Vanquish

Vanquish is the very definition of superficial. It is a game that can be played in short bursts with little-to-no commitment. I never once felt invested in the story or the stats. This might sound like a bad thing, but if you're the kind of person who likes multi-tasking then Vanquish can be played while doing the housework.

It is set in the future on a cylindrical city-like space station where the United States have built a new off-world colony to alleviate overcrowding on Earth. The Russians seize control of the colony with an army of Red Ruskie Robot Rascals and it is your job as Sam Gideon, a defense researcher, to gun them all down and 'vanquish' the enemy. Some plot twists come and go, but they are arbitrary. The game was designed by the team responsible for Resident Evil 4, and while you might recognize some similarities it is actually A HELLUVA LOT more like a cross between Space Marine and Turrican.

The production design is gorgeous, if repetitive. Many visions of the future are grim and dystopian, but Vanquish is filled with bright sunlight and exciting technology. It's far from a Utopia though. There are 5 acts in the game, and they are all relatively easy. I managed to unlock 57% of 51 trophies with a single who-gives-a-damn play through. It's not a game I will ever go back to and I expect you'll forget it about not long after you finish. But if all of this sounds like something you'd be interested in then it is worth picking up for cheap.

Graphics B Sound B Gameplay B Lasting Appeal C