favorite type of melee weapon?

[Ayame Murasaki]

Ah, shovels. How I love them. Good for smashing skulls and for shoveling the driveway. I was just so damn happy when Silent Hill 4 let me use them as a weapon, let me tell you.
But, anyway, since shovels are so often not an option, I'll go with a mace or a war-hammer.

 

[Aaron Sylvester]

spears, i just don't get why everyone is so into swords. there are more design options for spears and more fighting styles

Spears are difficult to use in close combat, and very awkward to wield around obstacles or in enclosed spaces. Also when not in use they aren't particularly easy to stow-away.
That's why they were typically a one-time use weapon, after which the soldier would switch to their sword for the rest of the battle.

As for "more fighting styles", I really doubt that. Thrusting is literally your only option for inflicting any kind of serious damage, while most swords can use both thrusts and slashes.

Katana will definitely be the best sword ! Be Samurai !

Wouldn't you rather have a nice dwarven battle axe?

Cracking for clearing a path to the buffet table!

I know it's Tolkien fantasy n' all, but every time I see Gimli wielding that giant axe around I think "by the time he starts swinging that thing an elf could've stabbed him 5 times"

 

[Batou667]

On the basis of Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising and Dead Island? A fire axe for me please. Great combination of weight and cutting ability.

 

[Indecipherable]

I'm not sure if it always my favourite but a good mace deserves a special mention. Yes a longsword can lop off a head but a mace will do the same - though the head won't be intact. A mace to the face will decapitate and leave just bits and pieces to find on the floor.

 

[spartandude]

Im a big fan of the classics

Spoiler: The Thunder Hammer for example

Nothing like crushing your enemy, their armor, and their mode of transport at the same time.