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Vanguard

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Vanguard is an arcade style shooter for one or two players. Your goal is to pilot your spaceship to the City of Mystery which is located at the end of a heavily guarded tunnel, and once there destroy the creature Gond. The tunnel is broken up into several different zones, called the mountain zone...

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Developer
TOSE

Released on
1981

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
SNK

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Vanguard is an arcade style shooter for one or two players. Your goal is to pilot your spaceship to the City of Mystery which is located at the end of a heavily guarded tunnel, and once there destroy the creature Gond. The tunnel is broken up into several different zones, called the mountain zone, rainbow zone, stick zone, stripe zone, bleak zone, and City of Mystery. Each zone features different types of enemy spaceships to deal with, and can scroll either horizontally or vertically. In the mountain zone or stripe zone, you may also come across an energy pod marked with an ‘E’. If you fly through this, your ship temporarily becomes invincible to the deadly cave walls and numerous enemies which are trying to stop you. When not invincible, your space ship is equipped with lasers to help destroy enemies. You can fire in four different directions, however your speed is decreased when firing. You also need to keep an eye on your fuel gauge; your fuel will deplete at a rapid rate, and your ship will crash if it runs out. Fuel is gained each time you destroy an enemy, so make sure you destroy as many as you can! When you finally make it through all the various zones of the tunnel and defeat Gond, the game will repeat at a more difficult skill level.

Vanguard

Overview & History

Released in 1981 by SNK and distributed by Centuri in North America, Vanguard is a pioneering vertical and horizontal scrolling shoot-'em-up that predates Konami's Gradius. Unlike static space shooters of its era, Vanguard tasks players with navigating the intricate, multi-directional labyrinth of the alien cavern known as the Federation of Paramo. The objective is to destroy the evil computer Gond and rescue the galaxy, progressing through vibrant zones ranging from subterranean caverns to the deadly rainbow zone. Its defining historical innovation was the inclusion of forward-firing weapons alongside lateral and rear capabilities, breaking the standard paradigm of rigid one-direction scrolling.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Vanguard breaks gameplay into distinct alternating phases: horizontal forward-scrolling zones, vertical upward-scrolling shafts, and high-stakes subterranean boss lairs. Players pilot a modular fighter equipped with a unique four-way simultaneous directional firing system. Instead of a single primary button, the arcade cabinet utilized four distinct attack buttons—one for each cardinal direction (Up, Down, Left, Right)—allowing players to blast enemies while retreating or advancing. Strategically scattered throughout the levels are energy pods that temporarily extend the player's fuel meter, which constantly drains over time. Additionally, power-up icons marked with "P" grant temporary invincibility, while bonus zones offer opportunities to rack up high scores without enemy fire, provided players avoid hazardous cave walls and floating thermal barriers.