In an era of dwindling attention spans and ever-lengthening game runtimes, the question arises: what if a gun could simply expedite the process? PC Gamer staff explored this hypothetical for games that don't typically feature firearms as standard equipment.
Baldur's Gate 3
While the Dungeons & Dragons universe isn't firearms-centric, the introduction of a modern handgun could drastically alter early game pacing. In Baldur's Gate 3, the initial 30 hours of Act 1, where characters are low-level and lack powerful magic, could be significantly shortened by a pistol's potent damage. However, writer Harvey Randall posits that Act 3 could become longer due to the potential for party members to misuse a firearm in populated areas, leading to unforeseen complications and potentially increasing overall playtime. The verdict for Baldur's Gate 3 is no hours saved, with a cautionary note about party member Astarion handling a gun.
Dark Souls 3
News writer Lincoln Carpenter believes a handgun would dramatically impact Dark Souls 3's runtime. While many bosses are large and heavily armored, potentially negating a pistol's effectiveness, humanoid bosses like the Soul of Cinder would be considerably easier. The core challenge of Dark Souls combat, which relies on spacing and precise timing, would be undermined by an effective ranged weapon. Carpenter estimates a 70% reduction in playtime, equating to roughly 70 hours saved.
Crusader Kings 2
The introduction of a modern handgun into the medieval setting of Crusader Kings 2 presents a complex scenario. The game spans from 1066 to 1453 AD, a period that saw the very early development of firearms. However, the crucial factor is whether a time-traveling handgun could be reverse-engineered and mass-produced. If successful, the course of warfare and technological development would be irrevocably altered, potentially leading to machine guns within decades. Josh Wolens, a news writer, estimates that if reverse-engineering efforts succeed, players could save 30-40 hours per playthrough, totaling around 390 hours saved across many campaigns.
Elden Ring
While Elden Ring features the cumbersome Jar Cannon, a true pistol would offer a distinct advantage. Sean Martin, a guides writer, suggests that smaller, humanoid enemies would become trivial, and even challenging bosses like Margit would be significantly easier. The open-world structure would allow players to exploit the pistol's power to access later areas sooner and defeat higher-level enemies quickly. Martin estimates that a focused run, prioritizing the pistol for power-leveling and skipping zones, could reduce Elden Ring's playtime from an average of 100 hours to a mere 30. This translates to a substantial saving of approximately 626 hours for dedicated players.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, a Gunner class exists but is not available until later in the game. Online Editor Fraser Brown points to a specific moment early on, around four hours in, where the antagonist Louis Guiabern is monologuing. This window of opportunity could allow for a swift, albeit controversial, elimination via pistol. The time saved would depend on whether the player wishes to become king following Louis's demise. Brown calculates a saving of 159 hours if the player chooses not to become king after such an act, with more hours saved if they do.
Slay the Spire 2
Editor-in-Chief Phil Savage considers the implications of a gun in a deckbuilder like Slay the Spire 2. Interpreting a gun as a replacement for the starting strike cards, dealing a substantial 20 damage for one energy, would drastically improve early-game success. While players would eventually transition to synergistic cards, the initial power spike could lead to quicker first wins. Savage estimates that this would shave off approximately 30 hours from a typical run to an Ascension 10 victory. However, he also notes the potential for the sheer power of a gun to increase overall playtime, potentially adding 50 hours if players become over-reliant on it.
On average, introducing a gun to games that lack them can indeed shorten completion times. However, this can also lead to unintended consequences, such as altering historical trajectories or encouraging reckless behavior, alongside the potential for significant time savings.