Games Database
Xbox 360
Shoot 'Em Up
| Also for: | PC, PS3 | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Third-person, over the shoulder | Genre: | Shoot 'Em Up |
| Media: | DVD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Platinum | Soft. Co.: | SEGA |
| Publishers: | SEGA
(GB) |
Released: | 22 Oct 2010
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 18+ | ||
| No Accessories: | No Accessories | ||
Video
Summary
Vanquish is not, in fact, the stain-removal product it sounds like. It's a third-person shooter set in space, courtesy of the studio behind Bayonetta – Platinum. It treats the shoot-'em-up genre in much the same way Bayonetta treats the brawler genre – with a great big grin on its face.
You play as Sam Gideon, a former college athlete and now agent of DARPA (the US army's R&D initiative – it's a real thing). Sam gets to wear DARPA's ARS (Augmented Reaction Suit) and, thanks to the actions of some nefarious Russians, take it into space in the name of not getting New York shot by a giant microwave beam from space. Sam trots off into orbit with crusty old wardog Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Burns (not the Scottish poet) and a small team of marines to take back the satellite the microwave beam's sat on. It's not just any old satellite, either - it's home to some 30 million Americans, making for some pretty interesting environments.
Beyond making you a bit stronger, faster and generally harder, the suit does a couple of things that your average pair of combat pants doesn't. Firstly, it gives you thrusters packed into your legs. The effect is that you can skid around the floor at ridiculous speeds on your behind or your knees until the ARS over-heats. The other ability the ARS grants you is a bit more standard – bullet time. This kicks in either when you're about to die or when you manually activate it by aiming and performing an evasive manoeuvre simultaneously.
The combination of these two abilities opens Vanquish up to make it play like few other shooters out there. It's fast, furious and manic - a combination that adds up a mad dollop of fun.
You play as Sam Gideon, a former college athlete and now agent of DARPA (the US army's R&D initiative – it's a real thing). Sam gets to wear DARPA's ARS (Augmented Reaction Suit) and, thanks to the actions of some nefarious Russians, take it into space in the name of not getting New York shot by a giant microwave beam from space. Sam trots off into orbit with crusty old wardog Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Burns (not the Scottish poet) and a small team of marines to take back the satellite the microwave beam's sat on. It's not just any old satellite, either - it's home to some 30 million Americans, making for some pretty interesting environments.
Beyond making you a bit stronger, faster and generally harder, the suit does a couple of things that your average pair of combat pants doesn't. Firstly, it gives you thrusters packed into your legs. The effect is that you can skid around the floor at ridiculous speeds on your behind or your knees until the ARS over-heats. The other ability the ARS grants you is a bit more standard – bullet time. This kicks in either when you're about to die or when you manually activate it by aiming and performing an evasive manoeuvre simultaneously.
The combination of these two abilities opens Vanquish up to make it play like few other shooters out there. It's fast, furious and manic - a combination that adds up a mad dollop of fun.
Artwork
