You know when Platinum Games (the guys who brought us Bayonetta) set out to make a Sci-Fi third-person shooter that it was going to be over-the-top and full of action, yet still manage to carry a precise control system. That is exactly what Vanquish is, and from what we’ve played so far, it’s looking to be another surprise hit this year.

The demo we played doesn’t reveal much about the story, however the premise follows Sam, an ex football star and current government agent who has the fortune of donning futuristic battle armour, which increases speed, agility and strength.

Vanquish also takes the traditional third-person gameplay and flips it on its head. In addition to the tried and tested run-‘n-gun mechanics, the game allows players to slide across the floor thanks to rocket-powered propulsions which are conveniently integrated into the armour. This results in combat which is fast and furious, as players can move from cover to cover quickly, and even leap over cover and enter a slow-motion shooting scenario. The slow-motion is also extended to the sliding, as well as certain moments when a dodge is executed with perfect timing.

The enemies so far are looking very interesting, with a variety of different units being displayed; not to mention an impressive boss battle with a giant robot. Therefore, the game itself obviously looks great and runs flawlessly. So this brief time with Vanquish has given us the utmost confidence in this title and we cannot wait till its release at the end of October.