Vanguard (video game)

Vanguard
Japanese arcade flyer of Vanguard.
Developer(s)	TOSE
Publisher(s)	SNK Centuri Zaccaria Atari (home versions)
Platform(s)	Arcade (original) Atari 2600 Atari 5200 Atari 8-bit
Release date(s)	1981
Genre(s)	Multi-scrolling shooter Multi-directional shooter
Mode(s)	Single player
Cabinet	Upright, cocktail (Cinematronics)
Arcade system	M6502 (@ 930 kHz) Custom audio
Display	Vertical orientation resolution: 224 x 256 64 colors

For the 2007 MMORPG, see Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Vanguard (ヴァンガード^?) is a 1981 arcade game developed by TOSE, and published by SNK in Japan in 1981 and later during the same year in Germany by the same publisher, while it was licensed to Centuri for manufacture in North America in October 1981 and by Zaccaria in Italy during the same year, putting SNK on the map in those regions. The game was also licensed to Cinematronics for conversion to cocktail arcade cabinets in North America.

The game is one of the first scrolling shooters with scrolling in multiple directions. It is also the first color game released by SNK and an early example of a dual-control game, similar to the later Robotron: 2084, but using four directional buttons rather than a second joystick.

Vanguard was followed up by a less successful sequel, Vanguard II, which has gameplay similar to Xevious with the ability to fly in multiple directions. There were no home console nor computer ports of Vanguard II released until SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 0 for the Sony PlayStation Portable.

The Gond has been terrorizing nearby space colonies with its periodic raids of destruction. The time has come to put an end to his reign of terror. The player has been selected to pilot an advanced fighter ship with high offensive capabilities, and must enter the cave inside the asteroid where the Gond makes his home, and safely fly through every zone; the Mountain Zone, Rainbow Zone, Styx Zone, Stripe Zone, Bleak Zone, and the City of Mystery (aka Last Zone) where the Gond is rumored to reside. The player must take the Gond out, and succeed in the mission. If unsuccessful, the colonies will be doomed.