It’s true: there aren’t many good third-person shooters for gamers to choose from these days. That’s why it’s exciting (and not just for me) that SEGA recently released Vanquish on Steam.
Heralded as one of the most underrated shooters in recent memory, Vanquish made many a gamer’s jaw drop when it was first showed off some seven years ago. It wasn’t just the action that the game’s first trailer showed off that got gamers excited. It was also the game’s unbelievably hyper-realistic graphics that made gamers around the world say to themselves, “Wait, it this for real?”.
OK. So the in-game graphics weren’t as good as the ones in the trailer, but undeniably, the trailer gets you hyped, right? Whether you’re a newcomer or a Vanquish veteran, here are just a few reasons why you should channel that hype and pick up or replay Vanquish today.
Vanquish Never Has a Dull Moment
To quickly describe Vanquish, it’s like someone gave Platinum Games steroids and they went crazy. Crazy good, that is.
Throughout the game’s about seven-hour campaign there’s never really a dull moment to be had. It’s always something like this: ACTION, EXPLOSIONS, GUNSHOTS. From mechanics to world building, everything about Vanquish fits the wild and crazy Platinum games signature mold.
Vanquish Has Got Style — Lots of It
Speaking of Platinum, this game’s got style. It has its own persona and energy, anime-style edginess and zeal. Platinum deftly took the tropes of the Western hero and infused them with Eastern panache. It might not be for everyone but if you enjoy it, Vanquish is one of those titles that will make you say ” Dayuummmm” after every action cutscene. What’s not to love? At its core,
Honestly, what’s not to love? At its core, Vanquish has a very simple save-the-world story. Sure, it’s nothing special — just a futuristic world that finds humans empowered by rad mech suits — but it’s just enough to keep you pushing through waves of enemies with determined purpose.
From towering robot enemies to bullet-time mechanics, the game’s protagonist, Sam Gideon, is always cool under pressure, even posing while he slides, jumps, dashes and shoots. And that’s not to mention the over the top side characters that you encounter throughout the game.
Vanquish is Downright Comical at Times — In So Many Good Ways
And sometimes, Platinum Games’ style translates to a little infusion of comedy. Think of the Metal Gear Solid series, where the mechanics are true to life and realistic — except for some ridiculous moments like the addition of supernatural enemies, hiding behind cardboard boxes in plain view of enemies, and more. It’s those kinds of wacky moments in Vanquish that you can’t help but laugh at. It just makes the game charming and memorable throughout the years.
Some games pace themselves by providing boring grinding sessions, which are supposed to give you a break from the action. In Vanquish, it’s a little different. You have to look for those moments where you can stop and just enjoy the levity of it all, moments that remind you how over the top this game can be sometimes.
As you can tell from the video, there are A LOT of crazy, comical, outrageous and downright ridiculous moments, such as the first clip where you catch a bunch of robots dancing to some music, unaware of the gruesome end waiting for them at the end of your character’s gun. Or dashing under and in between the legs of a mammoth boss robot trying to get to his weak spot. Or dodging a honing missile only to grab hold of it, throw it back into the chamber it came from and letting it explode from the inside as your emerge victoriously. If even reading these get your adrenaline pumping, go buy Vanquish. Period.
Vanquish Has Unbelievably Relentless Action
The action in Vanquish is non-stop. The pace is rapid, providing players few opportunities to take a break. But unlike other games, Vanquish does give you the option to keep the pace at breakneck speed. When faced with the game’s score screens, you can just press a button and quickly get back the action — almost uninterrupted. And I love that. The intense fast-paced action has been key to the game’s success over the years, and it makes you feel like the mech superhero you know you’ve always been.
Zig-zagging through enemies, punching giant robots in the head, jumping and shooting mid-air, ducking out of cover in style while shooting enemies in slow-motion… What’s not to love?
—
From relentless action to zany set pieces and gameplay, Vanquish is one of the best thrid-person shooters of the last decade. And now that it is out on PC — armed with keyboard and mouse controls (while still supporting gamepads) — for only $20, Vanquish is a steal.
Are you going to pick Vanquish up on Steam? Have any of you played it before and are looking to play it again? Tell us in the comments below!
