Mikami explains setting for Vanquish

Shinji Mikami, creator of the Resident Evil series, has explained the thinking behind the setting for his next title.

Titled Vanquish, it's a third-person shooter in development for PS3 and Xbox 360. The game takes place in a near-future world where Russia and the US are fighting over energy resources. Russia captures an American space station designed to harness the sun's energy, then uses it to blast San Francisco with a solar wave. The US must attempt to recapture the space station before Russia can launch a further attack on New York.

But why Russia versus the US? Seeing as Vanquish is being developed in Japan, why not set the game closer to home?

"For something so action-packed, I felt it wasn't very fitting for Japan to be the main setting," said Mikami, speaking in an interview with Eurogamer. "Personally, I don't feel that Japan is action-packed or very cool.

"I compare it to a herbivore and carnivore situation," he continued. "America's a real carnivore and Japan is a bit more of a herbivore... Yes, like a vegetarian. So I feel that if it's going to be action-packed, America is the most fitting stage."

Vanquish is due out this winter.