This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
Fair Warning : This Review is a long but thorough one
When you consider the predecessor games for Transformers - Autobots / Decepticons (DS).
This game takes SEVERAL steps backwards on what they should've expanded upon. While there is a decent bit of fun to be had, the game overall feels... half-baked.
Gone are the Free Roam Open Worlds where you could explore and find your way to missions, and Gone are the customizable vehicle modes, restricting you to 3 forms.
In its place are customizable Weapons and Equipment that you unlock by scanning Red Devices around specific Missions that contain something new inside, which will prove very helpful later on. While this is a nice new feature, not being able to customize your vehicle form is a big downgrade.
Another thing added is the collectible : Energon, which is used to upgrade your stats. Not a bad addition, however it would've served a lot better if it also worked as currency for the game to make purchases, or upgrade your stats.
You mainly play as the Autobot (Create-A-Bot) you meet at the beginning of the game. The only time you play as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe is on SIDE missions, in whch those missions are talored to collecting unstable Energon on a particular time limit, or needless races (Which really should only function as a fun side mini-game OUTSIDE of the story). Which is EXTREMELY disappointing, not to mention Ironhide is not even playable,
Some of the Missions themselves can be quite entertaining, but unless you're a newbie, you're not gonna be there for long. I can only recall 3 missions that were, needlessly, hard. This game doesn't even have you play on the alternate perspective of the other Autobots during missions, unlike the previous game. Meanwhile other missions are gosh darn pointless and hardly contribute to the story. Speaking of which-
The story to Revenge of the Fallen (DS) was done poorly and, dare I say, lazily. It just has you doing mission, after mission, after mission. Challenge, after challenge, after challenge, until SOMETHING comes up to actually carry the non-existant plot. What's worse is that the only reason it makes any SENSE of progress, is because the Bucket-Brain of Decepticons : Grindor (Blackout copy), and Sideways reveal bits and pieces of their plan during their boss fight. Might I add, we don't even see Megatron nor the Fallen until at the very END of the game. Speaking of which x2-
Side Note : Other Autobots are mentioned such as Skids, Mudflap, and Arcee. But we never even see them. Jetfire is the only remote sense of legitimate progress as we see him, but in terms of where we find him is very off.
The boss fights are laughable. They are literally the same repeated process but with something different added in for each, I kid you not when I say the final boss (being Megatron) was NOT even hard. All you do is walk in a circle while they try to shoot at you, you shoot them back, then you have to turn their weapon against them. This is the same process with Grindor, Sideways, Starscream, and Megatron. There isn't even a boss fight for Devastator, the Decepticon that breaks off the top of the Pyramid to uncover the Sun Harvestor.
Worse still, in this game, Optimus doesn't get his cool Jet-Pack mode as Jetfire is still alive and even helped Optimus defeat the Fallen off-screen.
Side Note : In regards to the Soundtrack in my personal opinion, save for a few tracks, its nothing to ride home about. Most of the time you listen to the same track on every other mission, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I managed to beat the game in a matter of hours.
Overall, Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen - Autobots while an entertaining game, is a very lackluster sequel to what could be considrered the best adaptation to the Bayverse Movies (Transformers - Autobots / Decepticons).
It didn't do the story any justice, half of the missions are either entertaining or pointless filler, boss fights are laughable. The new Equipment and Weapons was compelling enough, but the removal of the Free Roam Open Worlds and Customizable Vehicle Forms was a big loss. You mainly play as your Autobot, while Optimus, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe are side fodder (As well as Ironhide and Ratchet).
And from what I hear, the Decepticon Version isn't any different aside from another coat of paint.
I'd only recommend this game to Die-Hard Transformer Fans who do not mind the Bayverse Adaptation, or to someone who just wants to have a relatively fun time with Transformers. Or collectibles work too. If anything, it could be a good game but it has to truly be one for you
This is one of the many Transformers Games I would love to direct a remake for DS, so it can be done justice. That is, if it the opportunity were to ever arise… Expand