Review: Vanquish

Vanquish is Platinum Games third title published by SEGA and its second outing on HD consoles after the release of Bayonetta in January earlier this year.

Shinji Mikami at the helm as lead developer with his claim to fame as the lead of Resident Evil 4 has left many gamers in anticipation of the next evolutionof 3^rd person shooters. Does Vanquish bring about the coming of the next coming of Christ and rock the gaming world as RE4? The quick answer is no, However, the jaw-dropping, thrilling and exhilarating maybe some of the cliche words thrown about whenever this game is discussed but none can truly contain express the high-octane action in Vanquish.

Platinum Games is quickly making a name for itself after Bayonetta with it’s over the top action and Vanquish is no different. The frantic action and pure chaos going on onscreen will leave you in awe. You play as Sam Gideon, which may leave you thinking of Solid Snake in many aspects is calm and cool under fire. San Francisco has been attacked and it’s up to you in your bad ass prototype armor and transformer gun to lay waste to your enemies as you save the day.

Nothing better describes Vanquish then a one night stand as many have and will say. You’re going to be blown away, sweat dripping off your brow and with an empty wallet after purchase. It’s a short romp across 5 acts which will probably net you around six to seven hours of game play in one play-through. I implore you to know this prior to taking a plunge into the roller coaster ride. It has no hidden goodies like platinum’s Bayonetta which begs you to have multiple play-throughs with tons of hidden unlocks. Why none of this was placed into Vanquish? It is anyone’s guess but it still doesn’t take away the enjoyment I had. Quality over Quantity is definitely Mikami’s take with this Sci-Fi shooter.

Game play is king and this is probably the best 3^rd person shooter out on the market to date. The level of control you have over Gideon is superb. After a brief learning curve one will find almost any situation to be well in your favor once you master it. It’s all about pushing the ARS (Augmented Reaction Suit) of which Sam is equipped without overheating the suit. This constant struggle of should I push harder or not keeps you the player constantly on your toes and enemies are circling and taking no prisoners. It’s a simple mechanic that gives the player tons of depth in strategies and how to attack situations differently. It’s a ballet of death which likes Bayonetta in all its chaos is up to you to master.

Is Vanquish for everyone? No, it has little to no story and its lack of replay ability is definitely questionable at a $60 price tag. However, it is a graphical masterpiece with tight controls and solid gameplay that is almost unmatched. It will be a memorable experience and have you wanting more but like a good girl won’t put out on the first date. We can only hope for a sequel to quench or insatiable appetite for more. Sega hasn’t been known for putting quality games in the past several years folks but with a partnership with Platinum Games has shown they can still put out AAA games. I’ll be waiting for Mikami’s next move just like the rest of us and I’m sure he won’t disappoint.