Vanquish (video game)

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Vanquish
PG Vanquish box artwork.png
Developer(s) Platinum Games
Publisher(s) Sega
Director(s) Shinji Mikami
Producer(s) Atsushi Inaba
Keith Dwyer
Jun Yoshino
Writer(s) Hiroki Kato
Jean Pierre Kellams
Composer(s) Erina Niwa
Masafumi Takada
Masakazu Sugimori
Engine Platinum engine
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date(s) NA 20101019October 19, 2010
JP 20101021October 21, 2010
AU 20101021October 21, 2010
EU October 26, 2010[1]
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Vanquish (Japanese: ヴァンキッシュ Hepburn: Vankisshu?) is a third-person shooter video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. Having been in development since 2007,[2] the game was released in October 2010.[1]

Vanquish is notable for introducing several innovations to the 3D shooter genre, including a fast-paced style of gameplay reminiscent of 2D bullet hell shooters,[3] beat 'em up elements,[4] and an original sliding-boost mechanic.[5]

Contents

Plot [edit]

Vanquish takes place in the near future where Earth's human population has grown so rapidly that nations are fighting for the scarce remaining resources. The United States of America has attempted to alleviate its energy problems by launching an O'Neill Cylinder space station harboring a solar energy-driven generator to provide them with an alternative source of energy. However, the government of the Russian Federation has been overthrown in a coup d'état by ultra-nationalist forces calling themselves the Order of the Russian Star.

Russian forces capture the space station and divert its harvested solar energy into a blast wave that devastates San Francisco. The main antagonist, Victor Zaitsev, demands that the American government surrender or he will choose New York City as his next target.[6]

The President of the United States of America, Elizabeth Winters, takes Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Burns, a decorated war veteran, and puts him in charge of a newly-commissioned task force called Bravo Company. This team consists of several space-faring special forces, veteran Marines, and the remnants of the defending U.S. forces on board the space station. She also gives them the game's protagonist and playable character, Sam Gideon (voiced by Gideon Emery in the English version.)

Sam is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) researcher equipped with an Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS), a cutting-edge mechanical suit outfitted with a vast array of functions, including jet boosters attached to both arms and legs. He is armed with an experimental Battlefield Logic Adaptable Electronic Weapons System (BLADE), which is capable of scanning any existing weapon and then transforming into a perfect replica. Its ability to store three scans at a time means that at any given time the BLADE can shapeshift between three different weapons.

This mission gives DARPA the perfect chance to test the ARS. The President and the Secretary of Defense give Sam classified orders to rescue a scientist named Dr. Francois Candide, who was working on-site when the station was attacked. The doctor has decided to take matters into his own hands and is trying to disable the array before it can be used to attack another city.[7]

Gameplay [edit]

Players control Sam Gideon, a DARPA agent armed with the Augmented Reaction Suit. If the player takes too much damage, the suit will automatically enter Augmented Reaction mode (AR mode), which slows down time, helping the player to avoid being killed. The player can also manually enter AR mode by holding down the target button while evading, allowing the player to target enemies easily. At any time, the player can use boosters on the suit to move quickly across the area. If the player uses AR mode or the boosters too much in a short time, the suit will overheat and will require a short period to cool down, during which Sam is less mobile. The suit will also overheat instantly if the player performs a melee attack, and certain areas will also overheat the suit.

Sam's weaponry consists of the BLADE weapons system and two types of grenade. The BLADE system can store up to three weapons at a time (from a total of eight weapon types), with the player able to swap weapons if he encounters a new one. These weapons, and the grenades, can be upgraded by collecting upgrade boxes, or by collecting the same type of weapon while it has maximum ammunition. Upgrading these weapons improves their abilities, such as their maximum ammunition capacity, accuracy, and blast radius. Players can aid injured allies on the field to earn weapons, or find them in crates or weapon lockers. In Normal difficulty or higher, weapons are downgraded if the player dies.

Other gameplay mechanics include the use of explosives during certain areas, commandeering enemy vehicles or turrets, the ability to use cigarettes to distract enemies, and quick time events during certain battles against larger enemies. It has also significantly improved upon the cover system, which it has been credited for taking "to the next level." In contrast to previous cover-based shooters, Vanquish has bullets and missiles coming from all directions in a manner reminiscent of bullet hell shooters and the cover is easily destructible, forcing the player character to be on the move, while the game also penalizes the player's score for the amount of time spent in cover.[8][9][3] Its most important innovation, however, is the sliding-boost mechanic that allows the player to slide into and out of cover at high speeds (and in slow motion using bullet time),[9] acting as a defensive escape and an offensive set up, opening up new gameplay possibilities for cover-based shooters and increasing the pace significantly.[5] The game also has a unique end credits sequence, which is interactive and plays like a rail shooter, with the lead designer Shinji Mikami being the most difficult 'enemy' to take down.[10]

Development [edit]

The game's director, Shinji Mikami, stated that Vanquish's graphics were partially inspired by Casshern, a 1970s anime television series by Tatsunoko Production.[11] Mikami also stated that the game design itself was inspired by Casshern. Mikami originally wanted to create a game just like Casshern, but with the addition of guns, since Mikami had already previously created a brawler with God Hand. However, while making Vanquish a shooter, Mikami still wanted to maintain Casshern's "feeling of speed" which is the reason he introduced the sliding-boost mechanic.[12] Vanquish uses the Havok physics engine.[13]

The game has been in development since 2007; in January 2010, a pre-rendered video trailer was released.[2][14] Atsushi Inaba produced the game. Mikami has stated that the game is being developed with the PlayStation 3 as its lead platform in an effort to "help avoid dodgy PS3 ports", commenting that it was a "great success."[15][16] It is Shinji Mikami's first game under the Platinum Games brand.

Reception [edit]

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings (X360) 83.95%[17]
(PS3) 83.44%[18]
Metacritic (X360) 84/100[19]
(PS3) 84/100[20]
Review scores
Publication Score
1UP.com B+[21]
Eurogamer 9/10[22]
Famitsu 37/40[23]
Game Informer 7.75/10[24]
Game Revolution B+[25]
GameSpot 9/10[26]
GameTrailers 9/10[27]
IGN 8.5/10[28]
Thunderbolt 10/10[29]
Awards
Entity Award
Classic Game Room,[30] TGN Times,[31] Zavvi.com[32] Game of the Year
X360[33] Best Shooter
IGN[34] Best Sci-Fi Game (PS3)
GameSpot[35] Best Game No One Played
GameSpot[5] Best Original Game Mechanic (Rocket Sliding)
GamesRadar Most "Oh Shit" Moments Per Minute[36]

Critical reception [edit]

Vanquish was widely acclaimed by critics, with many reviewers praising the game's visuals, gameplay, innovation, fast pace, and over-the-top style, though some also criticized its short length, lack of multiplayer, mediocre plot, and corny dialogue. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Xbox 360 version 83.95% and 84/100[17][19] and the PlayStation 3 version 83.44% and 84/100.[18][20] GameTrailers gave it a 9.0, noting that it is hard to imagine the slow-motion gameplay working in multiplayer.[27] Game Informer stated "Don't be surprised if you finish your first playthrough in four hours or less."[24] This view was challenged by Platinum Games writer Jean Pierre Kellams[37] and Eurogamer.[38]

Sales [edit]

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Vanquish respectively debuted at number four (48,318 units) and number 14 (11,204 units) on Japanese sales charts during their release week.[39] By the end of 2010, the game sold over 400,000 copies worldwide,[40] and over 880,000 copies as of March 2013.[41]

Awards [edit]

Vanquish has received Game of the Year awards from the Classic Game Room,[30] Zavvi.com,[32] and TGN Times.[31] X360 gave it the "Best Shooter" award,[33] and GamesRadar gave it an award for Most "Oh Shit" Moments Per Minute.[36] IGN gave it the "Best Sci-Fi Game" award in the PS3 category,[34] and nominated the game for the awards of "Coolest Atmosphere",[42] "Most Challenging",[43] "Most Addictive Game",[44] "Best Visuals"[45] and "Best Blockbuster Game".[46] GameSpot gave the game the awards for "Best Game No One Played", both the editors' award and the Readers' Choice award,[35] and "Best Original Game Mechanic" for its rocket-sliding game mechanic, which acts as both a defensive escape and an offensive setup, opening up new gameplay possibilities for action games.[5] GameSpot also nominated the game for the awards of "Best Shooter",[47] "Best Sound Design",[48] "Best Original IP",[49] "Best Xbox 360 Game",[50] "Best PS3 Game"[51] and overall "Game of the Year".[52]

Aftermath [edit]

The game has set a new trend, with its influence seen in recent shooter games that have incorporated similar sliding-boost mechanics. Some of the games that appear to have incorporated similar mechanics include first-person shooters such as Bulletstorm,[53][54] Crysis 2,[53] and Killzone 3,[55] and third-person shooters such as Sega's Binary Domain.[56]

Pre-order bonuses [edit]

If pre-ordered from GameStop in North America, Vanquish came with an exclusive tri-weapon download pack. That download pack later became available for sale on Xbox Live and Playstation Network. Several European retailers offered free copies of Bayonetta with pre-orders of Vanquish. Zavvi in the UK offered a limited statuette as a preorder bonus.

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Vanquish - Xbox 360 - IGN". Uk.xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  2. ^ a b "Vanquish - Exclusive Debut Trailer". GameTrailers. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-07-14. 
  3. ^ a b Vanquish an intense sci-fi shooter, Toronto Sun
  4. ^ "Changing Gears: Xbox 360's smartest, sharpest cover shooters". Official Xbox Magazine. August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012. 
  5. ^ a b c d Special Achievement: Best Original Game Mechanic, GameSpot
  6. ^ Shinji Mikami (2010-07-15). "Voice and Voice Acting >> Platinum Games Inc.". Platinum Games Inc. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
  7. ^ "Vanquish". giantbomb. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
  8. ^ Why Vanquish will make Gears Of War obsolete, Play
  9. ^ a b Vanquish video game review, The Telegraph
  10. ^ Greatest gaming moments of 2010, Computer and Video Games
  11. ^ Spencer (2010-07-03). "Vanquish Visuals Inspired By Casshern". Siliconera. Retrieved 2010-07-05. 
  12. ^ Interview: Shinji Mikami on Vanquish, evolving game dev locales and ... punching fools, Joystiq
  13. ^ Caoili, Eric (October 4, 2010). "Platinum Games Chooses Havok Physics, Animation For Vanquish". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
  14. ^ Luke Plunkett (2010-01-28). "Introducing "Vanquish", A New Game From The Creator Of Resident Evil". Kotaku. Retrieved 2010-07-14. 
  15. ^ Andy Robinson (2010-03-17). "Vanquish dev explains PS3 lead platform". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  16. ^ Andy Robinson (2010-06-11). "PS3 'a success' as lead platform - Mikami". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  17. ^ a b "Vanquish (X360)". GameRankings. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  18. ^ a b "Vanquish (PS3)". GameRankings. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  19. ^ a b "Vanquish (X360)". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  20. ^ a b "Vanquish (PS3)". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  21. ^ Nguyen, Thierry (2010-10-19). "Vanquish Review for PS3, 360 from". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  22. ^ Parkin, Simon (2010-10-19). "Vanquish Review • Page 1 • Reviews •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  23. ^ "Vanquish review - Famitsu gives 9.25/10". Famitsu. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  24. ^ a b "Vanquish Review: A One-Note Burst Of Adrenaline - Vanquish - Xbox 360". www.GameInformer.com. 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  25. ^ "Vanquish Review". Gamerevolution.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  26. ^ "Vanquish Review". GameSpot.com. 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  27. ^ a b "Vanquish: Reviews, Trailers, and Interviews". Gametrailers.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  28. ^ Ryan Clements. "Vanquish Review - Xbox 360 Review at IGN". Xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  29. ^ "Vanquish - Xbox 360 review at Thunderbolt Games". Thunderboltgames.com. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  30. ^ a b Classic Game Room - 2010 GAME OF THE YEAR Awards, Classic Game Room
  31. ^ a b Peak (January 2, 2011). "Top 5 games of 2010". TGN Times. TGN TV. Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011. 
  32. ^ a b Roivas, Chet (December 21, 2010). "The 25 Best Games Of 2010". Zavvi.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011. 
  33. ^ a b X360 Magazine Critics Choice Award 2010, X360
  34. ^ a b Best Sci-Fi Game, IGN
  35. ^ a b Best Game No One Played, GameSpot
  36. ^ a b Platinum Chalice Awards (Page 3), GamesRadar
  37. ^ "Twitter / JP Kellams: GameInformer: "Don't be su". Twitter.com. 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  38. ^ Leadbetter, Richard (2010-10-23). "Is Vanquish a four-hour game? Blog • Blogs •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  39. ^ Ishaan (October 27, 2010). "This Week In Sales: Vanquish, No More Heroes 2, And Super Mario Collection". Siliconera. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  40. ^ "Vanquish Boosts Past 800,000 Sold, Sonic Colors Sells Over Double That Number". Siliconera. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  41. ^ "Appendix of Consolidated Financial Statements Year Ended March 31, 2011". Sega Sammy Holdings. May 13, 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 13 April 2012. 
  42. ^ "Coolest Atmosphere". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  43. ^ "Most Challenging". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  44. ^ "Most Addictive Game". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  45. ^ "Best Visuals". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  46. ^ "Best Blockbuster Game". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  47. ^ "Best Shooter". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  48. ^ "Best Sound Design". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  49. ^ "Best Original IP". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  50. ^ "Best Xbox 360 Game". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  51. ^ "Best PS3 Game". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  52. ^ "Game of the Year". GameSpot. December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  53. ^ a b Games Inbox: Assassin's Creed III hints, ninjas vs. samurai, and hydrophilia, Metro
  54. ^ "Bulletstorm Review for PlayStation 3". GameSpot. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  55. ^ Killzone 3 Review, Computer and Video Games
  56. ^ "Trailer: Binary Age". The Sixth Axis. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 

External links [edit]

Games directed by Shinji Mikami
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