Vandals is a turn-based infiltration adventure that encourages players to become acquainted with street art. Sneaking around surveillance and spray-painting walls is the objective. Though, the task slowly becomes more dangerous as the world around them shifts in accessibility.
Players are thrust into real world cities that are both saturated with art and run by a police force that is trying to stop it from spreading. Through exploring cities such as Berlin, Tokyo, and Paris, the wakes of former professional street artists such as Keith Haring and Blek Le Rat are emulated. Vandals promises hours of immersion from the various puzzles available throughout the city. Each player can acclimate to their own specific art-style, and paint anything from a classical feel to a childlike sketch. All of the street art created in-game can be shared to varying networks, and designed in either landscape or portrait mode. Headphones are recommended to properly experience the game’s original soundtrack.
Currently, the game is utilizing five different cities, including New York and Sao Paulo to the aforementioned, with sixty puzzles to solve total. There will be eighteen achievements that can be unlocked, and forty different backgrounders included that have been monumental to street art since the 1960s. The street art (or vandalism, as some might say) occurs covertly at night, meaning stealth skills are one of the most pivotal priorities in making sure one’s duty is complete without attracting attention from the police. They patrol areas like guards and turn around with a large Metal Gear Solid-type red exclamation point above their head when sensing mischief. Using the right strategy, the art will go on, and the cities will only become more vibrant.
Vandals will be available on Steam on April 12.