How do you think the gunblade functions anyway?

[Wiegrahf42]

It shoots a bullet and stabs, that much is obvious, I'm just wondering about the mechanics behind the thing. Lets take Squall's revolver. During one shot in the intro, you see it lying in it's case with some bullets next to it. The things look like a pretty high caliber. Since it's a revolver I assume it is loaded manually. Now single-action or double-action (single meaning the hammer must be cocked each time, while double action is basically semi-automatic)? The main thing that confuses me is that their doesn't actually seem to be a barrel on the thing. It wouldn't have to be long since the thing is meant to be fired at point-blank range, and accuracy wouldn't be an issue either. Just curious about your theories.

[Skyblade]

In the pictures of the gunblade that appear in the intro and such, you can see the barrel. It sticks out to the side, and is much shorter than a standard gun barrel. Not much reason to worry about accuracy, after all. It's fired from point blank range, and sends a bullet into the wound made by the sword. Pretty nifty concept, really.

[nik0tine]

The barrel, to me, looks like it is substituted with the actual blade. That, in theory, would actually give the gun MORE power, because it has a much much longer barrel than most guns.

[seiyuimore]

Squall ever shoot his gun? I thought he only do the slashing things.

[Skyblade]

Shooting the gunblade is what the whole "press R1 as you attack" thing is about, remember?

[seiyuimore]

Yes, I remember that. Pressing r1 but the max hit I could get is 3 hit.

Oh so you mean slashing while shooting?

[Skyblade]

Precisely. You cut them with the sword part, and fire the gunblade mid slash. This sends a bullet into the wound made by the sword, giving you both the large area damage from the slash, and the deep wound (possibly going all the way through the enemy) from the bullet. Like I said, it's a pretty nifty idea.

[Sir Bahamut]

According to the FF8 Ultimania, the gunblade doesn't fire bullets at all. Pulling the trigger releases energy which causes the blade to vibrate, which is supposed to cause extra damage.

Well, that's what I've been told anyway.

[rubah]

Which would be why squall *always* has bullets in his gunblade case.

He doesn't need them:D

but there's a place for them incase he decides to learn how to sharpshoot. or something.

</bs>

[Del Murder]

According to the FF8 Ultimania, the gunblade doesn't fire bullets at all. Pulling the trigger releases energy which causes the blade to vibrate, which is supposed to cause extra damage.

Well, that's what I've been told anyway.
This seems like the best bet to me.

[rubah]

But it has holes for bullets.

As well as a revolving chamber for them X.x;;

[Del Murder]

Maybe it shoots an 'energy bullet' into the blade.

[rubah]

They look like real solid bullets to me.

[Del Murder]

Yep, one solid chunk of energy.

[Itsunari 2000]

That's just assuming Squall carries his gunblade in a sheath ... but can you imagine him lugging it around in that gigantic case ?
That thing looks pretty heavy ... can you imagine having to carry that thing around with you all the while youwere trying to save the world from an evil military dictatorship, hundreds of vicious monsters and all-powerful, megalomaniac sorceress ????

Phew ... Being Squall Leonhart sounds like a hard job :)

[Big D]

According to the FF8 Ultimania, the gunblade doesn't fire bullets at all. Pulling the trigger releases energy which causes the blade to vibrate, which is supposed to cause extra damage.

Well, that's what I've been told anyway.That theory has been rubbished, many times. The bullets in Squall's case have solid metal tips. A 'vibrating blade' would just be harder to handle, and would be very crude and imprecise. It'd be a real waste of materials, making a sword with an empty chamber that fires blanks. Building that kind of mechanism into the blade would weaken it, which is something you don't do to a sword unless it's absolutely necessary for some reason. Besides, imagine what would happen if you swung and fired a weapon like that: you're bringing the blade toward your enemy, but then you fire and the weapon recoils in your hands. You'd have to exert extra effort just to make the weapon strike your enemy.

The barrel of Squall's gunblade actually emerges in that 'notch' at the front of the blade. You just see it when his blade is standing point-down in the sand.

Seifer's Hyperion proves beyond doubt that gunblades fire bullets. His weapon has a short barrel, to the right of the blade. It's rather like a semi-automatic pistol with a blade stuck to it. He fires during the opening FMV, but fortunately he retains his senses enough to avoid shooting Squall through the head. When Seifer takes Deling hostage, he holds the weapon against his throat... but with the blade edge pointing away from Deling. The gun mechanism, however, is pointing right at Deling's head. If it didn't fire bullets, there'd be no real threat except powder burns.

The whole point of gunblades is that you can slash and shoot the enemy at the same time. Double damage, getting by virtually any form of armour.That's just assuming Squall carries his gunblade in a sheath ... but can you imagine him lugging it around in that gigantic case ?I think it just hangs from his belt. That'd explain why he's actually got three belts... the two loose belts support the gunblade's weight.

[rubah]

or the belts are friggin' HOT:D

except not. but it's fun to say they are.

I never really thought about it, but it would explain them easily enough.

[Squall of SeeD]

I'm just going to quote myself from many past Threads on other Forums for this matter:


As we can see when looking at Squall's Revolver Gunblade, or Seifer's Hyperion, neither have exit holes for bullets and, thus, are shown to certainly have no indication of being used for projectile means:

(Note: In the FMV screenshot, the indentation near the end of Squall's Revolver Gunblade is simply a curve and not a hole; further, it's not even on the front of the blade; assuming it were an exit hole, the blade couldn't be straight, thus making for an illogical and impractical design; however, as we can see in any of the images of the Gunblade, the cyclinder and firing chambers line-up with the blade, in which case the blade must be straight.

Squall Link 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade4.jpg).

Squall Link 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Revolver.jpg).

Squall Link 3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallActionFigure.jpg).

Squall Link 4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallStatue2.jpg).


Seifer Link 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Seifer-1.jpg).

Seifer Link 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Hyperion6.jpg).

Seifer Link 3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Hyperion7.jpg).

Seifer Link 4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Hyperion8.jpg).

Further, none of Squall's other Gunblades have openings or hollow areas on their blades with the exceptions of the Twin Lance and the Punishment Gunblades (note, however, that these hollow areas begin a short distance from the firing chambers of the two Gunblades; were it the case that they fired bullets, while possible that they could traverse the distance between the two blades and exit before the top blade could pass low enough to interfere with their trajectory, the fact that the barrel would be so very short would produce inaccuracies in the aiming and firing; further, if the weapon were swung somewhat to the left or right, due to the area between the upper and lower blades being hollow, the bullets would go entirely off-target if the target were in the path the blade was following in the arc motions in which the Gunblade users swing them, thus, again, making for an illogical and impractical design):

Shear Trigger (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/ShearTrigger.jpg).

Cutting Trigger (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/CuttingTrigger.jpg).

Flame Saber (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/FlameSaber.jpg).

Twin Lance (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/TwinLance.jpg).

Punishment (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Punishment.jpg).

Lionheart (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Lionheart.jpg).


Further still, when watching the opening FMV of the game, we see Seifer pull the trigger of his Gunblade as he is bringing it down to slash Squall's face and a gunshot can be heard at that moment:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeiferPullingTheTriggerOnHisGunblade.jpg

Were it the case that projectiles were fired by these weapons, Squall would have been killed.

Something else worthy of note is that if one loses during the game and receives the Game Over screen, it shows Squall's Gunblade broken in half. The blade is solid. There's no barrel running through the blade:Linkage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/FinalFantasyVIII--GameOverScreen2.jpg).

Something else to consider is that when using Scan on Squall, the following information is given:


Uses a sword called a gunblade. Special skill is Renzokuken, using the gunblade. Silent, and a bit cold.
(Bolded for emphasis.)

The game itself refers to the weapon as a sword.

Something else to consider is that Seifer's Hyperion is more thin than Squall's Revolver, and likely lighter, allowing him to hold the weapon straight out with one arm, as he often does:

Linkage 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Seifer-1.jpg).

Linkage 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Hyperion6.jpg).

Linkage 3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Seifer.jpg).

Linkage 4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Seifer2.jpg).

Being that this weapon can be held out straight with one arm, Seifer would easily be capable of aiming and firing with the weapon were it capable of emitting projectiles, yet he never does so. Further, being that Squall's weapons are all larger, bulkier, and likely a good deal heavier, they would be more difficult to aim and fire with. If one of these weapons were designed in a manner that would allow it to be easily used for projectile purposes -- as Seifer's would be -- then it would be illogical for the others to not be so. If these weapons had the capacity to emit projectiles, then all of them would be designed in such a manner as to allow one to use them to such effect. To design weapons that can fire projectiles, but not design them in such a manner as to allow one to easily employ use of them in that regard -- and design only one out of eight of them in a manner in which it could -- would not only be impractical, but extremely illogical. It would be akin to giving someone some Game Boy games, but no system to play them on.

Something else to note is that Irvine was sent with Squall's party to assassinate Edea because he was a sniper. If Squall's weapon had projectile capabilities, it's safe to assume that he would have been trained in the use of guns and Irvine wouldn't have been needed. While still arguable that Squall wouldn't have been necessarily trained as a sharpshooter, in light of all the other information against the possibility of the Gunblades having a projectile capacity, Irvine's presence being required certainly doesn't support the notion in any way.

Being that the weapons are never once used for projeticle means, have no exit points for bullets to leave a barrel from, are actually called swords within the game itself, are only used like swords, and with no one ever indicating that the weapons could be used for any means other than as a sword, clearly, they are simply swords with no projectile capacity whatsoever.

Seeing as how I've argued against this possibility, I imagine it's expected that I at least offer an explanation for what I think the purpose of the gun aspect of the weapons are. I personally can only determine that the intended purpose behind the gun mechanics of the weapons was that the bullets were shells that would explode (note the small explosions seen when pulling the trigger of the Gunblades), adding more force in the direction in which the weapon was being swung.

However, this would still be illogical taking into account that there's no opening from the firing chambers into the blade, meaning there would be nowhere for the force to escape to, containing it all within the firing chamber and not adding force in the direction of the swing at all. However, again, I'm saying that was likely the intended purpose.



In the pictures of the gunblade that appear in the intro and such, you can see the barrel. It sticks out to the side, and is much shorter than a standard gun barrel.

But there's not a barrel sticking off of the side of the weapon: Linkage to a close-up of the side (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade.jpg). Even if there were, as it would be sticking off the side, it wouldn't be lined up with the cylinder and firing chamber anyway.

Here's a couple of other pictuers to drive the point home:
Linkage 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallVersusSeifer2.jpg).
Linkage 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallVersusSeifer3.jpg).


Anyway, yeah... there's no projectile capacity for these weapons. No one in the game ever so much as suggests it as a possibility. The burden of proof lies far more on the side of illustrating how it would be so.

[Big D]

Look at this picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade4.jpg) again. In the notch, you can see what could well be an open end of a barrel. The revolver can't fire bullets directly at the side of the blade, because the bullet at the top of the wheel is the one that actually gets fired. Top of the wheel = top of the barrel, in the revolver's case.
Further still, when watching the opening FMV of the game, we see Seifer pull the trigger of his Gunblade as he is bringing it down to slash Squall's face and a gunshot can be heard at that moment... Were it the case that projectiles were fired by these weapons, Squall would have been killed.Except that Seifer fires far too early. This much is obvious just from looking at the FMV and remembering where Squall is crouching. My point about the 'Deling hostage' scene reinforces that gunblades must indeed fire bullets. They would be manifestly stupid and utterly pointless otherwise. Besides, as has been said before, Squall's bullets have solid tips. If you fired one of those in a blade with no barrel, they'd fragment very violently, probably shattering the blade or making a real mess of the chamber.

Somewhere in the game - in a tutorial screen, I think - we're told that gunblades combine the damaging power of a gun with the accuracy of a sword, or vice versa.
Anyway, yeah... there's no projectile capacity for this weapons. No one in the game ever so much as suggests it as a possibility. The burden of proof lies far more on the side of illustrating how it would be so.Way to ignore all the evidence to the contrary... plus, I'm a fourth-year law student. I know plenty about 'burden of proof'.

[DocFrance]

It's a weapon in a fantasy game. It doesn't have to function, it just has to look good. Does anybody ever ask how the Death Star can destroy planets?

[Doomgaze]

Yeah, but the Death Star makes SENSE. It's a giant particle beam weapon. Gunblades are just patently ridiculous.

[Squall of SeeD]

Look at this picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade4.jpg) again. In the notch, you can see what could well be an open end of a barrel. The revolver can't fire bullets directly at the side of the blade, because the bullet at the top of the wheel is the one that actually gets fired. Top of the wheel = top of the barrel, in the revolver's case.

Right. And that notch is on the side of the blade, not the front. If that were the exit point of a barrel, again, the blade wouldn't be straight.



Except that Seifer fires far too early. This much is obvious just from looking at the FMV and remembering where Squall is crouching.

If he wasn't shooting at anything, that requires the question of "Why did he pull the trigger to begin with?" If the intention was that the shots would add more force in the direction of a swing, there would at least be a logical reason behind having done it.

In any event, the timeframe between just before the time that Seifer pulls the trigger and after the blade has already cut Squall is .40 of a single second. This can be determined by taking the video frame by frame with Windows Movie Maker. I somehow doubt that Seifer was able to determine the trajectory a bullet would or would not take in four-tenths of a second when he was passing the firing iron right in front of someone's face.



My point about the 'Deling hostage' scene reinforces that gunblades must indeed fire bullets. They would be manifestly stupid and utterly pointless otherwise.

Unless, again, Nomura's intention was that they 1) look cool, and 2) provide a means for adding more force to the direction of a swing. Would actual physics allow the second of these things? No. But based on the fact that no one ever uses the weapons for projectile purposes, and that there's no exit holes on them, there's few -- if any -- other possible intentions for the function.

By the way, the action figures come with Gunblades. The Gunblades don't have exit holes. This is the case even with the 1/6 scale (12 inch tall) figures.

Also, concerning your point about Deling being held as a hostage, I'll address that now:


His weapon has a short barrel, to the right of the blade.

Provide screenshot proof of this. That isn't the case, as can be seen in these screenshots:

Linkage 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion.jpg).
Linkage 2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion2.jpg).
Linkage 3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion3.jpg).
Linkage 4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion4.jpg).
Linkage 5 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion5.jpg).
Linkage 6 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion6.jpg).
Linkage 7 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion7.jpg).
Linkage 8 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion8.jpg).

I've provided pictures of both the right and left sides of the weapon with these screenshots, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh pictures especially show that the right side has no such barrel. If you're confusing the shell casing that's seen flying out of the right side of the gun as being indicative of a barrel being there, then it should be noted that the gun area of Seifer's Gunblade is designed las guns that use clips are. Such guns have the shell casings fly out of the side when they're spent. At this point, any screenshot proof of such a barrel being present would have to contradict the imperical evidence of the screenshots already offered.

Anyway, that barrel's not on the toy, either, on either side:
Right side (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeiferActionFiguresHyperion.jpg).
Left side (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeiferActionFiguresHyperion2.jpg).

While you may argue that the small figure would lack such a detail, I argue that if they bothered to add a detail that wasn't present in the game with the Omega Weapon toy (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/OmegaWeaponActionFigure2.jpg) (legs for the humanoid part so that it can be detached from the steed and stand on its own) they're not going to leave out one that was in the game if it truly was.

While I don't own the 1/6 scale Seifer figure, I have seen the thing in-person and it doesn't have a barrel where you claim there to be one, either.



When Seifer takes Deling hostage, he holds the weapon against his throat... but with the blade edge pointing away from Deling. The gun mechanism, however, is pointing right at Deling's head. If it didn't fire bullets, there'd be no real threat except powder burns.

The entire Gunblade aside from the handle was in front of the guy: Linkage (http://photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/?action=view&current=TheSorceressComes.jpg).

Also, you're not considering what little Seifer would have needed to do if Deling tried to break way from him with Seifer pointing the blade away from Deling's neck. In that position, he would only have to bring it across or down in a slash to wound or kill Deling if he broke away somehow and tried to get away.

As for holding the blade toward Deling's neck, that would have been easier to break away from, as Seifer would have needed to be holding Deling like this: Linkage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/UncomfortableArmPosition.jpg).

Form that position with your arm and place it in front of yourself at about the level of your collar bone (where Seifer would have had to do it) and tell me that it's still comfortable, 'cause it sure as hell isn't. It's not only very painful on the wrist -- especially if you were holding a weapon weighing twenty pounds or more in your hand -- but it allows for very little control.

However, form this position (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/MoreComfortableArmPosition.jpg) with your arm in front of you at about collar level (the way Seifer had his arm) and notice that it's not only not painful, but it offers much more control of someone that you might be trying to drag as you were walking backward. Further, it would be much more difficult for them to push your arm away.



Besides, as has been said before, Squall's bullets have solid tips. If you fired one of those in a blade with no barrel, they'd fragment very violently, probably shattering the blade or making a real mess of the chamber.

No matter how much physics doesn't agree with it, the blade is solid as the Game Over screen in which its broken in half shows. Besides, we see an explosion occur when the Trigger Command is used. That's far more suggestive of something functioning like a shell than functioning like a bullet.



Somewhere in the game - in a tutorial screen, I think - we're told that gunblades combine the damaging power of a gun with the accuracy of a sword, or vice versa.

Find the quote please and reference where you found it. For now, what we have is Scan calling the weapon a sword.



Way to ignore all the evidence to the contrary...

That's the thing: I'm not seeing any. You say there's a barrel to the right of the blade. There's not. You say if it didn't fire projectiles, Seifer would have held the blade to Deling's throat. That would have been painful as hell and left Seifer with much less control. You say there's a random Tutorial quote that validates your claim. You've not provided it and -- having just looked for it myself -- I can't find it.

In other words, the evidence offered for your argument begins with an invalid claim, ignoring the less than half a second space of time between the firing of Seifer's Gunblade and the scarring of Squall, ignoring Homo Sapien anatomy and the logical position to take when dragging someone if one intends to maintain control over the one they're dragging, ignoring the placement of the Gunblade in front of the one being dragged in the scene in question, and another -- at worst, invalid, at best, not yet supported -- claim with no grounding.

Surely you can see why I might be a little prone to go with the argument that says they're not used for projectile means because we never see anyone use them for such a purpose, it's never suggested they could be, they're called swords, and they don't have barrels?

If I'm at all offending you here, by the way, you have my apologies.

[rubah]

Originally Posted by Big D:
Somewhere in the game - in a tutorial screen, I think - we're told that gunblades combine the damaging power of a gun with the accuracy of a sword, or vice versa.
Find the quote please and reference where you found it. For now, what we have is Scan calling the weapon a sword.


It's not weapons monthly march is it? Because I remember reading that too.

[Squall of SeeD]

It's not weapons monthly march is it? Because I remember reading that too.

If that statement is in there, it's not in the Weapons Monthly magazines. Here are screenshots of the Weapons Monthly issues' Gunblade articles:
Weapons Monthly March (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Revolver.jpg).
Weapons Monthly April (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/ShearTrigger.jpg).
Weapons Monthly May (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/CuttingTrigger.jpg).
Weapons Monthly June (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/FlameSaber.jpg).
Weapons Monthly July (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/TwinLance.jpg).
Weapons Monthly August (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Punishment.jpg).
Weapons Monthly 1st Issue (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Lionheart.jpg).

[Wiegrahf42]

Whatever the Gunblade actually does, it's a rather impractical weapon. The idea of using a blade as a primary weapon against gun technology as advanced as ours is ludicrous. Now that I think of it at the field exam SeeD sends teenagers in cadet uniforms armed with extremely outdated and impractical weapons up against a full military force. Then again most of the G-soldiers use swords also.

[DocFrance]

It's like a backwards bayonet.

[Big D]

Originally written in the Weapons Monthly April Issue
Shear Trigger uses the same blade as the Revolver, but the gun aspect is now more powerfulI'm very intrigued by your posts in the FFVII and FFVIII forums, Squall of Seed. You seem to delight in finding something that makes sense, then trying to find whatever conjecture, evidence or theory you can obtain in order for it not to make sense. Puzzling.
Right. And that notch is on the side of the blade, not the front. If that were the exit point of a barrel, again, the blade wouldn't be straight.
Side? Look at the side view of the weapon. Look at the top edge of the blade. Follow it along to the blade's tip. At the tip of the blade, there is a curved section that is missing. It is theorised by some people that this is where the barrel emerges. This is where some claim a barrel is visible in the opening FMV, in the Revolver at least.
If he wasn't shooting at anything, that requires the question of "Why did he pull the trigger to begin with?" Instinct, intimidation, to 'show what he can do' - the potential reasons are many and varied.
But based on the fact that no one ever uses the weapons for projectile purposesThey're very heavy weapons; to aim and fire one like a gun would be impractical. They're all well and good for holding in a 'ready' posture, as Sefier does, or for swinging and shooting at the enemy in the process. However, to aim the gun accurately at a moving target would be hopeless because of the difficulty in achieving a precise, mobile aim. Besides, in the case of the Hyperion at least, there is very little barrel - the bullet emerges directly alongside the blade. Just like a real semi-automatic pistol, ranged accuracy is reduced by the short barrel length.
Also, you're not considering what little Seifer would have needed to do if Deling tried to break way from him with Seifer pointing the blade away from Deling's neck. In that position, he would only have to bring it across or down in a slash to wound or kill Deling if he broke away somehow and tried to get away.
The issue is not whether Deling could escape, but what Seifer would do if Galbadian troops tried to free their President, by attacking Sefier. "Hang on a sec, don't shoot me just yet - give me a moment to reverse my grip and turn this horribly heavy sword around so I can slice your boss. Thanks!"Whatever the Gunblade actually does, it's a rather impractical weapon. The idea of using a blade as a primary weapon against gun technology as advanced as ours is ludicrous. It's like a backwards bayonet.Exactly. For a brief time in our own history, gunblades were in actual use. Right about the time when swords were going out, and firearms were being introduced. The 'real life gunblade' was a sword with a gun built into it; it held about two rounds, usually. They didn't last long and were soon surpassed.

[Squall of SeeD]

I'm very intrigued by your posts in the FFVII and FFVIII forums, Squall of Seed. You seem to delight in finding something that makes sense, then trying to find whatever conjecture, evidence or theory you can obtain in order for it not to make sense. Puzzling.

I don't see how the statement that "The gun aspect is now more powerful" indicates that a bullet is fired with greater force more so than it indicates the possibilty of an intended concept of more force being added in the direction of a swing. And we're still left with the matter of the solid blade and there being no exit hole, which I'm getting to now.



Side? Look at the side view of the weapon. Look at the top edge of the blade. Follow it along to the blade's tip. At the tip of the blade, there is a curved section that is missing.

That isn't the tip. Follow the red line on the right of this screenshot. It will travel from the top of the cylinder down to what is the front of the blade (note that one would follow the top of the blade until it curved down, becoming the front; we're being shown the Gunblade from a diagonal perspective); the red line on the right will travel along what is the side of the blade down to that notch:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallsGunbladeEdited.jpg

Now compare the above image to the unedited picture:
http://photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade2.jpg

By the way, you've still failed to address the matter of the blade being shown to be solid all the way through on the Game Over screen.



Instinct, intimidation, to 'show what he can do' - the potential reasons are many and varied.

You also failed to address the matter of him being able to determine the trajectory the bullet was going to take in that four-tenths of a second span of time.



They're very heavy weapons; to aim and fire one like a gun would be impractical. They're all well and good for holding in a 'ready' posture, as Sefier does, or for swinging and shooting at the enemy in the process. However, to aim the gun accurately at a moving target would be hopeless because of the difficulty in achieving a precise, mobile aim.

And swinging the weapon in an arc is somehow going to grant more accuracy than holding it still and firing? How do you figure that?



Besides, in the case of the Hyperion at least, there is very little barrel - the bullet emerges directly alongside the blade.

You still haven't offered screenshot evidence of this, D. I offered several screenshots which show that there is no such barrel on either side of the blade.



The issue is not whether Deling could escape, but what Seifer would do if Galbadian troops tried to free their President, by attacking Sefier.

I doubt they would be shooting at him while he was holding their President in front of him like that to begin with. Furthermore, that very factor is all the more reason to make sure that Seifer had control of the President.

Speaking of having control of him, you failed to address the matter I mentioned regarding the position of Seifer's wrist and the painful position it would have needed to be in to hold the blade to Deling's throat, in addition to it reducing the amount of control he would have had over Deling's upper body movements.

In fact, you failed to address most of what I said.


By the way, has no one else bothered to consider the sheer size and length of what those bullets would be if there were, indeed, bullets being fired through the blade and the size of an exit hole needed for them? Look at the size and length of the chambers and compare it to the notch on the blade:

Picture 1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade2.jpg).
Picture 2 (http://c-uncut.com/media/ff8-squall3.jpg).
Picture 3 (http://www.rpgdreamer.com/rpgworld/ff8/Squall.jpg).

Can you really say you could see bullets that large and that long easily fitting through a hole that would be no larger than that?

Particularly look at the first picture. Compare the size of that notch with the size of those metallic things in the chambers, keeping in mind that the notch is right in front us and that the metallic things in the chambers are at least three feet away. Considering that the metallic objects in the chambers already look too large to fit through that notch and that they're only going to look larger the closer they are, again, can you really say you could see such bullets passing through a hole of that size?

[Big D]

Time for some "linkage" of my own.
Here (http://www.paradigmshifter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/wallpaper/1680x1050/RevolverGunblade.jpg) is the cased gunblade, with the distinctive tipped bullets.
And swinging the weapon in an arc is somehow going to grant more accuracy than holding it still and firing? How do you figure that?
When the weapon is swung like a sword, its trajectory is controllable. When duelling with an opponent, the range is reduced to point-blank; provided the wielder fires when he is pointing roughly at the enemy - during a blow, for instance - a hit is more likely than trying to snipe someone on the move.
You also failed to address the matter of him being able to determine the trajectory the bullet was going to take in that four-tenths of a second span of time.Oh yeah, I "failed". You ought to think about how your own posts sound before PMing moderators about other members being 'trolls':p. Seifer is a precise and skilled swordsman. He knows where his weapon is going to be, and when. He's also not stupid. He knows that if he fires before the weapon is pointing at Squall's head, then he won't blow Squall's head off. It's pretty simple, really.
I doubt they would be shooting at him while he was holding their President in front of him like that to begin with. Furthermore, that very factor is all the more reason to make sure that Seifer had control of the President.
Most Galbadian soldiers use swords; they could run at Seifer from any direction and put holes in him. The entire point of taking a hostage and holding a weapon to their head is so that you can harm them if anyone tries to interfere.
By the way, you've still failed to address the matter of the blade being shown to be solid all the way through on the Game Over screen.A metal hole, through metal, with a metal background. Now, why would that be difficult to see?
Besides, that is but one theory. The other possibility is that the revolver is similar to the Hyperion. I believe that the Hyperion has no barrel, and the bullet is ejected straight from the open end of the firing chamber. The revolver could be the same, but that would require the wheel to be slightly offset. Since the gunblade is a strictly close-range weapon, the accuracy provided by a barrel would be less than necessary.
By the way, has no one else bothered to consider the sheer size and length of what those bullets would be if there were, indeed, bullets being fired through the blade and the size of an exit hole needed for them? Look at the size and length of the chambers and compare it to the notch on the blade:
When a bullet is fired, not the entire bullet is shot out of the weapon. Only the small lump on the end of the shell is ejected. The Revolver certainly takes high-calibur ammunition, but the bullets are very short by comparison - less than a centimeter long, judging by the gunblade case image.
That isn't the tip. Follow the red line on the right of this screenshot. It will travel from the top of the cylinder down to what is the front of the blade (note that one would follow the top of the blade until it curved down, becoming the front; we're being shown the Gunblade from a diagonal perspective); the red line on the right will travel along what is the side of the blade down to that notch:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SquallsGunbladeEdited.jpg]Exactly. That 'notch' lines up exactly with where a bullet would emerge, if it was fired in the normal 'revolver' fashion. The top of the wheel lines up with that notch. Some people say they can even see the barrel opening in that picture you posted. See this image. (
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/estuans_interius/revolv1.bmp)In the top picture, the pink line indicates the path followed. The bottom picture is just for comparison.

*Just another note... in the game, many Esthar soldiers use gunblades, of a sort. They have cresent-shaped blades with small shotguns built into the handle. Because of the design of these weapons, the gun and blade components get used separately, it'd be difficult to shoot and slash simultaneously.. however, they are definitive proof of hybrid sword/gun weapons in use in the FFVIII world, and they also have no visible barrel - just a handle, trigger and firing chamber that opens right out.

[Squall of SeeD]

When the weapon is swung like a sword, its trajectory is controllable.

Moreso than if one just held it in place and pulled the trigger? One action would involve calculating the trajectory of the blade itself, as well as the timing needed to fire, whereas just holding it straight would require simply aiming and accounting for timing if the target was moving. Again, Seifer holds his Gunblade straight out like that in the battles against him, but he never once simply pulls the trigger and fires the weapon, whereas Galbadian soldiers do shoot with their guns.



Oh yeah, I "failed". You ought to think about how your own posts sound before PMing moderators about other members being 'trolls':p.

"Failed" would have the same meaning as "neglected" in this context.



Seifer is a precise and skilled swordsman. He knows where his weapon is going to be, and when. He's also not stupid. He knows that if he fires before the weapon is pointing at Squall's head, then he won't blow Squall's head off. It's pretty simple, really.

Fair enough.



Most Galbadian soldiers use swords; they could run at Seifer from any direction and put holes in him.

Not from any direction, seeing as how they would have been in front of him and would have needed to be behind him to skewer him, as I doubt they would run Deling through just to get Seifer.



The entire point of taking a hostage and holding a weapon to their head is so that you can harm them if anyone tries to interfere.

In this case, a bullet fired from the position Seifer was holding him from a barrel on the right side of the weapon would either pass in front of his face or graze his jaw: Link to Seifer holding him again (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/TheSorceressComes.jpg). Also, here's a closer shot of that image in case that helps any: Linkage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeiferandDeling.jpg). It's a little fuzzy, though.



A metal hole, through metal, with a metal background. Now, why would that be difficult to see?

If it were there, one would think they would bother to make it visible, just like with the barrel (or open point from the firing chamber) that's not on the side of Seifer's Gunblade. Going back again to the matter of this open point, look at how far down the side of the gun that the shell casing flies out from: Linkage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/ShellCasing.jpg).

Look again at the side of the Gunblade, particularly the area right above Seifer's hand and the trigger area (from where the shell casing flew out, taking into account that the open point would at least need to be in the relative location of where the shell casing flew out, if not further down the weapon): The right side of the Hyperion (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/SeifersHyperion5.jpg). And for even more clarity, here's another picture (http://photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/?action=view&current=SeifersHyperion7.jpg).

Where is this open point?



The revolver could be the same, but that would require the wheel to be slightly offset.

We know it's not, though: Side of the Gunblade (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade.jpg). The firing chamber lines up directly with the blade.



When a bullet is fired, not the entire bullet is shot out of the weapon. Only the small lump on the end of the shell is ejected. The Revolver certainly takes high-calibur ammunition, but the bullets are very short by comparison - less than a centimeter long, judging by the gunblade case image.

That's still ignoring that the size of those lumps visible in the chambers relative to that notch are too wide to fit through even from a perspective of three feet away, mustless when they got down to that point: Look again (http://photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade2.jpg).



Exactly. That 'notch' lines up exactly with where a bullet would emerge, if it was fired in the normal 'revolver' fashion. The top of the wheel lines up with that notch.

Again, however, it would be off to the side and not on the front of the weapon. In my previously edited picture, I followed the firing chamber with a red line down the top of the blade and to where it curved down and became the front of the blade. That notch isn't on the front of the blade, but to the side. The front of the blade is solid. Were that notch an exit point for a bullet, this would mean that the blade was not straight. A bladed weapon with a blade that isn't straight is an impractical weapon.

For clarification of this notch being on the side, look at this newly edited picture: Linkage (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/GunbladeEdited.jpg).



*Just another note... in the game, many Esthar soldiers use gunblades, of a sort. They have cresent-shaped blades with small shotguns built into the handle. Because of the design of these weapons, the gun and blade components get used separately, it'd be difficult to shoot and slash simultaneously.. however, they are definitive proof of hybrid sword/gun weapons in use in the FFVIII world, and they also have no visible barrel - just a handle, trigger and firing chamber that opens right out.

The weapons are not at all designed in similar fashions, however: Picture of an Esthari Soldier holding his weapon (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/EsthariSoldierHuman.jpg).

For that matter, we never see anything similar to the Gunblade in Esthar. A foreign land's weaponry is not necessarily indicative of the Gunblades used by People in other areas of the world, especially when we see the Esthari soldiers use their weapons to stand and shoot, whereas Seifer never does this with his Gunblade, despite holding a pose that would easily allow him to do so.

I think it rather strange that he would be more than willing to pull the trigger on his Gunblade to fire a bullet to the effort of intimidating Squall as he cut him (as you suggested), but he would never bother to do it during an actual with him or anyone else.

[Asaelion]

If you look in the fmv sequences and in the battle sequences that have Seifer, you will find that the hyperion is not single edged but actually double edged. So therefore when Seifer was threatening President Deling he was actually threatening to slit his throat, not shoot him.

Also during the opening credits with the shot of Squall's gunblade in it's case. Since it is in black-and-white we cannot determine if the bullets are metal, all we know is that they are shiny, so they could be some sort of solidified energy. Giving more evidence to the energy theory.

It is my belief that the gunblade is powered by some sort of bullet containing compressed energy that when struck by the hammer is released. Therefore sending a shock of energy through the blade, this of course requires careful timing to do in the middle of a slash, which is why the art of the gunblade is said to be so difficult.

This would also explain why when Squall strikes his gunblade produces a big explosion, (due to the massive calibur of his bullets) while Seifer's only produces a small explosion (since it is of a lower calibur).

[ApocalypticLeon]

Alright… *sigh*

Definition:
gun (gŭn) A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory.

Now, exactly why would they name it a Gunblade if it didn’t have a gun (one that actually fires something)

The bullets in Squall’s case are metal and solid, and I really don’t think he would put those in for show.

But, meh, each to his own, I suppose, even in theories.

[Squall of SeeD]

Alright… *sigh*

Definition:
gun (gŭn) A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory.

Now, exactly why would they name it a Gunblade if it didn’t have a gun (one that actually fires something)

The bullets in Squall’s case are metal and solid, and I really don’t think he would put those in for show.

But, meh, each to his own, I suppose, even in theories.

The gun mechanism itself is the gun part you're looking for there, Leon. All that implies is an explosive force producing a rush of force in a certain direction. That's the concept behind a real life gun's function: A contained explosion is produced, sealed off on all sides but one, the unsealed side allowing for an unanchored object to be propelled from the explosion in a specific direction.

The princple itself doesn't require that there be any projectiles involved. Anyway, the fact that they produce a large explosion alone is enough to show that they aren't ordinary "bullets." They're explosive shells that produce a vibration through the blade that will cause it to rend a greater wound as it passes into an opponent/object. Check out the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania Guide or get someone to translate it for you if need be. That's what it says.

While it may not be the most practical weapon in existance, that's its design and function.


By the way, it's specifically referred to as a sword when using Scan on Squall.

[Hikaro Takayama]

Here's my theory (based on something I noticed in the opening FMV as well as when you trigger the gunblade during battle in the game):

I believe that the gunblade operates on the priciple of explosive, incindiary rounds, possibly made from plastic explosives (which would give them a shiny surface), that when fired, the explosion generated is expelled through vents on the side of the blade (I'll see about grabbing a SS of what I'm talking about tomorrow), which, if said blade was sticking inside of an enemy, would cause severe internal trauma.... a rather wicked close quarters weapon, if that's the case. Of course you'd need some powerful Steel-titanium-molybdenum alloy to even think of containing the pressures generated by such an explosion (although with the revolver, some of the excess pressure can leak out of the gap between the cylinder and the 'barrel').

[Squall of SeeD]

Here's my theory (based on something I noticed in the opening FMV as well as when you trigger the gunblade during battle in the game):

I believe that the gunblade operates on the priciple of explosive, incindiary rounds, possibly made from plastic explosives (which would give them a shiny surface), that when fired, the explosion generated is expelled through vents on the side of the blade (I'll see about grabbing a SS of what I'm talking about tomorrow), which, if said blade was sticking inside of an enemy, would cause severe internal trauma.... a rather wicked close quarters weapon, if that's the case. Of course you'd need some powerful Steel-titanium-molybdenum alloy to even think of containing the pressures generated by such an explosion (although with the revolver, some of the excess pressure can leak out of the gap between the cylinder and the 'barrel').

Were that the case, when Seifer slashed Squall's face in the opening FMV, the heat generated would have 1) immediately cauterized his wound, and 2) probably blinded him. It wouldn't be a very practical weapon if it was burning wounds closed.

In any event, as has been pointed out several times, the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania Guide states that the function is to produce a vibration to the slash motion that will rend a wound greater than it would normally.

[ApocalypticLeon]

Having that giant hunk of metal vibrate as he tried to attack someone (usually with only one hand) is not only impractical, but not very bright.

And, yes, they call it a sword, because it has a sword on it.

[Squall of SeeD]

Having that giant hunk of metal vibrate as he tried to attack someone (usually with only one hand) is not only impractical, but not very bright.

Well, it wouldn't be first time Nomura had a less than stellar idea, but for the purposes of the game, it worked out fine. And they do make something of a point about how the Gunblade is a difficult weapon to master and can take many years, so it's not like just any schmoe picks one up and goes to town with it.

[Kilrane]

i have deep respect for Squall of SeeD and Big D so i dont mean to offend either one. to me the gunblade is just a weapon that was created just for the look. i dont think they put too much thought into it because after all it is just a game. think of lulu's weapons. they are all dolls that somehow can kill fiends that are 5 times taller than it when powered up. both are just factors to make the game more interesting and enjoyable. as far as i've seen all the main characters somehow have a sword like weapon as their main or ultimate weapon. they all just have different apearances (excuse me if anything is misspelled).

[Asaelion]

Its obvious that we might never exactly agree on how the gunblade works, however I think we could at least accept these points

1) The gunblade is known as a gunblade for its gun mechanism, that means the ammunition clip/drum, the hammer and the firing chamber. along with the fact that some form of combustion takes place, but it fires NO projectiles (with the exception of prehaps a limit break).

2) The blade recieves some sort of force from the combustion (vibration, energy or otherwise) which increases the force and damage of the slash.

I also think we should keep in mind that magic does exist in this world, so perhaps that could offer some solution.

[Squall of SeeD]

Its obvious that we might never exactly agree on how the gunblade works, however I think we could at least accept these points

1) The gunblade is known as a gunblade for its gun mechanism, that means the ammunition clip/drum, the hammer and the firing chamber. along with the fact that some form of combustion takes place, but it fires NO projectiles (with the exception of prehaps a limit break).

2) The blade recieves some sort of force from the combustion (vibration, energy or otherwise) which increases the force and damage of the slash.

We are in agreement, then, Asa.

[TJF588]

I agree that there is no barrel within the gunblade: this might make for a weakpoint in the blade (though prolly not), and it might very well warp or explode from the heat and force of an explosive bullet flying through.

Also, I find my single most rejoiced post was from Asaelion: the gunlades, all o' 'em, are double-edged. Also, the thoery of "encapsuled energy" is intriguing, perhaps a form of para-magic.

Now, for my thoery: if we'd kindly take a look at the side of Revolver (purty pikture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/Squall_of_Seed/Gunblade.jpg)), we'd see that the part of the blade that extends from the corrugated pointy thing (I don't know what it is) can be slanted on both sides, like a wedge pointing toward the center of the bullet-chamber thing. Now, if the Revolver were designed so that the bullet on the top of the holder's revolution were to be automatically pushed forward so as to fall into that cylinder directly behind the corrugated part. Since I can't see the hammer in that shot, I don't know if it would be able to do so, but if the hammer were to hit in the middle of the gun-part, the bullet could be propelled forward and split into two, causing close-range penetration of the tissues surrounding the gash made by the blade.

The above might also account for making the blade hotter, though the fact of auto-caughterization eliminates it as a major aspect. This theory would also support energy/magic bullets.

Mind you, this is just a casual theory to be played with...

[Christmas]

A gunblade should work like what Yazoo's weapon do, so it is less confusing. :D

[Rinoa_Heartillly]

hmmm...It slices and it shoots! XD As soon as I get into the military, I have to bug one of the weapon makers to make me one, just because I want it. Also, it's good to scare and confused people with the design of the weapon! :D

[Shoden]

I know this probably old but my theory always was the bullets whatever type they were were fired from one side the exit hole is possible at the part where the blade and handle join.

Aside the blade on one of SOS's pictures I can see a strange shape which could possibly be where the bullets come out.

I'll edit this post with pictures if I have too but so far i'm only saying what I thought.

[G SpOtZ]

i'm not exactly sure why there's a debate about this haha. i just think the idea's cool for what they give us.
I just like to think of it as literally a GunBlade.

There's a gun, maybe even with just a short barrel. attached to it, is a nice big blade.
i like to think of it as the type of gun that does shoot actual bullets. just because it'd be pretty badass. just imagine... you see a guy reloading what looks like a sword lol.

slash bang!

[Shoden]

That is exactly what the gunblade does it shoots and slashes but where the bullets come from is the real question.

[Squall of SeeD]

That is exactly what the gunblade does it shoots and slashes but where the bullets come from is the real question.

They don't. As said already in this Thread, the gun mechanism produces a vibration along the blade which adds a rending effect to the target being slashed. The Ultimania Guide says this.

[Destai]

Just thought Id share I own one of these ^^ :D

[Odelay]

its a GUNblade. it has a long barrel in it. he carries bullets! what is all this business about energy and vibration? the thing shoots bullets, man.

[Skyblade]

its a GUNblade. it has a long barrel in it. he carries bullets! what is all this business about energy and vibration? the thing shoots bullets,
man.

Where did you get info that it has a long barrel in it? Because it doesn't. Every pic we've found seems to deny that idea. Also, we never see it shoot bullets. Think before posting.

[G SpOtZ]

i WISH it had a long barrel on it!
that would be sooo coooool. or rather..... its a double barrel. the barrels are separated by the blade. you see a barrel, then a blade, and on the other side a barrel. so then you can actually shoot it like a gun. that would be awesome. screw the energy crap, i'm sticking with badass real time bullets. (even if that's not what it is, i still think it'd be cooler, in my opinion)

[Shoden]

I said shoot, After i made that post I came up with the idea. It has a shooting mechanism in it aswell as the blade.


this is one meaning of shoot the one i meant. # To emit (a ray or rays of light or another form of energy)

[Big D]

They don't. As said already in this Thread, the gun mechanism produces a vibration along the blade which adds a rending effect to the target being slashed. The Ultimania Guide says this.What's the exact text in the guide? (In English, since my Japanese skill is non-existent). I'd love to know just what they say about this still-burning issue...

[abrojtm]

It's a gunblade. It uses the base of a revolver. It obviously shoots bullets somehow.

[Squall of SeeD]

They don't. As said already in this Thread, the gun mechanism produces a vibration along the blade which adds a rending effect to the target being slashed. The Ultimania Guide says this.What's the exact text in the guide? (In English, since my Japanese skill is non-existent). I'd love to know just what they say about this still-burning issue...

I'm trying to get an exact translation from DarkAngel (the lady translating Before Crisis, and who translated the sections on Witches and Magic from the Ultimania). I'll let you know what she says.



It's a gunblade.

And using Scan on Squall has the weapon called a sword.



It uses the base of a revolver. It obviously shoots bullets somehow.

Not necessarily. Remember, it features a gun mechanism. The concept of the mechanism isn't exclusive to projectile weapons. It's just very handy in the making and use of such weapons.

[Big D]

If the official info says it doesn't actually fire a projectile, then so be it...
However, the idea of a gun mechanism being used to fire a bullet is fairly logical, in a military application, so it's entirely understandable that people would assume this. Especially since the bullets appear solid-tipped in that intro picture.

Using the recoil to give the blade an extra 'kick' into the target is interesting. Non-firing bullet-style rounds create the powerful shock used in some ground survey sonar systems, so it's not a completely new concept.

I still prefer the idea of an actual sword/firearm hybrid, but whatever Square says, goes.

[Odelay]

Think before posting.
are you getting mad at someone you don't even know about his opinion of a completely made up video game weapon? because thats probably the funniest thing i've heard all day.

Where did you get info that it has a long barrel in it? Because it doesn't. Every pic we've found seems to deny that idea.
i'm not gonna post it again, but in the picture of the gunblade stuck in the ground you can pretty clearly see what looks like the tip of the barrel.

and another thing - http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1416/squall35oh.jpg
squall has a sight fixed to his gunblade. if he's not firing real bullets, then whats the point of having a sight?

also - http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8859/ff8162cn.jpg
gunsmoke


Also, we never see it shoot bullets.
did you ever see it vibrate, or whatever you're suggesting? i'll stick to my idea of real projectile bullets

[Skyblade]

Think before posting.
are you getting mad at someone you don't even know about his opinion of a completely made up video game weapon? because thats probably the funniest thing i've heard all day.

Where did you get info that it has a long barrel in it? Because it doesn't. Every pic we've found seems to deny that idea.
i'm not gonna post it again, but in the picture of the gunblade stuck in the ground you can pretty clearly see what looks like the tip of the barrel.

and another thing - http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1416/squall35oh.jpg
squall has a sight fixed to his gunblade. if he's not firing real bullets, then whats the point of having a sight?

also - http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8859/ff8162cn.jpg
gunsmoke


Also, we never see it shoot bullets.
did you ever see it vibrate, or whatever you're suggesting? i'll stick to my idea of real projectile bullets

I never suggested that it vibrates. But you don't see a projectile. What's more, if you bothered to read the entire thread, you would see many links to many different views of his gunblade, taken from FMVs and other in game artwork. There is quite clearly no barrel in the blade.

[Christmas]

i WISH it had a long barrel on it!
that would be sooo coooool. or rather..... its a double barrel. the barrels are separated by the blade. you see a barrel, then a blade, and on the other side a barrel. so then you can actually shoot it like a gun. that would be awesome. screw the energy crap, i'm sticking with badass real time bullets. (even if that's not what it is, i still think it'd be cooler, in my opinion)

Something like this?

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a155/Unknowns2/gunblade1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a155/Unknowns2/gunblade2.jpg

I think it might need a bit of modification to suit your preferences.

[G SpOtZ]

something like that, but the barrels are doubled up horizontally and perpindicular to the blade, and the barrels are shorter as the blade is longer.

[Big D]

and another thing - http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1416/squall35oh.jpg
squall has a sight fixed to his gunblade. if he's not firing real bullets, then whats the point of having a sight?I don't see a sight there... there's the top of the hammer, but that's all that stands out to me.
Also, we never see it shoot bullets.
did you ever see it vibrate, or whatever you're suggesting? i'll stick to my idea of real projectile bulletsThat's what I've always believed, too; I agree about there being plenty of room in the top edge of the blade to house a barrel as well. However, if the Ultimania guide says it doesn't shoot projectiles, then that's the canon truth of the matter. Absurd as it might sound:p

[TasteyPies]

I don't see a sight there... there's the top of the hammer, but that's all that stands out to me.

I see a sight, There is the silver hammer on the back, and a black sight on the top, for the black sight to be actualy part of the hammer, it would make the hammer so ridiculously elongated there might as well be a sticker that says "fake" on the handle. :greenie:


If the Ultimania guide says it doesn't shoot projectiles, then that's the canon truth of the matter. Absurd as it might sound:p

I don't know anything about this guide, and I wish I did so I could say something about it. ;)





Explosive Rounds, The Vibrating Blade, or "Singing Sword"
I can see how the "singing sword" aspect might work. One would, just before/as the blade reaches the target, pull the trigger, causing an explosion that would force the blade to push and pull the flesh, organs, and scales of a creature as the blade quickly seperates useless body parts. Drawbacks however would be plentifull, long time use could do serious damage to the weilders body. People who have worked with hammers all their lives can tell you the recoil has taken its toll on thier hands. If a simple hammer can cause pain and loss of motion, An explosion causing a blade to fluxuate by inches per attack would make your arms screaming in pain after every long battle. But hey, don't let the fuzzy boa fool you, Squall can take it, he's a tough guy!

"The GUNblade"
Who was it that said gunblades were used (very rarely) by those who could afford them soon after the "gun" was invented? Poorly made and not yet perfected they could only fire one shot and would be useless in the heat of battle after the initial shot. Trying to make the most of it, they combined the age old weapon, the sword, with the newest weapon, the gun. The well fitted warrior could peck off an enemie from a short distance, then instead of carefully reworking his firearm he could charge into battle sword a' swinging. Thats what I can remember anyway, this is like the 10th repeat of this thread.
Ok, stepping away from what someone said back in another thread....In this thread it was proposed that A)Bullets fire from the side of the blade, strait from the side of the chamber chamber. B)A Wizard did it. C)A small cylindrical pathway running from the gun aspect of the sword as far as possible to the tip without bending

A: Okie dokie then, a partial solution thought up when other debaters quickly ridiculed the thought of a barrel inside the blade. I don't have much to say about this, because I honestly doubt it even resembles a solution. The entire mechanism of the gun would have to be different. The hammer, the barrel and the placement of the wields hands would all have to be rethunk

B: The closest thing to the truth we have, and the most beleivable theory.

C:Sounds good, it would work the same was as most firearms, but with a realy sharp and heavy barrel. Any proof against this has been little more than speculation vs speculation. Or I should say, it logicly should be this choise, but this is a fantasy game afterall.

Thats it, its almost 7am, and *yaaaaaaawn* I have a 10am relic raid on my online game...and I havn't slept a wink....if, doubtfully, some people were wondering where I have been...its been playing DAoC....*yaaaaaaawn* I mgiht as well try and get a couple winks in.....you will understand if what I have been saying makes no sense or isn't something that blows you off your feed or even stands up to anything or makes sense or all that trivial stuf *yaaaaaaaaaawn* .....g'nite

[Shoden]

Ok so the gunblade shoots but doesn't shoot solid bullets but thats about as far as I seem to understand...

gah all this intelligence stuff is making me want to play FF8 even more.

[G SpOtZ]

now... does irvine shoot bullets? for all i know, he has an actual gun that shoots bullets. EXAMPLE: you can give him pulse ammo for his gun or for his limit break. i'm not sure if pulse ammo consists of real bullets, and if it is, then that would mean squalls lionheart shoots bullets... you need pulse ammo to refine his lionheart weapon, ya? the pulse ammo was just one example... and i could be wrong about all of this, but i couldn't understand why you would need ammo for refining gunblades if the ammo is not even used (assuming the ammo consists of real bullets)

[Odelay]

I don't see a sight there... there's the top of the hammer, but that's all that stands out to me.
it might be a little bit easier to see here - http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8657/gunblade36el.jpg

There is quite clearly no barrel in the blade.
how can you NOT see it? - http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6900/gunblade44el.jpg

that's why i think the blade curves down at the end, because there's a barrel above it - http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3798/gunblade26db.jpg

i don't know anything about this ultimania guide so i can only go by what i see on the gunblade

[Shoden]

The blade most likely curves to add some kind of effect for slashing, thats what I think.

[Skyblade]

I don't see a sight there... there's the top of the hammer, but that's all that stands out to me.
it might be a little bit easier to see here - http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8657/gunblade36el.jpg

There is quite clearly no barrel in the blade.
how can you NOT see it? - http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6900/gunblade44el.jpg

that's why i think the blade curves down at the end, because there's a barrel above it - http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3798/gunblade26db.jpg

i don't know anything about this ultimania guide so i can only go by what i see on the gunblade

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.

[Momiji]

According to the FF8 Ultimania, the gunblade doesn't fire bullets at all. Pulling the trigger releases energy which causes the blade to vibrate, which is supposed to cause extra damage.

Well, that's what I've been told anyway.

[Big D]

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.It lines up perfectly with the top chamber in the cylinder...

[Skyblade]

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.It lines up perfectly with the top chamber in the cylinder...

Actually, it doesn't. It mark is on the upper edge of the gunblade, which you can see going directly back and passing over the cylinder's top chamber.

[Squall of SeeD]

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.It lines up perfectly with the top chamber in the cylinder...

No, it doesn't. That mark is on the side of the blade at the end, not the very front of the blade. In order for that to be a hole (and a screwed up hole design it would be in the first place), the blade couldn't be straight.

[Skyblade]

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.It lines up perfectly with the top chamber in the cylinder...

No, it doesn't. That mark is on the side of the blade at the end, not the very front of the blade. In order for that to be a hole (and a screwed up hole design it would be in the first place), the blade couldn't be straight.

Yeah, I didn't point that out, but it would have to fire triangular bullets if that was the hole.

[Big D]

No, it doesn't. That mark is on the side of the blade at the end, not the very front of the blade. In order for that to be a hole (and a screwed up hole design it would be in the first place), the blade couldn't be straight.I am fully not understanding this 'side of the blade' notion. The top edge of the blade is tapered, yes. However, both sides taper in, not just one side.

[Gilgamesh of Legends]

A wizard did it. Obviously Square wasnt expecting such debating over something so simple in their eyes. its final FANTASY for a reason.

[Squall of SeeD]

No, it doesn't. That mark is on the side of the blade at the end, not the very front of the blade. In order for that to be a hole (and a screwed up hole design it would be in the first place), the blade couldn't be straight.I am fully not understanding this 'side of the blade' notion. The top edge of the blade is tapered, yes. However, both sides taper in, not just one side.

The front of the blade itself is that flat part to the right of the mark (whatever it is). That's where a hole would need to be if there were a barrel.

[Odelay]

Unfortunately, the point you indicate does not line up with the revolver's cylinder at any point, making it impossible for a bullet to be fired through it.
of course it does. here's another picture - http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/1504/gunblade37xd.jpg

you can see where the barrel lines up with the top chamber in the cylinder. and you wouldn't have to fire triangular bullets just because the barrel opens up that way. so long as the barrel inside the sword is round, and it looks like it is, it doesn't matter how the metal outside of it is shaped. it seems like they made the opening of the barrel like that to match the design of the sword.

[Lehteb]

I can see the barrel line up with the top of the blade, but sadly, if you were to make a straight line from the top chamber of the revolver to the "barrel" of the gun, you would see that it doesnt line up with the point that you claim to be the end of the barrel, and actually would shoot back into the tip of the sword where it comes to a point. I prefer the energy idea, as I can't imagine a gun barrel being curved, and the side barrels and other ideas like them have been disproved by pictures. Also, consider the flexibility of steel used to make swords and bladed weapons, then remember what would happen to the perfectly round barrel of a gun that is constantly being used as a sword. Although to be honest, the scars that are traded at the beginning of the game if given by real blades, would have a Squall without a maxilla (his upper jaw), and Seifer would have a broken orbital bone (above his eye) because the weapons would be so heavy that they would shatter, not cut, bone. Oh well, its Magic I guess

[G SpOtZ]

doesn't matter how the gunblade works. it only matters that it causes immense pain. ouchies. >.<

[Odelay]

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/9759/gunblade26db7kl.jpg

looks like it would work, pretty much just like a rifle with a bayonet underneath it.

yeah, you're right. this is all complete fantasy nonsense. but if you want to get that technical about it, you'd also have to think about how its going to use energy, or how strong a vibration you'd have to use to get a massive chunk of metal like that to vibrate, and how impossible it would be to swing around like that. that would be pretty wicked to see squall get his jaw sliced off and seifer get his face crushed though. damn...they should remake the game like that.

[G SpOtZ]

*opening scene*
Squall's jaw explodes from gunblade impact.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Squall swings blade and shatters Siefers whole face.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
Both fall over dead.

*THE END!*

it wouldn't even be a game. it'd be a random mini clip with people saying "wtf was that?..... IT WAS AWESOME!"

[Desperado]

This debate actually has a simple answer: Squall's gunblade, in fact, has a gun aspect to it and thusly fires bullets.

Look at the close-up picture Squall of SeeD posted, with the flaming lion on the blade. See the round part with the holes in it, kinda looks like a, oh I dunno, gun from a western movie? That's the barrel. In those little holes in the barrel go... guess! Projectiles! There's even a bullet extending from the barrel in the image. It's that bullet-shaped thing near the flaming lion. There's no need for an actual nozzle to fire the bullet from, because the weapon is also a short-range (take a guess) sword. Why does Seifer fire it in the opening FMV? So Square could show it off. Why is there an explosion when you tap R1 in battle? To emphasize the point that you completed the move.

Yeah, pretty much.

[G SpOtZ]

the gun goes boom!

[Rengori]

Magic and Pixie dust.

[Big D]

Although to be honest, the scars that are traded at the beginning of the game if given by real blades, would have a Squall without a maxilla (his upper jaw), and Seifer would have a broken orbital bone (above his eye) because the weapons would be so heavy that they would shatter, not cut, bone. Oh well, its Magic I guessThats's just the thing - even though they're immense and heavy swords, the two guys are extremely skilled in using them. They weren't trying to kill each other, but they did intend to draw blood, so they simply sliced each other with the tips of their blades.

[Squall of SeeD]

This debate actually has a simple answer: Squall's gunblade, in fact, has a gun aspect to it and thusly fires bullets.

Look at the close-up picture Squall of SeeD posted, with the flaming lion on the blade. See the round part with the holes in it, kinda looks like a, oh I dunno, gun from a western movie? That's the barrel. In those little holes in the barrel go... guess! Projectiles! There's even a bullet extending from the barrel in the image.

Uh... Depserado, that's not a barrel. That's the cylinder pin. That's what the cylinder revolves around and what holds a revolver together. Hell, it's even like two inches too low to be a barrel, as it's nowhere near the hammer (look where the top chamber of the cylinder is sitting):

http://hem.passagen.se/patrik.karlsson/images/Bilder/Bakgrunsb/FF8gunblade-render.jpg


I'm really sorry I haven't gotten the translation from the Ultimania back yet, guys. DarkAngel e-mailed me yesterday saying she'd finish translating the stuff I asked for soon.

[Lehteb]

Thats's just the thing - even though they're immense and heavy swords, the two guys are extremely skilled in using them. They weren't trying to kill each other, but they did intend to draw blood, so they simply sliced each other with the tips of their blades.

clearly you've never done any serious swordsmanship. I can assure you that in the heat of battle, running at someone and swinging at their head cannot be done with the precision to barely break the skin. Lets not forget how awkward the hilt of the gunblade is, being so offcenter, and that Squall is essentially blinded by his own blood when he swings at Seifer. I know its a great game and all, but this scene is all about looking awesome, and the gunblades are more of a look awesome than work well type weapon

[xX.Silver.Wings.Xx]

I ve never under stood the whole gun thing on FF if you had a gun would'nt you need to buy bullets? You never see them reload either...

[Big D]

clearly you've never done any serious swordsmanship. I can assure you that in the heat of battle, running at someone and swinging at their head cannot be done with the precision to barely break the skin. Lets not forget how awkward the hilt of the gunblade is, being so offcenter, and that Squall is essentially blinded by his own blood when he swings at Seifer. I know its a great game and all, but this scene is all about looking awesome, and the gunblades are more of a look awesome than work well type weaponI've done Renaissance fencing, as well as Medieval dagger and single sword work. I know some of what can and can't be done.
Seifer never 'charged in the heat of battle'; he stood on the spot to line up his swing for a considerable time - several seconds, judging by the FMV. He'd have little difficulty in ensuring that just the narrow tip of his blade made contact. Squall didn't appear blinded; his blood was flowing past his eye socket so he'd have retained a clear view.

[TasteyPies]

Can I see a pic of siefers "gunblade"? I don't remember seeing any sort of gun aspect....

[Squall of SeeD]

Alright, everybody, throw out your thanks to DarkAngel. She sent me a translation of the Gunblade section of the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania:


GUNBLADE

Combining the sword with a standard shotgun’s mechanisms, the Gunblade is a unique weapon. If you pull the trigger while the bullet is “set”, a strong wave of power will travel down to the edge of the blade, raising the attack power of the Gunblade. By pulling the trigger at the right time, one can release a powerful attack; however, achieving competency in usage of the Gunblade is very difficult and therefore requires a high degree of aptitude.

So, it would, indeed, seem that the bullets are shells that simply explode and add a vibration to the blade. There's no projectile feature.

[Big D]

That's handy to know. So basically, the entire blade receives a 'jolt' when the explosive goes off... that's interesting. I see why timing would be so crucial. Thanks for taking the time and effort to obtain this info, SoS. Mind if I add it to the FFVIII FAQ at the top of this forum?

[Shadow Bahamut]

you can see the chamber on the blade and you can see a rectangular space just infront, maybe the bullet is fired, hits the end of the rectangle and explodes, giving extra power??

[Big D]

An exploding metal bullet would spray fragments everywhere, including into the hands of the person holding the weapon. Also, the explosive force would weaken the blade, probably causing it to shatter, eventually. I'd guess the bullets are basically high-powered blanks - no projectile, but a lot of energy (recoil, in other words) directed into the blade to give it an extra 'kick'.

[Shadow Bahamut]

hmm..good thought.
i dunno, i wonder if you could write to Square and ask them personally...??

[Skyblade]

Besides, the rectangle you are refering to wouldn't line up with the barrel, it lines up with the locking pin for the revolver cylinder.

[Squall of SeeD]

That's handy to know. So basically, the entire blade receives a 'jolt' when the explosive goes off... that's interesting. I see why timing would be so crucial. Thanks for taking the time and effort to obtain this info, SoS. Mind if I add it to the FFVIII FAQ at the top of this forum?

You're welcome, D. And, yeah, feel free to add that to the FAQ. Just be sure to credit DarkAngel for that translation. She's done us all a great service.



hmm..good thought.
i dunno, i wonder if you could write to Square and ask them personally...??

Not necessary now that we have a translation from the Ultimania.

[Odelay]

why would they introduce a completely new concept like a vibrating sword without explaining it or even touching on it at all in the game?

[rubah]

Why would they introduce a completely new concept such as swords larger than the person weilding them and not mention it?

Why would they have a black mage attacking with magical dolls without mentioning it.

It was just an idea they came up with, and they told us it was a difficult weapon to master, and then nothing else was needed, as squall never needs to repair his gunblade.

[i_wana_b_blck]

In the pictures of the gunblade that appear in the intro and such, you can see the barrel. It sticks out to the side, and is much shorter than a standard gun barrel. Not much reason to worry about accuracy, after all. It's fired from point blank range, and sends a bullet into the wound made by the sword. Pretty nifty concept, really.


i thougt that it was alined along the top of the sword as you see in the start up movie!!! :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Jiro]

because pressing a button makes you think your attack is stronger.
or
when he strikes from top right to bottom left th bullet comes from the right side of the sword hits the enemy then it gets struck by the blade.
dunno wheyher to be 4 or against.

[xX.Silver.Wings.Xx]

maybe the bullet makes a big bang n a flash. And the extra power comes from the shock of the bang.... or it could all be in the mind.....im being stupid now.......sorry guys...

[Skyblade]

The question has been answered. Can we please let this thread die now?!

[Frantt]

In the pictures of the gunblade that appear in the intro and such, you can see the barrel. It sticks out to the side, and is much shorter than a standard gun barrel. Not much reason to worry about accuracy, after all. It's fired from point blank range, and sends a bullet into the wound made by the sword. Pretty nifty concept, really.


i thougt that it was alined along the top of the sword as you see in the start up movie!!! :confused: :confused: :confused:

exactly what ui was thinking


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4863/gunbladevero6se.jpg

I beleive that selected red area Is where the bullets come out if u havent noticed when u fight and the screen flashes when u attrack(if u have it on auto)(or if u have it set to press R1) thats when Ur gunablade is being shot and for all we know the creators of the game didnt really think if bnerds or just normal people would really argue this topic so they didnt put much detail into it. :tongue:

[Zell>Everything]

I don't care what Square says. To me, the Revolver is just that, with a barrel running through. The Punishment and Twin Lance fire from between the blades. The Lion Heart however, I think perhaps does use the discussed energy rounds, the blade itself being energised. The Hyperion either works as does the revolver, or fires from one side as did the real weapons, which can be seen in the Royal Armouries of Leeds, England.
I think when there's a long thread like this, one has to consider the following-
1. Maybe the designers didn't consider it as deeply
2. visual representation fo barrels etc was merely overlooked in production
3. A wizard did it :D

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

I think ur both have the wrong idea

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

The gunshot is used to apply more force to make the swing more powerful. That's it.

The bullets are used just as an added effect

[dante the demon prince]

its just arifle with a blade instead of a barrel

[Punishment]

A Gunblade is a sword with a pistol or revolver embedded in the blade. The layout of such a weapon differs from a rifle with a bayonet in that the edged component has an integral barrel, rather than being attached to the end of the barrel. The gunblade does not fire projectiles. Triggering the round in the gun chamber sends a shockwave through the blade, increasing the amount of damage to whatever the blade strikes at that moment. This enhanced strike requires perfect timing by the user, making this weapon difficult to use effectively.

Geez you people. Four pages? And if the Gunblades could really shoot bullets... why would they ever slash at anyone when they can easily shoot them?

Information from Wikipedia. It's common friggin' knowledge!

[boys from the dwarf]

the reason it does more damage when you pull the trigger is because a bullet comes out of it and lands in the enemy at the some time as the sword cuts.

[Christmas]

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/5064/lives4dc.png

[Sir Bahamut]

the reason it does more damage when you pull the trigger is because a bullet comes out of it and lands in the enemy at the some time as the sword cuts.

Geez, is it that difficult to notice that this thread already sorted out this issue with official Ultimania information? The blade receives a 'jolt' of energy, causing the blade to strike the enemy with greater force.

It's even in the "Marginally official FF8 FAQ thread"!

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

The bullet does not hit the opponent. It is just shot into the air to give the blade more thrust making the swing more powerful. The bullets do not hit!

[Sir Bahamut]

The bullet does not hit the opponent. It is just shot into the air to give the blade more thrust making the swing more powerful. The bullets do not hit!

...

No. No bullets are shot at all. EThat's the whole point. :rolleyes2

[?????]

Another couple of gunblade questions:

1) Regarding the Lionheart, the appearance of its blade appears similar to that of a lightsaber, or at least a crystal blade of some sort. Given the prevalence of powerful crystals in the FF series, that makes sense, but does it work any differently than the others? No visible chamber is present inside the Lionheart. Does it obtain its charges from directed energy rather than a projectile?

2) The gunblade in Kingdom Hearts can shoot. What's its model name?

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

...

No. No bullets are shot at all. EThat's the whole point. :rolleyes2

Ok, if no bullets are present at all then why are they mentioned in the first place and then why is there a chamber at the hilt then if there are none?


...

Another couple of gunblade questions:

1) Regarding the Lionheart, the appearance of its blade appears similar to that of a lightsaber, or at least a crystal blade of some sort. Given the prevalence of powerful crystals in the FF series, that makes sense, but does it work any differently than the others? No visible chamber is present inside the Lionheart. Does it obtain its charges from directed energy rather than a projectile?

2) The gunblade in Kingdom Hearts can shoot. What's its model name?

To answer the first question, I believe so and ur right there is no sign of a barrel and i think there isn't even a chamber for bullets either. For the second, I think square just wanted to prove that bullets were used in the gunblade so they showed it in Kingdom Hearts.

[SoulTaker*]

Are you guys retarded? The gunblade has been thoroughly provent that it doesnt shoot bullets, god people, its in wikipedia and the ultima guide or whatever, I thought it shot bullets to but I was wrong, its not that hard of a concept to grasp, and in reference to ???? question I know that the lionheart requires pulse ammo to operate and pulse ammo is attained from energy crystals so I guess the lionheart does have a crystal like makeup.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

to the wikipedia thing, if ppl cared what wikipedia said then this thread would be over and done with, but it's not.

[boys from the dwarf]

if it shown firing bullets in kingdom hearts then thats proof enough for me.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

there u go soultaker, we aren't here to discuss this and then have to close this thread because of wikipedia or whatever. we rely on the game itself for evidence.

[Sir Bahamut]

Look, it's really simple:

When the trigger is pulled, the bullet in the chamber more or less 'explodes' , sending a shockwave through the blade, increasing damage. At no point is a bullet actually fired.

This is what the Ultimania guide says, and in case you didn't know, that's the official guide written by staff members of Square-Enix themself. If that's not good enough for you then nothing else will be.

As for what happens in Kingdom Hearts, that has nothing to do with FF8. Hero, you said you want evidence from the game? Well, last time I checked, Kingdom Hearts and FF8 are NOT in fact the same game.

Summary: Square said they don't fire bullets, hence they don't. QED.

[SoulTaker*]

Look, it's really simple:

When the trigger is pulled, the bullet in the chamber more or less 'explodes' , sending a shockwave through the blade, increasing damage. At no point is a bullet actually fired.

This is what the Ultimania guide says, and in case you didn't know, that's the official guide written by staff members of Square-Enix themself. If that's not good enough for you then nothing else will be.

As for what happens in Kingdom Hearts, that has nothing to do with FF8. Hero, you said you want evidence from the game? Well, last time I checked, Kingdom Hearts and FF8 are NOT in fact the same game.

Summary: Square said they don't fire bullets, hence they don't. QED.
Dont even try to explain, apparently we are on different plains of thought.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

Look, it's really simple:

When the trigger is pulled, the bullet in the chamber more or less 'explodes' , sending a shockwave through the blade, increasing damage. At no point is a bullet actually fired.

This is what the Ultimania guide says, and in case you didn't know, that's the official guide written by staff members of Square-Enix themself. If that's not good enough for you then nothing else will be.

As for what happens in Kingdom Hearts, that has nothing to do with FF8. Hero, you said you want evidence from the game? Well, last time I checked, Kingdom Hearts and FF8 are NOT in fact the same game.

Summary: Square said they don't fire bullets, hence they don't. QED.

First of all, it's Heero with two e's. second, if the bullet exploded wouldn't the blade break and shatter? And square made kingdom hearts and someone earlier said u can see the bullet being fired. doesn't matter if they're not the same game.

[Sir Bahamut]

First of all, it's Heero with two e's. second, if the bullet exploded wouldn't the blade break and shatter? And square made kingdom hearts and someone earlier said u can see the bullet being fired. doesn't matter if they're not the same game.

Obviously the gunblade is constructed in such a way so that the blade does not break or shatter.

And it DOES matter that they're not the same game. In FF8, no bullets are ever seen to be fired, and Square have made an official statement that no bullets are actually fired. Clearly then, if they have bullet be fired in Kingdom Hearts, the KH gunblade does not fit in with the FF8 gunblade, hence they have to be treated differently. I'm sure bullets are fired in KH, but not in the gunblades used in FF8.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

then what is the sudden white flash after the sound of the blade swinging (when u use auto or the R1 button)? also, did it ever occur to u that they might have wanted to show the bullet being fired in KH after seeing that u couldn't see one in FFVIII? they may have said that statement because it is not shown in the game.

[Sir Bahamut]

then what is the sudden white flash after the sound of the blade swinging (when u use auto or the R1 button)?

A flashy aftereffect of the bullet 'exploding' and the shockwave being sent through the blade. That's all.


lso, did it ever occur to u that they might have wanted to show the bullet being fired in KH after seeing that u couldn't see one in FFVIII? they may have said that statement because it is not shown in the game.

That doesn't make sense. Are you suggesting that Square, being unable to make an animation in which a bullet was visibly fired, decided to pretend as if there were no bullets fired, only to revert back to the original plan for KH? It wouldn't be that hard to make a bullet-firing animation for one(they do it for Irvine after all), so that doesn't make much sense.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

yes, it does. for Irvine he has a gun! Squall uses a blade. They could've had mixed ideas of how to show a bullet being fired through a blade. Think some more! A bullet being fired from a gun, and a bullet being fired through a blade? Difference? lots!

[Christmas]

http://ultimefantasy.free.fr/images/Yazoo.jpg

Squall really should be doing this instead.


As for the kingdom hearts gunblade, It didn't fire any stuff out from my POV and the Fireball attack is cast by Leon instead of being fired by the gunblade .

[Sir Bahamut]

yes, it does. for Irvine he has a gun! Squall uses a blade. They could've had mixed ideas of how to show a bullet being fired through a blade. Think some more! A bullet being fired from a gun, and a bullet being fired through a blade? Difference? lots!

I don't follow your point. I say it doesn't make much sense to assume that Square would claim that the gunblade does not fire a bullet, even if that's what they really meant for it to be. Then you say here that there's a difference between a blade and a gun?

What exactly is your point? Do you agree or not?

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

I'm saying there's a difference between firing a bullet by a gun and firing a bullet through a blade! Also, if u read in the previous pages that there was a debate about if there was a barrel in the blade. We agreed through game info. that there is and that a bullet is fired. U really need need to think outside the box about the Square statement. Don't think literally. Just try it. Also, earlier when there was a statement about the bullet exploding, that can't be because theblade would shatter no matter how u try and get around making it the only other explaination that is that the bullet has to be expelled from the blade.

[Sir Bahamut]

Sorry, but the Ultimania Guide is the official Square verdict, and no offense, but I think Square have a better idea of how their own game works, what with them having created it and all. And if the people who conceived of the gunblade say that it DOES NOT FIRE A BULLET, then it does, in fact, not fire a bullet.

Also, I HAVE looked through this whole debate(notice my post on the FIRST page?), and the main people in the argument conceded once the Ultimania information was confirmed.

Now, your suggestions that I 'not take it literally' or 'think outside the box' are, in my humble opinion, silly in this context. None of us here are experts on the gunblade (yes, you are NOT a gunblade expert, and certainly don't have any knowledge we don't). None of us know it's inner mechanism, it's intricate build. On the other hand, Square DO know, and Square said it doesn't fire a bullet. If you think we shouldn't accept that, then I think you're grasping at straws, and quite frankly, most people will agree with me.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

U just don't like me do u? U argue with at practically everything I post. My statements are reasonable. We are not here to take info. from wikidpedia or Ultimania guide. the threads wouldn't be any fun if that's all we had to do. I think i'll just stop posting if that'll make u happy.

[w2hunter]

oooo ooooo i got this one let me get in on this! WHO GIVES A PuPU!?!

Quistis told me to hit [R1] befor you hit an enimy so what did i do i hit [R1] befor i struck an enimy. it mad my controler rumble and this excited me!
so i contiuned to do it! and it works on limiet breaks too quistis told me! and it does more damage and really i dont give a flying garden aboot how it works! i think you guys are lookin into this to much....
BUT if it did shoot any thing y dont you have to by ammo for it.........??? discuss!

[ApocalypticLeon]

...

Heero, I don't think your grasping the concept... the Gunblade does not fire bullets, reguardless of the fact you say they do. Square, the creators ofthis fine game, said they do not fire bullets, so, in turn, they don't, and never will. End of story.

And, well, in my honest opinion, your statements are nowhere near reasonable. There is no diffrence from firing bullets from a barrel at the end of a blade then from a gun such as Irvine's. The only sound diffrence is that there is a blade between the two barrels...

[Christmas]

. My statements are reasonable. We are not here to take info. from wikidpedia or Ultimania guide. the threads wouldn't be any fun if that's all we had to do. I think i'll just stop posting if that'll make u happy.


Yes I have.Valid reasons weren&#180;t proofs but they ENHANCE the validity of a theory.


My theories can coexist with the game without denying anything on it.


Don&#180;t wanna proof.Just explain why it is unreasonable to you.

And no, the gunblade do not fire bullets or else Squall will be doing what Yazoo is doing. And note Yazoo's weapon is called Velvet Nightmare instead of a Gunblade.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

Dude! I'm done! Why can't u ppl?(i'm talkin to u Apocalypitc Leon) I already said i would stop posting about the stupid gunblade! Stop ganging up on me! U ppl need to leave me alone!(and read what my last post is before u say anything about me. I'm talking to u again Apocalyptic Leon!)

[Asaelion]

I'm sorry to have taken such a long break from this thread, it seems it has evolved a lot from when I posted.

Anyways, now that it has been proven that a projectile is not shot from the gunblade, we can focus on what the "shock" going through the blade is. I believe -that as I said earlier- the "bullets" in the chamber are some form of compressed energy. When the firing pin hits the cap of the shell, the energy is released through the blade, with the blade acting as a guide for the energy to wrap around.

The energy that comes out of this shell varies depending on the gunblade. Squalls particular model has a large blade to deal with his heavier caliber shells, while Seifers has a smaller more manuverable blade and so smaller caliber bullets.

I hate to join in with the "gang up" on Heero but if the developers said that the Gunblade fired no bullets then it officially fires no bullets, no matter what our observations might be. In the real world Heero and everybody else who supported the projectile side would have a valid arguement from observation. However since we can directly and realistically contact the "creators" of this world, it is their creation and so follows their physics, unlike the real world where we can't really "contact" our creator and so have to rely on empirical observations.

[Heero Yuy NWZC]

it's kinda late man. this thread has been over for pretty much a month. sry to dissapoint u, try looking at some other threads, ok? :D

[S.A.M.]

from wikipedia:

"A Gunblade is a sword with a pistol or revolver embedded in the blade. The layout of such a weapon differs from a rifle with a bayonet in that the edged component has an integral barrel, rather than being attached to the end of the barrel. In essence, the gunblade has a pistol to supplement a sword, while bayonet is a blade to supplement a rifle. The gunblade does not fire projectiles, despite its name. Triggering a round in the gun chamber sends a shockwave through the blade, increasing the damage potential to whatever the blade strikes at that moment (confirmed by the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, an official publication of Square-Enix). This enhanced strike requires perfect timing by the user, making this weapon difficult to master and use effectively."

[Cookie]

since i joined these forums about 75% of posts have been negative towards ff. if you dont like it GO AWAY! the gunblade is a good weapon and it doesn't need to be questioned because you are all supposed to like the game.

[Big D]

from wikipedia:

"A Gunblade is a sword with a pistol or revolver embedded in the blade. The layout of such a weapon differs from a rifle with a bayonet in that the edged component has an integral barrel, rather than being attached to the end of the barrel. In essence, the gunblade has a pistol to supplement a sword, while bayonet is a blade to supplement a rifle. The gunblade does not fire projectiles, despite its name. Triggering a round in the gun chamber sends a shockwave through the blade, increasing the damage potential to whatever the blade strikes at that moment (confirmed by the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, an official publication of Square-Enix). This enhanced strike requires perfect timing by the user, making this weapon difficult to master and use effectively."Yep, that's what it says in the FAQ at the top of this forum:)

[The Last Oath]

When the bullet is fired it explodes onto the enemy and sends shockwaves and vibrations for extra power

[Iceglow]

The Gun-blade was a real historical weapon. It was introduced to the world in the age where guns were taking over from swords as the main weapon of war and later became a smaller detachable "sword" or knife called a bayonet. What the original historical gun-blade looked like was simply a rifle or musket with a blade running below the barel along the full legnth from the trigger guard out extending past the barel in to a stabbing point. The weapon was used as a sword once the enemy either closed too close to be able to shoot or if absoloutely neccessary. It was however a large unwieldly weapon that proved difficult to use as a mistake gripping your gun-blade to shoot with it would mean that the blade took your fingers off also a soldier carrying a gun-blade had to be careful not to shoulder the weapon backwards if in a hurry or sleep deprived due to the high risk of injury. In the end the Gun-blade was declared a failure especially since most officers or soldiers would lack the stregnth needed to swing the weapon as a sword in a melee for long (the weight of the weapon and difficulties in handling it of course meant that the Gun-blade whilst superior to the sword if equipped to a big enough unit was not accurate as a rifle and was used in close range combat more than a "sniping" style of combat) and whilst only used in a few battles with pirates (maybe a few european wars too but I don't remember studying any or hearing of them) it was soon surpassed by technological advancement and the development of the modern day bayonet (based on a rather flimsy rapier style long sword called the Yatagan). I believe it's service in the world was limited to under 20 years and since rifles were expensive and hard to produce they seem to have recycled most of the Gun-blades in to rifles however I believe that a few of them still exist in museums.

That the Gun-blade was used as the main weapon of final fantasy viii is interesting. Both Squall and Seifer carry them however they are not based on traditional styles or techniques of using them. However there is one traditional thing that comes through and was lost by Squall (or leon as he called himself in kingdom hearts) in kingdom hearts was the fact that the rifle or gun part of the weapon was used in close range. Maybe in Final Fantasy VIII he and Seifer used the weapon in what would be considered pointless range since the weight of the sword would do more damage in melee combat (try shooting someone in the torso or cutting his throat with a sword, tell me whats more effective when they have a sword swinging at your head). Average range of the shot ideally would have been 20 - 30 yards then charging the disarrayed enemies and clubbing them with the blade part of the weapon in a melee. So I suggest that the theory that their barels appear either off to the side of the blade or along the top (though I don't quite agree with the theory of the Revolver firing from the tip of the blade as it seems quite thin I offer no new contradictions to this it's only a game.) is more correct than any "Vibrating blade" theory which in my eyes is a load of steaming cow manure.

[rubah]

I'm gonna shoot you all with gunblades ifyou don't stop reviving discussed-to-death topics.