Vanquish is a 2010 third-person shooter game created by PlatinumGames and released by Sega for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Development began in 2007, and the game was launched globally in October 2010. A version for Windows was released on May 25, 2017. In 2020, a compilation called Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 18. This bundle included improved versions of Vanquish and PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta.
The game introduced new ideas to the 3D shooter genre, such as fast-paced gameplay similar to 2D bullet hell shooters, elements from beat 'em up games, and a unique sliding-boost movement technique. Critics praised the game’s quick action, creative gameplay features, challenging boss fights, and visual style when it was first released. However, some critics pointed out issues with the game’s story, voice acting, and the short length of its main story. It is estimated that the game sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.
Gameplay
Players control Sam Gideon, a DARPA agent wearing the Augmented Reaction Suit. If Sam takes too much damage, the suit automatically activates Augmented Reaction (AR) mode. AR mode makes Sam’s reflexes ten times faster, slowing down time so Sam can avoid attacks. Players can also choose to use AR mode by pressing the aim button while moving, sliding, or jumping over cover. This helps them aim at enemies and their weak spots more easily. At any time, players can use power boosters on the suit to slide quickly across areas. However, using AR mode or the boosters too often in a short time causes the suit to overheat. When the suit overheats, it needs time to cool down, during which Sam moves more slowly and cannot use boosters or AR mode. The suit also overheats if Sam uses a melee attack near enemies or in certain areas.
Sam’s weapons include the BLADE system and two types of grenades. The BLADE system can hold up to three weapons at once, chosen from eight standard types plus three added in a DLC pack. If players find a new weapon type, they can replace the current weapon in their active slot by pressing the reload button.
Weapons and grenades can be improved by collecting upgrade chips. Finding a weapon already in the player’s inventory adds more ammunition. If the weapon has maximum ammunition, it counts as one-third of an upgrade. Upgrades improve a weapon’s performance, such as increasing its ammunition capacity, firepower, and explosion size. Players can help injured allies to earn weapons, or they can find weapons in crates or weapon lockers.
On Normal and Hard difficulty levels, the active weapon loses one level of quality after the player dies. On God Hard difficulty, upgrades are not allowed at all.
Other features include using explosives in specific areas, taking control of enemy vehicles or turrets, using cigarettes to distract enemies, and completing quick-time events during battles against strong enemies.
The game improved the cover system, making it more advanced than previous games. Unlike earlier cover-based games, this one has bullets and missiles coming from all directions, similar to games with many fast-moving projectiles. Some cover can be destroyed, forcing Sam to move constantly. The game also reduces the player’s score for spending too much time hiding behind cover. The most important new feature is the sliding-boost mechanic, which lets players slide into and out of cover quickly. Using AR mode while sliding allows this to happen in slow motion, helping players escape or prepare for attacks. This mechanic adds new ways to play and speeds up the game.
The game ends with a special rail shooting sequence during the credits, showing faces of staff members on asteroids.
Plot
In the near future, Earth's human population grows rapidly, leading to conflicts as countries fight over limited resources. The United States tries to solve energy shortages by launching SC-01 Providence, a space colony called an O'Neil Cylinder. This colony uses a device that sends solar energy as microwaves to provide power. However, the government of the Russian Federation of Eurasia is overthrown in a military takeover by a group of soldiers who call themselves the Order of the Russian Star. They capture Providence and use the microwave device to destroy San Francisco. Victor Zaitsev, a Russian Star agent, demands that the United States surrender or he will attack New York City.
Elizabeth Winters, the President of the United States, sends Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burns and a group of space Marines called Bravo Company to enter the station secretly. They also recruit Sam Gideon, a soldier from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), who wears a high-tech battle suit called the Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS). This suit has jet boosters on his legs and a weapon called the Battlefield Logic Adaptable Electronic Weapon System (BLADE), which can change into different weapons. BLADE can store scans of three weapons at a time and switch between them. Elena Ivanova, a crew member on the SBC2 command ship, helps Sam during the mission. DARPA uses this mission to test the ARS. Winters gives secret orders for Sam to rescue Dr. Francois Candide, a scientist who was kidnapped by Zaitsev.
As Sam reaches the microwave station, Candide tells Sam that Burns and Winters have betrayed the United States before being killed by Burns. Burns explains that he plans to change the microwave's target to Moscow, calling the destruction of the city an "economic stimulus package." Sam defeats Burns, who tells him to escape. Burns uses a bomb in his bionic arm to kill himself and the remaining Bravo Company soldiers. Zaitsev tells Sam that Winters secretly supported the Order of the Russian Star but betrayed them by using the coup to declare war on Russia. He claims Winters plans to use the attack to strengthen American power worldwide, and the Order attacked Providence as punishment. Sam defeats two controlled units and learns that Zaitsev controlled them. Zaitsev activates a nuclear weapon inside the station to destroy Providence and stop anyone from reclaiming it. Sam escapes in an escape pod and reunites with Elena on their ship. Zaitsev also escapes and is praised by his superiors for completing the mission. Winters later commits suicide after realizing Sam has evidence to charge her with treason.
Development and release
Shinji Mikami said the game's graphics were partly inspired by Casshern, a 1970s anime series made by Tatsunoko Production. He also said the game's design was inspired by Casshern. Mikami originally wanted to create a game similar to Casshern, but with guns added. This was because Mikami had already made a brawler game called God Hand. However, while making Vanquish as a shooter, Mikami wanted to keep Casshern's "feeling of speed." This is why he added the sliding-boost mechanic. Vanquish uses the Havok physics engine.
The game's development started in 2007. In January 2010, a pre-rendered video trailer was released. Atsushi Inaba created the game. Mikami said the game was developed mainly for the PlayStation 3 to avoid poor PS3 ports. He called it a "great success." This is Mikami's only game made under the PlatinumGames brand.
If pre-ordered from GameStop in North America, the game included a special "Tri-Weapon" DLC pack. This pack later became available for sale on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network in November 2012. The three weapons in the pack were included in later versions of the game.
Some European retailers gave free copies of Bayonetta with pre-orders of Vanquish. In the UK, Zavvi offered a Limited Edition version of the game that included a statuette of the main character, Sam Gideon, as a pre-order bonus.
To celebrate the game's 10th anniversary, Sega released a Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The bundle includes a steelbook, Vanquish, and Bayonetta on one disc. It supports 4K 60 fps visuals for PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X users. Both games can also be bought digitally separately or together at a discount. The bundle was released on February 18, 2020.
Reception
The game received "favorable" reviews on Metacritic, a website that collects video game ratings. Many reviewers praised the game's visuals, gameplay, creativity, fast pace, and exciting style. However, some critics noted issues such as its short length, lack of multiplayer, average storyline, and humorous dialogue. GameTrailers mentioned that the slow-motion gameplay might not work well in multiplayer. Game Informer said, "You may finish your first playthrough in four hours or less." This idea was challenged by PlatinumGames' writer Jean Pierre Kellams and Eurogamer.
Famitsu gave the game scores of 9, 9, 10, and 9, totaling 37 out of 40. The Daily Telegraph scored the Xbox 360 version 9 out of 10, calling it a "fast-paced, high-octane, and hard-core shooter" that does not cater to casual players. It also called it one of the best games of 2010. The A.V. Club gave the same version a B+, describing it as "ridiculous" and designed to entertain rather than deliver a deeper message. The Escapist gave the PlayStation 3 version 4 out of 5 stars, noting that while the game's design had some frustrating elements, its combat was fast and enjoyable when working well. The Guardian also gave the PlayStation 3 version 4 out of 5 stars, stating it was not revolutionary but visually impressive and fun for players who enjoy challenging games. Eurogamer praised the game as "astoundingly creative and polished" and called it "the best third-person shooter ever made in Japan." Their only minor criticism was the game's replay value, which they said was slightly weaker compared to similar games from Western developers.
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game ranked number four (48,318 units sold) and number 14 (11,204 units sold) on Japanese sales charts during their first week of release. By February 2011, the game had sold 820,000 copies worldwide. By March 2011, sales reached 830,000 copies on both platforms.
By July 2018, the PC version had about 143,289 players. Steam Spy estimated that the Steam version sold over 200,000 copies by December 2018 and more than 500,000 copies by 2024, totaling over 1.33 million copies sold across all platforms.
The game won Game of the Year awards from the Classic Game Room and Zavvi.com. X360 gave it the "Best Shooter" award, and GamesRadar awarded it for having the most "Oh Shit" moments per minute. IGN gave it the "Best Sci-Fi Game" award for the PlayStation 3 version and nominated it for awards such as "Coolest Atmosphere," "Most Challenging," "Most Addictive Game," "Best Visuals," and "Best Blockbuster Game." GameSpot awarded the game for "Best Game No One Played," both its editors' choice and readers' choice awards, and for its "Best Original Game Mechanic," the rocket-sliding feature, which allows players to escape or attack. GameSpot also nominated the game for "Best Shooter," "Best Sound Design," "Best Original IP," "Best Xbox 360 Game," "Best PS3 Game," and "Game of the Year."