10 AMAZING Video Games That Didn't Get Sequels
2. Vanquish
Vanquish was developed by PlatinumGames and released in 2010. It was notably the first game directed by Shinji Mikami after he parted ways with Capcom.
The setting and story are ripped straight from an 80s action movie: in the near future, terrorists commandeer a space station designed to harness solar energy, and convert it into a weapon that can microwave cities; San Francisco is the first target, and New York will follow unless the US government surrenders.
Our hero, Sam Gideon, is despatched to regain control of the space station, alongside a unit of elite soldiers.
In screenshots, Vanquish, might look like any number of generic cover-shooters, which were so popular in 2010, but hiding behind cover was often your worst option. Instead you were encouraged to speed around the battlefield using the rocket boosters attached to Sam’s thighs; Sam knee sliding around the environments at 100mph is exhilarating, occasionally activating bullet time so he can pick off a few enemies as he races past.
There’s a distinct retro feel about the game, as if a 2D action game has been remade in a 3D engine. Vanquish is concerned with making the player feel awesome and succeeds admirably.