VK-12 Shotgun - F.E.A.R.
Ahh FEAR. It was hard not to fall in love with Monolith’s ludicrously acronymed shoot ‘n’ spook FPS. While it’s most fondly remembered for the leg sweeps, action slides and karate kicks you could pull off on the many squads of military goons, the weapons on offer were an equally strong showing, and none provided more pleasure than the VK-12 Shotgun. Combined with slow motion, dismemberment, and John Woo-inspired action, the VK-12 was an absolute masterclass of design.
Unleashing this beast in a packed office block would send sparks, computers, chairs and yes, even your enemies flying — if they weren’t simply reduced to a fine, red mist. Taking down most grunts in a single shot, the VK-12 sent soldiers spiralling backwards, firing their gun wildly into the air. Slow motion action may have been done before in the Max Payne series, but FEAR was the first title to truly perfect it in the FPS format, and the VK-12 was the perfect showcase for it.
Riot Gun - Resident Evil 4
A turning point that marked a shift to action-centric gameplay which lasted right up until last year’s excellent Resident Evil 7, Resi 4 also happened to be one of the best games the franchise had ever seen. The countless graphic ways in which protagonist Leon could be killed shocked us at the time, but fortunately the shotguns on offer gave us the chance to return the damage in spectacular style.
It’s tough to pick a favourite from the three on offer, and while the Striker may boast the best stats, the mid-tier Riot Gun arrived at the perfect time to help us blitz through Resi 4’s best chapter: The Castle. Aside from turning zombie (sorry, Las Plagas infected human) heads into mist, the Riot Gun was ideally suited for obliterating dogs, bugs and those pesky shields the castle’s inhabitants were fond of hefting around.
M90 CAWS - Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo might be best known for its Battle Rifles and Energy Swords, but there’s a special place in our heart for the homely M90 shotgun. It’s far from the best weapon on offer in the game, but the chunky *thunk* of the pump action reload is extremely gratifying. Bungie did a great job of sustaining the feel of each weapon between subsequent titles, but the M90 really comes to life in Combat Evolved’s closing stages, after you release the Flood. The Zombie-like horde is perfectly countered by Halo’s basic shotgun, and it transforms what can otherwise be a quite frustrating combat section into a real blast. With just how effective other weapons proved in online multiplayer (Halo: CE’s pistol is a prime culprit), the M90 was often overlooked, but we feel it comfortably earns its place on this list.
