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Vanquish

A great port of an entertainingly subversive cover shooter. It's short, but the core loop never gets old.
Vanquish Game Cover
83%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
90% User Score Based on 6,904 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 16 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Xbox 360Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Vanquish Game Cover

About

Vanquish is a single player shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by PlatinumGames and was released on May 24, 2017. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Vanquish, play as government operative Sam Gideon, suffering from a scarcity of information available. Equip the Augmented Reaction Suit, enabling superhuman abilities, firepower, and melee moves, to eradicate a myriad of intelligent robotic enemies and bosses across fast-paced, varied environments. Featuring an extensive weapons arsenal, unique offensive and defensive moves, and fluid combat mechanics, this sci-fi action shooter offers an exhilarating experience with unlocked framerate and HD resolutions on PC.

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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,904 reviews
story398 positive mentions
stability32 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced and exhilarating gameplay that encourages aggressive play rather than traditional cover shooting.
  • Unique mechanics such as the boost slide and bullet time that enhance the shooting experience.
  • Visually impressive for its time, with engaging action set pieces and a fun, campy story.
  • Short campaign length (around 5-7 hours) that may leave players wanting more.
  • Repetitive enemy types and recycled boss fights that can diminish excitement over time.
  • The story and character development are weak, often feeling cliché and predictable.
  • story
    2,375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Vanquish* is widely regarded as generic and clichéd, often described as a typical military sci-fi narrative featuring over-the-top characters and absurd plot twists. Many reviewers noted that while the story serves as a backdrop for the fast-paced action, it lacks depth and coherence, with some even labeling it as forgettable or poorly executed. Overall, players seem to agree that the gameplay is the main draw of the game, overshadowing the lackluster story.

    • “The plot of [i]vanquish[/i] is action-movie nonsense and it is amazing.”
    • “It is wonderfully insane, it has conspiracies, backdoor dealings, murder, plot twists and within the first few minutes our football-playing protagonist is attacked by a US officer for smoking on his starship.”
    • “The story is not even complex, the core is very straightforward from the beginning to the end, stop the space laser, but it is the flavour: cutscenes, dialogue, compositions, and contrasting political motives that makes [i]vanquish[/i] so memorable and loveable.”
    • “The story is very confusing and written as if there will be a second game to tie up loose ends.”
    • “The entire game is disjointed with no coherent story.”
    • “The story is shallow and I wish they included a way to upgrade (or increase) the suit's cooldown bar (like during the final boss battle), but Vanquish still has much more redeeming qualities and is worth it.”
  • gameplay
    2,244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Vanquish" is widely praised for its fast-paced, fluid mechanics that combine cover shooting with unique movement options like sliding and bullet time, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. Players appreciate the depth and creativity required to master its mechanics, although some criticize the overheat system and repetitive enemy design that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the story is often deemed lackluster, the gameplay remains the standout feature, making it a recommended title for fans of action-packed shooters.

    • “The gameplay is all about speed and style.”
    • “The gameplay feels incredible, exciting and epic.”
    • “The gameplay, cover based shooting, plus the mechanics, slowing down time, melee attacks, and slide boosting, creates an amazing experience that never gets old no matter how many times I play.”
    • “The gameplay is fast but that's all it has to offer, the story is very poor and the level design gets bland pretty fast.”
    • “A downside of the gameplay is lack of variety, most of it is basically killing enemies and moving forward, your mobility is mostly used for bosses and heavy units, you aren't using it for anything special and there's basically zero reason to use all the weapons the game has to offer.”
    • “The gameplay, however, was very innovative at the time and still entertaining today.”
  • graphics
    662 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2010, have received mixed reviews, with many praising their futuristic aesthetic and smooth animations, particularly in the remastered PC version. While some players appreciate the visuals as stunning for their time, others find them dated and repetitive, often critiquing the color palette as overly gray and uninspired. Overall, the game maintains a decent graphical quality that holds up well, especially when played on higher settings, but it may not impress those seeking modern graphical benchmarks.

    • “The game's visuals are stunning, with a futuristic aesthetic and slick animations that bring the action to life.”
    • “The action is over-the-top, highly engaging, and at times enthralling while the visuals are beautiful and comfortable to the eyes.”
    • “Despite coming out over 10 years ago, the visuals and gameplay of Vanquish hold up while being in your face with the action.”
    • “The art style, like many games of that era, leaves a lot to be desired; the color palette is pretty much gray, which is boring to look at.”
    • “The graphics definitely didn't get the treatment they deserved; the game hasn't aged well at all.”
    • “Overall, a mediocre shooter with repetitive gameplay and bad graphics.”
  • music
    242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its energetic techno and orchestral blend that complements the fast-paced gameplay, while others find it forgettable or overshadowed by sound effects during intense action sequences. Many reviewers note that while the soundtrack fits the game's sci-fi theme, it lacks the memorability of other titles from the same studio, leading to a general consensus that the music is serviceable but not standout. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the experience for some players, but many agree it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

    • “The soundtrack is also excellent, with a blend of electronic and orchestral music that complements the intense gameplay.”
    • “Its fast-paced gameplay, slick visuals, and memorable soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
    • “Best parts are the gameplay and the music; controls feel very tight and responsive, and the gameplay itself is a blast, all set to an intense sci-fi soundtrack.”
    • “The story is half-assed, the bosses recycled, the main characters could be replaced with cardboard cutouts of cabbages and the music is awful.”
    • “Sound is bad, half the time the voice lines are too quiet to make out (not that there's any deep dialogue), music is extremely repetitive and doesn't correspond at all to what's happening.”
    • “What music.... make a playlist or something on Spotify cause you're not gonna miss out on anything.”
  • replayability
    174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it is relatively short, lasting around 5-7 hours, it offers significant replay value through various difficulty levels, challenge modes, and score attack mechanics. Many players appreciate the mechanical depth and the opportunity to refine their skills, although some feel that the lack of a new game+ mode and a repetitive scoring system limit its long-term appeal. Overall, it is considered highly replayable for those who enjoy mastering gameplay mechanics and pursuing achievements.

    • “Despite the downside of the game being short, it has amazing replay value.”
    • “The main campaign is on the short side but it makes up for its brevity with mechanical depth and replayability.”
    • “It's a hidden gem with a lot of replayability.”
    • “Despite its irregularities in NPC intelligence and lack of replayability, Vanquish has withstood the test of time.”
    • “Sadly, there is no replay value outside of getting the achievements.”
    • “I got it on sale for $7 and that was really too much for a one-day game with no replayability.”
  • optimization
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting solid performance across a range of hardware, including older systems. While gameplay runs smoothly at high frame rates, some players noted occasional stuttering during cutscenes and minor technical issues, particularly at higher resolutions. Despite these drawbacks, the PC port is generally considered well-optimized, offering a satisfying experience with impressive graphics and performance.

    • “The game is nicely optimized on PC and can be played on mid or low-end PCs as well.”
    • “Incredibly well optimized, stunning visuals, and kick-ass gameplay.”
    • “The port has been optimized very well, with my GTX 980 Ti being able to maintain a steady 60fps at 1440p with no problems at all.”
    • “The story-line makes little sense sometimes; the performance could be better (yes, it stutters in some areas even when under-utilizing resources).”
    • “The only other negatives I have are performance drops in 4K with Vsync on in cutscenes (but not gameplay, thankfully) and the 'overheat' system.”
    • “For example, cutscenes, while being re-rendered at a higher resolution, have some strange framerate and stuttering issues.”
  • humor
    132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Vanquish" is characterized by its over-the-top, self-aware absurdity, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions hilariously corny and entertaining. While some critiques mention that the humor can feel unintentional or derivative, the overall consensus is that the game successfully blends goofy elements with action, making it a fun experience that doesn't take itself too seriously. The campy characters and ridiculous plot contribute to a unique charm that resonates well with fans of Platinum Games.

    • “The dialogue and story were fun, and while the characters were more caricatures, I was smirking and chuckling through a lot of the silly verbal exchanges.”
    • “Homefront is one of the dumbest military shooters ever made, it was so stupid it made me laugh my ass off the majority of the campaign, Vanquish tops that in the most Platinum Games way possible, by being absolute lobotomite levels of dumb.”
    • “The game has a fun sense of humor and the dialogue is hilariously corny.”
  • stability
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience with no significant crashes or glitches, while others encountered bugs such as character freezing and occasional crashes to desktop. Many users noted that the game runs well on various hardware configurations, including older systems, but some experienced frustrating issues like save freezes and graphical glitches at high settings. Overall, while there are reports of bugs, many players found the game to be well-polished and stable for the most part.

    • “The game has otherwise been bug free and has functioned well.”
    • “No glitches, or significant framerate loss.”
    • “Brilliant game runs great at 1440p and a high framerate for me.”
    • “Only gripes are that the game is somewhat buggy, characters would get stuck and bar progress, and had 1 crash to desktop, and that the developers don't seem to understand that insta-kill attacks aren't fun to play against.”
    • “A buggy mess since release.”
    • “I hear the game is pretty buggy so if you don't feel like troubleshooting you may want to give this game a miss.”
  • grinding
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the game offers enjoyable action and unique mechanics, it suffers from significant grinding, particularly in the later levels where repetitive enemy encounters and tedious upgrade processes detract from the overall experience. Many players found the gameplay to become monotonous and frustrating, especially due to bullet sponge enemies and unskippable segments, leading to a mixed reception regarding its pacing and engagement. Overall, the game is seen as fun but marred by repetitive and tedious elements that can diminish enjoyment.

    • “It's not grindy and is well integrated into the campaign.”
    • “It's a great shoot 'em up game with fun boss fights, not tedious and boring.”
    • “The game is generally fun; however, it fails to execute its idea properly, becoming somewhat repetitive and tedious at times, making me leave it halfway through.”
    • “The downside is that the last two acts were rather grindy, and the enemies were absolute bullet sponges.”
    • “Running through a mini citadel death star for almost 10 hours shooting robots without knowing what the hell is happening or what you're actually doing gets tedious.”
  • character development
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is widely criticized for being lackluster and uninspired, with many reviewers noting a significant absence of meaningful character arcs or significant storytelling. While some praise the character and enemy designs as visually appealing, they often feel overshadowed by the overall dullness of the narrative and gameplay experience. Overall, the game's strengths lie more in its action and aesthetics rather than in its character development.

    • “While the game's story and character development pale in comparison to the action, Vanquish remains an underrated gem and anyone who is a fan of Platinum Games' previous action titles like Bayonetta should enjoy this as well.”
    • “And the main character design, as well as the weapon design and huge bot designs, look very futuristic and are very well rendered with the many animations they implemented.”
    • “Amazing scenery, level, and character design.”
    • “Its weaknesses are little story/character development and small move and weapon set.”
    • “There is no character development or actual significant characters for that matter.”
    • “There's virtually no character development, just being told to go here and do this.”
  • emotional
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of attachment to the characters and a generic, uninspiring story. While some moments of gameplay are described as exhilarating, the overall narrative fails to evoke any significant emotional investment, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys. Those seeking a deep, engaging story are likely to be disappointed, as the game prioritizes action over emotional depth.

    • “There is just something emotionally stimulating about boosting onto the back of a 50-foot tall mech only to twirl my way through its chassis like a ballerina that I will never grow tired of doing!”
    • “By the end of the game, the script pretends that the player has built some sort of relationship with all the other characters, but for their time spent together, there was no emotional payoff.”
    • “Therefore, you won't really be able to have any sort of emotional connections with the characters.”
    • “Boring characters, boring story, boring and janky gameplay.”
    • “Generic boring story, terrible voice acting, decent gameplay..meh”
    • “A solid experience featuring fast paced action, some wonky pacing issues, boring story/cinematics, and boring non-gameplay sequences where it becomes a walking sim for a min.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Vanquish is highly praised for its ability to enhance the intense and frantic gameplay, creating a consistent and immersive experience. While the soundtrack may not be prominently noticed during play, it effectively contributes to the overall mood. Players are encouraged to experience the game firsthand, as the atmosphere feels distinct and engaging compared to watching gameplay videos.

    • “Great atmosphere, excellent gameplay.”
    • “Vanquish manages to come up with an acceptable story with a few twists and turns, and most importantly, creates an atmosphere totally consistent with the frantic and intense action of gameplay moments.”
    • “It is kinda hard to explain but don't watch the gameplay on YouTube if you want to try, because it feels different when you play it yourself; immerse yourself in the epicness of the Vanquish atmosphere.”
    • “I don't know how to sum it up; all in all, Vanquish is a no-brain arcade linear shooter that is less ambitious than it pretends, but still has qualities such as its simplicity and direct, action-packed atmosphere.”
    • “Some of the movements feel a little old after a while, but the design and structure of the main character work in this atmosphere well enough that you still want to try to be as creative as possible with your battles.”
    • “It may have an atmosphere vaguely similar to Gears, but it is not Gears, does not play like Gears, and playing like Gears should not be attempted.”
  • monetization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions and downloadable content, reflecting a nostalgic era of gaming that prioritized complete experiences without additional costs. Players appreciate the game's PC port, which maintains high graphical quality and offers a seamless control experience, further enhancing its value as a standalone title. Overall, the lack of in-game purchases is seen as a significant positive, allowing players to enjoy the game without the distractions of modern monetization practices.

    • “Simply magnificent port to PC with great control for either your mouse or gaming pad (no in-game purchases and no DLC) just a great semi-short story that to this day keeps up graphically with most current-gen games.”
    • “Those were the best days and years of gaming because it was an era before the whole live-service nonsense and microtransactions.”
    • “This game's unique gameplay is overshadowed by the lack of advertising and low sales during the PS3 era, which I hope isn't repeated this year with the release of the PC port.”
    • “Ultimately, the plot really doesn't matter as it's just an excuse for a variety of action set pieces, but at the time of the game's release, Vanquish was near universally panned because the advertisements focused on the story and everyone thought the game looked dumb.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 16 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
13h Average play time
6h Main story
17h Completionist
4-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Vanquish is a shooter game with science fiction theme.

Vanquish is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 17 hours to finish. On average players spend around 13 hours playing Vanquish.

Vanquish was released on May 24, 2017.

Vanquish was developed by PlatinumGames.

Vanquish has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Vanquish is a single player game.

Similar games include Bayonetta, Alien Rage: Unlimited, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Binary Domain, Evil West and others.