Zero Punctuation Season 11 Episode 23 Vanquish

Zero Punctuation is a popular video series hosted by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, where he delivers fast and furious reviews of new video games. In season 11, episode 23, Yahtzee takes on Vanquish, a third-person shooter developed by PlatinumGames.

Yahtzee starts his review by describing Vanquish as a game that feels "like it was made in a lab by scientists anxious to demonstrate that they understand what you like." He praises the game's fast-paced action, calling it "a delightful ballet of bullets and explosions." The game's core mechanic involves using a boost mechanic to slide and dodge around the environment, which Yahtzee praises as "a masterful way of keeping the pace up while still allowing for moments of calm."

The story of Vanquish follows a group of space marines who must protect a giant space-based energy generator from an invading Russian army. Yahtzee describes the story as overly complicated and unnecessary, with characters who are "about as deep as a puddle in a drought." He pokes fun at the game's over-the-top cutscenes, but acknowledges that they do add to the game's charm.

In terms of gameplay, Yahtzee praises Vanquish's weapons, which are all unique and have satisfyingly punchy animations. He describes the game's difficulty as "quite demanding," noting that players will need to be constantly moving and dodging to avoid enemy fire. He says that the game may be difficult for those who are used to traditional cover-based shooters.

One of Yahtzee's major criticisms of Vanquish is that it is a "flash over substance" game. He notes that while the game's action is exciting, there isn't much depth to the game beyond that. He criticizes the game's lack of exploration and the fact that the levels feel "very corridor-like." He also notes that there isn't much variety to the enemies, which can make some parts of the game feel repetitive.

Despite these criticisms, Yahtzee ultimately recommends Vanquish to fans of fast-paced action games. He notes that the game is short but sweet, and that the experience is "so pure and exhilarating" that it doesn't really matter that the game lacks depth. He advises players to approach Vanquish as a "roller coaster ride" and to enjoy the experience for what it is.

In conclusion, Zero Punctuation season 11, episode 23 of Vanquish is a fast-paced and entertaining review of a high-energy action game. Yahtzee's criticisms of the game's lack of depth and repetitive enemies are valid, but ultimately he recommends the game as an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster ride for fans of the genre.