Why the Flak Cannon is the greatest gun in PC gaming

[@andrewschaub4897]

I loved the flak cannon so much.

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+andrew schaub You stopped?

[@bactothefuture7518]

Its always my fave

[@lucianoblues]

My english isn't good, but I'd like to add that the smiling face on the flak's grenade is a piece of good ironic humor that I love until today :)

[@prometeu001]

Estava conversando com o Calos M. Jr. sobre o Brute, quando descobrimos que o site não existe mais. Gostaríamos de saber o que aconteceu com a comunidade. Adiciona meu Skype: prometeu001

[@PunYT]

I can agree with the Flak Cannon being the best gun I've ever gotten my hands on in an FPS. The combination of close-range and mid-range were excellent. And it didn't require so much effort to aim and fire. Given it's the UT series, You need to be really fast with things, so things like the shock rifle aren't the best of choices when you're in a fire fight in close quarters, which most of the maps were, generally. A decent spread that could still hit an enemy completely at a fairly distant range, as well as an alt-fire to clean up anyone who gets out of that range, I love this gun.

[@MrZabersuv]

thanks pc gamer for proving how unoriginal and boring modern fps guns have become and how imaginative and fun the old classics were

[@ToxicBastard]

Christ ok boomer

[@sohamacharya171]

The only games with fun weapons that were unoriginal are cs and rtcw

[@BengaIaas]

Also, the fact that the alt-fire grenade has a happy face in front is awesome... don't ask how i know that!

[@ygorschuma3059]

I think i discovered that in both ways xDDD

[@fluffypinkpandas]

This was a fictional 1999 weapon with mechanical plausibility, as well as having actual physical projectiles that have their own physics, can overpenetrate targets when they are still glowing hot, and embed into targets when cooled down to a slag ball. This shrapnel ricochets off of surfaces to encourage environmental resourcefullness and awareness of basic prediction and geometry. Primary fire pops the shell in-chamber to spray shrapnel from the source, and alt-fire chucks the shell like a mortar so it can hit the ground and not only do a basic AOE splash, but throw physics shrapnel too. Which again. Also abides by the molten vs cooled slag mechanic which dictates if this overpens or embeds. Cooler yet is that shrapnel that overpens becomes cooled by contact with player blood, but can still ricochet off of map geometry to hit a struck player a second time over. The exact moment at which the weapon is able to fire another shell is based on if its reload animation completed the process of physically chambering the shell into a forward position, where it is then locked in place. You can time your shot rhythm to this re-chamber anim for faster shots. This also has an audio cue for a shell being primed and ready to fire upon being locked into the chamber in case the player has hidden the viewmodel. The sound design is so synced and precise with the animation and cooldown of its attacks that you can always tell just what part of the animation and rechambering phase its in through sound alone, and know when that final hydraulic actuation noise is so that you can click on its completion. It really IS the best weapon in gaming history. Its not the most powerful by any means but its conceptually the most fun, thinking based, and badass. Like the biogun, and shock rifle, this makes up a core reason why Unreal's arsenal is for the thinking man, as opposed to quake being for the adrenaline fueled.

[@Henbot]

I utterly agree, the Flak Cannon was my favourite gun and brilliant. Well to me, the secondary fire was an explosive slug- which when a shotgun fires a slug. Gives it range up to 65 yards to rifle range. So this gun was perfect for CQB and distance shots. Personally, shotguns do need skill of gameplay (when you dont have slugs which need aim). Because you need to get close to people. But yup, Flak Cannon my favorite gun. Fusion Mortar was also mine in Tribes Ascend when I played ti

[@4EyeFoxbody]

Im getting the flak cannom tatted on me this week

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+fernando meneses Might want to learn to spell it first. ;)

[@NgeLuis]

Long Live UT99 !!!!

[@TheSilliestofCatgirls]

How I miss You, Unreal Tournament.

[@loculi]

My favorite weapon in this game, by far. Honestly I feel like it might even be a bit OP because using it made UT feel like easy mode.

[@God-ch8lq]

shock rifle is wayyyy better if you can hit ur combos

[@ygorschuma3059]

The Flak shell also have a *"smiley"* painted in front of it, don't ask me how i discovered it, because it was the same way i discovered that in side of the Redeemer warhead is written *"Adiós! :)"*

[@SuperDeluxe80]

this is the best gun in all FPS. flack cannon is nothing but win. i always aim the ball at the feet then instant kill.

[@KingofKings1189]

It shoots flak particles primarily, and secondary shoots a flak shell which explodes into a ton of flak particles. The Flak Shell arches quickly so the player has to calculate a parabola to hit a player. It is the most unique weapon in Unreal along with the Shock Rifle\ASMD which fires a electrical core(Secondary) that explodes if you fire at it with a Electrical beam(Primary). It is more fun to play a game when a single kill can be a serious challenge for a noobie. I started playing in 98'.

[@BlueAmpharos]

There was another game with a flak cannon or flak gun I played as a kid, I think it was on the N64 but I might be wrong. Instead of shooting an explosive that scattered into shrapnel at the point of impact, it was more like a shotgun that shot grey shrapnel that bounced off walls a bit. Which game was this?

[@TiagoMendonca8591]

"The variation of the flak pattern also adds an element of *luck* that we really like". Said no FPS player ever.

[@spartanwar1185]

I wish it would start from the center of the gun instead of just instantly being spread out That would put it closer to being an actual shotgun And it would actually be deadlier up close

[@De-M-oN]

@@spartanwar1185 It is much deadlier up close because more flak shrapnel hits.

[@ToxicBastard]

to be fair in a game as OTT and crazy as unreal you really don't want every match to feel the same, some randomness is the spice of life.

[@HaraDayaful]

I'll say it too. Since ut99 was all about LAN with friends. A bit of RNG adds fun in a non-eSports environment. Levels the playing field the tiniest amount.

[@MaccGaz]

It is a great weapon. I'm surprised you didn't mention the smiley face painted on the alt fire though! The major downside of the flak is that the primary weapon becomes very weak when you're exposed to lag. Personally, I think nothing beats the shock rifle. Primary fire for distance or quick reaction shots, secondary for close range and combine the two for the combo explosion. The combo gives such scope for creativity in kills and requires skill to use it on the move - nothing comes close!

[@cadumal]

Having played dozens and dozens of games, there are two sound effects that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life: the egon gun firing cycle (from HL) and the flak cannon equip sound. They may or may not be the best guns in their respective games, but if those sounds don't make you grow some extra chest hair nothing will. Add to that the dreaded smiley face on the flak cannon's grenade and the "oh shit" moments it creates (if you're close enough to see it, you will get rekt).

[@Soulsphere001]

The flak cannon has always been my favourite weapon in Unreal Tournament. It's one of the most versatile weapons and most of the time you're in close to medium range of your opponents. Though if someone really knows how to use the shock rifle, you're in trouble.

[@dontfearthereaper2887]

The flak cannon did not originate in Unreal Tournament though. It was fist introduced in Unreal, in 1998.

[@dolgion1]

always loved the flak cannon. it just felt right, didn't think of it as deeply as pcgamer did

[@elmurdoc]

Unreal Turnament was my favorite shooter game to play against my friends, and of course Flak Cannon was my favorite gun, also Dual Enforcer, and Pulse Gun

[@zsideswapper6718]

The Shock Rifle and its skill shot combo are even more iconic.

[@Satyr000]

I'd put the Doom pump shotgun on top of my list. The Flack is a great gun also. But, the Doom SG in my eyes the definitive fps weapon. While its not a gun technically the Wraithverge from Hexen should be on the list also. Why? Because its a staff that shoots ghosts that tear enemies apart. Its one of the most original weapons in FPS games.

[@christian9146]

Who could ever forget that animation when you reload your shotgun in doom 1? Doom 1 is pure masterpiece

[@jeerome0406]

You all should see the Drakgoon in Warframe, by the same people who made UT. Its pretty sweet.

[@unacomn]

And don't forget. The metal ball of the grenade launcher has a smiley on it.

[@Akuseiko]

Wrong. The Flak cannon comes from Unreal. Not Unreal tournament.

[@robertpetrea23]

Iran, Irak, same thing

[@RennieAsh]

The time hath come, to prove, you, are the betht. To cwush your enemies. To win, The tournament.

[@D00000T]

@@robertpetrea23 iran, irak, iraq, iraw, irau, iram, basically all the same thing

[@bzdtemp]

The 8-ball was different in Unreal. Not totally different, but different.

[@williamr1088]

@@AnubitekOfficial Only the model other than that they function the same.

[@jacekicksass]

Is there anything more satisfying in life than gibbing someone with a point blank flak shot??

[@piuspeto]

1:30 Originally it's not from Unreal Tournament (1999) but from Unreal (1998)

[@Ironfist85hu1]

Don't forget the smiley on the grenade.

[@miaouew]

Unreal Tournament is one of the best memories I have as a kid. Diablo 2 also

[@DeathStrikeVirus]

There is still a decent crowd behind both UT99 and UT2004 being played, but they are almost all modded servers. Very few regular servers left.

[@Nahpax]

They forgot to include that when someone fires the whole canister of flak at you (secondary fire) there's a smiley face on canister.

[@Dimitri2k7]

Unreal Tournament 2000 my favorite game =)

[@Ikar660]

+Ezequiel Cardozo It's from 1999 :)

[@Kekkon3n]

I've always loved the Gaussgun (or Taugun) from the original Half Life. Even it's introduction was epic :P

[@sohamacharya171]

Just dont overcharge it

[@KingofKings1189]

Unreal is built in such a way that the kills you get, are very valuable. It is much tougher to kill an opponent than it is in BF3. In BF3 your weapons are direct and easy to understand. You try and control the recoil and just aim. Unreal is basically going into a science of weapons and it takes half skill half strategy to use the weapons. And then you have to maintain the map because there is Armor and Shield modifiers that give the other player the advantage. It is the elitist of games...

[@KODINN1]

Loved the Flak Cannon, I always knew of the features when I was younger but I never respected the little features that made it, in my opinion, perfect.

[@KiLLeMMauL]

Great choice! It's been fun in all UT's except that the arc of the secondary in UT3 still bugs me after all these years.

[@danajones5358]

Only game where you could be encouraged to aim your shotgun not directly at your opponent, but near them. And the secondary fire gives a credible threat to control distance. Brilliant weapon. I agree. UT99 Forever.

[@randygray3291]

THAT is the Greatest frelling Game ever. Remember how fun it was in the 90's. Plus, I was #1. But I liked most guns. I liked the Razor's ability to cut with curve balls. the Flak with Flak balls was fun. DMArena. I made the DMOralArena, my first and only map. Never made the AnalArena. That was going to be the masterpiece. But I was a Sniper. Using techniques to bend over and hide in places no one could see you, It was FUN! And I Invented 'the Sigger Technique (or Segrin)' Screw ASDW. Dig this... "CTRL-Left and KYPD-0 are Strafe left right) Up-Down forward back (Right Arrow - Jump) Down Arrow - Bend Over!

[@RennieAsh]

Double Kill! Multi-Kill! ULTRA KILL!! M - M - M - M O N S T E R K I L L ! ! !

[@KingofKings1189]

I have a few modern games, I love them.But the talent it takes to play them will never amount to Quake and Unreal. In comparison to Unreal, BF3 & COD takes little to no effort to kill players. It does take tactical strategy, which I am well aware of. I learned a lot from games like ArmA and BF2 PR. But in a nutshell, no... I usually end up on the top in BF3 and COD. I still play Unreal 1, UT99 and Quake and there are still people that can whip my ass like chuck norris. Skill varies in Unreal.

[@billholder1330]

Flak Monkey! My favorite announcer voiceover in Unreal Tournament!! hehe

[@IndieLambda]

This is not my favorite weapon, but this one is easily in my top7, I just wonder how it works, and if it is posibble to reproduce something similar...

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+Individu λambda Top 7? Do... do you give it a 5/7?

[@IndieLambda]

don't really know, but within unreal and unreal tournament, it is my top favorite weapon.

[@jari2018]

the player has way low mousensivty to use with the flak -and you didnt mention the spread that changes if shoting up or down eg random at hipheight and ovalshape cluster down or up

[@Trazynn]

It's so weird that this game is 24 years old right now.

[@Bighomer5]

wouldn't consider it directly as a weapon but more of an utility tool (that allows for some interesting fights)

[@nikolanojic6861]

UT 2004 . Flak Cannon there is an beast!

[@Ikar660]

+Nikola Nojić NOPE. Original UT99 Flak is the best, in UT2k4 it doesn't have ammo counter!

[@nikolanojic6861]

Ikar660 It has :P I have it on my PC right now

[@ygorschuma3059]

UT99 and UT2K4 FGs are the same weapons aside from cosmetic changes, they have the same stats.

[@j7ndominica051]

This gun is easier to use than a combination of shotgun and grenade launcher. We don't need to switch guns and risk calling up another by accident. The ball of flak is also quite fast and its trajectory is therefore easy to estimate. Unreal was also somewhat ahead of its time when it made weapons with live projectiles that take time to move, including this shotgun.

[@themitch0712]

Awesome! I love Quake!

[@QwertyCaesar]

Back when games were still imaginative with their weapons. Its really sad when the most imaginative weapon you can come up with is going back five hundred years and pick up a bow.

[@corrion1]

the rail gun or fusion gun from red faction 1 were also pretty beast

[@terraincognitagaming]

Is it just me or do all PC gamer videos seem to be played with a controller (very slow, robotic) or verrrrrrrrry low sensitivity?

[@Robmeisterflex]

Yup, 100% agree you guys.

[@MrBeardedBastard]

aah the good ol' days!... fuck i'm getting old

[@windows987654321]

***** ohhh Blood, my dad used to play it when I had 5, I was scared from the civilians and hands... Those days when the sprites were so low quality that actualy made even civilians scary, while today it's so HD that it's more silly then scary... Also weapons, Napalm Launcher after the Plasma Pak :3 VooDoo Doll when he hit the Doll in the crotch :3 But I vote for the Pitchfork. Best Sadistic Weapon Ever!

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+Swagmaster Bandit Try Painkiller.

[@RunninBearPoo]

flak cannon will always have a place in my heart

[@Dorda098]

I don't know... The Zark Coweee that shoots Nali Warcows with flames out their arse is pretty fun. That are redeemer cows. With 199 shots. The speed of a Minigun. With a zoom.

[@Danlovar]

You did it. Now I am going to play UT2004

[@BrownDragonBoy]

When I first took a look on the list, the first weapons, that came to my mind were the Flak Cannon, and the ASMD Shock Rifle. I love both. :D

[@kaelthassunstrider8402]

Deck 16 with no music? This is heresy!

[@pnutz_2]

they forgot the little smiley face on the flak shells in ut04

[@turboking9238]

Man I want to use this majestic weapon so badly!! Too bad Epic got rid of all digital copies of Unreal and UT!! Wonder if a physical copy would work on modern computers.

[@zdmdesignsbranding507]

I agree with the choice. Flak cannon was amazing! Oh, the days of UTGOTY...

[@moobsmcgee3554]

Like bro I didn't even notice you talking until you clipped to counter strike. Like you could've just 3 minute vid of the flak cannon it didn't need your commentary to prove how badass it is.

[@thisismylogon]

ASMD Shock Rifle #1.

[@shahriarchowdhury7871]

Still my most favorite weapon ever!

[@Mateoski97]

The Flak Cannon is even more devastating in UT2004.

[@largelysubatomic]

Flak cannon has always been my fav. I'll put away the rocket launcher for it any day.

[@MegaPolloChicken]

Honorable mention: HL3 Gravity gun Quake 2 Flare gun Doom BFG

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+MegaPolloChicken I think you mean HL2.

[@windows987654321]

I vote for the Pitchfork from Blood. (More know as One Unit Whole Blood for today).

[@TheRealSkeletor]

+Swagmaster Bandit Try the Pinkiller.

[@AKAKraut]

What the hell happened to the HL Gauss Gun??? Sure I understand your reasoning for not allowing the gravity gun... but no Gauss Gun??? really???

[@Rofl890]

Yep this was my favorite weapon from the game

[@kevinfishburne]

Flak Cannon: Best weapon of all time.

[@WannabeGuitarLegend]

Very pleased that the Flak Cannon got top place :D

[@mjw555]

I agree whole-heartedly

[@rootpotato]

Why does UT99 always look better on everyone else's computers? . . . I have major graphic envy.

[@DeathStrikeVirus]

Couldn't agree more.

[@kimothel2443]

Elitism? Seriosly? Dude, I play games to have fun. Not to prove how skilled I am -.- It's entertainment, not a bloody simulation.

[@retrorevival1]

because there's no spraying in UT / Quake / Doom at all, right? ;)

[@pickandpicks]

loved this game, and of course loved the flak cannon, almost every grenade i fire is a hit, shame UT 3 killed everything...

[@kimothel2443]

Heard of Battlefield 3? The guns there are hard to handle.

[@Cbakezz]

I don't think that's what he was implying, he's saying that basically EVERY gun in newer FPS is bullet spraying bullshit.

[@optimus0lime]

awesome gun from mt favorite fps of all time, cannot count the hours i put into this game and the fact i own three different copies of it

[@jamesmonk28]

in CS:S there is no AWP it is an AWM as it fire's 338 magnum ammo look it up on wikipedia.

[@jamesmonk28]

***** no the AWP is a real rifle

[@jamesmonk28]

***** its real life counterpart is the AWP as the AWP is a real gun look it up on wikipedia

[@RyanBurisch]

You're wrong, its the double barrel shotgun in Doom 2.

[@RennieAsh]

The flak cannon is good, but nothing beats unloading 6 rockets into someone on a low gravity map....

[@levioptionallastname6749]

I Always felt this was the greatest gun of all time.

[@JohnDoe_69]

Why is the view to like ratio so abysmal? 800 likes to 110k views is nothing.

[@largelysubatomic]

Anyone playing any good FFA deathmatch style games? Most shooters now days are team and objective based.

[@DezDav4]

Ahh, memories...

[@wasdwazd]

This was my favorite gun in UT.

[@dadadannn]

do people still play this game on pc?

[@kingqasmoke2802]

where is the BFG 10k

[@darkblood626]

I disagree with your choice, but dam i can respect the argument behind it.

[@CssHDmonster]

it looks more like a flak cannon, this looks more like a the warsow rocketlauncher

[@StephanieLoveful]

What is this grenade launcher/shotgun weapon , a flak cannon. So the best weapon ever is a grenade launcher and shotgun combined?

[@spiderjerusalem100]

It is a great gun but my number 1 would probably be Doom 2's double barrel shotgun. It's beefier than a cow eating a cow pie.

[@ygorschuma3059]

Super Shotgun you mean?

[@greigi]

the game looks good

[@darkwolfe]

Quake 1 rocket launcher = splash damage = rocket jump