Vigilante is a side-scrolling beat-em-up where you play as an unnamed tough hero who sets out to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend Maria from The Rogues gang. Your mission takes you through five different locations, including city streets and a junkyard, each filled with thugs of varying strength. You'll use your fists, feet, and a chain to take them down, with the option to switch between regular stance, crouching, and jumping attacks.
The game is all about navigating through increasingly difficult levels, each featuring an end boss that requires a specific strategy to defeat. As you progress, more enemies will spawn from both sides of the screen, requiring you to maintain a steady pace to reach the end of the level before time runs out. Be careful not to get too close to enemies, as they'll grab you and leave you vulnerable to attack – quick presses on the left or right buttons are all you need to break free.