Hey Guys and Gals, this is my first review and I'm mostly just looking for advice and critique. Hope you enjoy it. Here's my review of Vanquish
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: SEGA
Developer Platinum Games has crafted a third person shooter that, at first glance, appears to be nothing more than another Gears of War clone with a Japanese coat of paint slapped on it. Further investigation however reveals a game that oozes both originality and pure style. You play as Sam Giddeon, a DARPA operative who is assisting the United States marines in an attempt to recapture a space colony from an evil Russian named Victor Zaitsev, who has already used a microwave super weapon to melt San Francisco off of the globe. The plot is simple and the voice acting is average at best (Col. Burns? voice is just ridiculous) but it all just provides a catalyst for Sam to kick some ass.
And kick ass he does. Sam comes equipped with his Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS), which allows him to slide across the battlefield at high speeds and slow down time. Of course, this all comes with the help of the lovely Elena Ivanova whispering intelligence in his ear. Be careful though, these abilities require a lot of power and Sam?s suit will overheat with repeated use. Sam will then become vulnerable and unable to perform advanced maneuvers until the ARS cools off.
The ARS is what makes this game what it is: an adrenaline fueled, style oozing, thrill ride of a game. The slow and methodical trudge from cover to cover seen in most third person shooters is absent here. The game encourages constant movement and repositioning while rewarding players who take advantage of their suits functionalities. Friendly NPCs are usually present and it always feels like there is a major battle being fought all around you. Explosions, missiles, and bullets zip only feet from your face as you slide around a ROMANOV robot with drill arms and dive behind its back before activating your suit to slow down time and blast a few rounds into its weak spot.
This game knows what it wants to be, and never misses a step. The action ratchets up with each act of the campaign, giving the player new enemies to fight and different ways to take them out. Nowhere in the game is there a section that weighs down the experience. Even when engaging in elements introduced in other games, Vanquish makes it seem fresh and exciting. Players will storm enemy hilltops, tear the fuel lines out of super weapons, and stealthily snipe search lights whilst riding a monorail along with much more. Vanquish is not afraid to mix up the gameplay, and each new introduction shines with polish. The boss fights are also expertly constructed. Some boss fights repeat while others are one time affairs, but even the repeats seem different each time because of varied locations and tactics. Many of the bosses also incorporate a QTE event, but they are used sparingly and to great effect. You will never see one repeat and they are truly fun to watch unfold.
The upgrade system within the game is worth mentioning because I?m sure many players; (myself included) will find it a rewarding bonus experience. Picking up a weapon from a crate or off of the ground will give you full ammunition for that weapon. However, if you are already full on ammo, your weapon will slowly rank up, giving it a higher ammo count, increased firepower, or more accuracy. The game also provides the player with rare upgrade cubes which immediately level your currently selected weapon to the next rank without having to go through tiers. It may seem strange at first that you upgrade weapons by not using them, but I assure you, it works very well and adds a bit of strategy to the experience.
It should also be noted that this game can also be quite punishing. Yes you have access to amazing athletic abilities, but get to carried away and the enemy robots will gladly blast, slice, and crush you into bits. Knowing when to go all out and when to show restraint comes with practice and a player should develop these skills relatively quickly. There were a couple instances of insta-kills on hard difficulty, but a few retries were all it took to proceed. So while I did not find the game too frustrating, there is an opportunity for a more casual player to hit some snags.
While Vanquish is definitely not the longest of games, I found it a satisfying length compared to other recent releases. This gripe is mitigated by the fact that the replay value is so high. After playing through the game on normal, I immediately restarted on hard just so I could play again. Unfortunately, the weapon upgrade you procured do not carry over into your next play through. Challenge rooms unless unlock as Acts are completed in the campaign. Leaderboards will also provide gamers with determination (or OCD) a chance to prove they are better than the rest. Overall, Vanquish provided me with one of the more memorable gaming experiences I?ve had this year, and even after two playthroughs, I know I?m not done with this game, not by a long shot.
I give Vanquish a 5/5!
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: SEGA
Developer Platinum Games has crafted a third person shooter that, at first glance, appears to be nothing more than another Gears of War clone with a Japanese coat of paint slapped on it. Further investigation however reveals a game that oozes both originality and pure style. You play as Sam Giddeon, a DARPA operative who is assisting the United States marines in an attempt to recapture a space colony from an evil Russian named Victor Zaitsev, who has already used a microwave super weapon to melt San Francisco off of the globe. The plot is simple and the voice acting is average at best (Col. Burns? voice is just ridiculous) but it all just provides a catalyst for Sam to kick some ass.
And kick ass he does. Sam comes equipped with his Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS), which allows him to slide across the battlefield at high speeds and slow down time. Of course, this all comes with the help of the lovely Elena Ivanova whispering intelligence in his ear. Be careful though, these abilities require a lot of power and Sam?s suit will overheat with repeated use. Sam will then become vulnerable and unable to perform advanced maneuvers until the ARS cools off.
The ARS is what makes this game what it is: an adrenaline fueled, style oozing, thrill ride of a game. The slow and methodical trudge from cover to cover seen in most third person shooters is absent here. The game encourages constant movement and repositioning while rewarding players who take advantage of their suits functionalities. Friendly NPCs are usually present and it always feels like there is a major battle being fought all around you. Explosions, missiles, and bullets zip only feet from your face as you slide around a ROMANOV robot with drill arms and dive behind its back before activating your suit to slow down time and blast a few rounds into its weak spot.
This game knows what it wants to be, and never misses a step. The action ratchets up with each act of the campaign, giving the player new enemies to fight and different ways to take them out. Nowhere in the game is there a section that weighs down the experience. Even when engaging in elements introduced in other games, Vanquish makes it seem fresh and exciting. Players will storm enemy hilltops, tear the fuel lines out of super weapons, and stealthily snipe search lights whilst riding a monorail along with much more. Vanquish is not afraid to mix up the gameplay, and each new introduction shines with polish. The boss fights are also expertly constructed. Some boss fights repeat while others are one time affairs, but even the repeats seem different each time because of varied locations and tactics. Many of the bosses also incorporate a QTE event, but they are used sparingly and to great effect. You will never see one repeat and they are truly fun to watch unfold.
The upgrade system within the game is worth mentioning because I?m sure many players; (myself included) will find it a rewarding bonus experience. Picking up a weapon from a crate or off of the ground will give you full ammunition for that weapon. However, if you are already full on ammo, your weapon will slowly rank up, giving it a higher ammo count, increased firepower, or more accuracy. The game also provides the player with rare upgrade cubes which immediately level your currently selected weapon to the next rank without having to go through tiers. It may seem strange at first that you upgrade weapons by not using them, but I assure you, it works very well and adds a bit of strategy to the experience.
It should also be noted that this game can also be quite punishing. Yes you have access to amazing athletic abilities, but get to carried away and the enemy robots will gladly blast, slice, and crush you into bits. Knowing when to go all out and when to show restraint comes with practice and a player should develop these skills relatively quickly. There were a couple instances of insta-kills on hard difficulty, but a few retries were all it took to proceed. So while I did not find the game too frustrating, there is an opportunity for a more casual player to hit some snags.
While Vanquish is definitely not the longest of games, I found it a satisfying length compared to other recent releases. This gripe is mitigated by the fact that the replay value is so high. After playing through the game on normal, I immediately restarted on hard just so I could play again. Unfortunately, the weapon upgrade you procured do not carry over into your next play through. Challenge rooms unless unlock as Acts are completed in the campaign. Leaderboards will also provide gamers with determination (or OCD) a chance to prove they are better than the rest. Overall, Vanquish provided me with one of the more memorable gaming experiences I?ve had this year, and even after two playthroughs, I know I?m not done with this game, not by a long shot.
I give Vanquish a 5/5!
