list of the greatest swordsmen and not include the hero of Hyrule? While Link is a powerful hero no matter what weapon he uses from his arsenal, it can’t be argued that his skills with the Master Sword are top tier. Of course, a sword is only as good as the wielder using it, and Link is truly a master. He can take any common blade and turn it into a Moblin-slayer. With this kind of versatility, it’s no wonder that Link becomes an unstoppable force with the Master Sword. When it comes to sword-combat, few can match Link.
Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
Ah, Cloud Strife, possibly the definition of a great video game swordsman. Not only is he the most iconic sword wielder from the Final Fantasy series, but he probably was the first character to pop into your head when you saw this list. Yes, Cloud shows that he can use any blade to its fullest potential. Not only that, but he shows that he can handle more unique swords. At one point he uses a sword that turns into more swords – how do you even go about doing that?! That, plus the fact that he can lift the giant weapon that is the Buster Sword, only solidifies his place as top swordsman.
What are your favorite video game swordsmen? Let us know in the comments below! Also, be sure to follow us on all of our social media pages for all things gaming!
