Next up in our look at old SNK pre-Neo-Geo arcade classics that are now available to download on PS3 and PSP as PS Minis is Vanguard. It’s an old scrolling arcade shooter from the early 80’s.

In the game, you pilot your ship forward and avoid obstacles and blast enemy craft. Use the four face buttons to shoot up, down, left, and right. Sometimes you can fly into an area that says “Energy” and then your ship will be able to crash into the opposition and destroy them for a while.

I guess I should give Vanguard more credit than I do. It was pretty advanced for its time and seems to be a little more popular than most other early SNK titles. I remember seeing a few Vanguard cabinets at old arcades and auctions, and I think it was also on the Atari 2600.

The game has various stages and levels with different obstacles, music, and visuals in each one. Plus the game has voices, but I can’t understand what the heck they’re saying. So if you remember this game fondly, it might be worth your while to chuck up the three bucks to download and revisit this classic.

Kid Factor:

Classic arcade games are great for young children because they’re not too scary or violent, no reading skill is needed, and the games are easy to figure out. Some young ones might get frustrated or bored, but at least you can set how many lives you have in the options screen, and you can continue from the last area if you lose all your ships. Vanguard is rated E for Everyone with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence.

Tags: Game Reviews