Support NeoGAF

[keisuke999]

So, this game was on my radar for a while, since it's known as one of the hardest platinum trophies to get. Since it's Golden Week here, I decided to use my vacation time to get some platinums that have been sitting on my list for a while..

I found Vanquish for like 5 bucks, so figured why not.

Having beaten it twice and (just now) finished all 6 challenge missions, I would have to say that this game is a great example of what Japan does right with games recently.

This game is a shining example of a perfect 7.5 game.

The story is gibberish, the characters are empty shells of archetypes.

But the gameplay... ooohhh doctor the gameplay is amazing. You can tell this game was done before Platinum really got crazy with action a la Bayonetta 2 or MGR. The controls are simple, but amazingly elegant.

I just have to clean up the few simple bronze trophies I have left and I'll be good to go.

All in all, if you're looking for a fast paced, hectic, gorgeous 60 fps (EDIT: naw its actually 30! omg I feel so dirty. I can't trust anyone anymore...) third person shooter, I would highly recommend Vanquish.

 

[GavinUK86]

Vanquish doesn't run at 60fps.

But it is an amazing shooter.

Still waiting for that PC release.

Spoiler

Please?

 

[Inuhanyou]

Pretty sure Vanquish is 30fps, also it came out after Bayonetta. They used the PS3 as lead platform specifically to avoid Bayonetta's pitfalls.

Also yeah, its a pretty decent game. But its another shining example of a game that did not need sequel tease when they didn't have a sequel confirmed. I fucking hate that.

 

[keisuke999]

Pretty sure Vanquish is 30fps, also it came out after Bayonetta. They used the PS3 as lead platform specifically to avoid Bayonetta's pitfalls

I meant Bayonetta 2, now that I think about it

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

I don't think I could handle Vanquish at 60fps, my mind would explode. Perfect action shooting game.

 

[The Libertine]

Brilliant game. As you say the story is nonsense, but the over the top action is just so much fun.

 

[WX3]

Runs pretty damn good if not 60fps that is for sure. I have both versions and have to admit I preferred the 360 copy as it seemingly ran better? However, the PS3 version was nowhere near the poor quality of the Bayonetta port.

I just played through it once on both systems for the fun game play. I am not skilled enough to fudge with them challenges though! I envy those guys skills!

 

[biteren]

id say Vanquish is my favorite TPS of all time, i love everything about it, the only criticism is that i need more.

 

[Reset]

Story and characters were pointless and dumb, the game was like 4-5 hours long, and there was only one decent boss which were Red and Blue armor guys in the end. The gameplay itself, I didn't think it was anything special.
The game was below average, like 4/10.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Story and characters were pointless and dumb, the game was like 4-5 hours long, and there was only one decent boss which were Red and Blue armor guys in the end. The gameplay itself, I didn't think it was anything special.
The game was below average, like 4/10.

Like ranking a Street Fighter game based on how detailed its stages are, and then saying the gameplay wasn't anything special

 

[loaf of bread]

Like ranking a Street Fighter game based on how detailed its stages are, and then saying the gameplay wasn't anything special

Hardly the same thing.

 

[pizzacat]

I don't see the hype. It's more of a character action game than a shooter

 

[z1ggy]

Story doesn´t matter, the gameplay is amazing. It's a 9/10 for me. Would like a 60 fps version, the game needs it badly.

 

[keisuke999]

Story doesn´t matter, the gameplay is amazing. It's a 9/10 for me. Would like a 60 fps version, the game needs it badly.

I guess my eyes just aren't that good. I thought it was 60 fps the whole time haha

 

[Overside]

Vanquish played like mind candy.

 

[Curufinwe]

I don't see the hype. It's more of a character action game than a shooter

No it isn't.

 

[gelf]

I don't see the hype. It's more of a character action game than a shooter

Which is why its more fun to play then any shooter out there. If more shooters played like Vanquish I wouldn't be sick to death of them.

And yeah the plots nothing to write home about but who cares.

 

[danmaku]

I don't see the hype. It's more of a character action game than a shooter

And that's bad...?

 

[eXistor]

I consider Vanquish to be one of the greatest action games ever made. Of course the story is bollocks, it doesn't matter (I happen to think it's fine for what it is), but goddamn if they didn't nail the mechanics. When it clicks it fucking clicks.

 

[antitrop]

I don't see the hype. It's more of a character action game than a shooter

lol, that's why it's great.

 

[TEJ]

lol, that's why it's great.

Yeah. It's awesome that way.

 

[HardRojo]

This game was completely amazing. Yeah, the characters and the story were nothing to write home about but the gameplay itself was so rich and entertaining that I just kept playing and having a great time. Sequel tease wasn't needed though It's sad when a game teases a sequel and you don't know if it'll ever come.
Zero Escape 3, Megaman ZX 3 :'(

 

[antitrop]

Which is why its more fun to play then any shooter out there. If more shooters played like Vanquish I wouldn't be sick to death of them.

And yeah the plots nothing to write home about but who cares.

Yup, Vanquish's plot is as important as a Mario game. It's just throwaway contextualization of the gameplay.

 

[Grief.exe]

Vanquish doesn't run at 60fps.

But it is an amazing shooter.

Still waiting for that PC release.

Spoiler

Please?

I don't think I could handle Vanquish at 60fps, my mind would explode. Perfect action shooting game.

Would be glorious. Sega please.

 

[cheesekao]

It was a good game while it lasted. Finished it in like 5 hours or so but didn't feel compelled to come back to it.

 

[TEJ]

Vanquish is one of the few last gen games I think deserves a second chance with an HD remaster.

 

[IronicSonic]

As a gameplay-centric kind of gamer, I'll give Vanquish a solid 9. The shooting is fantastic, the slow-mo mechanics is implemented flawless, the pace is superb and the enemies are varied enough to ensure great and intense encounters.
Final Bosses are a blast, especially that small one covered by garbage

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Hardly the same thing.

It is.

 

[Certinty]

Gameplay was great but everything else didn't stand out. I'm actually surprised at the amount of praise the game gets, especially since it's pretty damn short too.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Finishing the challenges was the most rewarding thing ever.

 

[Codeblue]

I guess I must have missed the story because I was too busy mashing buttons to get to the next sequence. Definitely the most solid TPS I've ever played. It might have been short, but it was hype from the start screen to the credits.

 

[LX_Theo]

Gameplay had a few moments, but its massively overhyped by its fans imo. You better love Platinum games if you're taking on that game. Otherwise, it offer basically nothing.

 

[GavinUK86]

Gameplay had a few moments, but its massively overhyped by its fans imo. You better love Platinum games if you're taking on that game. Otherwise, it offer basically nothing.

Not true. I'm not a huge fan of Platinum but Vanquish was clearly an exceptional game.

 

[justjustin]

I remember feeling like it was too easy to stay behind cover and play safe even on hard mode. For me there wasn't much motivation to really get out there and wreak havoc beyond just messing around. I also remember the weapon upgrade system feeling backwards, like I had to switch to a different weapon to get stronger.

The main problem for me was that there was no system in place to encourage playing to the best of my ability. Yeah, I could toss a grenade and slow down time and blow it up and all this other cool stuff but I didn't see any reason to. So I can see this game being really great if you like to push yourself and try as many things as possible for the sake of experimentation, but I was so trained on old action games to focus on fundamental strategy and repetition that I didn't see 90% of the "fluff" that the game had to offer. Maybe this game is more like a playground, but I treated it as a life-or-death, no failure allowed type game, so it was pretty boring.

 

[Reset]

Like ranking a Street Fighter game based on how detailed its stages are, and then saying the gameplay wasn't anything special

The only thing special about Vanquish was the strafing and I only remember using it just to get close into using a melee attack or getting out of trouble. But when you used a melee attack I remember your suit would go down and you wouldn't be able to strafe anymore. For TPS, it felt the game actually penalized you if you used different guns. Iirc the only way to upgrade you guns was to keep using the same exact one, meaning if you kept changing your weapons the guns wouldn't upgrade. The game had some useless weapons too like there was 0 reasons to use the sniper besides the mandatory section where you're on the railcart. Plus the game was like 4 hours long and then the game ends with teasing a sequel. Platinum could fuck off with that crap.

The game was pretty crap. I'm not surprised it's overhyped on Gaf though.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I remember feeling like it was too easy to stay behind cover and play safe even on hard mode. For me there wasn't much motivation to really get out there and wreak havoc beyond just messing around. I also remember the weapon upgrade system feeling backwards, like I had to switch to a different weapon to get stronger.

The main problem for me was that there was no system in place to encourage playing to the best of my ability. Yeah, I could toss a grenade and slow down time and blow it up and all this other cool stuff but I didn't see any reason to.

Does that help?

 

[myco666]

Only problem that I had with the game was the upgrading system. Otherwise fantastic tps.

 

[antitrop]

Gameplay was great but everything else didn't stand out. I'm actually surprised at the amount of praise the game gets, especially since it's pretty damn short too.

It's not short, if you consider the campaign just an extended tutorial for the Tac Challenges.

 

[Redrop]

Amazing game. Replayed it so many times.

It kind of has the Resident Evil 4 effect for me, where I can just replay the game over and over and never get tired of it.

 

[justjustin]

Does that help?

lol, yeah I get it. Just to clarify, I think "looking cool" is just as legitimate a reason to do stuff in a game as anything else, but for me it just didn't click with this game. I'm also the type of guy who just repeats the same handful of basic combos in every Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden and Bayonetta game, but I like all those. They're still fun games even though I'm not big on doing flashy combos, whereas Vanquish relies maybe too much on it.

 

[Peltz]

Vanquish is probably my favorite pure action game of all time. It just feels so good to play.

 

[cj_iwakura]

lol, yeah I get it. Just to clarify, I think "looking cool" is just as legitimate a reason to do stuff in a game as anything else, but for me it just didn't click with this game. I'm also the type of guy who just repeats the same handful of basic combos in every Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden and Bayonetta game, but I like all those. They're still fun games even though I'm not big on doing flashy combos, whereas Vanquish relies maybe too much on it.

It's not necessary for the main game, but it sure is for the challenges. Staying in one place is suicide.

 

[Producer]

The only thing special about Vanquish was the strafing and I only remember using it just to get close into using a melee attack or getting out of trouble. But when you used a melee attack I remember your suit would go down and you wouldn't be able to strafe anymore. For TPS, it felt the game actually penalized you if you used different guns. Iirc the only way to upgrade you guns was to keep using the same exact one, meaning if you kept changing your weapons the guns wouldn't upgrade. The game had some useless weapons too like there was 0 reasons to use the sniper besides the mandatory section where you're on the railcart. Plus the game was like 4 hours long and then the game ends with teasing a sequel. Platinum could fuck off with that crap.

The game was pretty crap. I'm not surprised it's overhyped on Gaf though.

Theres a weapon which is commonly obtainable is most levels that has infinite melee, and there are ways to upgrade your weapon even if you have already depleted the ammo. And the sniper is far from useless.

 

[Sterok]

Not a huge Platinum fan, but I loved this. A thrilling shooter from beginning to end. Story was bleh, but who cares? It was fun and unique, which is all that matters.

 

[geomon]

I still have to finish this. Got it with PS+ years ago and just never bothered.

 

[Paltheos]

From some of the comments I get the feeling of shell-shocked men, overwhelmed by a deluge of uninspired, boring third- and first-person shooters. Guys, you can come out from behind the chest-high walls, and do things. Ignore the dialogue. Slide along the floor like a boss, blow up giant robots with rocket launchers, punch a mofo out of existence. This is what fun is!

I admit it took me a couple minutes when I first played. There was cover, but I didn't have to use it? It was probably around that moment where I punched a robot like 50 feet that I was like, "Hell yeah."

I recommend Crackdown (1) to people who enjoy Vanquish.

 

[mumbles365]

i must be the only one on Gaf that doesnt like this game, I found it pretty lame and I think Platinum Games is overrated, but whatever, seems like a lot of people enjoy their games.

Just not my taste.

 

[Nottle]

Yo you can shoot the missiles coming out of the larger robot's back and instantly kill it. It is one of the best shooters around. Also to people who diss the story, I actually really liked it. It's so goofy. Russian robots. for real? Not to mention that ending. I like how it ends and begins on really dark notes, but it's so camp in between.

 

[Reverend Funk]

My only problem with the game is the extremely grey color palette makes it entirely unappealing to look at.

 

[Stormblessed]

I personally loved it. Vanquish is one of my favourite games. I do think it had some trouble deciding how straight it wanted to play things story-wise and the weapon upgrade system could've been better, sure. But there are few titles in the genre with boss fights on Vanquish's level, and once you've grasped how the game wants you to play, combat's really satisfying.

As for complaints about weapon variety - challenge mode forces you to experiment, and once I had, I found every weapon has a use.