10 Video Game Secrets You Didn't See Coming
4. Hand Cannon - Dead Space 2
From the 1970s onwards, the term “hand cannon” became a colloquialism for an oversized pistol or revolver. Famously spoken in 1994’s Pulp Fiction by John Travolta, the term has appeared throughout many video games over the years such as BioShock and Destiny.
2011 survival horror title Dead Space 2 took the term in a much more literal direction. After surviving the onslaught of necromorph scum and besting the campaign on hardcore mode, Isaac Clarke gains access to a foam hand with a secret. With no understood cap on range or power and infinite ammo, the Hand Cannon rips enemies apart like paper.
It should be pretty obvious why nobody saw this one coming. Not only was Dead Space as a series a very dark and oppressive horror franchise, the first game hadn’t contained any unexpected unlockables so the sequel suddenly taking this incredibly hard left turn into ridiculousness really caught fans off guard.
The Hand Cannon turns the game into a much more relaxed and not to mention comedic affair, especially considering that the usually stoic Isaac seems to be having a good time as he chants “pew pew” and “bang bang” along with each shot. It’s certainly one way to cool down after everything the game has thrown at you.