As was suspected less than a year ago, the previously console-exclusive Vanquish is finally seeing a release on Steam after fans had to wait for almost seven years. This move is probably not very surprising, considering the Bayonetta port was widely regarded as a huge success for SEGA.
First reported on by VG247, Vanquish is stated to be released on the 25th of May. Most of the features said to be included specifically for the PC version are largely performance related. Starting with 60fps and the option to unlock the framerate if so desired, 4k resolution, anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, SSAO lighting, scalable texture and shadow quality and more. Furthermore, current owners of earlier-released Bayonetta will receive a 25% off discount on their Vanquish pre-order on Steam.
For those unfamiliar with the title, Vanquish is a third person shooter built around high-speed gunfire combat. Equipped with the Augmented Reaction Suit, you can slide around the battlefield on your armored knees or slow down time during a crucial moment for a burst of deadly precision. It is possible to take cover, but the destructible environment discourages using these for anything other than brief pauses during combat. The game largely boasts a futuristic aesthetic with conventional weapons instead being replicated by the AGR suit, as opposed to simply picked up.
In general, Vanquish was considered a poorly selling title and a commercial failure. However, while Bayonetta was a relative success both before and after its port, Valkyria Chronicles is a better example of a poorly received title proving to do considerably better on the PC platform. It would seem this collectively has given SEGA enough reason to be more confident in the potential of PC sales of their older titles.
Quick Take
To say that I am excited is an understatement. Just as I wrote in the news piece in August last year, Vanquish is a title I consider criminally overlooked. And with me expressing hope for this back in my Bayonetta review, it feels like the stars are aligning. In truth, it isn't hard to accept this is the result of SEGA testing the waters with Bayonetta, and the public showing to be very receptive if these ports are done well. This not only shows promise for any popular past SEGA titles, but quite possibly future titles as well.
