Should weapons be different sprites?

Hello,

I am currently developing a top down shooter game (2D), and I was wondering if I should make each weapon the player is holding a separate sprite. Right now, I have the character and the weapon in the same sprite, with separate animations for each weapon. Should I add a “gun” sprite and make it look like it’s following the player, or just stick with what I’m doing? If I should make look like it’s following the player, how should I do it?

Thanks,

~~Higgsboson728

I’m developing a 2D game at the moment. I decided to make my weapons child objects of my player. It just gives me more control.

As for making the gun look like its following the player, if the weapon is a child of the player it will follow regardless as it’s transform will be linked to the parent object

Hope this helps.