A fast-paced, action-packed adrenaline rush of a game that never really slows down.
This review is by no means an objective analysis of the games inherent quality, or a representation of anything other than the reviewer's personal experiences with the game. Any recommendations given out are based merely on the preferences of the writer and are by no means a guide for the reader to warrant purchases. Any reader should take this review with a grain of salt and if they are unsure as to whether the game will please them, to try it out before buying, as we all have our own personal preferences.
-REVIEW-
This is the shooter I've been waiting this entire generation for. It takes many cues from the Gamecube's P.N.03 and inspiration from Gears of War and mixes it all together into a fantastic package that just screams "fast-paced action."
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Gameplay
What really shines in Vanquish compared to its competitors is its complete lack of "realism." Most shooters these days are trying to focus on bringing "realism" to the console platform, when honestly, it hardly calls for it, especially with action games and shooters.
The gameplay is almost a direct copy of the quite successful Gears of War franchise (which I also found enjoyable) with one major improvement: Boosting. It is like an arcade racer meets shooter, and opens up whole new ways of approaching a firefight... and makes it sometimes TOO intense.
Not to mention the whole "bullet hell" concept being taken to the extreme through the means of the Argus mini-bosses... it just makes Gears seem tame and slow by comparison.
The controls work how they should, the action is intense and very fast, and despite the shortness of the game, it really mixes things up all the way through until the end. The enemy designs are quite unique for this type of game, and are very satisfying to take down with complex strings of shooting, boosting and melee attacks.
Sound/Music
Pretty straight forward here. Sounds, music and voices are all pretty average and acceptable. The voice-acting is cheesy, but no one should play this game for the dialogue. Its an action-movie, not a drama.
Technical Design/Graphics
A very pretty and detailed game. The overall colour palate can get bland at times, but it fits in with the "sci-fi" aspect quite well. The framerate almost never drops and is very smooth throughout.
Art Design
Not really much to talk about here. Feels like a mix between P.N.03 and Zone of the Enders, with a lot more mess lying around everywhere.
Story
Laughable, but it gets its job done.
Content/Value
The singleplayer is short, but very replayable. The extra content is pretty slim. And for those who love to complain, there is no multiplayer. But in the end, this isn't the game that really needs it. For the $45 I spent on it, and seeing myself being able to pick it up again down the road seems quite reasonable. I doubt I could have justified $60 though. That would be stretching it.
Difficulty
It offers a wide variety of difficulty levels, but normal is pretty hard for a first time through. The suit function and boost take some getting used to, but overall there is a challenge here that some might be turned off by. If that's a problem, there is a "Casual Auto" mode to drop down to. Beating the game once unlocks "God Hard" mode, which doesn't allow weapon upgrades and the enemies do a significant amount more damage. It doesn't even take hyperbole to express how hard it is.
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-Overall-
In the end, the game is very solid and very fun to play. Its overall package feels lacking (in P.N.03 you had incentive to play more to unlock things) but the variety of the gameplay and the replayability of the game itself gives it the value it needs. It is definitely one of those "evolutionary" games that has made a pretty big step forward for the genre, but I highly doubt it will remain very popular and end up as a cult hit down the road.
Worth playing for any shooter fan, but not necessarily worth owning for someone who "needs" a multiplayer fix.
Verdict: 9/10
Note on score: The way I score games does not in any way reflect its content or quality. This score is merely a quantification of how much I enjoyed playing the game, and how "good" of a game it is to me. As the reader, you may disagree entirely, but this is how I felt about the game, and not how I think others *should* feel about it. Go and try it for yourself before you decide whether or not its worth your time and money. I am merely writing this review for my own benefit. If you get something from it, that's great.