Vector
Gameplay 8
Graphics 8
Sound 8

Vector allows you to experience the thrill of being chased and pulling off some wicked parkour moves without the need to memorize millions of button combinations. Things start off very simple, but the difficulty ramps up quickly and perfecting the levels require patience and practice. This is definitely a game that offers a lot at and at a very reasonable price.

Gameplay: Easy to play but very challenging to master.

Graphics: The game looks good in high resolution, but the animations steal the show.

Sound: The audio is good for getting the adrenaline flowing

Summary 8.0 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Vector

Developer: Nekki GmbH | Publisher: Nekki GmbH | Release Date: 2013 | Genre: Action /  Indie | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

The protagonist of Vector is just another mindless slave in a totalitarian world of the future until he manages to break free and go on the run. As freedom and individuality is not tolerated in this grim reality “Big Brother” will stop at nothing to bring our hero to heel. The good news is that our runner is a parkour expert, the bad news is so are his pursuers.

Vector is a deadly game of cat and mouse across the environments of a downtown business area, construction yard and tecnhopark. Your goal is to make your escape while staying one step ahead of your pursuer.  You’ll have to leap across rooftops, jump through windows and make daring leaps of faith if you want to survive as your hunter is every bit as skilled as you are and completely relentless.

The game was originally released on Facebook and mobile devices before making the leap to Steam and it has made the transition well. With all traces of micro-transactions eliminated the game is more about skill and reflexes than endless grinding. The basic idea is to reach the end of the level without getting tasered by your hunter or fatally injuring yourself while traversing the environments. It might take a few tries, but reaching the end of the levels is not too hard with a bit of practice. Doing so will just net you one star however, if you want three stars you have to perform a perfect run.

A perfect run means you not only escape pursuit, but you perform every special move along the way while collecting all the coins and cubes that dot your route. This is easier said than done as some of the collectibles are purposely placed in such a fashion that only a well timed jump or split second adjustment to your path will enable you to nab them. The cash you earn can then be used to purchase new parkour moves for your runner.

Speaking of special moves, Vector is a game that allows you to pull off some pretty spectacular moves, but the focus is not on memorizing buttons. Instead it is all about timing as a simple tap of the “Up” key when in the right spot is sufficient to pull off a move. Your basic moves consist of jumping and sliding to get over or under obstacles and to cross gaps, but special moves can only be performed in marked spots. This might seem limiting, but it preserves the flow of the game and ensures that you are never in any doubt about what to do or where to go. Don’t worry about it being overly simplistic as later levels require you to dash, slow down, turn around and perform wall jumps, usually in rapid succession while carefully picking your path through the level.

The gameplay is like a mixture of Mirror’s Edge set on a 2D plane and endless runners such as Canabalt with a dash of Prince of Persia mixed in. Your character has weight and momentum so he can stumble, trip, fall or smash into objects at high speed if you misjudge your actions. Most levels can be completed in under a minute or two, but there are no checkpoints and you constantly have an enemy breathing down your back. Although you can’t pull off special moves whenever you want the controls are very responsive and I had no trouble completing the game using a keyboard. The developers have promised to implement controller support for players that prefer this method, although it was not available at the time of this review.

The game uses black silhouettes to portray the characters and playing field in the game while the backgrounds use color. The effect not only looks very stylish, but is also perfect for showcasing the outstanding animations. I have watched some parkour videos and the animators at Nekki have definitely nailed the look of the moves. The animations are top notch and the game runs at a silky smooth 60 frames per second.  There are only three areas with eleven levels each, but the first two areas also have “bonus” levels that offer an even bigger challenge than the “story” levels. Strangely enough the bonus levels for the final area are listed as “Coming Soon” which might be an oversight on the part of Nekki. The audio is good with some high-tempo tunes to get the adrenaline flowing. The sound effects are rather minimal, but sound good, especially the shattering glass.

If you simply blow through all the levels with the minimum required stars you can probably complete Vector in a day. Mastering all the levels, purchasing all the moves and decking your character out in some new accessories will take a lot longer. Nekki has also promised to release some free DLC in the form of “Hunter Mode” where you can turn the tables and play as the pursuer as well as a level creator for making your own free running masterpieces. This is pretty impressive considering the game is being sold for less than $10. Steam achievements and trading cards have also been implemented to round off the package.

The short levels make Vector a game that you can jump in and play when you only have a few free minutes, but it is also addictive enough that you will want to attempt a level “just one more time” for the perfect run. It is probably a good thing that most levels can be completed in under a minute as a found myself holding my breath quite a few times as the exit loomed on the horizon and I was seconds away from completing a perfect run. Some people might find the game to be too simplistic, but once you scratch the surface you will find that there is a lot more depth than what meets the eye.

*Review originally published December 2013.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8
  • Processor: 1.6 GHz
  • Memory: 1000 MB RAM
  • Hard Drive: 300 MB available space
  • OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8
  • Processor: 2 Ghz or better
  • Memory: 2000 MB RAM
  • Hard Drive: 400 MB available space

Related posts

Time Tenshi (2015)

Time Tenshi (2015)

Time Tenshi is a short and simple visual novel featuring time travel. Unfortunately, the whole time-traveling aspect of the game is simply a convenient excuse for the ecchi effects it has on the women make use of the technology. This would have been fine for a nukige title, but for all its fetish content Time Tenshi is a very tame game with no sex or nudity. Unfortunately, this middle of the road approach means it is unlikely to really appeal to anyone especially with so many other options available. Gameplay: Very short and only features one meaningful choice right at the end. Graphics: The visuals have a very low budget look to them. Sound: No voice acting and the music isn't very memorable or catchy.

The Tale of Bistun

The Tale of Bistun

The Tale of Bistun is a unique title that draws inspiration from an epic 12th-century Persian poem. As such, the focus is very much on the story and not so much on the occasional action sequences that punctuate long bouts of walking through beautiful environments. Nevertheless, the game is brief enough not to become too repetitive, and the excellent narration keeps the adventure compelling. There’s not much here for action fans or those expecting an RPG experience, but fans of the source material will enjoy this unique interpretation. Gameplay: Apart from some brief hack-and-slash combat sections, the game features lots of wandering along a linear path while listening to an omniscient narrator. Graphics: The visuals could be more detailed, but everything is colorful, and there are plenty of beautiful areas to traverse. Sound: The traditional Iranian instruments used for the soundtrack are a nice touch, and the narrator is excellent.

Pixel Puzzles: Japan

Pixel Puzzles: Japan

Pixel Puzzles: Japan offers an interesting twist on the traditional Jigsaw puzzle without the hassle of finding out that you are missing pieces. Things start off very calm but as the pieces multiply the challenge increases considerably. The constantly moving puzzle pieces also make it tricky, but there is no time limit to worry about. About the only annoyance is that you cannot save your progress during a puzzle. Gameplay: Calm and relaxing, but can become quite challenging as well. Graphics: Nothing particularly outstanding but decent enough. Sound: Calm music and the soothing sounds of a Shishi-odoshi (which can be disabled.)

Horizon

Horizon

If you are new to the genre Horizon can look pretty complicated at first glance. This is one of those titles where playing the tutorial and checking out the manual is not optional, but essential if you want to get the most out of the game. It doesn't quite reach the heights of genre classics, but there is a lot to like and it remains addictive throughout. Gameplay: Appears daunting at first, but becomes more intuitive with extended play. Graphics: There are some nice visual elements mixed in with all the stats and charts. Sound: Atmospheric enough to suit the theme of the game.

Moebius: Empire Rising

Moebius: Empire Rising

There is no doubt that Moebius: Empire Rising is not going to be a game that everyone will enjoy. The lead character alone will probably rub most people the wrong way and the character models are also far from cutting edge. Despite this it has a very interesting storyline and if you get hooked you will definitely want to see it through to the end. I enjoyed my time with Moebius and would absolutely love to see a sequel that fleshes out the story even more. Gameplay: Easy puzzles make the game accessible to newcomers and it is entertaining despite some flaws. Graphics: Nice backgrounds but the character models and animation let things down a bit. Sound: Good voice acting and an absolutely brilliant soundtrack.

Still Life

Still Life

If you like murder mysteries and you enjoy point & click adventures then you should have fun with this one. A bit obscure at times and not exactly the most cheerful subject matter but still worth playing through. Gameplay: A bit slow paced & frustrating at times but has it's moments. Graphics: Not outstanding but for the genre it's not too shabby. Sound: Decent voice overs and nice music.

Leave a comment

12 − 9 =