Vanquish (video game)

Vanquish
Developer(s) PlatinumGames
Publisher(s) Sega
Director(s) Shinji Mikami
Producer(s) Atsushi Inaba
Jun Yoshino
Designer(s) Masaaki Yamada
Shigenori Nishikawa
Junichi Oka
Hiroki Kato
Programmer(s) Kiyohiko Sakata
Shuichiro Chiboshi
Writer(s) Hiroki Kato
Jean Pierre Kellams
Composer(s) Erina Niwa
Masafumi Takada
Masakazu Sugimori
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date(s)
  • NA October 19, 2010
  • AUS October 21, 2010
  • JP October 21, 2010
  • EU October 22, 2010
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Vanquish (Japanese: ヴァンキッシュ Hepburn: Bankisshu) is a third-person shooter video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Sega for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The game began in development in 2007[1] and was released worldwide in October 2010.[2]

The game 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]

Gameplay

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. His 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.[3][6][7] 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),[7] 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.[8]

Plot

In the near future, Earth's human population grew so rapidly that nations are fighting for the scarce remaining resources and the United States of America has attempted to alleviate its energy problems by launching an O'Neill Cylinder space station that harbors 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, captured the space station and diverted its harvested solar energy into a blast wave that devastates San Francisco. Victor Zaitsev (Marc Worden) demands that the American government surrender or New York City will be his next target.[9]

The President of the United States of America, Elizabeth Winters (Lee Meriwether) takes Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Burns (Steven Blum), a decorated war veteran, and puts him in charge of a newly commissioned task force called Bravo Company that 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 playable character, Sam Gideon (Gideon Emery), 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. The 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 (Benito Martinez), who works on-site when the station was attacked, he decides to take matters into his own hands and tries to disable the array before it can be used to attack another city.[10]

As Sam reaches the microwave source station, Candide tells him that Burns and the President have betrayed all of the Americans. After killing Candide with his rifle inside his arm, Burns tells Sam that he will change the microwave's target to Moscow with the government sending an economic stimulus package, before attacking to prevent their leadership from suspecting anything. After a fight, the dying Burns apologizes and allows Sam to escape, before using the bomb on his robotic arm which explodes and kills him along with his men. Sam destroys two Bogey warriors from a slave unit. One activates a tactical nuke, and explodes and destroys the O'Neill Cylinder in space. Sam manages to unite with Elena Ivanova (Kari Wahlgren) in the SBC2 spaceship by piloting the escape pod. Zaitsev survives the explosion, piloting his own escape pod and President Winters shoots herself in the head with the gun at her desk.

Development and release

Promotion at TGS 2010

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's development began in 2007. In January 2010, a pre-rendered video trailer was released.[1][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 Mikami's only game under the PlatinumGames brand.

If pre-ordered from GameStop in North America, the game came with an exclusive tri-weapon download pack[17] that 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 Edition release which included a statuette of lead protagonist Sam Gideon as a preorder bonus.[18]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS3Xbox 360
DestructoidN/A5/10[19]
Edge8/10[20]N/A
EurogamerN/A9/10[21]
Game InformerN/A7.75/10[22]
GameProN/A[23]
Game RevolutionB+[24]B+[24]
GameSpot9/10[25]9/10[25]
GameTrailersN/A9/10[26]
GameZone7/10[27]7/10[27]
Giant Bomb[28][28]
IGN8.5/10[29]8.5/10[29]
JoystiqN/A[30]
OXMN/A9/10[31]
PSM8/10[32]N/A
The Daily TelegraphN/A9/10[7]
The Escapist[33]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic84/100[34]84/100[35]
Awards
PublicationAward
CGR, Zavvi.comGame of the Year[36][37]
X360Best Shooter
IGN[38]Best Sci-Fi Game (PS3)[39]
GameSpotBest Game No One Played[40]
GameSpotBest Original Game Mechanic[5]
GamesRadarMost "Oh Shit" Moments Per Minute[41]

Critical reception

Vanquish received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[34][35] Many reviewers praised the game's visuals, gameplay,[42] innovation, fast pace, and over-the-top style, though some also criticized its short length, lack of multiplayer, mediocre plot,[29] and corny dialogue.[43] GameTrailers noted that it is hard to imagine the slow-motion gameplay working in multiplayer.[26] Game Informer stated, "Don't be surprised if you finish your first playthrough in four hours or less."[22] This view was challenged by PlatinumGames' writer Jean Pierre Kellams[44] as well as Eurogamer.[45]

In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a score of two nines, one ten, and one nine, for a total of 37 out of 40.[46] Elsewhere, The Daily Telegraph gave the Xbox 360 version a score of nine out of ten and called it "a fast-paced, high-octane and resolutely hard-core shooter, which makes no concessions to casual gamers. It also happens to be one of the best games of 2010."[7] The A.V. Club gave the same console version a B+, calling it "flat-out ridiculous, designed strictly to amuse, not to offer any greater message."[47] The Escapist gave the PlayStation 3 version a score of four stars out of five, saying, "All of the trappings are perfectly sound if not extraordinary, and despite one or two incredibly vexing design decisions, Vanquish's combat is blisteringly fast and a genuine pleasure to watch and play when it's going well - but an exercise in maddening frustration when it isn't."[33] The Guardian also gave the same console version four stars out of five, saying that it "isn't going to change the face of gaming, but it's impressive to behold, satisfying to play (as long as you're reasonably hardcore) and shot through with humour (look out, for example, for the robots dancing to a ghetto-blaster which transforms into a mobile gun). It's the best thing Shinji Mikami has done for quite a while."[48] Eurogamer said it was "a game of astounding creativity and polish" and "the best third-person shooter ever to come out of Japan." Their only minor criticism was the title's replay value, "perhaps the only area of the game which lags behind its Western counterparts."[49]

Sales

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game respectively debuted at number four (48,318 units) and number 14 (11,204 units) on Japanese sales charts during their release week.[50] By the end of February 2011, the game sold over 800,000 copies worldwide,[51][52]

Awards

The game received Game of the Year awards from the Classic Game Room,[36] and Zavvi.com.[37] X360 gave it the "Best Shooter" award,[38] and GamesRadar gave it an award for Most "Oh Shit" Moments Per Minute.[41] IGN gave it the "Best Sci-Fi Game" award in the PS3 category,[39] and nominated the game for the awards of "Coolest Atmosphere",[53] "Most Challenging",[54] "Most Addictive Game",[55] "Best Visuals"[56] and "Best Blockbuster Game".[57] GameSpot gave the game the awards for "Best Game No One Played", both the editors' award and the Readers' Choice award,[40] 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",[58] "Best Sound Design",[59] "Best Original IP",[60] "Best Xbox 360 Game",[61] "Best PS3 Game"[62] and overall "Game of the Year".[63]

References

  1. 1 2 "Vanquish Exclusive Debut Trailer". GameRankings. January 28, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Vanquish - Xbox 360". IGN. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Vandergaag, Chris (January 6, 2011). "Vanquish an intense sci-fi shooter". Toronto Sun.
  4. ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (August 2012). "Changing Gears: Xbox 360's smartest, sharpest cover shooters [Incomplete]". Official Xbox Magazine UK. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Winegarner, Tyler (December 20, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best Original Game Mechanic Winner". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ Mackensie, Gavin (July 19, 2010). "Why Vanquish will make Gears Of War obsolete". Play UK. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cowen, Nick (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish video game review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph.
  8. ↑ PSM3 staff (January 22, 2011). "Greatest gaming moments of 2010". PSM3. Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ Mikami, Shinji (July 15, 2010). "Voice and Voice Acting". PlatinumGames. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Vanquish". Giant Bomb. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ Spencer (July 3, 2010). "Vanquish Visuals Inspired By Casshern". Siliconera. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ Gilbert, Ben (June 28, 2010). "Interview: Shinji Mikami on Vanquish, evolving game dev locales and... punching fools". Engadget (Joystiq). Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ Caoili, Eric (October 4, 2010). "PlatinumGames Chooses Havok Physics, Animation For Vanquish". Gamasutra. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  14. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (January 29, 2010). "Introducing "Vanquish", A New Game From The Creator Of Resident Evil". Kotaku. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Andy (March 17, 2010). "Vanquish dev explains PS3 lead platform". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ Robinson, Andy (June 11, 2010). "PS3 'a success' as lead platform - Mikami". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ IGN staff (July 9, 2010). "Exclusive GameStop Vanquish Pre-Order Content Available". IGN. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ Parfitt, Ben (September 15, 2010). "Zavvi gets exclusive Vanquish LE". Market for Home Computing and Video Games. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ Sterling, Jim (October 19, 2010). "Review: Vanquish (X360)". Destructoid. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  20. ↑ Edge staff (December 2010). "Vanquish Review (PS3)". Edge (Future plc) (222): 86. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  21. ↑ Parkin, Simon (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish (X360)". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  22. 1 2 Ryckert, Dan (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish (X360)". Game Informer. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  23. ↑ Johnson, Nellie (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish (X360)". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Laddin, Josh (October 27, 2010). "Vanquish Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  25. 1 2 VanOrd, Kevin (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish Review". GameSpot. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Vanquish Review (X360)". GameTrailers. October 19, 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  27. 1 2 Haley, William (October 24, 2010). "Vanquish review". GameZone. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Davis, Ryan (November 2, 2010). "Vanquish Review". Giant Bomb. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 Clements, Ryan (October 18, 2010). "Vanquish Review". IGN. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  30. ↑ Nelson, Randy (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish review: Smokin' (X360)". Engadget (Joystiq). Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Vanquish". Official Xbox Magazine: 84. November 2010.
  32. ↑ "Review: Vanquish". PlayStation: The Official Magazine: 76. December 2010.
  33. 1 2 Funk, John (October 28, 2010). "Review: Vanquish (PS3)". The Escapist. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  34. 1 2 "Vanquish for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  35. 1 2 "Vanquish for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  36. 1 2 Lord Karnage (December 31, 2010). "Classic Game Room - 2010 GAME OF THE YEAR Awards". YouTube.
  37. 1 2 Alex (December 21, 2010). "The 25 Best Games Of 2010". Zavvi.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  38. 1 2 Shaw, Dave (2010). "X360 Magazine Critics Choice Award 2010 – Mass Effect 2". X360. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  39. 1 2 "Best Sci-Fi Game 2010". IGN. December 2010.
  40. 1 2 Heir, Janmeja (December 21, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best Game No One Played Winner". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  41. 1 2 GamesRadar US & UK (December 16, 2010). "The Platinum Chalice Awards 2010 (Page 3)". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  42. ↑ Reparaz, Mikel (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish super review". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  43. ↑ Hussain, Tamoor (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish Review". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  44. ↑ Kellams, JP (October 14, 2010). "Twitter / JP Kellams: GameInformer". Twitter. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  45. ↑ Leadbetter, Richard (October 23, 2010). "Is Vanquish a four-hour game?". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  46. ↑ CVG staff (October 13, 2010). "Vanquish review - Famitsu gives 9.25/10". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  47. ↑ Wolinsky, David (November 1, 2010). "Vanquish (X360)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  48. ↑ Boxer, Steve (October 19, 2010). "Vanquish - review (PS3)". The Guardian. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  49. ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-10-18-vanquish-review?page=2
  50. ↑ Ishaan (October 27, 2010). "This Week In Sales: Vanquish, No More Heroes 2, And Super Mario Collection". Siliconera. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  51. ↑ Spencer (February 4, 2011). "Vanquish Boosts Past 800,000 Sold, Sonic Colors Sells Over Double That Number". Siliconera. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  52. ↑ "Appendix of Consolidated Financial Statements Year Ended March 31, 2011" (PDF). Sega Sammy Holdings. May 13, 2011. p. 6. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  53. ↑ "Coolest Atmosphere 2010". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Most Challenging 2010". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Most Addictive Game 2010". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  56. ↑ "Best Visuals 2010". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  57. ↑ "Best Blockbuster Game 2010". IGN. December 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  58. ↑ "Best of 2010 - Best Shooter Nominees". GameSpot. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  59. ↑ Mihoerck, Dan (December 13, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best Sound Design Nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  60. ↑ Winegarner, Tyler (December 13, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best Original IP Nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  61. ↑ GameSpot staff (December 13, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best Xbox 360 Game Nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  62. ↑ GameSpot staff (December 13, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Best PS3 Game Nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  63. ↑ GameSpot staff (December 13, 2010). "Best of 2010 - Game of the Year Nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2016.

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