This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Ever since I was a kid, I have wished that the Portal Gun from the Portal series was real. I’m not ashamed to admit it; I’m sure a lot of other people feel the same. Being able to teleport through portals instantaneously and travel wherever you want at a moment’s notice would be a great ability to have in real life. But then it got me thinking, what other video game items would I like to have in real life? A lot of video game items would be useful for everyday purposes. Here’s a list of what I believe to be the best video game items to have in real life and what I would use them for.
Portal Gun (Portal and Portal 2)
As I mentioned before, I would love to have a Portal Gun in real life. This video game item is iconic and has been referenced within the gaming community and beyond. Seen in the puzzle-adventure series Portal, the player is tasked to venture through Aperture Laboratories, solving physics puzzles while also “testing” the Portal Gun’s capabilities. Able to shoot out orange and blue-colored portals, this item is easily recognizable for its unique design and useful abilities.
Technically, you can only shoot a portal at “portal-conducting” surfaces (which are made of moon rock and are very expensive) but since this is my article, let’s pretend that any surface can work. The Portal Gun can only be shot at whatever is in eyesight, which kind of limits a few options, but if you’re smart about how to use it, it can be a very helpful tool. I think I would mostly use it to go back and forth from work. I have a long commute, so being able to cut 45 minutes down into five seconds would be extremely helpful. Not only that, but I would save a ton of money on gas, and I would never forget anything at home!
Return Scepter (Stardew Valley)
The Return Scepter is one of the later-game items you can buy in Stardew Valley, at a hefty price too! Achieved by going into the town’s sewers and speaking to the mysterious shopkeeper Krobus, this magical scepter teleports you home from wherever you are in the game. As the game runs on a day-night system, where you have to be in bed by 2 a.m. or risk passing out and losing your items, the Return Scepter is a great way to travel throughout the world of Stardew Valley.
The Scepter is a one-way trip- it can only teleport you home, but can’t teleport you anywhere else. I feel like this item could be used for long-distance trips. You only need to buy one ticket one way and once you’re done with your vacation, you can then use the scepter to magic yourself back home. Just make sure not to forget anything when you use it!
Gravity Gun (Half-Life 2)
The Gravity Gun appears in Half-Life 2 as one of the many useful tools granted to the player, Gordon Freeman. Valve, the creators of the Half-Life franchise, were able to make this game using the Source Engine, meaning that there were more possibilities for dynamic physics. In HL2, each object has weight to it- a crate would weigh a lot more than a soda can, and so on. Valve wanted to allow the player the chance to be able to pick up large objects easily, so they created the Gravity Gun, allowing the players a chance to interact with heavier objects in the game.
I’m naturally lazy when it comes to cleaning up my room. Having a Gravity Gun would make cleaning much simpler and much quicker. Plus, it would be useful for moving, as I would be able to load and unload my car in ten seconds flat.
Pip-Boy (Fallout)
In the Fallout series, the Pip-Boy acts as the player’s menu screen, from which they can display the status of your character’s health, your abilities, maps, and quests. Found on your character’s wrist, it’s essentially a miniature computer. It’s a unique way of displaying the user interface to the player. Though we have smartphones that are probably more advanced than the Pip-Boy in many capacities, the Pip-Boy can display player health, which I think could be useful if I’m starting to feel sick but don’t know what the problem is.
Blue Shell (Mario Kart)
If you have ever played Mario Kart, you may be familiar with this power-up. Given to players who are dead last, it gives them the chance to stop players in first place. When thrown, the Blue Shell targets those in first place, though it is possible to dodge if you are a pro. Obviously, I would use this whenever I’m stuck behind someone going really slow. Assuming no actual damage is done to the car or the person inside of it, I would love to use these when I’m running late.
What do you think are the best video game items to have in real life? Leave a comment below!
Leave a Reply