As far as tools go, crowbars are among the more reliable. They can pry open crates and help someone gain entry into a blocked passage. For more violent-minded individuals, they also make convenient weapons. Game developers have picked up on that.
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The crowbar has shown up in several titles. Though often serving in melee combat, it occasionally fulfills its intended use. Such a multitude of purposes makes it an oddly iconic inclusion in the industry. How ironic that, with all the extravagant weapons in the video game realm, one of the most famous would be one that fans could buy at a hardware store. Sometimes, it’s just fun to swat people around.
7Agent 47’s Crowbar - Hitman
Their lack of subtlety doesn’t stop crowbars from showing up in stealth games. In fact,they’re a recurring toolin theHitmanseries. Agent 47 frequently finds them hidden around environments, and they aid him in influencing said environments. Not only can they unlock doors and crates, but they can also distract enemies. However, players can accomplish the former with a lockpick, which is less noisy.
That said, lockpicks can’t take down foes like a crowbar. With such an object, 47 can knock out mooks with short-range strikes or long-range throws. They can even get past those pesky frisks. For assassins barreling through to their targets, the crowbar is perfect. That’s practically what it was made for.
6Majima’s Crowbar - Yakuza
Though the combatants inYakuzaprimarily fight with their fists, they can spring for melee weapons to get a leg up. One of these is a crowbar. Players can buy it at several shops around Tokyo and Osaka. Ordinarily, it blends into the other blunt instruments these brawlers have at their disposal.
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That changes when it gets special attention inYakuza 0. Goro Majima acquires a crowbar here, but there’s a catch. To use it, he must train under the mysterious Fei Hu. He then wields it like a tonfa. Oddly enough,earning the right to use a crowbar makes it more fulfilling.
5Zipline Crowbar - Sunset Overdrive
The gray tool may not stand out amid this collage of color, butSunset Overdrivestill dedicates multiple gameplay functions to it. Once again, melee weapons serve as alternatives to shooting; the crowbar is the first of these that players acquire. Also like other games, it can open new avenues in the environment. That may sound trite, but traversal here goes beyond opening doors.
Characters can speed around the city, using crowbars to ride ziplines across the rooftops. Even if players have another melee weapon equipped, they retain the crowbar for navigation purposes. This, combined with the thrilling novelty, ensures this tool never fades from memory.
4The Saints' Crowbar - Saints Row
The titular Saints mainly make their mark with guns. Like the yakuza, though, they sometimes spice things up with melee weapons. The originalSaints Rowincludes a crowbar among the options in this area. It’s actually the top melee tool. One would think the baseball bat or nightstick would outclass it, but no. The crowbar is the king of close-range combat.
That tragically changes inSaints Row 2and the 2022 reboot. In these follow-ups, the crowbar doesn’t havethe range or damage of other instruments. That said, it’s still a reliable option for brawlers, one which longtime fans likely embrace. After all, they still remember it as a melee gem.
3Moira’s Crowbar - Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Fans doubtless remember the crowbar as Moira’s signature weapon in thisResident Eviltitle. That’s because it’s her only weapon. The doctor doesn’t carry guns due toa tragedy in her past. She prefers to avoid violence, which is why she opts for the crowbar’s intended use: prying things open. In this case, those things are doors to new areas, but the tool’s use obviously doesn’t end there.
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Moira’s metal companion comes into combat against the zombie hordes. Its long reach is ideal for keeping the creatures away, and the unique ground attack ensures they stay down. The drawback is that it can’t execute stealth attacks. That’s frustrating, but players nevertheless cling to the crowbar for dear life. As a result, it lives rent-free in their heads long after the game ends.
2Joker’s Crowbar - Arkham & Injustice
The Joker is infamous amongBatmanfans for his flamboyant gags, so it’s ironic how iconic the crowbar is in his repertoire. The Clown Prince of Crime uses this blunt tool to beat the stuffing out of Jason Todd–the second Robin–in the comics.Arkham Knighthearkens back to this dark chapter with its revisionist flashbacks. Here, the Joker tortures the obnoxious sidekick with the same crowbar (without blowing him up afterward). This isn’t the onlyDCgame where it shows up, though.
It also appears in theInjusticeseries. The Joker is a playable fighter here, with many melee combos and special moves involving the crowbar. Fans can change most of his other gear, but this weapon remains a constant. That’s a testament to how recognizable this hardware tool is within the clown’s gaggle of jokes.
1Gordon’s Crowbar - Half-Life
One can’t discuss crowbars in gaming withoutHalf-Life. It’s the first weapon that protagonist Gordon Freeman gets, andHalf-Life 2brings it back. Fans can easily see why, as it’s a solid melee option that deals decent damage relative to its hit rate. It’s not just helpful in combat, however.
The crowbar also aids innavigating this foreboding world. Players can destroy obstacles blocking the path and unlock gates. In addition, they have the tried-and-true function of opening supply boxes. These ensure they make the most of the humble hardware.
