Balancing a game like Vanquish
October 28th, 2010 by PlatinumGames
Filed: Community, Games, PlatinumGames, Vanquish
Hi, I am Junichi Oka, one of the game designers on Vanquish. I was also in charge of checking the strategy guides that were produced for the game.
Speaking of Strategy guides, I would often look at western guide books while we were producing the game. Since it was my first time working on a shooter, and I didn’t really know where to begin for just about everything, I did a lot of studying.
This is our stocked reference room. Filled with the helpful knowledge of those who have walked this path before!
Once the game started taking shape, I didn’t really look at them anymore; instead, it was time to take our own route through things. One of the reasons was because the game was so fast that there was no way traditional TPS level design would match the tempo we were after. If you haven’t seen what I mean about the game being fast, please download the demo of the game and give it a try!
Vanquish is a game where we couldn’t allow anything that would harm either the speed or the strategy required to play the game. We made the game so you couldn’t just hide under cover, but you also couldn’t recklessly move forward without dying. And we never forgot that it wasn’t an action game, it was a shooting game. For those of you who are playing the game and getting stuck, keep those principles in your mind and I think things will go better for you.
Move too far forward in the fight and you’ll soon be a sandwich topping – Swiss cheese, perhaps. Kinda works like the real world.
Vanquish is a game that rewards you putting time into it. What may seem like an impossible situation can be overcome easily by studying the terrain and cover points, and then picking/changing your strategy. We made the game so there is never an instance where you can say “This is it!” like there was only one right way of doing things. Instead, I think it is a game where you can look at someone else play and want to steal away the controller thinking, “No. This is how I would do it.” So, please, steal the controller from the person next to you!
Tagged: Game Balance, Game Design, Junichi Oka, PlatinumGames, Playstation 3, PS3, SEGA, Shinji Mikami, Strategy Guide, Vanquish, Xbox 360
10 Comments Add Your Own
FAUNA Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:48 am
VANQUISH brings it all to a whole new level. I still can't believe it exists..
Dave Posted on October 29, 2010 at 6:16 am
Hi Junichi, hey, how many of you guys at Platinum can write English? Do you have a specialist or translator over there? It's unusual for a Japanese developer to maintain a blog in English. We appreciate it so much!
At first I tried to play Vanquish like I played Bayonetta but I quickly learned how it would not work. But I didn't have to read any advice to understand this; I could see that the game was demanding a change in my style. Nice work!
lMephisto Posted on October 29, 2010 at 10:37 am
Thanks for Making this game
it is just the best thing I've played in a long, LONG time.
KAP Posted on October 30, 2010 at 2:27 am
I just like to add i LOVE this game, just as mush as i love Bayonetta, but one thing i hate though, WHY IS CHALLENGE 6 SOOOOOOOOOO HARD!!!! i got to wave 4 and seriously get stuck.. can you release a patch to atleast tone it down a bit please???
SonicTHP Posted on October 30, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I like that Vanquish is a game where you can feel really awesome for beating a bunch of guys in a row like you are the master of the battlefield, but just the same, if you run into the middle of a firefight thinking you're some kind of invincible hero, the enemies will remind you how fragile you really are.
Such a fun game.
Neckbear Posted on October 30, 2010 at 9:05 pm
At KAP, I think a patch would really ruin the feeling of "hardcoreness" this game has.
Truth be told, I completly love the difficulty. I tried and tried and tried until I succeeded in Challenge 4, and in Challenge 6, well…while I am actually stuck, I plan on beating it, and I really think a "hey, you complaining about a hard game! take this patch, you little casuals!" thing would somewhat ruin the game as it is.
Just keep on trying. I'm sure you'll be able to beat it. They didn't make it so it would be unbeatable- it just requires a great strategy and alot of practice.
Humberto Posted on October 30, 2010 at 11:25 pm
While the insight and content of your post is facinating the only thing I can think of is how much I envy your archives… I wish my collection was equally impressive…
TheLegendaryWarrior Posted on November 3, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I love how you guys at PlatinumGames are very passionately dedicted to your games. The amount of research you guys did before working on Vanquish shows that you guys great game developers! I like how you guys think, and how you guys keep an open mind when approaching new things. I dig that. Keep on delivering great games!!
Geru1 Posted on November 4, 2010 at 9:41 am
I think in the challenge 6 you as past, never step 20 seconds in round 4 with life, i am always tried to do something different with regard to the strategy but never won in results. As i have many people who do not quedrán purchased ever more a game of vanquish. The challenge 4 took 1 day and a half, in the challenge 6 wearing a week.
SixtyHertz Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Amazing job you guys, the f/3ps shooter market has been EXTREMELY stagnant when it came to game mechanics, you guys have injected new life into it. I look forward to seeing what Platinum and Mikami have in store in the future. I can't shake the feeling that Vanquish is just a teaser for what's to come. Please keep pushing games forward and never settle on the quick buck.