GVMERS

The History of Vanquish (2021x4)

: 11, 2021

When Resident Evil 4 launched in 2005, it redefined both the third-person shooter and survival horror genres with inventive camerawork and visceral gameplay mechanics. For years after its advent, countless developers followed the game’s lead, emulating Shinji Mikami, who was the franchise’s co-creator, and his techniques for their own endeavors. However, barring the likes of Gears of War, hardly any of these titles managed to further innovate the genre. It would take another Mikami-directed adventure to reinvigorate third-person shooters with something completely fresh. The game in question is none other than the still highly-regarded Vanquish. In essence, Vanquish was a product of Mikami’s desire to reject the then standard characteristics of first and third-person shooters alike, especially those of the cover-based variety. As a result, speed-infused gameplay took precedence during Vanquish’s creation, as the team at PlatinumGames approached the project as though it were a melee-oriented action game—a genre in which everyone involved was much more familiar. This strategy yielded a genuinely unique experience that many believe remains unparalleled. It’s noteworthy that such esteem is held for a lesser-known, 7th console generation one-off with seemingly no hope for a sequel in sight. But perhaps the varying qualities that make Vanquish so distinctive constitute the reason for its continued relevance in the minds of all who have ventured through Mikami’s sci-fi world. This is the history of Vanquish. As Raven’s final original game before its conversion into a Call of Duty support role, Singularity constituted the last bastion of originality during a transitory period for publisher Activision. All told, it did not seem an unworthy attempt, either. Despite a development cycle beset by mismanagement, Raven cobbled together a competent temporal shooter, one laden with inventive ideas that were hamstrung by formulaic game design choices. Dismal sales furthe